Groups to start national careers Web site

Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association (MNLA) and the Professional Landcare Network (PLANET) recruited state and national associations to support a green-industry careers Web site. It’s designed to target future business owners and trained supervisory staff for all facets of the industry.

Most of the industry’s work force development efforts have focused on securing entry-level workers. This site’s target market is high school students.

“To thrive in the future, we need to do a better job of selling our story of the great opportunities there are to enhance the environment and our country’s quality of life by choosing a career in the green industry,” said Bob Fitch, executive director of MNLA.

The participating groups are conducting research, including focus groups and surveys, to identify a Web site name that will grab the target audience.

The site will include a description of green industry segments from nursery and greenhouse production to landscape design, architecture and design.

Other planned features include links to job postings, internship listings, links to schools with green industry programs and information on wages and benefits.

Associations in these states are participating: Arizona, Colorado, Massachusetts, California, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin.

American Society for Horticultural Science and American Nursery & Landscape Association also are sponsors.

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For more: MNLA, (651) 633-4987; www.mnla.biz. PLANET, (800) 395-2522; www.landcarenetwork.org.