Weatherization Partnerships Strengthen Economy

Partnering with Miami Valley Community Action Partnership enabled Jason Stanley to grow his business from two people to a dozen in just a few years.

MVCAP’s Home Weatherization Assistance Program (HWAP) provides measures such as insulation and crack sealing can lower utility bills by as much as 30 percent. But weatherization can’t be done until health and safety issues are fixed.

That’s where contractors like Stanley come in. Stanley Heating Cooling and Plumbing works on more than 200 jobs each year for MVCAP clients.

“He’s turned out to be very reliable and able to get to our clients quickly,” said Housing Services Director Barry Strahorn. “As a result, he’s been able to add staff and get to the clients even more quickly.”

Stanley said partnering with MVCAP was the key to his business’ growth in a crowded market for HVAC contractors.

“Community Action is a great source of consistent work,” he said. “It allowed me to work on the business instead of in the business.”

Strahorn said MVCAP actively searches for local contractors who will treat their clients like any other customer.

“We work with smaller companies and it give them a chance to build their business,” he said. “It’s important they respect our clients.”

That suits Stanley perfectly.

“I’m in this business because I like to serve. What got me into it was helping others,” he said. “We’ve been able to serve and use that to grow.”

Weatherization is a great investment in the Miami Valley Community. For every $1 invested in the program, another $4 in benefits is realized. That includes the workforce development as well as benefits to the households receiving the service.

Learn more about weatherization by clicking here: https://miamivalleycap.org/weatherization/