Community Corner
Worcester To Send Stimulus Funds To Winter Heating Assistance Program
The city will give ARPA dollars to the Worcester Community Action Council, which oversees the federal heating assistance program, LIHEAP.
WORCESTER, MA — A local home heating program for vulnerable people will get a boost from the city of Worcester.
City Manager Eric Batista Monday said he would send $1 million from the city's American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allotment to the Worcester Community Action Council, which administers the local winter home heating assistance program.
The money will come in especially handy this winter, with utility companies like National Grid and Eversource promising massive rate hikes for customers across Massachusetts.
RELATED
- Eversource Seeks 43% Electric Rate Increase In Eastern MA
- Big Utility Hikes Coming To MA This Winter: National Grid, Eversource
WCAC provides heating assistance for low and moderate-income income in more than 3o communities in Worcester County from Worcester south to Webster, west to Sturbridge and Warren and north to Rutland.
The assistance comes through the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which provides up to $1,000 of heating assistance for qualified residents. The application period for LIHEAP opened in October.
Worcester received about $146 million from the federal ARPA stimulus program. The city has only spent about $20 million of that total, although officials are accepting applications for programs like lead abatement, first-time homebuyer assistance, small business grants and cultural grants.
