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Advisory group maps green-workforce opportunities for Frederick County
Summary
At a Jan. 16 advisory meeting, members and county staff identified target industries and training needs — from solar installers to green-building certifiers and nursery growers — that the Green Infrastructure Plan could support to create local jobs and resilience.
The Frederick County Green Infrastructure Advisory Group discussed potential green-workforce opportunities and training priorities at its Jan. 16, 2025 meeting, identifying several industries and occupations that could support both local employment and the county’s environmental goals. Andrew Stine, a member of county planning staff, opened the discussion and solicited ideas for how the Green Infrastructure Plan could align with workforce development.
Members of the advisory group said the county could support local production and use of low-embodied-energy building materials (masonry and aggregate processed locally) and responsibly sourced timber, paired with training in sustainable material handling. They also highlighted demand for electricians and solar-system installers as renewable energy expands, and for a “green-building” workforce able to construct, evaluate and certify projects under systems such as LEED or Green Globes.
Advisors recommended more workforce training for installation and maintenance of stormwater best management practices — for example rain gardens, sand filters, and riparian buffers — and for professionals who design, install, and inspect agricultural best management practices (BMPs) to protect farm function and natural resources. The group also identified a local need for nursery and landscape growers specializing in native and naturalized species and for workers dedicated to urban-tree-canopy planting and maintenance.
Members raised invasive-vegetation control and deer-management as additional areas needing skilled labor. The minutes note county weed-control staff exist but are limited in number, and that adding trained personnel for roadside and agricultural weed management could reduce burdens on farmers.
The advisory group pointed to the county’s large health-care sector as another avenue for job creation tied to outdoor recreation and community health, and suggested strengthening the county TransIT workforce to reduce vehicle miles traveled by expanding transit service and jobs.
The county staff said Livable Frederick will use the advisory feedback to develop the Green Infrastructure Network protocol, mapping and an outline for the Plan ahead of community workshops and Planning Commission review. No formal actions or funding commitments were made at the meeting.
