Gov. Riley Awards $9.26 Million in Weatherization Grants
Published: July 1, 2009
Gov. Bob Riley has awarded $9.26 million, including $4.86 million in federal stimulus funding, to help Alabama’s low-income residents cut their utility bills by making their homes more energy efficient.
Riley announced that $884,478 will go to the Organized Community Action Program Inc., which serves residents in Barbour, Bullock, Butler, Coffee, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Geneva, Henry, Houston, Lowndes and Pike counties. The agency’s phone number is 334-566-1712.
The Alabama Weatherization Assistance Program gives priority to the elderly, those with disabilities and low-income residents with children. Houses that qualify are modified to improve energy efficiency and safety.
“Each month, many Alabama families with limited incomes are forced to spend more than they should for utilities because their homes aren’t properly sealed and insulated,” Gov. Riley said. “By making houses more energy efficient, this program saves energy, reduces pollution and leaves residents with more money for other essentials.”
To identify the most cost-effective measures for each home, an energy audit is performed. Depending on the results, a home weatherization project may include extra insulation for the attic, walls and floor, sealing leaks in ductwork, repairs and tune-ups for heating, ventilating and air-conditioning systems, and replacement of incandescent lights with highly-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs.
Families with gross income of 200 percent of the federal poverty level or less are eligible to apply. That means a family of four can have no more than $44,100 a year in gross income. The qualifying cap for a family of two is an annual income of no more than $29,140.
Alabama’s weatherization program is getting a boost this year from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which is supplementing $4.16 million allocated to the state by the U. S. Department of Energy. The energy division of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs administers the state program. The office expects additional stimulus funds to be allocated later.
To carry out the weatherization program, Riley awarded grants to 15 community action or other sponsoring agencies across the state. These agencies administer the program at the local level and receive applications from individuals who wish to be considered for assistance
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Reader Reactions
July 6, 2009
To Whom It May Concern,
I am a 45 year-old woman and I have struggled to get here. I have raised my children and now they have
their own.
I just have a question to put before you. Why is the only time you can get help with daycare when you are
are on tanif? My daughter who has three children and works a job was told that if she was on tanif she could
get daycare help. She has applied for the family guidance but the waiting list is one year. I think that it is crazy
that she has a job and no help. She makes about 10,000 a year.
It seems backwards to me that you can only get daycare help if you have no job. She has had to miss days of
work because of this. She does recieve a few food stamps and medicaid, but I really think that if you are eligible
for those things there should be some daycare help. It is a trap.
I know there are many out there that abuse the system but my daughter is not one of them. She is in the process
of trying to get child support from the daddy of her children.
Alabama needs to look at all the poor people it has because there are more of us than you think. They need to
think of the people that live below the poverty line and not just the middle class. WE ARE HERE TOO!!!
Thank you,
Carma McKee
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