Training for a Green Career!
The Grow Home Restoration Academy is a workforce development and environmental restoration initiative that engages underemployed and unemployed Baltimore residents in paid, hands-on training connected to green careers.
Participants are employed as part of a restoration field crew and receive training in tree plantings and early-stage tree stewardship (including watering, maintenance, and survival monitoring), landscape restoration, and green infrastructure practices. This technical training is paired with essential skills such as punctuality, teamwork, and task completion.
Each participant is supported with services addressing barriers to employment, including transportation, housing, and financial stability. We’re proud to support this hands-on training program with Grow Home right here in South Baltimore to create meaningful changes in lives and communities.
This unique program delivers measurable environmental outcomes while also generating significant co-benefits for participants and the community:
Health & Wellness: Participants engage in sustained outdoor work, supporting improved physical and mental health
Economic Mobility: Paid training and career pathways connect individuals to long-term employment opportunities
Community Uplift: Tree planting enhances neighborhood environments, increases canopy coverage, and improves quality of life for all residents
Environmental Stewardship: Participants develop a lasting connection to nature, becoming long-term caretakers and advocates for green infrastructure
Visit Grow Home’s website to learn more and apply!
Trainees in the Restoration Academy receive:
Paid On-the-Job Training: Working outdoors improving communities!
In-Demand Certifications: Certifications in green industry skills like tree planting, stormwater management, and invasive species removal.
One-on-One Case Management: Dedicated case managers can help with transportation, housing, career planning, and more.
Direct Connection to Employers: Working with recognized local companies in ecological restoration and other green industries.
Pathways to Full-Time Jobs and Apprenticeships: Jump-starting paths to a green career!
Pilot Year Recap
As of May 2026, the Grow Home Restoration Academy has engaged approximately 14 participants from South Baltimore in recruitment, training, case management, and field crew activities for the pilot year (October 2025 – May 2026). Four participants have successfully entered employment pathways.
Participants have received hands-on environmental restoration exposure, career exploration, mentoring, and support services to address barriers such as childcare, transportation, and substance recovery. Key lessons learned are being tracked and evaluated, and will be used to inform and improve future programming.
This is a project of Reimagine Middle Branch, funded by the South Baltimore Gateway Partnership and delivered by Grow Home, Inc. in partnership with the Maryland Climate Crew Network. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Reimagine Middle Branch, a community-driven initiative, is led by the City of Baltimore, South Baltimore Gateway Partnership, and Parks & People, working alongside a team of expert consultants, stakeholders, and Baltimoreans.