Atlanta Beltline Nature-Based Workforce

With funding from the USDA Urban and Community Forestry Program, BJH Advisors developed a comprehensive Nature-Based Workforce Development Strategy for Atlanta Beltline, Inc. (ABI) in collaboration with Trees Atlanta and the Greening Youth Foundation. This initiative aimed to strengthen and diversify the talent pipeline for nature-based occupations across the Atlanta region, particularly in communities surrounding the Beltline corridor, while supporting long-term workforce equity, environmental resilience, and inclusive economic development. 

As part of this work, BJH conducted extensive labor market and industry research, including a quantitative and qualitative assessment of current and emerging nature-based occupations (e.g., landscaping, arboriculture, urban forestry, environmental conservation, ecological restoration, and horticulture). BJH designed and implemented a region-wide survey of employers, conducted stakeholder interviews and focus groups with employers and workforce providers, and analyzed wage trends, hiring challenges, and skills gaps across the sector. A key project component was a series of sector-specific career pathway maps – for occupations such as arborists, gardeners, and environmental technicians – outlining advancement ladders, credentialing requirements, training hours, salary progression, and timelines for workforce mobility. This work was shaped through regular engagement with a Steering Committee that included representatives from Atlanta Technical College, City of Atlanta agencies, Georgia Department of Labor, the Georgia Arborist Association, and other employers and workforce experts. Atlanta Beltline has since formed an implementation committee to advance the workforce development strategy deliverable.