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Contractor Development Pathway

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Application and Getting Started

The application process includes two steps: first, a brief business overview form to learn more about your business and eligibility; second, a 15–20-minute conversation with a member of the CDP team to learn more about your business goals and answer any questions you may have about the pathway.

Please take 5-10 minutes to fill out the business overview form below. Once completed, you will receive a confirmation notice with next steps. Someone from the Contractor Development Pathway team will reach out to continue the application process. Please feel free to email cdp@energytrust.org if you have any questions.

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Overview of Pathway

Are you a contractor performing residential or commercial building retrofits by installing insulation, windows, HVAC/refrigeration systems, or water heating systems? 

Energy Trust of Oregon is now accepting applications for the 2025 cohort of The Contractor Development Pathway. Energy Trust provides funding to help lower the cost of installations for your customers and help you sell more projects. As a participant in the Contractor Development Pathway, you will also have access to technical, business, and programmatic resources to support business growth and increase participation of contractors from communities historically underserved by Energy Trust. This includes BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and person of color) owned, woman-owned, veteran-owned and rural contracting businesses within Energy Trust’s Home Retrofit and Existing Buildings programs.

Benefits of Participating

The Contractor Development Pathway is designed to help you grow your business in the energy-efficiency sector, by providing:

  • Peer Mentorship. Partner with experienced professionals to grow your business with energy efficiency.
  • Network of Support. Grow your network while completing your action plan alongside cohort colleagues and community partners.
  • Increase Knowledge. Attend training workshops to expand your knowledge of the energy efficiency industry, utility programs and more.
  • Business Development Services. Receive individual business services to grow your business sustainably. Services may include business planning, marketing, COBID certification assistance and more.

There is no cost to participate in the Contractor Development Pathway.

Eligibility

  • You are eager to learn more about energy efficiency and how to grow your business in this industry.
  • Your business is enrolled or is willing to enroll in Energy Trust’s Home Retrofit or Existing Buildings Trade Ally Network* by the pathway start in March 2025.

*Trade allies install energy efficiency measures that align with Energy Trust incentives. ** For example, this includes trades that typically install these services:

  • Window installers
  • Mechanical/HVAC installers
  • Insulation installers
  • Water heater installers
  • General contractors who subcontract these services

**Current incentives can be found here:

Business owners are encouraged to apply to this pathway if they identify as a priority population. Priority populations are defined as:

  • Asian, Asian American and/or South Asian;
  • Black and/or African American;
  • Hispanic and/or Latine/o/a;
  • Middle Eastern and/or North African;
  • Native American and/or Alaska Native;
  • Native Hawaiian and/or other Pacific Islander
  • Minority Business Enterprise (self-identified or COBID MBE certified)
  • Women-owned (self-identified or COBID WBE certified)
  • Veteran-owned (self-identified or COBID SDVBE certified)
  • Located in a rural community

Participation Expectations

  • The Contractor Development Pathway is a 9-month commitment beginning in March 2025 with approximately 2-4 hours of scheduled activities per month, including one-on-one services and group workshops. Participants are expected to attend all group workshops and one-on-one services and respond to pathway staff inquiries.
  • Participation is required by a business owner or co-owner. A second individual from the business is welcome to join for pathway activities.
  • Participants will be asked to share information via ongoing surveys about their experience and economic impact.
  • Participants will be asked to complete one energy efficiency project by the end of 2025 with support from Energy Trust.

If you would like to learn about whether this pathway is right for your business, please attend a virtual information session on one of the following dates by registering via the links below.

Information Sessions:

For the 2025 cohort, applications open on October 15th, 2024, and will close on January 15th, 2025.

If you are ready to apply to the Contractor Development Pathway, click the apply now button below to start your application.

This application requests information about your business, business owner demographics, your business’s Trade Ally status, and what you would like to gain by participating in the Contractor Development Pathway. The application process includes two steps: first, a brief business overview form to learn more about your business and eligibility; second, a 15–20-minute conversation with a member of the CDP team to learn more about your business goals and answer any questions you may have about the pathway.

A Contractor Development Pathway team member is available to answer any questions about the application process and provide assistance. Please reach out to cdp@energytrust.org for support.

Apply Now