ExxonMobil and the National Community Action Foundation Award Weatherization Grants to Improve Energy Efficiency

The grant recipients proposed the most innovative new approaches and partnerships to enhance training for workers delivering weatherization services through the Department of Energy's Weatherization Assistance Program. The following nine community action agencies from around the country received grants:

-- Action Housing Inc., Pittsburgh, PA

-- Energy Coordinating Agency, Philadelphia, PA

-- Indiana Community Action Association, Indianapolis, IN

-- Community Services Agency, Reno, NV

-- Association for Energy Affordability, Inc., New York, NY

-- Corporation for Ohio Appalachian Development, Athens, OH

-- Community Housing Partners Corporation, Christiansburg, VA

-- Community Action Team Inc., St. Helens, OR

-- Montana Weatherization Training Center at MSU, Bozeman, MT

The announcement was made at the 2009 Community Investment Futures Energy Conference in St. Petersburg, FL. Final details of individual grants are being finalized, and grant amounts range from $300,000 to nearly $1 million. The grants are in addition to a $100,000 demonstration grant awarded by ExxonMobil and NCAF in August to a group of Ohio agencies who have teamed up to form a weatherization training partnership.

"The winners of the ExxonMobil/NCAF grants are combining the expertise of community action agencies, educators, workforce development experts and the private sector to give weatherization workers the best tools to help communities take advantage of one of our greatest resources -- energy efficiency," said Sherman Glass, president of ExxonMobil Refining and Supply Company. "ExxonMobil is committed to improving energy efficiency in our own operations and around the world, and today's grants will extend that commitment to communities in America."

"By creating novel training models and building capacity of energy efficiency programs, today's recipients are making the country more energy efficient, helping American workers build careers and supporting community economic development," said David Bradley, executive director of the National Community Action Foundation.

The ExxonMobil/NCAF Partnership Advisory Board reviewed more than 100 letters of interest from community action agencies across the country. The board selected nine proposals based on their ability to form meaningful partnerships with organizations from other sectors, create models that will help prepare weatherization workers to pursue a career in energy efficiency, and build the capacity of weatherization programs to achieve the goal of making nearly 750,000 homes more energy efficient as established by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

ExxonMobil donated $5 million to NCAF to support projects that will expand the scale and scope of existing training programs so workers are well prepared for sustainable careers in the growing fields of energy efficiency and weatherization. ExxonMobil's grant is the largest private contribution to community organizations that work with the Department of Energy's Weatherization Assistance Program.

About Exxon Mobil Corporation

ExxonMobil, the largest publicly traded international oil and gas company, uses technology and innovation to help meet the world's growing energy needs. ExxonMobil holds an industry-leading inventory of resources, is the largest refiner and marketer of petroleum products and its chemical company is one of the world's largest. For more information, visit www.exxonmobil.com.

About National Community Action Foundation

NCAF is the voice of America's Community Action Agencies (CAAs) in Washington. NCAF works with members of Congress, the executive branch and state governments on behalf of the 1,100 local organizations in the Community Services Block Grant network to advocate for effective policies and meaningful resources that will address the root causes of poverty. NCAF analyzes national and state legislative and policy proposals and collects, analyzes and disseminates data about programs and investment strategies focused on reducing poverty in low-income communities. NCAF also serves as a liaison between the CAA network, allied national organizations and private sector leaders.

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SOURCE: Exxon Mobil Corporation

ExxonMobil 
Cynthia Bergman White, 972-444-1107 
or 
NCAF 
Karen Skeete, 202-842-2249