AUSTIN, TEXAS -- According to a recent press release The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs has announced major awards to the City of Amarillo and a regional nonprofit designed to generate a wide array of jobs that will help jump start the state's construction industry, while increasing home energy efficiency.
TDHCA awarded $3 million in federal stimulus funding to Panhandle Community Services to weatherize the homes of low income residents living in Armstrong, Briscoe, Carson, Castro, Childress, Collingsworth, Dallam, Deaf Smith, Donley, Gray, Hall, Hansford, Hartley, Hemphill, Hutchinson, Lipscomb, Moore, Ochiltree, Oldham, Parmer, Potter, Randall, Roberts, Sherman, Swisher, and Wheeler counties.
In addition, the Department awarded Amarillo $790,922, which Panhandle Community Services will administer locally on the city's behalf.
These awards were part of a $288 million award made by the Department to 66 cities, counties, and eligible nonprofit organizations across the state to weatherize the homes of an estimated 40,000 low income Texans. The awards were made through the Department's Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) and were provided on a one-time basis to the state through the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009.
This allocation represents a significant portion of the total $326.9 million allocated to the state, the balance of which TDHCA will award in 2010. The Recovery Act provided approximately $314 million more in funds than what TDHCA typically administers each year for weatherization activities. By comparison, the Department annually weatherizes approximately 3,700 homes using current funding levels of approximately $13 million. However, all WAP funds associated with the stimulus package must be expended by September 30, 2010.
WAP is designed to help low income customers control their energy costs through the installation of weatherization materials and consumer education.
For more information about weatherization efforts eligible under the Act, or to learn more about WAP in general, please visit the section's Web site at http://www.tdhca.state.tx.us/ea/wap.htm.To contact the nearest contract service provider,call 1-888-606-8889.
