On August 16, 2010, U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) touted the boost the Recovery Act has given to green-job training for local workers. Appearing at the site of Bergen County Community Action Partnership’s future state-of-the-art vocational training facility, Menendez highlighted a $29 million investment nationally in Recovery Act awards for Weatherization Training Centers; Bergen County Community Action Partnership, Inc. (BCCAP) is the designated training center in New Jersey. Senator Menendez joined us along with Bergen County Executive Dennis McNerney, Garfield Mayor Frank J. Calandriello and students and graduates of the Weatherization Program. Somers Steelman and Raul Rodriquez, recent graduates of the program, were present, as well as their employer, Richard McFarlane, President of McFarlane Insulation.
This expanded state-of-the-art training facility will become functional in the Fall of 2010 at BCCAP’s facility at 535 Midland Avenue, Garfield. Training will be under the auspices of BCCAP’s NJ State-licensed vocational training school, approved by the NJ Dept. of Labor and Workforce Development to provide Weatherization training. Forty students will be trained annually. National certifications will be attainable and include OSHA, Lead Renovator and BPI (Building Performance Institute). Upon graduation, job placement will be a key component in this effort.
David Wenegrat, BCCAP Director of Real Estate and Weatherization Services shows Senator Menendez and his Senior Policy Advisor Carolyn Fefferman architectural plans for the new Weatherization Training Center.
Through Community Services Block Grant stimulus funding, BCCAP has already initiated a Weatherization Pilot training program that is providing four, six-week sessions. About to begin its fourth, and final, 6-week session, BCCAP’s Job Development unit has been working with the trainees to secure employment upon graduation. The new Weatherization Training Center will expand the current six-week program to ten weeks this Fall and will follow a nationally recognized DOE curriculum.
“For over 40 years, Bergen County Community Action Partnership has been the leader in generating energy conservation in Bergen County,” said Bob Halsch, BCCAP Executive Director. “Community Action is excited about the Federal Government’s increased investment in weatherization and commitment to reduce energy costs for our residents.”
“This federal effort gives Bergen County the unique opportunity to offer green technology training that includes supervised fieldwork in actual homes being weatherized, while at the same time providing Weatherization services to hundreds of Bergen County homes, thus making them more energy efficient,” added Dr. Allan DeGiulio, Deputy Executive Director.
