Community Action receives grant for weatherization assistance

WINSTON COUNTY - Community Action Partnership of North Alabama, Inc. is one of several agencies across the state to receive a grant to help residents  reduce their energy bills.
Gov. Kay Ivey has awarded more than $6.3 million to help low-income Alabama residents reduce their home energy bills through the Weatherization Assistance Program.  Community Action Partnership of North Alabama - which serves Winston,  Marion, Walker, Cullman, Lawrence and Morgan counties - received $440,086 in funding.
The 13 grants to community action agencies and local partners will be used to improve the energy efficiency and safety of homes, with a particular focus on households that include the elderly, people with disabilities and families with children.
“High energy costs can be a significant burden on people who are already struggling to make ends meet,” Ivey said. “This assistance allows Alabama families to sustainably lower energy bills while creating a safer and healthier living environment.”
An energy audit is conducted of each home that qualifies for weatherization assistance to determine the most cost-efficient measures, which can include installing extra insulation and sealing air leaks around doors and windows.
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grants from funds made available by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
“The Weatherization Assistance Program benefits some of the most vulnerable residents in communities throughout the state,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said. “ADECA is pleased to join Gov. Ivey in support of these grants, which will help families reduce the cost of heating and cooling their homes.”
People interested in the program should contact the community action agency in their area to determine if they qualify and to submit applications. Please note that the funding allocations announced today may not be immediately available for application at the local level. The application periods are established locally by each community agency.
To learn more and to see if you qualify for a grant, call Community Action Partnership of North Alabama, Inc. at (256) 355=7843 or visit their website, www.capna.org.
For residents in Franklin County, Community Action Agency of Northwest Alabama, Inc. received a $234,319 grant to provide weatherization assistance.  Interested residents can call (256) 383-3832 or go to www.caanw.org to learn more and see if they qualify.