TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The City of Tampa is expanding its Green Team program for the next three years and doubling the number of members.

This expansion is made possible thanks to new funding made available through an AmeriCorps grant administered by Volunteer Florida.

Tampa’s Green Team is an environmental stewardship program that promotes sustainability and resiliency throughout the community. The newest Green Team class welcomed 19 new members who began training on Monday, according to a news release.

“Programs like this are at the heart of our mission of Transforming Tampa’s Tomorrow,” said Mayor Jane Castor. “This young team is building workforce skills while helping to restore our environment, engaging with residents about ways to protect it, and strengthening our city’s resilience for years to come.”

The last team, which consisted of nine members, graduated in July after a year of service in which they achieved significant milestones such as:

• Planting 375 trees and more than 9,400 plants
• Removing over 49,000 pounds of litter and debris from waterways and parks throughout the city
• Educating more than 4,500 residents and youth about environmental stewardship
• Earning professional certifications such as the Urban Agriculture Specialist Certification
• Supporting city initiatives, including Hurricane response efforts following last year’s storms.

The program will continue to provide meaningful impact and learning opportunities across the city.