Welcome
About the Urban Weatherization Initiative
Weatherization Specialist Training Grants
Advisory Board
Information for Homeowners
Information for Weatherization Providers
FAQs

Welcome

Welcome to the Urban Weatherization Initiative (Public Act 96-0037). The Urban Weatherization Initiative (UWI) is a new program administered by the Office of Urban Assistance in the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. It has the distinction of being the first state-funded weatherization program in the country. 

The purpose of the Initiative is three-fold:

1. to create jobs and increase skills and career opportunities for the under/unemployed;

2. to improve energy efficiency and reduce energy costs in disadvantaged communities; and

3. to stimulate local economies buy purchasing supplies from local distributors and manufacturers. 

About the Urban Weatherization Initiative

Although the Urban Weatherization Initiative is designed to increase energy efficiency and homeowners' energy bills, the program is also a jobs initiative.  This Initiative seeks to train and employ individuals from targeted Illinois communities to perform traditional weatherization tasks and home energy audits. 

The total grant award may not exceed $500,000 per fiscal year, with no more than 15% of the grant award used for administrative costs.  

The Urban Weatherization Initiative will also stimulate local economies by utilizing local suppliers, distributors and/or manufacturers of equipment and supplies necessary for weatherization work.

Weatherization activities include:
• Repair/replacement of inefficient heating or cooling units

• Addressing air infiltration issues (i.e.- weather stripping, caulking, window/door   replacement) Repair/replacement of water heaters

• Pipe, duct insulation

• Training in weatherization skills

• Basic skills training (including workforce development)

If your business supplies, distributes or manufactures goods and equipment used in the performance of weatherization work, we would like to hear from you. Contact us at ceo.urbanweath@illinois.gov.

A maximum of up to $6,500 may be spent per unit.  However, for eligible households, this program can be coupled with the $6,500 maximum benefit available through the existing Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program (IHWAP) equaling a potential weatherization benefit of $13,000 per unit.

Read the Statute
Program Overview

UWI Grants

Providers may include businesses, community-based organizations, Contractors, and Educational Institutions – and most likely a combination of those.

Although the Urban Weatherization Initiative is designed to increase energy efficiency and decrease costs to homeowners, the program is also a jobs initiative.

These organizations will provide home energy audit training and prepare trainees to become nationally certified in home energy and weatherization retrofit work. The first round of grants has been awarded through a competitive process to the following organizations located in the Chicago metro area, East St. Louis and Rockford:

Organization	City	Amount Awarded
City of Rockford	Rockford, IL	$250,000
HACIA (Hispanic American Construction Industry Association)	Chicago, IL	$300,000
Southwestern Illinois College	East St. Louis, IL	$300,000
Local Economic & Employment Development Council	Chicago, IL	$250,000
Albany Park Community Center, Inc.	Chicago, IL	$250,000
Opportunity Advancement, Inc. (OAI)	Chicago, IL	$250,000

      
Weatherization Specialist Training Grants

Ten organizations have been selected as weatherization training providers. The following organizations will train nearly 700 weatherization specialists across the state as part of the second phase of the Urban Weatherization Initiative.

Organization	City	Amount Awarded
Peoria Citizens Committee for Economic Opportunity	East Peoria, IL	$311,885
Proviso Leyden Council	Maywood, IL	$356,252
Illinois YouthBuild Coalition	Rockford, Chicago, Normal, North Chicago, Waukegan, IL	$400,000
Southwestern Illinois College	East St. Louis, IL	$400,000
Genesis Housing Development Corp	Chicago, IL	$270,000
Black Star Project	Chicago, IL	$384,900
North Lawndale Employment Network	Chicago, IL	$325,407
Healthcare Consortium of Illinois	Dolton, IL	$350,000
Emerson Park Development Corporation	East St. Louis, IL	$350,000
Pembroke-Hopkins Park Construction Outreach Program	Pembroke Township, IL	$250,000

Advisory Board

The Act establishes a 9-member Urban Weatherization Initiative Board to approve and deny all grants from the fund.  The board is composed of 5 voting members appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate and 4 non-voting ex officio members from the General Assembly. 

The current voting members are:

Percy Harris of East St. Louis

Deborah Harrington of Chicago

Melissa Williams of Chicago.

The current non-voting ex-officio members are:

State Senator Donne Trotter of Chicago

State Rep. Ken Dunkin of Chicago

State Rep. Dave Winters of Rockford

Meeting Location:

4863 American Road, Rockford, IL 61109

Next meeting:

Urban Weatherization Initiative (UWI) Board Meeting

When:   Friday, March 16, 2012 (10:00 AM - 2:00 PM) 

Where:   RAILS Rockford Videoconference Room (In Person) 
4863 American Road, Rockford, IL 61109.

Type:   Meeting

Who can view:   Anyone

Notes

DCEO - Office of Urban Assistance
Carmen Colvin
312.814.2346
carmen.colvin@illinois.gov

PLEASE CALL IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

Board Minutes
December 4th, 2009 Special Meeting
March 26th, 2010
April 16th, 2010
May 14th, 2010
July 16th, 2010
August 13th, 2010
August 31st, 2010
September 10th, 2010
November 19th, 2010
December 17th, 2010
January 21st, 2011
February 18th, 2011
March 18, 2011
April 22, 2011
May 20, 2011
June 17, 2011
August 26, 2011 Board Minutes
September 23, 2011
October 21, 2011
November 18, 2011 Board Minutes
January 20, 2012 Board Minutes
February 10, 2012 Emergency Meeting Agenda
February 17th, 2012 Board Agenda
February 17th Board Meeting Minutes
March 16th UWI Board Meeting Agenda
March 16, 2012 Board Meeting Minutes
April 20, 2012 Board Meeting Minutes
May 18th, 2012 Board Meeting Agenda

Information for Homeowners

The Urban Weatherization Initiative is not yet in the field weatherizing homes. Funding is first going toward building up the number of auditors and weatherization professionals needed in our communities to perform the work.

Eligibility for UWI will be based upon several factors.  Only owner-occupied single family homes and multifamily buildings of 6 units or less may receive services. 

• high rates of unemployment;
• high utility bills in comparison to income; or
• an income equal to or greater than 60% of the Area Median Income. (Area Median Income or AMI is used to determine eligibility in a variety of state and federal programs. This calculation analyzes the incomes in a specific geographic area.  AMI generally captures a broader range of people than the federal poverty level. )

The final eligibility requirements are being determined by the UWI Board.  Generally, this program will be widely available statewide to households of varying incomes.

Recipients may receive a maximum benefit of up to $6,500 (per unit).  However, for eligible households, this program can be coupled with the $6,500 maximum benefit available through the existing Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program (IHWAP) equaling a potential weatherization benefit of $13,000 per unit.

Weatherization efforts are beneficial to homeowners for social, economic, and environmental reasons.  More information on why you should consider weatherizing your home can be found on the following websites: 

http://www.weatherize.org/roi.html

http://www.ceo-energysavers.org/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC=%7BCF3F4F05-B7E6-4C83-945A-994918320A57%7D