Program Expands into 20 NE Florida Counties: Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Clay, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Levy, Madison, Marion, Nassau, Putnam, St. Johns, Suwannee, Taylor, Union
The SJHP has taken to heart the intent of the ARRA (American Reinvestment and Recovery Act) funding provided through the U.S. Department of Energy for weatherization services. The intent of the funding is to create jobs, improve energy efficiency, and serve working families. Since September 2009, SJHP has weatherized over 792 homes in Clay and St. Johns Counties, spending over $4,932,000.
A new multi-family initiative offers weatherization services to subsidized multi-family properties and their residents across 20 counties in north Florida. Thomas Stauffacher, SJHP Director of Construction, is overseeing the endeavor with the help of 45 new employees who will manage the paper-work, construction contracts, and payroll for an array of weatherization workers and plumbing, insulation, and HVAC contractors who are anxious for the work.
With Florida’s economy in a slump, this multi-county outreach will be a significant economic stimulus to these communities. This approach is not trickle up or trickle down, but real lateral recycling of several million construction dollars through these local economies.
The SJHP is proud to be part of this program. When we are done, we will have weatherized over 4000 rental units. In many cases these are older properties that have not been able to replace their heating and cooling systems in many years. Those older units are both inefficient and expensive to operate. After being weatherized, a savings will be realized both by the residents who pay the electric bill and by the property owners who will have reduced maintenance costs on the new units. Stay tuned!
