Five Georgia organizations awarded $566,000 in grant funding for workforce and energy efficiency projects

The Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) awarded $566,000 in Georgia Energy Grant funding to five organizations to support workforce development and energy efficiency projects. The grants will help fund efforts to improve energy efficiency, strengthen resiliency, and bolster energy workforce development.

Awarded grants:

• Georgia Southern University Research and Service Foundation Inc. awarded a $50,235 grant
• Groundswell Inc. awarded a $150,000 grant
• Harambee House awarded a $67,300 grant
• Home Performance Coalition Inc. awarded a $150,000 grant
• Urban League of Greater Atlanta awarded a $150,000 grant

Project and grant details:

Georgia Southern University Research and Service Foundation Inc.

The $50,235 grant will help fund the development of a geospatial platform to integrate utility data, national resilience models, and predictive GIS tools. The platform will support proactive energy infrastructure investments, pinpoint areas vulnerable to outages, and uncover viable opportunities for grid interconnection and renewable energy development.

Groundswell Inc.

The $150,000 grant will fund energy efficiency retrofit and upgrade projects throughout Troup, Heard, and Harris counties. Work will include enhancing current programs, providing 15 homes with energy efficiency upgrades, and certifying three local contractors.

Harambee House

The $67,300 grant will fund resiliency efforts at Savannah's Hudson Hill Community Center, including expanding the center's functions to offer preparedness resources and emergency education and serving as a public shelter in the event of power outages and extreme weather events. Harambee House also will develop plans for emergency communications and facility activation, provide safe evacuation and shelter options, and establish a community resource closet.

Home Performance Coalition Inc.

The $150,000 grant will fund a statewide workforce development project, which will include a workforce gap analysis to identify the skills workers will need to meet future demand. Through partnerships with educational institutions and energy-related companies, participants will receive scholarships to pursue the education and certifications needed to prepare them for the workforce.

Urban League of Greater Atlanta

The $150,000 grant will support workforce development activities, including training and certification programs for energy efficiency, as well as data collection to inform a workforce assessment report identifying gaps and investments needed in training programs throughout Metro Atlanta.

The State Energy Program is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy to create energy programs throughout Georgia in the areas of agriculture and industry, building energy efficiency, government and public facilities, and renewable energy and alternative fuels.