Two US organisations will receive $5.7 million (US) in grants from the Wal-Mart Foundation to promote the development of green jobs, the foundation announced today.

A grant of $5 million will go the the US Conference of Mayors, while Veterans Green Jobs will receive $750,000.

The announcement follows news today that a Global Insight study predicts 10 percent of US job growth will be green by 2038. That would make green jobs the fastest-growing sector of employment growth in the country.

The US Conference of Mayors plans to use its funding to award six grants to non-profit groups with a history of working with mayors in green jobs training. Those grants are expected to be awarded this spring. The conference also expects to award three more grants next year to cities making new commitments for green jobs training.

“Given that 85 percent of all green jobs are expected to be located in cities and their metro areas in the coming years, this grant could not come at a better time,” said Manny Diaz, president of the US Conference of Mayors and mayor of Miami.

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