Grants totaling $494,875 have been awarded by the state of Alabama to assist low-income and elderly Alabama residents with weatherizing their homes to lower energy costs.
The grants support Alabama’s Weatherization Assistance Program which provides funds to improve the energy efficiency and safety of qualifying homes. Priority for assistance is given to people with disabilities, the elderly and low-income households with children.
“In the midst of the hot summer months in Alabama, elderly, disabled and low-income residents on fixed incomes can struggle to afford utility bills to keep their houses cool and comfortable,” Gov. Ivey said. “These grants will assist in lowering the energy bills for those that qualify for assistance by updating their homes to keep them cooler during the summer.”
An energy audit is conducted of each home that qualifies for weatherization assistance to determine the most cost-efficient measures. Common improvements include installing extra insulation in the attic, walls and floor; sealing air leaks around doors and windows; repairs or tune-ups for air conditioning and heating units; and replacing incandescent light bulbs with high-efficiency bulbs. In addition to lowering energy bills, the improvements can reduce the risk of fire and other hazards.
Gov. Ivey awarded the grants to 13 community agencies across the state that manage the program at the local level and receive applications from individuals who wish to be considered for assistance.
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grants from funds made available by the U.S. Department of Energy.
“ADECA joins Gov. Ivey in supporting those who need it most through the Weatherization Assistance Program,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said. “The partnerships with these community agencies ensure that many underserved residents receive help in preparing their homes to stay cooler for the hottest part of the year both now and in the future.”
Below is a list of each grant, the recipient agency, counties served and the agency telephone number:
$43,971 to Central Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission (Autauga, Chilton, Dallas, Elmore, Macon, Perry, Russell and Shelby) 334-262-4300
$11,037 to Community Action Committee Inc. of Chambers-Tallapoosa-Coosa (Chambers, Coosa and Tallapoosa) 256-825-4287
$20,948 to Alabama Council on Human Relations Inc. (Lee) 334-821-8336
$34,828 to Community Action Partnership of Huntsville-Madison and Limestone Counties Inc. (Madison and Limestone) 256-851-9800
$52,006 to Mobile Community Action Inc. (Choctaw, Mobile and Washington) 251-457-5700
$30,569 to Montgomery County Commission (care of Central Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission) (Montgomery) 334-832-1210
$35,954 to Community Action Partnership of North Alabama Inc. (Cullman, Lawrence, Marion, Morgan, Walker and Winston) 256-355-7843
$106,785 to Community Action Agency of Northeast Alabama Inc. (Blount, Cherokee, DeKalb, Etowah, Jackson, Jefferson, Marshall and St. Clair) 256-638-4430
$19,443 to Community Action Agency of Northwest Alabama Inc. (Colbert, Franklin and Lauderdale) 256-766-4330
$46,316 to Organized Community Action Program Inc. (Barbour, Bullock, Butler, Coffee, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Geneva, Henry, Houston, Lowndes and Pike) 334-566-1712
$31,518 to Community Action Agency of South Alabama (Baldwin, Clarke, Conecuh, Escambia, Marengo, Monroe and Wilcox) 251-626-2646
$26,769 to Community Action Agency of Talladega, Clay, Randolph, Calhoun and Cleburne (Calhoun, Clay, Cleburne, Randolph and Talladega) 256-362-6611
$34,731 to Community Service Programs of West Alabama Inc. (Bibb, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Lamar, Pickens, Sumter and Tuscaloosa) 205-752-5429