The Chicago Housing Authority has received nearly $1 million dollars in federal money to train residents in green industry jobs. The federal labor department is giving CHA money to help about 200 residents. The one-year grant will be used for training and job transition programs. 

Mary Howard is vice president in resident services at CHA. She said the housing authority is putting a different twist on some of those green jobs: pest control.  Killing bed bugs with green techniques.

“Because that has shown through Bureau of Labor Statistics and such as a pretty decent entry-level field for folks without degrees,” Howard said.

Other green areas include electrical and janitorial maintenance. Howard said there are identified businesses where the residents can actually get employment after the training.