| Northeast Employment and Training
Program was incorporated in 1978 as a 501 (c) 3 agency for the purpose
of delivering educational and charitable programs to low-income Vermonters.
The initial board structure was set up to respond to federal mandates and
to the mandates of the low-income community. Its initial primary funding
source was the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act. However, shortly
thereafter the agency also was awarded Department of Energy funds to deliver
the
Weatherization Program
in the Northeast Kingdom. The agency rapidly became a national leader in innovative programming
both in CETA and Energy/Home Rehabilitation activities initiating such
programs as Vocational Exploration Program and Comprehensive Group Assessment.
Both remain national programs almost twenty years later. In 1980 with the
massive federal cuts under then President Reagan, NETO, Inc. was forced
to cut back and reposition its activities. The agency was however able
to retain its low-income focus and although many other non-profit agencies
fell by the wayside, NETO, Inc. survived and actually expanded its weatherization
activities.
In 1986 in response to an RFP issued
by the Department of Employment and Training, NETO, Inc. joined forces
with the Economic Development Office of Northern Vermont and Johnson State
College to create the Entrepreneurial Training Program. The program was designed to assist low-income individuals
to move into self-employment. In the following years the Vermont ETP has
enjoyed much success in offering excellent service to clients. Twice it
has been honored with awards from the Governor.
In 1992, NETO further expanded its agency when it created Home Energy Assistance Technology (HEAT), a private for profit arm that delivers a variety of services including energy audits, lead inspections, and home insulation and rehabilitation activities. This program, too, has become recognized for its high quality and creative responses to problem situations.
|
