Developer and contractor André Wallace has partnered with SolarCity and Natural Movement of Color to bring a training and employment initiative to Mount Vernon business and home owners at no cost. Mr. Wallace, who is running for City Council in Mt. Vernon has successfully negotiated with SolarCity to open a location in Mount Vernon, at which residents will receive training on how to install solar energy systems.
“It’s important that we reach outside our community to bring new businesses to Mount Vernon. We must shift the citizens of Mount Vernon from a state of economic disadvantage to economic freedom, and this initiative is just another vehicle to move us closer to making that goal a reality,” stated Wallace.
Wallace is also responsible for negotiating with developers who want to build in Mt. Vernon, including Atlantic Development (203 Gramatan Avenue, overlooking Hartley Park) to hire Mt. Vernon residents to work on the sites. As president of Creative Direction Construction & Design (located at The Embassy on First -28 East First Street, Mount Vernon’s first construction training facility), Wallace is also responsible for training and preparing Mount Vernon residents in the construction skills ie: plumbing, electrical, masonry, etc., needed to do the job.
SolarCity is America’s largest solar power provider. They make clean energy available to homeowners, businesses, schools, non-profits and government organizations at a lower cost than they pay for energy generated by burning fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas. They’ve revolutionized the way energy is delivered by giving customers a cleaner, more affordable alternative to their monthly utility bill.
SolarCity has assembled one of the most experienced clean energy project design and installation teams in the world. The company serves customers in 17 states, plus Washington D.C., with over 45 operations centers and scheduling to open the next one in Mount Vernon.
SolarCity’s customers include tens of thousands of homeowners, more than 400 schools, including Stanford University, government agencies such as the U.S. Armed Forces and Department of Homeland Security, and well-known corporate clients, including eBay, HP, Intel, Walgreens and Wal-Mart.
This initiative is a win-win for Mount Vernon; it will cut down electric bills in businesses and homes and create jobs for Mount Vernon residents.
On Sunday, May 17, under the new business arrangement, SolarCity and Creative Design Construction & Design held the first of many forums in Mt. Vernon, to sign up business and homeowners who were interested in switching to solar energy and Mt. Vernon residents to make up the workforce at Allen Memorial Church Of God In Christ (132 Crary Avenue).
