Press Room >> 2009 Press Releases FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE COLUMBUS– Interim Director of the Ohio Department of Development Mark Barbash today announced that the state will receive approximately $266 million in additional funding for the Home Weatherization Assistance Program (HWAP) through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The funds, administered by the U.S. Department of Energy, will be used to increase the energy efficiency of homes owned or occupied by low-income Ohioans, reduce household energy expenditures and improve occupants’ health and safety. Distribution of funds is expected to begin in June and continue over the next three years. Funding is contingent upon approval of the Home Weatherization Assistance Program plan by the U.S. Department of Energy. A public hearing will provide an opportunity to comment on the plan and has been scheduled on Wednesday, May 6, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the Columbia Gas of Ohio Building Auditorium, 200 Civic Center Drive, Columbus. “With the costs of energy bills increasing, we are ensuring that households who are in the most need receive weatherization assistance,” said Barbash. “These additional Home Weatherization Assistance Program funds will create and preserve jobs, assist those most impacted by the recession, and invest in environmental protection that provides long-term economic benefits.” The Home Weatherization Assistance Program, administered by the Ohio Department of Development’s Community Development Division and its Office of Community Services, is free for citizens whose annual household income is at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. The funds, which are expected to weatherize more than 32,000 homes, are being allocated based on an existing formula methodology to local community action agencies and other public and non-profit entities that carry out the Home Weatherization Assistance Program. Currently, the state receives approximately $51 million in Home Weatherization Assistance Program funding. Due to the significant increase in funds through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, specific requirements will be necessary to ensure that the funds are used effectively, timely and with maximum accountability and transparency. To accommodate the increase in the size of the Home Weatherization Assistance Program during the stimulus period, HWAP providers will add crew members, managers and inspectors and increase the number of contractors. Individuals and contractors that possess weatherization program experience or a skill set consistent with weatherization practices are best positioned to take advantage of anticipated weatherization work opportunities. Office of Community Services staff and Ohio’s Weatherization Training Center located at the Corporation for Appalachian Development in Athens provides training and technical assistance for the program. Training includes classroom instruction and demonstration of optimal weatherization methods. In addition to the Ohio Weatherization Training Center, four regional training locations have been added to make training more accessible, reduce costs and reduce trainee time away from work. The regional training hubs are located at Wood Seneca Ottawa Sandusky (WSOS) Community Action Agency (Green Springs), Community Action Partnership of the Greater Dayton Area (Dayton) and LEADS Community Action Agency (Newark). Trainings are also held in the Cleveland area at various locations. For more information on weatherization training contact the Center at 740.594.8499 or visit www.coadinc.org. Potential contractors and individuals interested in working in the weatherization field may apply with their local weatherization provider to join an in-house weatherization crew. For a list of weatherization providers, visit www.development.ohio.gov. Contractors will need previous experience in building construction and must be able to understand and perform blower door testing and worst case depressurization draft testing. Ohioans who would like to apply to have their home weatherized should also contact their local weatherization provider. HWAP grantees are required to post job opportunities through the program with local One-Stops and online at www.ohiomeansjobs.com. Grantees will be required to report their productivity in relation to established production goals on a monthly basis. Office of Community Services weatherization experts monitor work quality and provide technical assistance when needed. If production levels or work quality requirements are not being met, the Office of Community Services may undertake contingency measures including diverting funds to alternative service providers. In addition, HWAP grantees must provide the Office of Community Services with an implementation plan for training and hiring a diverse work force that is representative of the population being served. The Ohio Weatherization Assistance Program Grantees are: Grantee Providers U.S. Department of Energy Funds Projected Homes Ashtabula County Community Action Agency $5,254,374 628 SOURCES Community Network Services $1,369,707 163 Tri-County Community Action Commission of Champaign, Logan and Shelby