12.10.2009 8:32 PM

The Next Steps for Real Job Creation

Green building and tax incentives can play a big role.

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kerry mitchell founder of green real estate education a green realtor

Photo: Kerry Mitchell

By Kerry Mitchell

How have jobs been created in the past? I don't remember it being the governments' responsibility to create jobs or pay for this. Aren't we a happier bunch when people are not on unemployment and gainfully occupied? Isn't it the responsibility of those who are in business to employee those locally? I got that impression. Now, I'll chime in on what I feel will really turn things around.

It's like a light bulb is going off. Let's start a new industrial revolution. Let's think of a new industry everyone has interest in for one reason or another. What are the buzzwords all are talking about? Do I hear interest in creating jobs, using less power, green, environmental concepts, green building, energy efficiency, using our own natural resources, not importing oil and interest in having lower utility bills? Who hasn't heard the possibilities of having healthier indoor air quality? Who isn't interested in energy savings unless you are seriously out of touch?

Big business can add more product lines for developing renewable energy products and systems, funded by tax breaks and tax incentives could be worth a look. How about furniture that is made from non-toxic materials? Interested? If you are a company and need a new strategy and desire an in with the new green economy, what if you hire 10 or 100 people and you get X amount of dollars as a tax break, isn't that called a win-win situation?

Now, if you like that idea, make it happen NOW and tell your congressman to create mandatory legislation. If a home or business is renovated to become carbon neutral, the interest rate could be as low as 2%. This is not my idea. This is a program from Architecture 2030. Now, begin to educate those in the workforce in the new arena of energy and green building. Keep the prices low and keep education within reach. Our company Green Real Estate Education keeps every "green" course we offer under $100.

How about this, if each solar and wind manufacturer gets a high percentage of a tax break to manufacture more cost effective systems, this means adding research, manufacturing and sales staff. How about an incentive for adding new positions in any start-up company with a really low interest rate, like 2%? If banks aren't agreeable, let this lending practice be administered online or threaten to close them down! Haven't they made enough money from us? It is time for banks to give back to us. Manufacturing new products that will attract buyers and create jobs, staffing and developing our own resources can only help our economy. Tax incentives for companies with refunds processed quarterly would be good play with IRS participation. When was the last time they helped out?

Look at Austria, Sweden and other countries that have stimulated their economy with efforts such as requiring citizens to become carbon neutral. It won't hurt the United States to copy others who have achieved success. If we do proper due diligence and stop trying to look elsewhere, our economy will recover faster. It is not a partisan issue, yet it would please both parties. The Republicans can see the money flowing to big business in a plan like this and it doesn't involve more stimulus money. The Democrats will like it because it has to do with addressing climate change, and did I say please no more stimulus money? My friends and family are tired of going into depression, they want to be busy. They are willing to try new endeavors.

While it is good the media tells us that job loss is not as bad as it was last week, or that the economists say things are turning around, are they reporting on the United States? If we think of the media as an animal, does the head know what the tail reports? You analyze this and that, murders, Tiger's woes, and those who are abducted. It should not be rocket science on what we really want to know about. We want to hear about putting our friends and family back to work. Come on media and our business leaders, report that there is money in energy independence.

Kerry Mitchell is the founder and course developer of Green Real Estate Education, which is on target to educate more than 20,000 real estate professionals in going green by 2010. Mitchell established the recognized certification for the real estate industry, the GCREP.GL. She worked for 14 years as a licensed real estate broker in Maryland and Florida, where she now resides.

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