Seven Regional Meetings, Summit Set To Help Pennsylvanians Stay Warm This Winter

Gov. Rendell will convene a statewide summit of local government, community, religious, labor and volunteer leaders on October 14 to develop strategies to help Pennsylvanians stretch their heating resources so that they can stay warm all winter.

 

As part of the Summit, seven regional meetings, chaired by local United Way leaders and members of the Governor's cabinet, will begin at 9 a.m. Gov. Rendell will listen to reports from each region beginning at 11:30 a.m. via an interactive, Internet-based video conference.

 

"Sharply rising energy costs will make it very difficult for many Pennsylvanians to keep their families warm and safe during the coldest months," Gov. Rendell said. "That is why we need to enlist local partners in helping every citizen understand how they can utilize available assistance programs, as well as take steps to reduce their energy usage at home."

 

The meetings will bring together key community organizations to form a Stay Warm Coordinating Council that will meet regularly to educate community members, help with home energy solutions and, where necessary, respond to crisis situations.

 

At the local meetings, participants will be asked to:

-- Inventory local resources for weatherization, consumer education, outreach and assistance and emergency response (at the household level);

-- Identify gaps in the local inventory and develop strategies to address the gaps;

-- Create venues to reach families and older adults to educate them how to better control their home heating costs and stretch their energy budgets;

-- Maximize the use of volunteers to help neighbors cut energy use by simple weatherization improvements;

-- Develop an ongoing communication structure to keep participating organizations focused and working together on Stay Warm efforts; and

-- Identify two or three concrete commitments that the local organizations agree to undertake over the winter to help families stay warm.

 

"I want to especially thank the United Way and the AFL-CIO for helping to bring together this group and putting their resources behind this important initiative," Gov. Rendell said. "This effort will show that when we work together, no Pennsylvanian will struggle without heat during the winter."

 

The summit will be similar to a statewide energy conference convened by the Governor in 2005.

 

The regional meetings will be held at the following locations:

--Southeast: National Constitution Center,Philadelphia.Cabinet member: Estelle B. Richman, Secretary of Public Welfare;

--Laurel Highlands: Hiram G. Andrews Center,727 Goucher St.,Johnstown.Cabinet member: Mike Hall, Deputy Secretary, Office of Long Term Living;

--Lehigh Valley: Intermediate Unit 21,4210 Independence Drive,Schnecksville.Cabinet member: Gerald Zahorchak, Secretary, Department of Education;

--Southwest: Pittsburgh Public Schools,341 S. Bellefield Ave., Room 251,Pittsburgh.Cabinet member: Dennis Yablonsky, Secretary, Department of Community & Economic Development;

--Northwest: Intermediate Unit 5,252 Waterford St.,Erie.Cabinet member: Everette James, Acting Secretary, Department of Health;

--Northeast: University of Scranton,DeNaples Center, Room 405,900 Mulberry St.,Scranton.Cabinet member: Sandi Vito, Acting Secretary, Department of Labor & Industry; and

--Central: York County School of Technology,2179 S. Queen St.,York.Cabinet member: John Hanger, Acting Secretary, Department of Environmental Protection

 

For more information on heating assistance programs, visit the www.StayWarmPa.org website.