Walmart Foundation’s Green Jobs Training Initiative Awards $550,000 to Milwaukee Conservation Leadership Corps

Grant to support local green economy

MILWAUKEE, Wis – The Walmart Foundation today presented a $550,000 grant from its Green Jobs Training Initiative to the Milwaukee Conservation Leadership Corps (CLC) program. The grant, presented in collaboration with the U.S. Conference of Mayors, will support local job training and youth employment experience in conservation projects.

The Milwaukee CLC, created and sponsored by Johnson Controls, is a partnership program operated by the Student Conservation Association, Milwaukee Area Workforce Investment Board and Johnson Controls. “With the Walmart Foundation Green Jobs Training Initiative grant, the Milwaukee Conservation Leadership Corps will expand the number of local youth able to receive job training and gain exposure to a range of green sector jobs,” Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said today at a press conference in the Menomonee Valley Community Park. “Preparing students with the right skills to succeed in the green workforce will directly support our community’s economic development.”

The Milwaukee Conservation Leadership Corps consists of crews of urban high-school students who spend six weeks during the summer completing vital conservation projects to preserve public lands and improve access to Milwaukee parks. During the program, members complete hands-on conservation projects, build job skills, develop a strong work ethic and gain a personal sense of stewardship for the environment. The program focuses on preparing economically and socially disadvantaged high-school age youth for the job market. Key components of the program include:

* Paid summer employment in a difficult job market.
* Job-readiness skills training for jobs in the green economy.
* Hands-on conservation work experience.
* Developing a “green jobs pipeline” for businesses and government agencies.
* Strengthening an awareness of environmental sustainability.

The grant check was presented to Mayor Barrett, Donald Sykes, President and CEO of the Milwaukee Area Workforce Investment Board, and Mark Bodin, Chief Operating Officer of the Student Conservation Association based in Charlestown, N.H. The location of the presentation is one of 10 site locations where students are working this summer.

“The Walmart Foundation is committed to supporting job-training programs that address the need for a green job-ready workforce to support this growing economic engine,” said Lisa Nelson, senior manager of Public Affairs for Walmart. “Mayor Tom Barrett’s innovative leadership and his partnership with the Milwaukee Conservation Leadership Corps stand out as an exemplary program that will help build a strong green economy in Milwaukee.”

According to the Milwaukee Conservation Leadership Corps, the Walmart Foundation Green Jobs Training Initiative will support the following:

* Expansion of the summer program to 100 participants from its current 50 participants.
* Launch a school-year program for 30 youth participants.
* Strengthen recruitment and retention processes.
* Prepare crew leaders to deliver green jobs training curriculum and report the results.
* Ensure the delivery of the highest quality of green jobs training to those that need it.

The Walmart Foundation donated $5 million to the U.S. Conference of Mayors to support the Green Jobs Training Initiative. The grant to the U.S. Conference of Mayors will work to create jobs in an array of emerging green industries. In the spring of 2009, through a competitive selection process led by the U.S. Conference of Mayors, six grants were awarded to non-profit organizations that have a history of working with mayors to train people for green jobs. In early 2010, three additional grants will be given to cities with newer commitments to providing green workforce training.

Walmart’s Sustainability Commitment
As part of its company-wide sustainability goals, Walmart is committed to being supplied 100 percent by renewable energy, creating zero waste and selling environmentally-friendly products. The company is moving toward these goals by using sustainable sourcing practices including energy efficiency, waste reduction, renewable energy and lifecycle management. These initiatives are making Walmart a more sustainable company and helping create a favorable environment for green job creation.

About Philanthropy at Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) and the Wal-Mart Foundation are proud to support the charitable causes that are important to customers and associates in their own neighborhoods. Through its philanthropic programs and partnerships, the Wal-Mart Foundation supports initiatives focused on creating opportunities in education, workforce development, environmental sustainability, and health and wellness. In 2007, Walmart, Sam’s Club and the Wal-Mart Foundation gave $296 million to communities across the United States. To learn more, visit www.walmartfoundation.org.

Ed. Note: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. is the legal trade name of the corporation. The name "Walmart" expressed as one word and without punctuation, is a trademark of the company and is used analogously to describe the company and its stores. Use the trade name when it is necessary to identify the legal entity, such as when reporting financial results, litigation or corporate governance.

About U.S. Conference of Mayors
The U.S. Conference of Mayors is the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. There are 1,139 such cities in the country today, each represented in the Conference by its chief elected official, the Mayor.

About Johnson Controls
Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI) is the global leader that brings ingenuity to the places where people live, work and travel. By integrating technologies, products and services, we create smart environments that redefine the relationships between people and their surroundings. Our team of 140,000 employees creates a more comfortable, safe and sustainable world through our products and services for more than 200 million vehicles, 12 million homes and one million commercial buildings. Our commitment to sustainability drives our environmental stewardship, good corporate citizenship in our workplaces and communities, and the products and services we provide to customers. For additional information, please visit www.johnsoncontrols.com.

About the Student Conservation Association
SCA is a nationwide conservation force of college and high school students who protect and restore America’s parks, forests, refuges, seashores and communities. For more than 50 years, SCA’s active, hands-on practice of conservation service has helped to develop a new generation of conservation leaders, inspire lifelong stewardship, and save the planet. SCA is a non-profit headquartered in Charlestown, N.H. For further information, visit www.thesca.org.

Milwaukee Area Workforce Investment Board
The MAWIB is the local workforce development board for the Milwaukee area and serves as the lead agency for the coordination, planning and administration of employment & training services for youth and adults. The MAWIB is the administrator of federal Workforce Investment Act (WIA) funding as well as other public and corporate grants to enhance local services. In partnership with leaders from the community, government, private industry, labor, and education the MAWIB develops workforce solutions to meet local and regional workforce and economic development needs. To learn more please visit us at: www.milwaukeewib.org