Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Contact: Spence Jackson, 573-751-0290
Blunt Announces Interest Free Loans for Storm Damaged Areas
JEFFERSON CITY–Gov. Matt Blunt today announced that the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will offer $3 million in interest free loans to help communities make public buildings more energy efficient as they repair or rebuild following this spring’s fatal storms.
“The clean-up and rebuilding projects facing these communities are overwhelming,” Blunt said. “The interest free loans we are offering will help communities put their schools and public buildings back together as soon as possible and will save them money in the long run through improved efficiency and energy savings.”
This week, DNR staff will visit with city and county officials to discuss how the department can help rebuilding efforts in affected areas.
“These loans will not only help communities repair schools and public buildings, but it will help them do so in a way that is friendly to the environment and saves them money on future energy bills,” said Doyle Childers, DNR Director. “We want to help communities recover from these storms, and this loan financing can help make sure restored or rebuilt buildings are better than ever.”
The interest free loans are offered through the State of Missouri's Energy Revolving Fund to federally designated disaster areas and are administered through DNR’s Energy Center. Under the loan provisions, applicants may apply for up to $500,000 in loans that may be used to improve the energy-efficiency of buildings owned by a city, county, school district or higher education entity. The funds can be used to replace tornado-damaged energy-using systems, such as furnaces, boilers and air conditioners, with higher-efficiency equipment or to add insulation to buildings while storm-damage repair is taking place. In cases where a building has been completely destroyed by severe weather, loan money can be used to help pay to install high-efficiency components in a new building.
In addition, the department is assisting low-income residents affected by the tornadoes. DNR has distributed federal weatherization funds to community action agencies in affected areas. The funds will help pay for energy-efficient improvements as repairs are made to homes occupied by low-income families.
“We’re pleased to be able to extend these opportunities to communities and citizens that have suffered from this spring's severe storms,” said Anita Randolph, director of the Missouri Energy Center. “Helping to fund repairs that are designed to be energy efficient not only helps these communities now, but in the long run it also will save valuable tax-payer dollars for other uses by reducing energy expenditures.”
For more information, call the DNR Energy Center at 1-800-361-4827.
Eligible counties include: Pemiscot, Bates, Benton, Boone, Carroll, Cedar, Christian, Dunklin, Greene, Henry, Hickory, Howard, Iron, Lawrence, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Perry, Pettis, Putnam, Randolph, Saline, St. Clair, Vernon, Webster and Wright.
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