Young Mainers Weatherization Corps

Recovering America’s Youth SummitChicago, IllinoisNovember 17-18, 2009

Governor Baldacci’s Vision for Maine…

• An Act Regarding Maine’s Energy Future – A comprehensive energy package passed into law this year that

includes the Governor’s goal of weatherizing all residences and 50 percent of businesses by 2030

– The Governor’s 2009 State of the State address outlined his vision for a youth weatherization corps trained to help meet Maine’s energy goals

– “Maine has the highest dependence on imported fossil fuels of any state, one of the coldest winter climates, and a housing stock built in the era of cheap oil. Fortunately, our people are committed to be part of the solution…it will take a partnership from all sectors”. Gov. John E. Baldacci

Maine’s ARRA Summer Youth Employment Program

• Maine received approximately 4.3 million in ARRA WIA youth funds

• Funding flowed through Maine Department of Labor to Local Workforce Boards.

• Goal – 95% work readiness skill attainment

• Over 700 youth participated during Summer 2009

Young Mainers Weatherization Corps

• A partnership of the Maine Department of Labor, MaineHousing, the four Local Workforce Boards, CAP agencies, employers and service providers.

• Initial goal of training 100 young people to be able to meet Maine’s weatherization needs.

• Local Workforce Boards issued a RFP to solicit proposals from interested organizations.

Demographics of youth participants

• 60 young people from around the state

• Ages 18-24

• WIA eligible – many with multiple barriers

Key program components:

• Work readiness skill attainment

• Safety certification in OSHA – 10

• Weatherization Technician certification

• Paid work experience

Featured project:Kibby Wind Power Project

• Located at Kibby Mountain and Kibby Range in geographically remote Franklin County.

• Partnering with the CareerCenter, Adult Education and local employers – 15 youth participated in a 6-week work experience and training on construction trades centered on green power/wind farm implementation projects.

• Unique Feature: Participating youth given opportunity to get in on the ground floor of Maine’s up and coming wind energy industry.

Featured project: LearningWorks

• LearningWorks is a Portland, Maine non-profit dedicated to providing learning opportunities for at-risk youth, the immigrant community, and low-income families.

• Enrolled 22 youth in the Weatherization Corps.

• Students learned green job skills in building maintenance while weatherizing low-income housing units.

• Unique Features:

– Participants enrolled in weatherization tech registered pre-apprenticeship

– Students completed OSHA-10, OSHA-30, LEAD Safe Renovator (DEP), NCCER & CASA work readiness certifications in addition to Weatherization Tech certification.

– 192 hours of work during the eight weeks counted towards Green Apprenticeship

Weatherization in the news…

• http://www.wabi.tv/news/7344/employing-young-workers-in-weatherization

Early outcomes

• Outcome data analysis is still in the early stages.

• Tracking youth outcomes for employment and retention , although important, will be very difficult due to the short duration of youth participation.

• Information learned during monitoring and follow-up was overwhelmingly positive from provider organizations, worksites, youth and supervisors.

• Currently work readiness attainment is at approximately 70% and rising.

• A Recent update from LearningWorks found that:– 21 of 22 students completed the summer program.– 11 of the 21 are employed in the field including 8 in registered apprenticeships– 5 have gone to college– 5 unknown/unemployed

Challenges and next steps

• Summer Employment Programs have been wildly successful. Until ARRA funding we had no summer work experience program.

• Although not all the funding was spent in 2009,without additional funding a program for Summer 2010 would have to be considerably smaller than this year’s.

• The Green Jobs economy is growing and there is a lot of work to be done to identify other “green” skills and training that are needed now and for the future – in addition to current training in weatherization tech and energy auditor.

Stephen R. Duval - Division Director, Policy and EvaluationMaine Department of Labor Bureau of Employment Services45 Commerce Center DriveAugusta, Maine 04333Phone: 207-623-7988, 1-800-794-1110(TTY)Stephen.r.duval@maine.gov

Libby Stone-SterlingLabor Program SpecialistMaine Department of LaborBureau of Employment Services45 Commerce Center DriveAugusta, Maine 04333Phone: 207-623-7969, 1-800-794-1110(TTY)Libby.stone-sterling@maine.gov

For more information:

The Maine Department of Labor provides Equal Opportunity in employment and programs.Auxiliary aids and services are available to individuals with disabilities upon request.