North Carolina Provides Another $4 Million

North Carolina Governor Mike Easley added another $4 million in state funds January 17 to help 10,000 more families pay their home heating bills this winter. The Governor’s action brings the total in a special fund financed by the state and utility companies to nearly $14 million. It came a week after about 40 legislators asked the governor for additional energy assistance for low- income residents.

The governor directed the state Department of Health and Human Services, the LIHEAP grantee, to allocate the new money to counties as soon as possible for the state crisis intervention program, which provides a maximum of $300 in energy assistance to low-income families. The governor provided $3.4 million for the crisis program in November and $3.1 million for the state weatherization program, and asked state utilities to match.

Source: State newspapers

Page Last Updated: January 19, 2006