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2007 REACH Grants Issued Totaling $1.135 Million

The Department of Health and Human Services has made grant awards totaling $1.135 million to two states, four tribes, and one territory under the Residential Energy Assistance Challenge Program (REACH) for FY 2007.

Michigan and Nebraska each received grants of $335,000, including $35,000 for their energy efficiency education services (EEES) plans. Tribal and territorial grants were as follows, with the totals in the second column for EEES.

Karuk Tribe ( California )
$ 50,000
------
$ 50,000
Grand Traverse ( Michigan )
$ 50,000
$10,000
$60,000
Pueblo of Jemez ( New Mexico )
$ 50,000
$10,000
$60,000
Tulalip Tribe (Washington)
$ 50,000
$10,000
$60,000
Northern Mariana Islands
$ 50,000
$10,000
$60,000

Michigan will use its REACH dollars to establish the " Michigan Working for Intelligent Safe Energy (WISE) " initiative, which will target elderly and young children households, as well as higher energy burden households, and provide comprehensive case management and support services to address energy-related health and safety issues. The WISE grantees will work with the local utilities to identify households. A major effort will be made to address lack of heat or unsafe heating methods as they contribute to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

Nebraska's project aims to provide families with education on the health risks associated with poor indoor air quality, and materials to make simple improvements in their homes that also increase energy efficiency. The Lincoln Action Program will work with the Lincoln Area Agency on Aging and the Early Head Start/Head Start Programs to identify and target assistance to households with elderly and small children that suffer from asthma, allergies, or other upper respiratory illnesses.

HHS announced earlier this year that significant changes had been made to the structure and requirements for REACH grants, including smaller grant amounts, a shorter program period (one year) and a simpler application process.

The FY 2007 REACH grants were required to focus on promoting innovative LIHEAP initiatives that address energy-related health and safety issues and "home energy vulnerability" (i.e., the risk to personal health and safety that is associated with home energy affordability).

Source: HHS Division of Energy Assistance


Page Last Updated: October 26, 2009