Announcement of grant awards under the Residential Energy Assistance Challenge Option Program (REACH) for FY 2006
THIS CONTAINS INFORMATION ISSUED BY THE U.S. ADMINISTRATION FOR
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN LIHEAP INFORMATION MEMORANDUM TRANSMITTAL
NO. LIHEAP-IM-2006-11, DATED 12/11/06
TO: LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (LIHEAP)
GRANTEES AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES
SUBJECT: Announcement of grant awards under the
Residential Energy Assistance Challenge Option
Program (REACH) for FY 2006
RELATED
REFERENCES: Low Income Home Energy Assistance Act, Title XXVI
of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981,
Public Law 97-35, as amended; the Human Services
Amendments of 1994 (Public Law 103-252) and Action
Transmittal LIHEAP-AT-2006-03, dated July 2, 2006
for the Residential Energy Assistance Challenge
Option Program (REACH).
PURPOSE: To advise grantees that grant awards were
made to four (4) States, two (2) insular areas,
and fourteen (14) Indian Tribes/Tribal
organizations under the Residential Energy
Assistance Challenge Option Program (REACH) for FY
2006.
BACKGROUND: The Human Services Amendments of 1994 (Public Law
103-252) added a new Section 2607B to the LIHEAP
statute, establishing a new Residential Energy
Assistance Challenge Option Program (REACH),
funded for the first time in FY 1996. REACH is
designed to help low-income households reduce
their energy vulnerability.
REACH funds are available only to LIHEAP
grantees (States, Indian Tribes/Tribal
organizations and Insular Areas). As allowed by
the statute, 25% of the funds set aside for the
LIHEAP leveraging incentive program in FY 2006
were earmarked for the REACH program. In FY 2006,
$26,952,750 was earmarked for leveraging incentive
grant awards; of this amount, $6,738,188 was set
aside for REACH grants.
2
On June 2, 2006, OCS issued Action Transmittal
(AT) LIHEAP-AT-2006-03 advising LIHEAP
grantees that funds were available to operate
REACH programs. Eligible LIHEAP grantees that
wished to receive REACH grants in FY 2006 were
required to submit applications for those funds to
be received no later than July 14, 2006. The AT
provided that up to $1,000,000 would be set aside
for Indian Tribes/Tribal organizations and small
insular areas (Priority Area 2.0) and
approximately $5.1 million for States (Priority
Area 1.0).
In addition, up to $100,000 per Priority Area
1.0 grantee and $25,000 per Priority Area 2.0
grantee would be available for successful
applicants that submitted an Energy Efficiency
Education Services (EEES) proposal that met
specified standards. Approximately $200,000 was
also available on a noncompetitive basis to cover
a certain amount of second and third year
administrative costs for State grantees funded
under the REACH program in FY 2004 and FY 2005.
Project periods for FY 2006 REACH grants are
limited to three years for Priority Area 1.0
grantees and up to 24 months for Priority Area 2.0
grantees.
CONTENT: REACH applications were received in a timely
manner from seven (7) States, two (2) insular
areas, and seventeen (17) Indian Tribes/Tribal
organizations. Many applications received were of
excellent quality. Unfortunately, our funds were
limited to the $6,738,188 million provided by the
FY 2006 LIHEAP appropriation. With these funds,
we were able to make REACH grant awards to four
(4) States, two (2) insular areas, and fourteen
(14) Indian Tribes/Tribal organizations.
REACH applications were evaluated by Division of
Energy Assistance (DEA) staff. The reviewers
assigned each application a numerical rating
according to criteria included in AT-2006-03, with
a maximum rating of 100 points. (There was an
optional health and safety provision that could
provide States with an additional 5 points.) The
applications were then ranked according to the
average of the reviewers' scores.
Attached is a listing of the grantees funded in
FY 2006 under the REACH program. One State grantee
qualified to receive an additional $100,000 under
the EEES program. In addition, three (3) Tribal
grantees and two (2) insular areas qualified to
receive additional funds to operate EEES programs.
Funds were issued to cover administrative costs for
States that requested them for their FY 2005 and FY
2004 REACH projects. These states received up to
2.5% of their original grant amount for the second
and third years of their three-year projects, in
the total amounts of $75,000 for FY 2005 and
$111,108 for FY 2004.
