Mille Lacs Band receives federal funding to expand weatherization services

ONAMIA The Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe recently received $350,000 from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act high performance fund to expand its weatherization services.

The band is the only tribe in the country chosen to receive this funding. The U.S. Department of Energy Weatherization Assistance Program allocated $9.75 million of its ARRA funding to Minnesota. The funds were distributed to service providers that exceeded their weatherization goals and have the capacity to complete additional units.

Grant awardees were determined based on high performance in the number of units completed, money expended as of April 30, 2010, percentage of weatherization completed, and extent of cost-effective measures implemented.

Last year, the band weatherized 40 houses. With the ARRA high performance funding, the band will be able to weatherize about 50 more houses, meaning that the band could potentially weatherize more than 100 houses during the next fiscal year.

Band members who are eligible for State Energy Assistance are also eligible for weatherization assistance. Weatherization includes energy-efficient upgrades to storm windows, roofs, insulation and more.

The band's success is due in part to the collaboration between the Band's Emergency Services Office and Housing Department. The cooperation provided the staff capacity necessary to effectively service low-income households.