The North East Community Action Corporation (NECAC) discussed its weatherization apprenticeship program with people across the nation as part of a recent webinar.

NECAC Deputy Director for Housing Development Carla Potts spoke with 136 stakeholders. The agency showcases the apprenticeship as a model for weatherization programs across the country.

The webinar was sponsored by the National Community Action Foundation and the Interstate Renewable Energy Council.

“The webinar was important in highlighting the apprenticeship role in making agencies stronger, providing a green-energy pathway for workers and increasing the workforce to help more residents have the benefits of weatherization to lower their energy bills,” Potts said.

The apprenticeship program was developed by NECAC in March 2021 in partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor, Missouri Department of Labor, the Northeast Missouri Workforce Development Board and Pike-Lincoln Technical Center.

The goal is to provide newly-hired weatherization employees with skills that will allow them to work in a variety of construction and green-energy job fields.

The program consists of 144 hours of classroom learning and 2,000 hours of on-the-job education. Upon completion, participants earn a Department of Labor certification as a home performance laborer.

Twenty-two trainees have been enrolled so far. Seventeen have graduated from the program and are still with NECAC Weatherization. Three are now energy auditors.

More information about the apprenticeship program is available by calling the agency at 573-324-6622.