INQUIRIES TO: Ms. Charlotte Abney
Energy Assistance Program Specialist
Division of Energy Assistance
Office of Community Services, ACF, HHS
370 L'Enfant Promenade, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20447
Telephone: (202) 401-5334
Fax: (202) 401-5661
ATTACHMENTS: (1) Listing of FY 2006 Grantees and funding
amounts under the REACH program
(2) Summary Descriptions of FY 2006
REACH projects
______________/s_____________
Nick St. Angelo
Director
Division of Energy Assistance
Office of Community Services
Attachment 1
LIST OF FY 2006 GRANTEES UNDER THE
RESIDENTIAL ENERGY ASSISTANCE CHALLENGE OPTION PROGRAM
(REACH)
STATE GRANTEES (4) AMOUNT AWARDED
1. District of Columbia $1,100,000 1/
2. Illinois 1,000,000
3. Montana 1,000,000
4. Ohio 1,000,000
STATE TOTAL $ 4,100,000
TRIBAL AND TRIBAL ORGANIZATIONS (14) AMOUNT AWARDED
1. Assiniboine & Sioux Tribe (MT) $150,000
2. Blackfeet Tribe (MT) 150,000
3. Central Council of Tlingit and Haida (AK) 164,724 2/
4. Cherokee Nation (OK) 150,000
5. Chickasaw Nation (OK) 150,000
6. Choctaw Nation (OK) 150,000
7. Grand Traverse Band (MI) 162,356 3/
8. Kickapoo Tribe (OK) 100,000
9. Miami Tribe (OK) 150,000
10. Northern Cheyenne Tribe (MT) 150,000
11. Rosebud Sioux Tribe (SD) 150,000
12. Quileute Indian Tribe (WA) 175,000 4/
13. Shoshone Bannock Tribe (ID) 150,000
14. United Tribes of Kansas & 150,000
Southeast Nebraska (KS)
TRIBAL TOTAL $ 2,102,080
INSULAR AREAS (2) AMOUNT AWARDED
1. American Samoa $ 175,000 4/
2. Northern Mariana Islands 175,000 4/
INSULAR AREAS TOTAL $ 350,000
SECOND AND THIRD YEAR ADMINISTRATIVE COST GRANTS
FY 2005 State Grantees $ 111,108
FY 2004 State Grantees 75,000
Subtotal $186,108
GRAND TOTAL - FY 2006 REACH FUNDS $6,738,188
1/ Includes $100,000 in Energy Efficiency Education Services funds
2/ Includes $14,724 in Energy Efficiency Education Service funds
3/ Includes $12,356 in Energy Efficiency Education Services funds
4/ Includes $25,000 in Energy Efficiency Education Services funds
REACH
SECOND AND THIRD YEAR ADMINISTRATIVE COST GRANTS
FOR STATES
2-1/2 percent of original grant amount (excluding any EEES
portion)
FY 2005 STATES
1. Massachusetts $25,000
2. Maine $25,000
3. Rhode Island $25,000
FY 2005 Total $75,000
FY 2004 STATES
1. Colorado $25,000
2. Connecticut $15,194
3. District of Columbia $25,000
4. Nebraska $20,915
5. Nevada $ 0
6. Oregon $24,999
FY 2004 Total $111,108
TOTAL -- FY 2005 AND FY 2004 $186,108
Attachment 2
Summary of FY 2006 REACH Projects (States, Tribes & Territories)
STATES
District of Columbia
Project will coordinate with health care agencies to identify and
target a broad range of needs. Weatherization and conservation
education will be emphasized. New outreach strategies for hard to
reach medically vulnerable populations will be created.
Illinois
Project will target LIHEAP recipients with a history of
disconnects (patterns of on and off utilities). Ultimate goal is
to reduce disconnects that lead to homelessness. Providing
intense case management and coordinating with new percent of
income payment plans (PIPPs) starting in FY 2007. Project will
also provide budget counseling, referrals, and education.
Montana
Project focuses on developing a protocol that can be used
nationally to abate asbestos and weatherize low-income homes that
desperately need weatherization and repairs. Ultimate goal is to
increase health and safety by removing or abating dangerous
asbestos and weatherizing homes to increase health, comfort and
decrease energy costs.
Ohio
Project will assess environmental risks addressing energy and
health needs. Project will provide weatherization measures to
enhance health while partnering with households to mitigate
environmental risks, and referral of households to other
services.
TRIBES
Assiniboine and Sioux Tribe (Montana)
Project will use the first year to establish a data base of
eligible households and their needs. Contractors will assess
weatherization repairs and/or replacement needs and perform
repairs/maintenance. Energy education will also be provided.
