American Recovery and Reinvestment Act - Weatherization Programs Grant Ohio More Than $100 Million

U.S. Department of Energy Secretary announced that the Department of Energy is providing more than $453 million in Recovery Act funding to expand weatherization assistance programs in 15 additional states, including Ohio. These funds will help Ohio achieve its goal of weatherizing homes, lowering energy costs for low-income families, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and creating green jobs across the country. 

Ohio was awarded $106,712,564M, which will be used to weatherize more than 32,000 homes over the next three years. The Ohio Office of Community Services (OCS), part of the Ohio Department of Development's Community Development Division, will work with 35 sub-grantees to implement its program across all of Ohio's counties. OCS will also work to preserve and enhance the state's long-term capacity to perform weatherization activities. In order to support the program's economic recovery goals, as contractors are hired, disadvantaged businesses will be offered opportunities to bid on and receive weatherization work. The Ohio Home Weatherization Assistance Program (HWAP) will ensure that green building technologies, such as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and renewable energy technologies, are incorporated into weatherization activities where possible. HWAP will also strive to balance weatherization activities with other housing rehabilitation and neighborhood revitalization efforts.

If Ohio demonstrates successful implementation of its plan, it will receive an additional $133 million, for a total of more than $266 million.

Posted by: Shannah J. Morris

Categories: Current Developments / Legislation, Federal and State Procurement / Bid Disputes