DHCR Announces $55 Million in Additional Weatherization Grants for High-Performing Providers

Incentive Funds will make more than 7,700 homes more energy efficient and affordable

ALBANY, NY (06/22/2010)(readMedia)-- The NYS Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) today announced that 24 Weatherization Assistance providers in New York will receive a total of $55.4 million in additional funds through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). This release of funds is part of an incentive pool offered to providers (subgrantees) that have completed or begun construction on 30% of the units they initially agreed to assist. These funds will make it possible to weatherize 7,700 homes and allow several large multi-family weatherization projects to move forward.

Governor David A. Paterson said, "Since the Weatherization Assistance Program began 33 years ago, more than 500,000 homes of the neediest New Yorkers have been made warmer, safer, more affordable, and more habitable. The WAP stimulus funding is a win-win for all. It has already created nearly 600 jobs throughout the state and is conserving natural resources and lowering heating and cooling bills for thousands of working families."

Brian Lawlor, DHCR Commissioner and President/CEO of "nyhomes" said, "These grants further illustrate the success of the New York State Weatherization Assistance Program and point to the dedication of community-based organizations around the state that are working to make houses and apartments more affordable for low-income New Yorkers. Funds from the incentive pool are disbursed after subgrantees reach production milestones. We are pleased that so many subgrantees have reached these goals and that more than 7,700 homes, including large multi-family developments, will be weatherized as a result."

The New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR), which administers the federal Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) in New York received $394 million in WAP stimulus funding in ARRA and is on target to fulfill its WAP ARRA weatherization goals by March 2012, the deadline by which stimulus-related weatherization work must be completed. As of May 31, 2010, more than 2,900 units had already been weatherized under the WAP ARRA program and approximately 30,800 units were either under construction or have had energy audits conducted and will begin work shortly. Approximately $83.7 million has been disbursed to date.

At the end of each month, DHCR will review subgrantee production goals to determine eligibility for incentive funds.

The following is a list of subgrantees receiving incentive grants:

Action for a Better Community, Inc. (serving the City of Rochester) $2,855,153

Adirondack Community Action Programs, Inc.: (serving Essex County) $565,000

Association for Energy Affordability, Inc.: (serving part of Bronx County) $5,000,000

Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation, Inc.: (serving part of Kings County) $3,700,000

Bronx Shepherds Restoration Corporation: (serving part of Bronx County) $4,000,000

Chautauqua Opportunities, Inc.: (serving Chautauqua County) $610,000

Cattaraugus Community Action: (serving Allegany and Cattaraugus Counties and the Seneca Nation) $676,201

Cayuga-Seneca Community Action Inc. (serving Cayuga County) $755,263

Columbia Opportunities Inc. (serving Columbia County) $1,400,000

Community Environmental Center, Inc.: (serving part of Kings County and part of Queens County) $12,000,000

Community Action of Greene County, Inc.: (serving Greene County) $250,000

Cortland County Community Action Program, Inc.: (serving Cortland County) $1,218,750

Crown Heights Jewish Community Council: (serving part of Kings County) $2,500,000

Delaware Opportunities, Inc.: (serving Delaware County) $1,250,000

Lewis County Opportunities, Inc.: (serving Lewis County) $400,000

Margert Community Corporation: (serving part of Queens County) $2,800,000

Northern Manhattan Improvement Corp: (serving part of New York County) $4,000,000

Opportunity Development Association: $3,600,000

Orleans Community Action Committee, Inc.: (serving Orleans County and Genesee County) $567,818

Schoharie County Community Action Program (serving Schoharie County) $300,000

St. Lawrence County Community Development and Planning, Inc.: (serving St. Lawrence County) $1,239,798

Stoneleigh Housing, Inc.: (serving Madison County) $509,649

Sunset Park Redevelopment Committees: (serving part of Kings County) $4,300,000

Tompkins Community Action: (serving Tompkins County) $896,778