Fiscal Year 2005 Leveraging Incentive Grants
THIS CONTAINS INFORMATION ISSUED BY THE U.S. ADMINISTRATION FOR
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN LIHEAP INFORMATION MEMORANDUM TRANSMITTAL
NO. LIHEAP-IM-2005-2, DATED 1/27/05
TO: LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (LIHEAP)
GRANTEES AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES
SUBJECT: Fiscal Year 2005 Leveraging Incentive Grants
RELATED
REFERENCES: Low Income Home Energy Assistance Act, Title XXVI of
the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981,
Public Law 97-35, as amended and Block Grant
Programs Final Rule at 45 CFR Part 96.87, published
May 1, 1995, in the Federal Register (60 FR 21322 et
seq).
PURPOSE: To advise LIHEAP grantees of the total amount
of claimed leveraging activities taking place in FY
2004 that were submitted by LIHEAP grantees in order
to qualify for FY 2005 leveraging incentive awards.
BACKGROUND: The Augustus F. Hawkins Human Services
Reauthorization Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-501)
established a leveraging incentive program to
reward grantees under the Low Income Home
Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)that have acquired
non-Federal home energy resources for low-income
households. Leveraging incentive funds are awarded to
those grantees that use their own or other non-Federal
resources to expand the effect of the Federal LIHEAP
dollars. On May 1, 1995, the Department of Health
and Human Services (HHS) issued implementing
regulations for this leveraging incentive program as
part of a final rule published in the Federal
Register (60 FR 21322 et seq).
Under the program, leveraging incentive awards in
one fiscal year (the award period) will be based on
countable leveraged resources that were provided to
low income households during the previous fiscal
year (the base period). For example, FY 2005
incentive awards will be allocated to grantees based
on countable leveraged resources that were provided
to low income households in FY 2004. Grantees
desiring leveraging incentive funds must submit an
application each year -- the LIHEAP Leveraging Report
-- which delineates the amount and types of
leveraging activities they carried out during the
base period. HHS then determines whether the reported
activities meet the requirements of the statute and
regulations, and, therefore, are countable under the
program for the purpose of determining allocations
of the incentive funds.
The HHS FY 2005 appropriations law (Public Law 108-199)
earmarked $27.5 million for this program for FY 2005.
CONTENT: We received applications for FY 2005 leveraging
incentive awards from 38 States, 30 tribes or tribal
organizations, and one territory (see Attachment).
Sixty-nine applications included claims for 579
separate leveraging resources/benefits totaling a
gross claimed value of $1,642,916,736. The final
net value of the claimed resources is $1,641,476,160
after deducting $1,440,576 for: (1) the grantees'
own funds used to identify, develop and demonstrate
the activities; (2) costs or charges to low income
households to participate in the activities; and (3)
LIHEAP funds used to identify, develop, and
demonstrate the activities (limited to the higher of
$35,000 or 0.08% of a grantee's regular allotment
for State grantees, or to up to 2.0% of the
allotment for Indian tribes/tribal organizations and
territories).
We will review each of the claimed resources
to determine whether it meets all the
requirements of the statute and implementing
regulations. Using the final values approved for
each grantee, we will calculate leveraging grant
award allocations for FY 2004 based upon the formula
that was included in the implementing regulations
published in the Federal Register on May 1, 1995 (60
FR 21322 et seq). (See 45 CFR 96.87.)
We hope to issue FY 2004 leveraging incentive grant
awards that reward FY 2003 leveraging activities by
May 2004. Awards will be issued no later than
September 30, 2004. The funds must be obligated by
grantees no later than September 30, 2005. Consistent
with the block grant philosophy, grantees must
determine what constitutes an "obligation" under their
own financial laws and procedures.
If you believe you submitted an application for FY
2004 leveraging incentive awards and your organization
is not listed in the Attachment or if you believe the
information is incorrect, please contact us immediately.
ATTACHMENT: Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program Leveraging
Reports Received on FY 2004 Activities in Order to
Qualify for FY 2005 Leveraging Incentive Grants -
Claimed Totals (Excel/36 KB)
INQUIRIES TO: Nick St. Angelo, Director
Division of Energy Assistance
Office of Community Services, ACF, HHS
370 L'Enfant Promenade, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20447
Telephone: (202) 401-5306
Fax: (202) 401-5661
E-mail: nstangelo@acf.hhs.gov
______________/s______________
Nick St. Angelo
Director
Division of Energy Assistance
Office of Community Services
