This is a proposal to obtain Federal funding for Arlington County Government to begin a jobs program for 200 unemployed persons who would undertake energy conservation tasks designed to reduce energy use in Arlington County.

Cost of the proposal: $10 million for 220 positions
Each job would be for a 40 hour work week, paying a base wage of $13 per hour, plus health benefits plan coverage using the Arlington county health benefits program. Annually, the cost of each position totals $35,000 composed of $27,000 for wages, $3,000 for employment taxes, and $5,000 for medical benefits. The cost of 200 positions would be thus $7 million. In addition, Arlington County Government would be reimbursed for 20 positions to administer and supervise the program (at a cost of $50,000 per position) or $1 million. In addition, training costs of $1,000 per employee would be required or about $200,000; equipment and supplies would be purchased at a cost of $1 million.

Scope of Jobs
The two hundred employees would be trained to do a full range of energy conservation and weatherization projects for low income residents, and for public buildings in Arlington. These tasks would include: first, energy audits using appropriate air flow devices and measurement of insulation; second, installation of insulation, caulking, weather stripes, CFL and LED bulbs, painting, and basic carpentry. The training would be conducted by the Northern Virginia Community College or by other training vendors selected by the Arlington County Government Employment Center.
In addition, these employees would engage in tree planting, park clean up, and public area improvements including maintenance and clean up of public steams and river beds. Tree planting would be done in public areas and road and highway adjacent areas.

Beneficiaries of the Services
These services would first benefit low income renters and homeowners would receive the services that would cut their utility bills substantially. Secondly, the improvement of public areas and tree planting would yield environmental improvements to the county and the public in general.
The energy audits and improvements would first be done for Arlington county low income homeowners and renters who receive housing assistance (housing grants, property tax relief, and rental assistance) from Arlington County. There are over 2,000 households receiving such assistance. Thereafter, low income households could apply for this assistance. The second tier of individuals would be those residing in subsidized apartments operated by nonprofit housing providers in Arlington (about 7,000 such units). Lower heating, air conditioning and electricity bills would provide direct help to low income individuals who are struggling just to pay their rent and/or mortgage. The housing grants for example are generally less than $200 a month; so even a $30 to 50 per month lower utility bill, will have a major benefit for these individuals.

For more information, contact John Reeder
Email [email protected]
Phone 703-536-7834