Nathan Sick, Jincy Wilson, and Shayne Spaulding
Urban Institute
May 2026
Corps Program Overview
Louisiana Green Corps (LAGC)1 is a conservation corps program that provides young adults with occupational training, with a focus on addressing racial inequity, building local climate resilience, and connecting individuals to skilled trades careers. Youth corps are organizations or programs that engage young adults ages 16 to 30 in service projects that address conservation and community needs, in many cases while building workforce skills.2 LAGC serves the New Orleans metro area and offers introductory training in construction, stormwater management, solar energy, and other skilled trades, including HVAC and electrical work.
part of the solution
Members receive wraparound support services and gain hands-on experience through projects such as tree planting, green infrastructure maintenance, community solar installation, and home weatherization.
LAGC was founded in 2008 with a mission “to be a social, environmental, and economic change agent” for the New Orleans region. LAGC is a small program, with fewer than 10 staff and between $1 and $2 million in total funding. Most funding comes from public sources, followed by foundation grants from philanthropies such as Kellogg Foundation, JP Morgan Chase, Kresge Foundation, and Capital One. AmeriCorps3 funds are limited, supporting just two members serving as assistant corps supervisors. LAGC is exploring fee-for-service or city contracts as future revenue sources.