Weatherization Public Information Campaign Technical Site Events & Messaging

1. Weatherization Public Information Campaign Technical Site Events & Messaging

2. Purpose of our 2010 Message: Successful weatherization programs provide: • JOBS! Green Jobs, new skills with a new nationally trained workforce • New investments in use of advanced residential energy efficiency technologies • ARRA “and” regular DOE WAP have increased residential energy-efficiency of the nation’s housing stock

3. Site Demos • This year particularly needed for US House and Senate members and/or staff to highlight the SUCCESS of the ARRA INVESTMENT in jobs, residential energy efficiency • Also to highlight the continued need for support for regular WAP for the national residential energy efficiency effort

4. West Virginia Weatherization Assistance Program Governors Office of Economic Opportunity Example of a “JOBS Success Story” American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Weatherization Employment Success Story Southwestern Community Action Council Huntington, WV serves counties of Cabell, Lincoln, Mason, Wayne along the Ohio River Valley Dan Hardy, is 25 years old, and has always worked in various carpentry and roofing jobs, and became unemployed two years ago. He was looking for work but had been unsuccessful until he was called for an interview with the weatherization program at Southwestern last year. He knew there were a lot of people who had applied for the new ARRA weatherization jobs, but by receiving a call, he considered his luck in job search contacts had changed. Mr. Hardy was hired as a weatherization crew technician and said he likes working for the program this past year. He is once again financially able to provide for his wife and daughter and has learned many new job skills. He now sees a promising future in residential energy efficiency, either with Southwestern Community Action weatherization or in the residential energy efficiency workplace in West Virginia or Ohio. Mr. Hardy was just interviewed for the vacant position of Weatherization Crew Supervisor and has been promoted!

5. Why A Technical Demo • Powerful, visual, and the technical diagnostics speak for themselves – On-site is focused, real - & memorable --meet the citizens, see the work! • WAP provides great story angles and visuals: a powerful message that needed to be conveyed: • What does this mean?? Positive outcomes for: • Families • Economy: Jobs and Manufacturing • Environment • Resulting in a Re-investment in America

6. State Office Technical Assistance for local agency DEMO event • Compile state WX data for jobs, units weatherized, demographics – share with subgrantees • Coordinate with CAA Association and/or local agency • Agency designate ‘point-person’ to take the lead • MOST IMPORTANT: Successful Technical Site Demos need to be organized, focused, typically small and require thorough up-front advance coordination and planning with homeowner, crews, policymaker/guests, press, etc.

7. Colorado Governor Ritter on-site

8. Media Research • Understand current climate to develop story angles: • What’s being covered in the press, what are policymakers wrestling with: unemployment and job creation, poverty data just released, jobs, ARRA investment success/failure, energy price increases • Elections – shifts in power and priorities, always a focus on jobs, the economy, rising costs of energy as winter approaches, SOLUTIONS for multiple problems.

9. WEATHERIZATION CLOSE-UPS • “Making you look good!” • WX “Public Information Resource” for your PIC tool box designed specifically for your state’s benefit • Professional template used throughout the country • Great “tool” for you to share with your local subgrantees for their use with public events, their Board of Directors, Press • “Simple” – work with Susan Garner Zartman at SMS and she will make this happen for you -- finished piece will be maintained by DOE • Quick use: Your State Close Up can be used for communicating with state legislators, Governor's and Senators' offices, the public • State Grantees contact Susan Garner Zartman for Close-Up development: sgzartman@sms-results.comor call: 718-499-0490 - • note: Susan Garner Zartman will be contacting all primary state WAP positions again to encourage participation in Close-Up project

10. WV Governor Joe Manchin

11. Action Items • Plan an On-Site Event – a Demo or Proclamation • Utilize updated Site Demo Planning Kit – can be found on www.waptac.org • Create target media list for TV and Radio PSAs, press releases • Develop story ideas – promote your success stories, recognize crew production and excellence • Spokesperson preparation- if reporter calls, have talking points reference page handy • October is Energy Awareness Month Press Release with Weatherization tie in • Send out Weatherization Day Media Advisory

13. For more information, contact: • Lisa Kesecker, Weatherization Program Specialist • WV Governors Office of Economic Opportunity • Lisa.Kesecker@wv.gov