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FRESH Energy

VWW's mission is to provide vocational training and employment opportunities for women, as well as education programs for girls to promote self-confidence and career awareness. FRESH Energy focuses on weatherization and solar tracker installation, offering on-the-job training and cross-training opportunities. With strategic partnerships and certifications, VWW has successfully operated two crews and installed solar tracker units while retaining a high percentage of trainees. To change the face of green jobs, funding for career education, pre-apprenticeship training, and a shift in cultural attitudes towards trades and technical careers are necessary.

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FRESH Energy

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  1. FRESH Energy www.vtworksforwomen.org BUILDING CONFIDENCE TEACHING SKILLS CHANGING LIVES

  2. VWW: Mission and Work • Vocational training in nontraditional fields • Supported employment opportunities for women with particular barriers to employment • Education programs for girls that develop self-confidence, promote career awareness, and boost girls’ participation in trades and technical programs

  3. Moving Women into Green Careers • Incorporating green skills into girls’ programming • Weaving green construction education and skills-building into trades training • Modular Home program for incarcerated women, Step Up to Green Carpentry • FRESH Energy: on the job training program for women focused on weatherization and solar tracker installation

  4. FRESH Energy • Weatherization work (insulation, air sealing, light carpentry, window replacement) • Energy Audits and consults • Installation of solar tracker systems

  5. FRESH Energy: Impetus • Sustainable training • Intensive and broad-based experience that strikes a balance between training and production • Cross-training opportunities (tracker installation and weatherization) • Low capitalization = greater opportunity for women to grow into small business owners

  6. The First Ten Months: • Employed crews of 2 and 5 trainees • Installed 39 solar tracker units • Air sealed 63 units of mixed income housing as subcontractor • Ongoing subcontractor to state’s leading Community Action weatherization program • Private weatherization jobs • Energy audits for affordable housing agencies

  7. Certifications • State’s first registered apprenticeship for Weatherization Installer and Technician (2000 hours) • BPI-certified - Lead Technician • Building Envelope Professional; Building Analyst Professional; Heating Professional • EPA Lead RRP (Lead renovator, remodeler and painter) – all crew

  8. Critical Components:Strategic Partnerships • Access to bigger projects (and better training opportunities) • Mentoring in technical and back office skills • Trainees exposed to range of employers and worksites • 3 Way Win: environmental stewardship; reducing utility bills for low-income Vermonters; creating jobs

  9. BPW Foundation/Walmart The US Department of Labor, Women’s Bureau The Great Bay Foundation

  10. In three years… • Self-funded • Two crews operating in the northern and southern regions of the state employing a total of ten women • Preferred provider pr subcontractor for state housing agencies and community action weatherization programs • Balance of work - energy audits, weatherization, and solar tracker installs • 80 percent retention rate in field • Some graduates will pursue self-employment

  11. Changing the Face of Green Jobs will Require… • Funding meaningful, intensive career education and exploration activities for children in grades K-12 • Funding pre-apprenticeship training opportunities for women at levels that will make a difference • Supporting retention activities

  12. Changing the Face of Green Jobs will Require… • A shift in cultural attitudes that have de-valued trades and technical and careers • Shifting the debate from equity to economic development • Male champions for whom this is a priority

  13. For additional information: Tiffany Bluemle32A Malletts Bay AvenueWinooski, VT 05404(802) 655-8900(800) 639-1472www.vtworksforwomen.org BUILDING CONFIDENCE TEACHING SKILLS CHANGING LIVES

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