FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kristie Farnham, Director of Business Support
Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development
(802) 398-5268; Kristie.Farnham@vermont.gov
SEON Receives Grant Award to Design and Deliver High Performance Builder Program
BRATTLEBORO, Vt. – The Windham County Economic Development Program (WCEDP) has awarded the Sustainable Energy Outreach Network (SEON) $32,500 to develop and deliver a Workforce Development System in which successful completers are awarded a Level 1 Industry Recognized Credential (IRC) as a High-Performance Builder in the Residential and Light Commercial Industry at the entry level of the carpentry trade.
The target group includes career center students, adults/college students and incumbent carpenters. It will also assist the complementary building trades (electricians, plumbers, HVAC, enclosure trades, and indoor sales reps at home centers) to increase their working knowledge of Building Science.
“We will be marketing to candidates who are looking for a sense of purpose, are inquisitive, and recognize the long haul of continuous learning. SEON will be establishing, within our region, a community of builders with a unique commitment to high performance buildings – whether new or renovated,” said Guy Payne, Executive Director of SEON.
With the increasing demand for green building practice and capabilities, this project will begin to provide the construction industry with the required talent pool that has a passion to contribute to the climate change economy. New building concepts and skills of Building Science will be introduced that emphasize energy efficiency, renewable energy, indoor air quality, comfort, and moisture management. Registration for the High-Performance Builder program will begin in a few months.
“The mission of our economic development programs such as WCEDP and Vermont Talent Pipeline Management is to create a workforce that can infuse energy and fresh talent into Vermont’s industries. SEON’s Workforce Development System will make Windham County a leading producer of High Performance Builders in the state of Vermont,” said Joan Goldstein, Commissioner of the Department of Economic Development at the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development.
WCEDP is administered by the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development in cooperation with the WCEDP Advisory Council and promotes economic development in Windham County by providing funds to stimulate job creation through business start-up, expansion, or relocation, by encouraging entrepreneurial activity, and by strengthening the economic development infrastructure to ensure a strong foundation for transformational economic activity.
For more information on SEON contact Guy Payne at admin@seon.info or 802-376-9262.
For more information on WCEDP, visit http://accd.vermont.gov/economic-development/funding-incentives/windham….