On October 28, 2009, Governor Edward G. Rendell announced that $1.1 million in federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds will be used to train a weatherization workforce. More than 1,000 Pennsylvanians seeking to become weatherization installers, crew chiefs and auditors will receive training through this investment.
Johnson College was chosen as one of only six training providers, receiving a grant of $132,000 to provide weatherization training. The grant’s service region includes twelve counties in Northern and Eastern Pennsylvania. As one of the funding recipients, Johnson College will help Pennsylvania identify, train and certify workers to complete high-quality energy reduction, conservation and weatherization activities in approximately 29,000 single- and multi-family homes across the state.
The awards and training are part of a joint effort by the departments of Labor & Industry and Community and Economic Development to enhance a Weatherization Assistance Program. Weatherization focuses on making homes more energy efficient, maximizing energy and minimizing costs. The program will provide training and career-focused employment to Pennsylvania’s workforce, create green jobs, improve residential energy efficiency, and aid the commonwealth’s economic recovery.
“This grant is a natural extension of Johnson College’s mission and will provide many workers with the skills necessary to improve efficiency in the residential housing sector,” explains Mr. Dominick Carachilo, Vice President of Academic Affairs.
Johnson College will be providing all training courses at Simplex Industries, Inc. Simplex, located in Scranton, is a leader in modular home production and green building practices. Mrs. Marie Allison, Johnson College’s Director of Continuing Education, comments, “We are thrilled by the opportunity to offer training classes at Simplex. They have been a tremendous partner to the College for many years and are strong advocates of green initiatives.”
Prospective students can contact their nearest PA CareerLink® office for enrollment information after November 8, 2009, www.pacareerlink.state.pa.us. For information concerning Johnson College, please call (570) 342-6404 or (800) 2WE-WORK.
From left to right: Paul Caruso, Vice President of Operations, Simplex Industries, Inc.; Marie Allison, Director of Continuing Education, Johnson College; David Pistner, Weatherization Training Director, PA Department of Labor & Industry; David Boniello ‘84, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Simplex Industries, Inc.; Dominick Carachilo ‘82, Vice President of Academic Affairs, Johnson College
