WASHINGTON, DC, July 29 – The National Community Action Foundation’s today released a Request for Proposal (RFP) seeking programs to train weatherization workers that utilize creative curricula, innovative partnerships and cutting edge technologies through the NCAF ExxonMobil Weatherization Training Partnership. The RFP was released at the U.S. Department of Energy’s 2009 National Weatherization Training Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The Weatherization Training Partnership, created with a $5 million grant from ExxonMobil, seeks to increase America’s energy efficiency and stimulate job creation and economic growth by creating a sustainable green collar career path for weatherization workers. The Partnership’s competitive grant program will finance novel projects that will increase the efficiency, quality and effectiveness of the Department of Energy’s Weatherization Assistance Program by supporting advanced training models for weatherization workers.

"Weatherization programs across the country are growing rapidly thanks to President Obama’s economic stimulus. The NCAF ExxonMobil Weatherization Training Partnership will help ensure that thousands of new weatherization workers will receive training that will prepare them not only to meet the President's weatherization goals, but also to pursue a sustainable private sector career in the expanding field of energy efficiency," said David Bradley, executive director of the National Community Action Foundation. "We look forward to reviewing a multitude of proposals from urban and rural areas, weatherization experts and new partners, all with the common goal of increasing America’s energy security and creating new job opportunities by delivering greater energy efficiency to communities nationwide."

NCAF intends to award several large-scale project grants ranging from $500,000 to $1.5 million as well as several smaller project grants up to approximately $300,000. Successful projects will train weatherization workers for opportunities in the residential retrofit market and lay the foundation for career opportunities in other markets. Training models must be replicable and scalable to meet the needs of a growing weatherization workforce.

Interested parties must submit a Letter of Interest by September 4, 2009. Selected applicants will then be advised to compete for funding by submitting a full proposal. Grantees will be selected by the Partnership’s expert Advisory Council, and grants will be managed by NCAF.

Speaking at DOE's National Weatherization Training Conference, ExxonMobil's Michael Roman said, "While current weatherization training programs are making notable progress, NCAF and ExxonMobil wanted to take this important initiative to the next level. Through our Weatherization Training Partnership, we hope to enhance weatherization training by supporting new models that bring together expertise from across sectors including community action agencies, federal, state and local governments, workers, environmental groups and the private sector."

ExxonMobil's donation to NCAF to create the Weatherization Training Partnership will support projects that will expand the scale and scope of existing training programs so workers are well-prepared for sustainable careers in the growing fields of energy efficiency and weatherization. ExxonMobil's grant is the largest ever private contribution to community organizations that work with the Department of Energy’s Weatherization Assistance Program.

About NCAF

NCAF is the voice of America’s Community Action Agencies (CAAs) in Washington. NCAF works with members of Congress, the executive branch and state governments on behalf of the 1100 local organizations in the Community Services Block Grant network to advocate for effective policies and meaningful resources that will address the root causes of poverty. NCAF analyzes national and state legislative and policy proposals and collects, analyzes and disseminates data about programs and investment strategies focused on reducing poverty in low-income communities. NCAF also serves as a liaison between the CAA network, allied national organizations and private sector leaders.

About the Weatherization Assistance Program

Established in 1976, the Department of Energy's Weatherization Assistance Program enables low- income families to permanently reduce energy bills by improving energy efficiency in their homes through distribution of funding to all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Native American tribes to support state and local weatherization programs. Since its inception, more than 6.2 million homes have been weatherized. In 2008, the program helped create approximately 21,000 jobs.