LIHEAP IM 2010-12 Awards of REACH Grants FY 2010

Publication Date: June 25, 2010
Current as of:

THIS CONTAINS INFORMATION ISSUED BY THE U.S. ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN LIHEAP INFORMATION MEMORANDUM TRANSMITTAL NO. LIHEAP-IM-2010-12, DATED 6/25/10

TO:

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Grantees and Other Interested Parties

GUIDANCE INTENDED FOR:

X STATES

X TRIBES/TRIBAL ORGANIZATIONS

X TERRITORIES

SUBJECT:

Awards of FY 2010 REACH 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; LIHEAP-AT-2010-3, dated January 7, 2010; LIHEAP-IM-2009-10, dated September 30, 2009

PURPOSE:

To make LIHEAP grantees aware that grant awards totaling $1.442 million will be made to three States and five Tribes under the Residential Energy Assistance Challenge Program (REACH) for applications submitted for FY 2010 funding. This is the "second round" of REACH awards to be issued in FY 2010.

BACKGROUND:

The Human Services Amendments of 1994 (Public Law 103-252) added Section 2607B to the LIHEAP statute, establishing the Residential Energy Assistance Challenge Program (REACH). REACH is designed to help low income households reduce their energy vulnerability.

On January 7, 2010, the Division of Energy Assistance (DEA) issued a LIHEAP Action Transmittal, LIHEAP-AT- 2010-3, to inform LIHEAP grantees that applications were being accepted for the REACH program. Additionally, grantees were provided with a model plan format to use when submitting their applications. Eligible LIHEAP grantees that wished to obtain REACH grants were required to submit applications to be received by DEA no later than March 30, 2010.

On September 30, 2009, DEA issued a LIHEAP Information Memorandum, LIHEAP-IM-2009-10, to inform LIHEAP grantees that a "first round" of REACH grants was being awarded to two States, four Tribes and one Territory. These awards were based on the REACH applications that grantees submitted by March 30, 2009, but because no LIHEAP funds were available for REACH in FY 2009, the "first round" was awarded out of the FY 2010 LIHEAP appropriation.

Under REACH, States may receive up to $350,000, and Tribes/Tribal Organizations and Territories may receive up to $50,000. 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 Territories up to $10,000.

In order to be considered for REACH, applicants had to submit complete applications that complied with the instructions for FY 2010, were innovative, focused on health and safety initiatives for vulnerable households, and were home-energy related.

CONTENT:

Applications for the FY 2010 REACH program were received in a timely manner from seven States and nine Tribes. After careful review and consideration by DEA, REACH program plans from three States and five Tribes were selected for funding. The total amount to be issued for the "second round" of REACH grants will be $1,442,580. Therefore, coupled with the $1,015,000 released in the "first round", the total amount of REACH funds awarded in FY 2010 is $2,457,580.

Attachment 1 provides a listing of the FY 2010 grantees under the "second round" of the REACH program. Each State grantee qualified to receive an additional $35,000 under the EEES program and four Tribal grantees qualified to receive $10,000 each for their EEES programs. Attachment 2 provides a description for each of the REACH grantee programs. All FY 2010 REACH grantees will receive an official notification letter that will detail the requirements on the use of these funds.

INQUIRIES TO:

Charlotte Abney Branch Chief for Energy Policy and Evaluation 202-401-5334 charlotte.abney@acf.hhs.gov

ATTACHMENTS:

(1) List of "second round" grantees and funding amounts under the FY 2010 REACH program
(2) Summary descriptions of FY 2010 "second round" (DOC)

 

/s/
Nick St. Angelo
Director
Division of Energy Assistance
Office of Community Services

Attachment 1

FY 2010 RESIDENTIAL ENERGY ASSISTANCE CHALLENGE PROGRAM (REACH) Round 2
List of Grantees

STATES ($1,155,000) GRANT AMOUNT EEES FUNDS TOTAL AWARDED
New Mexico $ 350,000 $ 35,000 $ 385,000
Ohio $ 350,000 $ 35,000 $ 385,000
Rhode Island $ 350,000 $ 35,000 $ 385,000
TRIBES ($287,580) GRANT AMOUNT EEES FUNDS TOTAL AWARDED
Siletz (Oregon) $ 50,000 $ 10,000 $ 60,000
Yakama (Washington) $ 47,580 $ ---- $ 47,580
Citizen Potawatomi (Oklahoma) $ 50,000 $ 10,000 $ 60,000
Seneca-Cayuga (Oklahoma) $ 50,000 $ 10,000 $ 60,000
Grand Traverse (Michigan) $ 50,000 $ 10,000 $ 60,000
1,442,580