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Russell M. Pry Secures American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
Dollars, Home Weatherization Assistance Program
On Monday, May 4, 2009, the Ohio Department of Development (ODOD)
announced plans to award over $6.9 million in American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act dollars to Summit County Executive Russell M. Pry’s
Department of Community and Economic Development. The additional funding
is intended to boost Pry’s Home Weatherization Assistance Program
(HWAP), a program designed to help lower heating bills by correcting
energy deficiencies.
The Home Weatherization Assistance Program, administered by the Ohio
Department of Development’s Division of Community Development and its
Office of Community Service, is free for citizens whose annual household
income is at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty guideline.
Distribution of funds is expected to begin in June 2009 and continue
over the next 22 months. However, funding is contingent upon approval of
the Home Weatherization Assistance Program Plan by the U.S. Department
of Energy.
In 2008, the County of Summit serviced 233 homes. The additional funding
is projected to provide the Department of Community and Economic
Development with the resources needed to weatherize 829 homes over the
next 22 months and create an opportunity for contractors who specialize
in weatherization to participate in the program. Contractors will need
previous experience in building construction and must be able to
understand and perform blower door testing and worst case
depressurization draft testing to qualify to provide services.
“My administration is very excited about the opportunities that exist
for citizens under this funding
initiative,” stated Summit County Executive Russell M. Pry. “We are
looking forward to putting these
funding dollars to work.”
County of Summit citizens who would like to apply to have their home
weatherized should contact the Summit County Executive Russell M. Pry’s
Department of Community and Economic Development at 330-643-2537, or
click on www.co.summit.oh.us
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