City Announces Energy Efficiency Grants for Small Business, Green Job Training

$2.4 Million Grant Helps Diverse Range of Organizations, Puts People to Work

Mayor Dave Cieslewicz joined the Urban League of Greater Madison, small business owners, job trainees and the city's Community Development Division at the Northport Commons construction site to announce grants for the city's Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grants. The city received a $2.4 million energy efficiency grant, which is funding projects from a diverse range of small businesses and community organizations. The Urban League's job training program works with unemployed or underemployed trainees, some of whom are currently working at the Northport Commons construction site. "A clean energy economy will create good jobs for workers in our community, save families money on energy bills and reduce our carbon footprint," Mayor Dave Cieslewicz said. "From the River Food Pantry to the Salvation Army to the Urban League, this funding is helping a diverse range of organizations in our community implement energy efficiency improvements and putting people to work in the process." "The weatherization grant has been an extraordinarily important addition to our workforce program options. It's enabled us to partner with effective organizations and provide training to underemployed adults that will put them on the cutting edge of construction innovation," Kaleem Caire, President & CEO of the Urban League of Greater Madison said. "We truly appreciate the support and partnership of the U.S. Department of Energy, the City of Madison and Mayor Dave Cieslewicz and look forward to graduating our first corps of construction apprentices." The Urban League's job training program, in partnership with Project Home and the START Program, will work with 18 trainees to develop green job skills. After completion of the training in summer of 2011, ULGM will work with its partners to place trainees in jobs. The city's grant will also provide grant and loan funding for 15 businesses to improve energy efficiency of their facilities. In addition, the city will launch a residential home weatherization pilot program in the coming months to assist homeowners in improving energy efficiency in their homes, saving on energy bills and reducing their carbon footprint.