Announcement of FY 2009 Grantees Receiving FY 2010 Grant Awards under the Residential Energy Assistance Challenge Program (REACH)
THIS CONTAINS INFORMATION ISSUED BY THE U.S. ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN LIHEAP INFORMATION MEMORANDUM TRANSMITTAL NO. LIHEAP-IM-2009-10, DATED 9/30/09
TO: LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (LIHEAP) GRANTEES AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES SUBJECT: Announcement of FY 2009 grantees receiving FY 2010 grant awards under the Residential Energy Assistance Challenge Program (REACH).
RELATED REFERENCES: Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act, Title XXVI of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981, Public Law 97-35, as amended; LIHEAP-AT-2009-3 dated December 5, 2008 for the Residential Energy Assistance Challenge Program (REACH). PURPOSE: To advise grantees that grant awards totaling $1.015 million will be made to two (2) States, four (4) Tribes, and one (1) Insular Area under the Residential Energy Assistance Challenge Program (REACH) for applications submitted in FY 2009 for FY 2010 funding. BACKGROUND: The Human Services Amendments of 1994 (Public Law 103-252) added Section 2607B to the LIHEAP statute, establishing a Residential Energy Assistance Challenge Program (REACH), funded for the first time in FY 1996. REACH is designed to help low income households reduce their energy vulnerability. On December 5, 2008, the Division of Energy Assistance (DEA) issued Action Transmittal (AT) LIHEAP-AT-2009-03 to inform LIHEAP grantees that applications were being accepted for the REACH program. Significant changes were implemented beginning in FY 2007 to the REACH program and application process. Additionally, grantees were provided with a model plan format to use when submitting their applications beginning in FY 2009. Eligible LIHEAP grantees that wished to obtain REACH grants were required to submit applications to be received by DEA no later than March 30, 2009. The continuing resolution (Public Law 110-329) enacted on September 30, 2008 provided $5.1 billion for the LIHEAP program and included a provision that required LIHEAP funds be awarded by October 30, 2008. As a result, there were no FY 2009 funds available to support REACH awards. Consequently, we planned to issue REACH grant awards for the FY 2009 REACH program soon after the start of FY 2010, and after the FY 2010 LIHEAP appropriation was enacted. This will constitute a "first round" of REACH grants in FY 2010, since we will again accept REACH applications for March 2010, resuming our normal schedule for the REACH program. We will notify grantees to submit applications for this "second round" of REACH grants later this year. States may receive up to $350,000, and Tribes/ Tribal Organizations and Insular Areas may receive up to $50,000, under REACH. In addition, successful applicants that submit Energy Efficiency Education Services plans (EEES) will be considered for additional funds, with States able to receive up to $35,000 and Tribes/Tribal Organizations and Insular Areas up to $10,000. In order to be considered for REACH, applicants had to submit complete applications that complied with new instructions for FY 2009, were innovative, focused on health and safety initiatives for vulnerable households, and were home-energy related. CONTENT: Applications for the FY 2009 REACH program were received in a timely manner from five (5) States, seven (7) Tribes and one (1) Insular Area. After careful review and consideration by DEA, REACH programs from two (2) States, four (4) Tribes and one (1) Insular Area were selected for funding. The total amount to be issued for REACH grants from FY 2010 funds will be $1.015 million. Attached is a listing of the FY 2009 grantees to be funded in FY 2010 under the REACH program. One State grantee qualified to receive an additional $35,000 under the EEES program and three (3) Tribal grantees qualified to receive $10,000 each for their EEES programs. Each FY 2009 REACH grantee will receive an official notification letter that will detail new reporting requirements on the use of these funds. 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 2009 grantees and funding amounts under the REACH program (2) Summary descriptions of FY 2009 REACH programs _______________/s_____________ Nick St. Angelo Director Division of Energy Assistance Office of Community Services