North East Community Action Corporation (NECAC) worked with the U.S. Department of Labor St. Louis Office of Apprenticeship to develop, register, and launch a new Weatherization Assistance Program apprenticeship program.
Weatherization Assistance Program
November 1, 2023
minute read time
About the Project
There is a national labor shortage, especially for weatherization. It is hard to find employees and hard to compete with high wages in other industries. A collaboration amongst several Missouri organizations sought to provide better training and support through an apprenticeship model for those interested in joining the weatherization workforce.
Challenge
Economy-wide labor shortages created challenges for finding and retaining new entry-level workers in Missouri’s weatherization program.
Solution
North East Community Action Corporation (NECAC) worked with the U.S. Department of Labor St. Louis Office of Apprenticeship to develop, register, and launch a new Weatherization Assistance Program apprenticeship program. It is a 1-year apprenticeship program for entry-level retrofit installers. The apprenticeship includes 144 hours in the classroom and training on several different weatherization-related tasks. Additional benefits of Missouri’s apprenticeship program include: competitive wages, a Monday through Thursday work schedule, 100% health insurance and dental coverage, and retirement plans.
NECAC partnered with many organizations such as the Missouri Department of Labor, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Northeast Missouri Workforce Development Board, and others for funding, marketing and recruitment.
Positive Impact
NECAC partnered with many organizations and used their existing Weatherization Assistance Program training resources to develop new educational content and new opportunities for trainees. To support recruiting and retention, the apprenticeship model provides not only a clear schedule for classroom and on-site skills training, but also establishes a pathway and expectations for apprentices to see wage growth and career progression. NECAC has also partnered with a local technical school to develop a pre-apprenticeship program as an additional pipeline and pathway to weatherization careers.
In the apprenticeship program’s first year, four individuals completed the program and were hired as employees. In the following 2 years, another 16 trainees came into the apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship program and onto NECAC’s staff. NECAC is now working to create and register a second apprenticeship program for energy auditors.
Partners
- North East Community Action Corporation
- U.S. Department of Labor St. Louis Office of Apprenticeship
This story was developed using content from a Community Action Partnership webinar. You can view the webinar on YouTube.