Natural Resources

Delta Green Receives Energy Audit Grant for the Upper Peninsula

Delta Green, a non-profit energy services organization based in Marquette, was recently awarded a Regional Technical Assistance (RTA) grant through the Michigan Energy Office's Rebuild Michigan program.  This $20,000 grant will allow Delta Green to conduct energy audits for public and private, non-residential utility customers across the Upper Peninsula.  These audits will include an analysis of twelve months of the customer's utility usage, as well as the identification of energy conservation measures and actions that will lead to energy savings.

Last year Delta Green conducted nine energy evaluations through Michigan Energy Office programs, auditing more than 1.1 million square feet of usable space from Ironwood to Sault Ste. Marie.  These audits provided organizations (schools, grocery/convenience stores, medical care facilities, etc.) with energy conservation information that allowed them to move forward with energy projects that are currently generating over $20,000 in annual energy savings.  These organizations have several other energy upgrades planned for implementation later this year as well.

If your organization is interested in learning more about the RTA grant program, including eligibility and opportunities, please contact Douglas Russell of Delta Green:  906-250-7461 or drussell@deltagreenusa.org.

Education and Workforce Development

JAG2 Awarded Community Foundation Grant for Communications Project at EHS

The Michigan Works! Jobs for America's Graduates (JAG) program is in its second year at Escanaba High School, and four of last year's students had room in their schedules to enroll in JAG2. Career Specialist Jeni Spaulding feels that the second year offers a great opportunity to build on job search and leadership skills from the students' first year and has created projects to further build their resumes and work readiness.The four EHS JAG2 students spent hours researching and writing a grant to ask for funds to help their high school. The students decided that their classmates would benefit with a community messageboard informing them of announcements, events and opportunities, and that their JAG 2 class would be charged with the upkeep of the announcements. The students researched products and visited an area business to learn more about them. They also consulted the school's IT Director for his advice on technology and its integration into the school system.

After the students assembled the equipment list and obtained quotes, they moved to the identification of skills that they and future JAG students would learn and use in the implementation of the program. To do this, they cross referenced Michigan Education benchmarks, JAG competencies and the 40 Developmental Assets identified by the Search Institute. They created a budget, built in the school's pledged contribution of installation inkind, and obtained letters of support from both EHS Principal Doug Leisenring and EJHS Principal Darci Greibel. Michigan Works! the Job Force Board Director of Operations Deb Doyle visited the class to review the grant and offer suggestions. The copies were made and the students handed the grant to the Foundation Director.

In December, the students learned that they had been granted their request and can move forward with the purchase and implementation of the monitor, computer system and software. Junior Robin Beauvais described the project "Writing the grant was extremely different from anything I've had to write or participate in. But, once we all got through it and were done, we felt accomplished and satisfied. When we received the news that we got the money for our project, we were overwhelmed and couldn't believe it!" Senior April Beauvais adds, "The grant made me feel like I was able to accomplish something by pushing myself to find out information and writing it in an adult manner. When receiving the grant, I was over filled with joy because we did our best and got the outcome we wanted."

Education and Workforce Development

NWTC and three school districts receive award for enriching rural Wisconsin

A partnership between Northeast Wisconsin Technical College and three school districts is among nine projects recognized by State Superintendent Tony Evers at the "Standing Up for Rural Wisconsin Schools, Libraries, and Communities" awards Feb. 1 in Madison.

The Northwoods Regional Learning Collaborative Partnership is a cooperative effort among the school districts of Crivitz, Beecher-Dunbar-Pembine, and Wausaukee and NWTC's Central Regional Learning Center in Crivitz to provide dual credit opportunities to students at the three high schools. By using flexible scheduling and cooperation among the institutions, high school juniors and seniors have access to technical college classes in welding, nursing, automotive, and engineering. The collaboration made it possible to offer advanced coursework in individual high schools, something that would not have occurred otherwise due to a lack of student numbers and funding issues. Classes are taught in Wausaukee with NWTC equipment and staff members.

Students are certified and career-ready upon high school graduation, moving into technical skill jobs in their local communities. Accepting the award in Madison is Bob Berndt, superintendent in the Beecher-Dunbar-Pembine School District; Jan Dooley, superintendent for the Wausaukee School District; Patrick Mans, superintendent for the Crivitz School District; and H. Jeffrey Rafn, president of NWTC in Green Bay.

"Educational excellence and community building exist throughout rural Wisconsin," Evers said. "These individuals and organizations exemplify the wonderful work that is going on each day in support of our students and communities."

Tourism

Click HERE for more about the UPWard Initiative.