DETROIT (March 28, 2022) – At a community celebration last week in Detroit’s 13th District, Representative Rashida Tlaib presented Enterprise Community Partners (Enterprise) with a $2 million federal funding award for the Detroit Energy Efficiency and Home Improvement Program. Using the funding, Enterprise will work with Walker-Miller Energy Services (Walker-Miller) to provide 100 local low-income homeowners with home assessments and repairs, as well as energy efficiency upgrades and improvements that will reduce their utility costs.
To accomplish this work, Enterprise and Walker-Miller are partnering closely with five BIPOC-led, Detroit-based Community Development Organizations (CDOs) in the 13th District: Sinai Grace Guild CDC, Bridging Communities Inc., Central Detroit Christian CDC, Cody Rouge Community Action Alliance and U-SNAP-BAC.
Rep. Rashida Tlaib said, “I am so pleased that we were able to deliver $2 million to Enterprise Community Partners to help families with necessary home repairs that help reduce the costs of heating bills and create safe and healthy homes. It is essential that we fund projects like these because our residents deserve to have housing that enables them to thrive in our communities. I know that Enterprise, Walker-Miller Energy Services, and their partners in the community will use these dollars to directly impact our neighbors and I cannot wait to visit many of the 100 homes that will be improved greatly by this community project funding.”
This award was part of a Community Project Funding request, which allows members of Congress to request direct funding for projects that benefit the communities they represent.
“Far too many Detroiters struggle to pay their utility bills, forcing impossible choices between keeping the lights and water on, or paying for necessities like food and medication. That’s why Enterprise is so grateful to Rep. Tlaib for bringing this key investment in energy efficient home repairs to 100 families here in Detroit,” said Melinda Clemons, Central Midwest vice president, Enterprise. “We’re delighted to work with Walker-Miller and our community development partners to ensure Detroiters can live in homes that are safe, energy efficient and affordable, all while promoting community resilience and creating quality jobs.”
The program will consist of three elements:
- Energy efficiency home improvements and home repair for 100 homes throughout the 13th District in Detroit
- Energy efficiency industry workforce development programming
- Development of community energy ambassadors to act as long-term resources for future resources and programming
Carla Walker-Miller, Founder and CEO of Walker-Miller, said, “For so many of us, we get an energy bill every month, open it, fuss, and then pay it. That’s a privilege. There are too many people who open their energy bills each month, fuss, and aren’t able to pay them. The quest to eliminate that inequity is at the heart of what we do – it ignites the passion and drives our commitment. Too many Detroit residents are part of communities that have been historically excluded from conversations and opportunities centered on renewable energy, sustainability, electrification, and mobility. These same communities need access to upgrades and information that can not only help them save energy and money, but become part of the thought leadership and the workforce driving the clean energy transformation. That’s why we are so grateful to Representative Tlaib for this funding, and truly excited about our partnership with Enterprise and the CDOs for this initiative. The Detroit Energy Efficiency and Home Improvement Program and using the Department of Energy (DOE) Home Energy Score will provide a model for empowering families economically by making our homes less costly to operate, safer and healthier. We are honored to be stewards of this important work.”
The program is based on an earlier pilot launched by Enterprise, Walker-Miller and Sinai Grace Guild CDC to provide seniors in northwest Detroit with home repair and energy efficiency upgrades. Participating households saved up to $650 per year in energy costs.
Marie Conner and Pamela Walker-Dawson, two Detroit homeowners who benefited from this pilot program, spoke during the award presentation.
“The resources are out here,” said Conner, in encouragement to other residents. “You have to be willing to avail yourself to these kinds of resources.”
Walker-Dawson agreed, calling the program a blessing. “I have lived in my home for 39 years and every year I worried about whether this was going to be the year that my furnace went out. Now, I no longer have that concern.”
About Enterprise Community Partners
Enterprise is a national nonprofit that exists to make a good home possible for the millions of families without one. We support community development organizations on the ground, aggregate and invest capital for impact, advance housing policy at every level of government, and build and manage communities ourselves. Since 1982, we have invested $54 billion and created 873,000 homes across all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico – all to make home and community places of pride, power and belonging. Join us!
About Walker-Miller Energy Services
A 22-year-old company, Walker-Miller Energy Services is a trusted partner with deep roots in the energy industry. Through an equity lens, the company provides thought leadership to utilities, municipalities, businesses, and communities to help achieve energy reduction goals and drive the benefits of clean energy to all communities. Our experience-driven philosophy of energy efficiency as equity helps families and businesses save energy and save money. Empowered by the company culture of kind excellence, Walker-Miller Energy Services consistently achieves energy efficiency program goals and delivers the highest customer satisfaction ratings in the industry. Walker-Miller is guided by these core values: Boldly Go above and beyond with Humble Confidence, Inclusive Stewardship, and an abiding commitment to Value Reputations, while delivering Extraordinary Experiences for team members, clients, and stakeholders. Walker-Miller Energy Services is committed to changing lives through energy efficiency. Visit www.wmenergy.com for more info.
Media Contacts:
Kebina Young Frazier (Walker-Miller Energy Services)
kyoungfrazier@wmenergy.com
313.570.1747
Stephen Fee (Enterprise)
sfee@enterprisecommunity.org
202.309.8892