Why LVI? 

LVI’s environmental technician workforce training program targets youth between the ages of 17-25. The training involves a combination of classroom activities, on-the-job training, and mentorship through working with professional in the industry.

The new trainees will fill an industry need that college graduates are reluctant to fill and because they will be paid less than a typical college graduate we feel this is model that will be win-win for all stakeholders. This model can and will be applied to most industries with success. Taken to the logical and ultimate conclusion, we believe this approach will help eliminate the disparity between the disadvantage communities and the middle class.

Patrick A. Barnes, P.G. arrived at this idea in 1997 after years of performing environmental engineering services to poor communities as an EPA Technical Assistant Grant (TAG) advisor and after working for the Bank of America on several Brownfield redevelopment projects.