By Neil Offen

noffen@heraldsun.com; 419-6646

DURHAM -- It may mean working around asbestos and hazardous waste and having to wear "moon suits."

But Durham Tech's Brownfields Environmental Job Training Program has grown significantly because it's proving to be an open door to a down economy's holy grail -- jobs.

"The word is getting out that the program leads to jobs," said Ken Berger, program director for corporate education at Durham Tech. "Given the economy, that's not a bad thing."

The program, which holds its second graduation ceremony today on the Durham Tech campus, graduated 17 students last spring. Of those 17, 12 got jobs within six weeks of graduation, Berger said.

"We're sure it's more since then," he said. "But even that is pretty impressive."

At today's ceremony, 21 students who made it through the eight-week program will graduate. The students were chosen from more than 60 applicants.

Berger said the next session -- which begins in January -- already has about 100 applicants.

Created in partnership with the City of Durham and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the program is designed to train graduates to assess, clean and redevelop environmentally contaminated areas, particularly in North-East Central Durham.

Working with the Durham Office of Economic and Workforce Development, the program has targeted the redevelopment and revitalization of the Pettigrew Street Corridor. Berger said many of the graduates have found work in that area, but others have gotten positions elsewhere as well.

In the program, students learn about soil and water management, occupational health and safety, field lead abatement and hazardous waste operations and emergency response, among other skills.

As the program has grown, it also has evolved. Initial coursework did not include a formal asbestos certification, but Durham Tech now includes a 16-hour asbestos program. Plans are to expand that to 32 hours. .

The program also includes 20 hours of human resources help -- in other words, job-finding skills, such as resume writing.

"We expect to continue to grow," Berger said. "Students are just excited about the program. They know there are jobs out there for them."