South Carolina’s only 501 c-3 non-profit trade school provides free weatherization services & home

Feb. 10, 2011 - PRLog -- North Charleston, SC, February 11, 2011 – Burch Community Trade Center (BCTC), a non-profit organization is providing low to moderate income households weatherization and home energy inspections, repairs and retrofit upgrades, in accordance with the guidelines of the U.S. Department of Energy.

The school has expanded into helping build affordable, energy efficient homes for low income families. Alvin Burch, Founder and CEO of the Center said, “It is our goal at BCTC to train people that may not have another way to learn a marketable trade, and provide a quality standard of living.”

The organization starts its spring fundraising campaign on February 14st. The goal for 2011 is to weatherize and make energy efficient 100 low to moderate income family homes, to train 50 students in the construction trade, and to build 25 to 50 energy efficient homes.

To accomplish its 2011 goal, the BCTC needs to raise $250,000.00 each quarter. The non-profit trade school will be sending out emails, initially to corporations in South Carolina asking them to choose a level of sponsorship that ranges from $2,500.00 to $20,000.00.

Tom Mitchell, VP Marketing & Sales said, “We need the help of corporate sponsors in order to help others.  We understand that corporate sponsorship is not free money. We know that it’s an investment a company is making.

The return on their sponsorship investment will be in part their public affiliation with the only non-profit trade school in South Carolina that is providing job skills training, and job placement for individuals, while providing energy efficient homes.” Mitchell went on to say that all of the benefits of corporate sponsorship are listed on their website.

Burch Community Trade Center has been endorsed by many people and organizations, including:

•   The Mayor of North Charleston, R. Keith Summey, sent a letter of support to Mr. Burch, pledging the city’s support for Burch Community Trade Center. In the letter he wrote, “Burch Community Trade Center plans to accomplish its goals of job skills training, employment, a positive attitude and a chance to assist in improving our economy through the construction of newly built low to moderate income and single family homes in Rural Development.”

•   Adam Monroe, a principal with Middle Street Partners, LLC, a private firm that specializes in investing in multifamily housing in South Carolina, wrote: “From our vantage point, there is a great need for weatherization improvements in many Charleston  areas homes, and unfortunately most of these homes provide shelter to those who can least afford to make improvements.”

•   Executive Director, Anna Hamilton of Operation Home, said, “Operation Home has over 230 families on our waiting list. Many of these families live in homes that are in desperate need of weatherization and other improvements.”
For additional information on the news that is the subject of this release, contact Alvin Burch (Alvin@BurchSchool.org) or Tom Mitchell or visit http://BurchSchool.org.

Contact:
Tom Mitchell, VP Marketing & Sales (Tom@BurchSchool.org)
Burch Community Trade Center
843-725-4060 Office
843-814-2007 Cell
http://www.BurchSchool.Org