$1.5 Million Allows PWC to Serve More in the Community
Posted on September 07, 2010 by jock pitts
Last week U.S. Department of Energy awarded People Working Cooperatively a $1.5 million grant for home weatherization work in Ohio. This is a significant milestone for PWC and the clients we serve. It is the first time PWC has received direct funding from the federal government – putting us amongst an elite group across the nation to receive such a grant. We are pleased to be selected for this program and honored to be entrusted with these significant dollars that will allow us to reach out and help many more needy homeowners with the energy conservation services they need to save on utility usage.
What makes this award so exciting is that it utilizes PWC’s unique method of leveraging DOE dollars with both private and public funds to provide a comprehensive, meaningful service for homeowners.
As has been our mission for the past 35 years, this money will go to the homeowners who need it most in the region. We’ll tighten up these homes to make them more efficient, blow in installation, replace furnaces and install high-efficiency equipment when appropriate. For those with natural gas, electric or other fuels sources, we will typically cut usage by at least 20 percent, saving the homeowner’s precious financial resources while curbing energy output and reducing pollution.
What does this mean for our clients? Homeowners who have had to face critical budget decisions – fix the furnace or buy medication and food – can worry just a little bit less. $1.5 million means we will be able to help at least 675 more local households stay warm this winter, directly benefiting the client and the community in an immediate, effective manner.
What does this mean for PWC? We are already growing an expanding into new territories and this grant will enable PWC to hire additional staff as well as recruit 100 volunteers to assist with the implementation of the program. More people equal more help for those who need it.
At PWC, we believe we can keep fragile low income homeowners living safely in the homes they love, benefitting not just the homeowner, but the community and the entire region. Our programs help to maintain safety and stability with quality, professional services.
In all, we are excited and energized by the DOE dollars and look forward to beginning this program in January 2011. Meanwhile, if you know someone who is in need of our home energy conservation and weatherization services, please give us a call at (513) 351-7921.