HUNTSVILLE, Ala. —
A job on the mountain, fresh air, steady income-- all while helping our local ecosystem? It may sound too good to be true, but city groups have a new temporary job for furloughed workers during the pandemic.
We met up with Chad Emerson, President/ CEO of Downtown Huntsville Inc., one of the groups that has come together to offer these new positions. He says, “People could get paid a good wage to be out in nature helping clean up the mountain from invasive species. That’s a win-win in a lot of ways.”
Downtown Huntsville, Inc. (DHI) is working with the Land Trust of North Alabama, and the Downtown Charitable Fund. They've launched a job program that lets displaced workers start earning money again immediately.
Chad Emerson tells us, “Monte Sano Mountain-- a lot of the improvements up there were part of the CCC program, way back in the great depression time and we thought ‘that put out of work people to work doing something productive for the community. What if we did a really mini version of that and we took care of our beautiful mountain overlooking downtown?”
With a stay-at-home order in effect, restaurants are struggling to keep their doors open. Some have had to furlough or lay off workers until the economy reopens. Emerson says, “This basically provides them an opportunity to basically take a short term, good, paid job-- getting paid every week on the mountain. And when their jobs return or the restrictions lesses, they can go back to the food and beverage industry.”
The groups are hiring workers to remove Japanese Honeysuckle plants from the trails on Monte Sano Nature Preserve. The invasive species of plant is making it hard for local plants to flourish.
You can work up to 40 hours a week, there’s no minimal requirement of hours you’re required to work, and you can still follow social distancing guidelines. Emerson tells our reporter, “It’s a huge mountain. You’re able to be six feet apart, you’re able to be 60 feet apart. I mean, it’s just a lot of space. You’re socially distanced, you’re getting paid and you’re getting out in nature.”
Chad Emerson says this could help us all while we’re trying to get through this pandemic. He adds, “We’re real hopeful that people will use this opportunity to improve Monte Sano Mountain and also help pay their bills.”
We’re told the program has had a good turn out so far, but they still have several positions open. To apply or get more information, click here!