In total, the bill allocates $200 million in federal stimulus funding to weatherize low-income homes and public buildings and to invest in other renewable energy and energy efficiency programs.  Weatherization will make low-income homes and public buildings more energy efficient, reduce utility bills and help to ease the climate crisis.

“The outcomes in this bill are so important for low-income people and communities of color,” said Louis King, co-chair of HIRE Minnesota and president and CEO of Summit Academy OIC.  “Throughout the legislative session, HIRE Minnesota brought regular folks to the capitol to tell our decision-makers that our communities need economic stimulus more than anyone.  Now they can see that showing up makes a difference.”

HIRE Minnesota has been advocating for training, outreach and reporting requirements to ensure this bill will benefit all Minnesotans.  Specifically, the bill includes:

• $1 million to train low-income people for weatherization jobs.  These funds will be distributed to partnerships between weatherization service providers and job training providers.
• $1 million for training low-income people in renewable energy and energy-efficiency trades.  These funds will be distributed through a competitive process.
• $500,000 for community-based nonprofit organizations to conduct outreach about renewable energy and energy-efficiency opportunities.  These funds will be distributed through a competitive application process by September 1, 2009.   This portion of the bill will create outreach jobs, as well as ensure that low-income people know they are eligible for home weatherization and other energy services.
• Requirements for the Office of Energy Security (OES), the state agency that will administer the weatherization programs, to publicize opportunities such as training, contracts and services to low-income communities and communities of color, including through “non-traditional” media.
• Language that allows the state to give preference to disadvantaged businesses and businesses in economically disadvantaged areas.
• Reporting mechanisms, which will require OES to demonstrate how these weatherization programs have benefited low-income and communities of color.  The agency will have to report its progress every three months, beginning on September 1, 2009.

These outcomes are critical in a legislative session that resulted in cutbacks to many programs serving low-income communities.  “In an otherwise fairly dismal session for low-income people, this is an even more important step in beginning to create some meaningful pathways out of poverty,” said Maura Brown, associate director of the Alliance for Metropolitan Stability.

The bill is also a big win for the environment.  It allocates 13 times more funding to state weatherization programs than they typically receive in a year. Weatherization can reduce the energy required to heat and cool a home by 20 to 30 percent annually, dramatically reducing a household’s contribution to climate change.

“This bill is an exciting first step toward a greener and more inclusive economy,” said Will Steger, HIRE Minnesota co-chair and founder of the Will Steger Foundation.  “I am so proud to be a part of this coalition that is fighting pollution and poverty at the same time.”

About HIRE Minnesota

HIRE Minnesota is a coalition of community organizations that are seeking public investments that jump-start our economy, provide access for all people to jobs, training and living wages, start to ease the climate crisis.  For more information, visit www.hiremn.org.

Participating organizations include the African American Men Project, Alliance for Metropolitan Stability, ALANA Green, Anishinabe OIC, ARC Greater Twin Cities, ARISE, American Indian OIC, Asian American Press, Catholic Charities Office for Social Justice, Cultural Wellness Center, East Metro OIC, East Side Neighborhood Development Company, EMERGE, Environmental Justice Advocates of Minnesota, Family & Children's Service, Goodwill/Easter Seals, Green Water Energy, Hmong American Mutual Assistance Association, House Green, HUBBS Center for Lifelong Learning, Indigenous Green Jobs Task Force, Insight News, ISAIAH, Jewish Community Action, KFAI Fresh Air Inc., Hope Community, Lao Assistance Center, Lao Family Community of Minnesota, League of Young Voters, L.I.F.T., Lutheran Coalition for Public Policy in Minnesota, LVY Foundation, MACC Alliance of Connected Communities, Minneapolis American Indian Center, Minnesota Baptist Convention, Minnesota Multicultural Media Consortium, Minnesota OIC State Council, Minnesota Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Alliance, Minority Business Television, OneMN.org, Peace Coffee, Phyllis Wheatley Community Center, Pillsbury United Communities, Public Policy Project, Sabathani Community Center, Stairstep, Substance, Summit Academy OIC, United Cambodian Association of Minnesota, Urban Embassy, West Side Citizens Organization, Will Steger Foundation and Women's Environmental Institute.

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