Green jobs take root

Published 10:38 pm Tuesday, October 12, 2010

By Theadoris Morris

Going green is something almost everyone is doing these days.

To that end, Chilton County is actively trying to recruit and connect with industries with green technology to not only protect its natural resources, but to also create jobs and improve the economy.

For three days 10 Scandinavian green companies will attend the Mid Alabama Green Network for Economic Technology Transfer (MAGNETT) Conference for an opportunity to establish business partnerships in Chilton County.

Since last November, Per-Erik Persson, consultant, Green Solutions from Sweden; Tracia Bussey, project director, MAGNETT; Media; Elected Officials; and Guests Heidi Richards and Cawaco RC&D Coordinator worked to put the conference together.

“We think Central Alabama is the perfect place because of the state’s vast natural resources such as our lakes, plants and wildlife, said Tracia Bussey, project director, MAGNETT. “But as we are trying to add industries for jobs, they need to be good for natural resources.”

Scandinavian businesses that specialize in green technology, and are interested in expanding their businesses in Alabama, will attend the conference.

Sweden is a world-leading producer of clean technology products that support sustainable clean air, soil and water conservation.

Cawaco Resources Conservation & Development (RC&D) Council, a non-profit that supports educational and community development projects in Central Alabama, awarded MAGNETT with $25,000 in grants to recruit, educate and sponsor the conference.

It will begin Wednesday, Oct. 13, at 8:30 a.m., at the Holiday Inn Express Conference Center and will take place at the Alabama Power Conference Center Oct. 14-15.

“This is our first and hopefully, it is not our last,” said Bussey.