Blackfeet Tribe (Montana)
Project will focus on educating LIHEAP clients in energy
conservation and reduction through energy audits; identifying
problem areas and taking the necessary action(s), i.e., door and
window weather stripping, caulking, low flow shower heads, and
electrical outlets. Certified energy auditors will also focus on
energy audits (data collection), education and initiating self
help or do-it-yourself weatherization training for clients. The
tradition of story telling will be incorporated in educational
materials. Additionally, it is anticipated in the 2nd year that
the state weatherization program will become part of the tribe's
building, safety and energy conservation department.
Central Council of Tlingit and Haida (Alaska)
Project will target vulnerable households. Incentives will be
provided by paying portions of energy bills for those with no
outstanding bills. Weatherization, energy education, family
energy budgeting, and family self sufficiency workshops will also
be provided.
Cherokee Nation
Project will focus on weatherization, energy education and
intervention. Ten households will be weatherized, fifteen
households will receive wood pellet stoves, and ceiling fans will
be provided to all. Energy education will be distributed to all
LIHEAP recipients.
Choctaw Nation
Project will serve LIHEAP eligibles to increase health and safety
by examining needs in the home. Home audits will be performed to
identify needs for weatherization, appliance replacement and/or
repair. A connection between REACH and the Choctaw Nation
housing program will enhance a web-based tracking system to
identify needy homes. Energy education will also be provided.
Chickasaw Nation
Project will focus on providing energy conservation services
designed to reduce energy costs. Program will also provide case
management and REACH participants may be referred for additional
services.
Grand Traverse Band (Michigan)
Project will target elderly homeowners and renters over 55 with
high energy needs as first priority, followed by households with
children 5 and under, and then to other members. Energy Star
siding and emergency assistance will be provided. Assistance is
contingent upon participant receiving instructions on budget and
seeking assistance in other areas as needed, i.e., GED,
employment, day care, and life skills. Budget workshops will
also be held.
Kickapoo Tribe (Oklahoma)
Project will initiate a new program to provide interventions to
reduce homelessness due to inability to pay energy bills and
increase efficiency of energy usage. Education intervention and
referrals, i.e., teaching home owners to change heating and
cooling system filters, will be emphasized. Intake workers can
assess if homes are in need and/or qualify for other program
interventions, such as energy audits, installing insulation, and
minor heating and air conditioning system repairs.
Miami Tribe (Oklahoma)
Project will take "whole house" approach to energy efficiency--
assessing homes, recruiting contractors to perform work, such as
installing hot water heaters, replacing windows and doors, and
insulating and caulking.
Northern Cheyenne Tribe (Montana)
Project will focus on weatherization, which may include weather
stripping, insulation, energy efficient thermostats, supplying
window shades and furnace filters for those units in need. In
addition, project will replace old appliances with energy
efficient units, and install electrical draft stopper outlets and
switch seals for homes in need. Energy conservation education
and budget counseling service referrals will also be provided.
Quileute Indian Tribe (Washington)
Project will provide home based energy education and materials to
thirty (30) households. Project includes caulking, low flow
shower heads, etc. Four (4) households will receive renewable
energy (wind and solar) to assist with long periods of
electricity outage. Ten (10) households will receive
refrigerators, and energy conservation workshops will be held for
fifty (50) households.
Rosebud Sioux Tribe (South Dakota)
Project will focus on weatherization. A survey is currently being
designed and will be distributed and collected within the first
three months and the last three months, to determine the views of
LIHEAP eligible low-income individuals. Also, implementation of
a new information management system--a more integrated self-
reliant system that provides tracking of LIHEAP eligible
households, providers and other assistance programs.
Shoshone Bannock (Idaho)
Project will focus on training contractors to inspect and clean
furnaces. Performing weatherization will be provided as well as
the installation of second heating sources, either wood stoves or
pellet stoves. Energy education through energy fairs will also be
emphasized.
United Tribes of Kansas & SE Nebraska (Kansas)
Project will consist of home inspections to determine the needs
for repair and/or replacement of furnaces, storm windows,
insulation, and siding. Repairs and replacements will be
performed by contactors. Educational materials will be left with
recipients upon completion of repair and/or replacement.
TERRITORIES
Commonwealth of Northern Marianas
Project will provide weatherization and full and/or partial
payment(s) toward refrigerators.
In-store demos with vendors will be held to promote the
purchase/usage of energy efficient appliances. (Discounts from
vendors will also be provided.) Children will participate in a
poster contest, and will be selected to be "energy ambassadors".
Energy conservation fairs will also be held.
American Samoa
Project will provide 150 refrigerators for households with no
and/or old refrigerators. This is expected to help greatly,
since purchasing appliances are next to impossible for low income
households due to the remoteness of the island. Many households
use ice chests to keep food cold and incidents of food poisoning
are high.
