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A Resource for Local Industry Issue: 30, May 2010 |
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Recovery Act Funds Aid Energy Efficiency
Gov. Bev Perdue this week announced that an additional $10.3 million in federal Recovery Act funding for energy efficiency block grants has been awarded to help 90 public school systems, community colleges and local governments save on utility and fuel bills and create jobs.
“Investing in green energy and creating green jobs is one of my top priorities,” said Gov. Perdue. “These federal recovery funds will create jobs, reduce energy consumption and save taxpayers money on county and municipal utility bills.”
The grants program is administered by the North Carolina Energy Office, part of the state’s Department of Commerce, to encourage energy conservation and economic investment in counties, municipalities, community colleges and public schools.
Rutherford County received $209,175 for the county and town of Forest City to install lighting improvements; Rutherford County Schools for room sensors, programmable thermostats, solar assisted hot water systems and other energy and water conservation measures. Total cost of the project is $300,524.
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College Puts People Back to Work Through JobsNow Program Eighteen students from Isothermal Community College recently obtained well-paying jobs after completing the JobsNow Pipefitting Class. Twenty-two students started the 370 hour class that provides nationally recognized credentials in Core Craft Skills, Occupational Safety, Pipefitting I and Pipefitting II. The credentials are certified by the National Center for Construction Education and Research. Fifteen of the students have gone to work with Shaw Construction at the Duke Energy Cliffside Steam Station site. Appling Boring, DZ Atlantic and Superior Machining also hired graduates of the program. the program is targeted at displaced workers.
Funding for this initiative was supported by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), the north Carolina Department of Commerce, North Carolina Division of Workforce Development and the Region C Workforce Development Board.
Another class is set to begin in July 2010. Potential applicants should contact Linda Sprouse at 828-245-9841 or 828-287-0262, ext. 1261, to see if they are eligible.
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The Economic Development Office is here to serve you as best we can. Please let us know if we can assist you in your own expansion possibilities, customer relocations, workforce data, etc. 142 E. Main Street, Suite 100 Forest City, NC 28043 828.248.1716 (w), 828.248.1771 (f) |
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