Counties $2,255,370 270 Cincinnati-Hamilton CountyCommunity Action Agency $11,157,846 1,328 Clinton County Community Action Partnership $3,595,063 428 Cuyahoga CountyDepartment of Development $9,410,315 1,120 Ohio Heartland Community Action Commission $2,772,099 330 City of Cleveland $20,796,778 2,478 Delegate Provider Cleveland Housing Network $5,561,058 704 Delegate Provider Cudell Improvement Community Housing $3,778,775 453 Delegate Provider Solutions Mt. Pleasant NOW $3,997,141 480 Delegate Provider Development Corporation Fairfax Renaissance $2,564,243 329 Delegate Provider Development Corporation Detroit Shoreway Community $2,331,319 288 Delegate Provider Development Organization $1,859,232 223 Community Action Partnership of Greater Dayton $18,119,622 2,156 Delegate Provider Warren County Community $1,462,253 219 Northwestern OhioCommunity Action Commission $2,830,799 338 Community Action Organization of Delaware-Madison-Union $2,292,626 274 CAP Commission of Lancaster-Fairfield $1,535,759 183 Community Action Commission of Fayette County $1,118,125 134 Hancock, Hardin, Wyandot, Putnam, Allen Community Action Commission, Inc. $5,253,620 625 LEADS $2,253,476 269 Lorain County Community Action Agency, Inc. $2,940,583 350 Neighborhood Housing Services of Toledo, Inc. $8,479,475 1,016 Mahoning Youngstown Community Action Partnership $7,421,544 885 WSOS Community Action Commission, Inc. $6,757,736 805 $1,247,411 149 Community Action Council of Portage County, Inc. $2,346,242 280 Stark County Community Action Agency $4,807,413 572 Summit County Dept. of Community and Economic Development $6,958,429 829 Trumbull Community Action Program $3,684,570 439 Community Action Wayne/Medina $2,553,435 304 Corporation for Appalachian Development $40,839,633 4,870 Adams Brown Counties $2,666,828 351 Hocking-Athens-Perry $3,704,155 459 Delegate Provider County, Inc. $2,315,607 277 Delegate Provider Action Agency $1,894,959 221 Delegate Provider Action Committee, Inc. $2,327,859 270 Delegate Provider Committee $2,985,377 347 Delegate Provider Action Organization $1,384,464 158 Delegate Provider Organization $2,372,783 291 Delegate Provider Community Action, Inc. $2,070,569 256 Delegate Provider Action Council $1,939,883 256 Delegate Provider Kno-Ho-Co Ashland $3,565,300 425 Delegate Provider Inc. $2,376,867 305 Delegate Provider Inc. $1,380,380 161 Delegate Provider Action Commission, Inc. $1,739,768 221 Delegate Provider County $2,658,660 309 Delegate Provider Morgan Counties $2,344,195 270 Delegate Provider Columbiana County, Inc. $2,258,432 291 Miami County Community Action Council $1,817,134 216 Board of Van Wert County Commissioners $1,071,907 128 Clermont County Community Services $2,069,502 247 Ground Level Solutions, Inc. (Franklin) $3,745,057 446 East Akron Neighborhood Development Corporation $1,786,390 213 Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission $4,452,581 538 Ground Level Solutions, Inc. (Richland and Morrow) $2,836,611 338 IMPACT Community Action Agency $9,813,020 1,168 Reserve Allocation $53,356,279 7,662 Totals: $259,000,531 32,179 Source: Ohio Department of Development The Home Weatherization Assistance Program is directed at the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act's goals: to create and preserve jobs, promote economic recovery, assist those most impacted by the recession and invest in environmental protection that provides long-term economic benefits. For more information about the American Recovery and Investment Act and Home Weatherization Assistance Program and guidelines, visit recovery.ohio.gov. Working with our partners across business, state and local governments, academia, and the non-profit sector, the Ohio Department of Development works to attract, create, grow, and retain businesses through competitive incentives and targeted investments. Engaged every day in marketing, innovating, investing, and collaborating, the Ohio Department of Development works at the speed of business to accelerate and support the teamwork that is absolutely necessary for success by providing financial, informational, and technical assistance to those making an investment in Ohio’s future. # # # Media contacts: Eileen Turner at (614) 728-6674
May 4, 2009
Barbash Announces American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
Home Weatherization Assistance Program FundingPickaway County Community Action Organization, Inc.
Delegate Provider Economic Opportunities, Inc.
Delegate Provider Community Action
Community Action
Commission of Belmont
Gallia Meigs Community
GMN Tri-County Community
Harcatus Tri-County
Community Action
Highland County Community
Ironton Lawrence County
Area Community Action
Jackson Vinton County
Jefferson County Community
Community Action
Commission
Muskingum Economic
Opportunity Action Group,
Community Action
Committee of Pike County,
Ross County Community
Community Action
Organization of Scioto
Community Action Program
Corporation of Washington-
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* The difference between the $266 million awarded to the state and the total listed above is allocated for administrative costs, training and technical assistance.
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