HHS increases total LIHEAP funding available to help low-income families to $3.9 billion

Georgia's allocation will be $86,178,083.

Today U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced the availability of additional funding to help eligible low-income families meet their home energy needs, bringing the total made available since October 1 to $3.9 billion. These funds will go to states, tribes and territories under the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and are available under the terms of the latest continuing resolution.

"Much of the country has already experienced a very cold winter," said Secretary Sebelius. "Today's additional funds will help struggling families keep safe and warm for the remainder of the season."

LIHEAP assists qualified families with their home energy needs such as heating in the winter, cooling their homes in the summer, and insulating their homes to make them more energy efficient and reduce their energy costs. By doing so, families are less likely to have to choose between paying their energy bills and other necessities, such as food or medicine. Energy assistance can reduce illness or the risk of fires that can break out when households turn to using candles or space heaters because they cannot pay their electricity or gas bill.

The block grant funds released today supplement two previous releases of funds under continuing resolutions in Fiscal Year 2011.

"As temperatures drop, heating costs can pose a serious challenge for struggling families," said David A. Hansell, HHS acting assistant secretary for children and families. "At the start of a new year, these additional LIHEAP funds will help ease the financial burdens for many families."

A complete list of funds available to states today is below:
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/news/press/2011/liheap_allocation.html

Individuals interested in applying for energy assistance should contact their local/state LIHEAP agency. For more information, go to: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/liheap/ or http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/liheap/brochure/brochure.html.

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Georgia Announces Specialty Crop Grant Program

The Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) is pleased to announce a new grant program to fund projects that enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program was established by the 2008 Farm Bill.

The GDA has set up a competitive grant process to award these federal funds in 2009. GDA will be administering funds totaling $909,576.44 for the development of projects that will support and enhance the competitiveness of Specialty Crops in Georgia. GDA intent is to fund projects that can produce the highest degree of measurable benefits to Georgia’s specialty crop producers in relation to each dollar spent.

Projects that benefit the following specialty crops are eligible; Fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, Christmas trees, turfgrass/sod, and nursery and greenhouse crops are eligible specialty crops.

GDA is seeking applications from organizations that seek to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in Georgia including; non-profit organizations and corporations, commodity associations, state and local government entities, colleges, and universities. Applicants must reside or their business or educational affiliation must be in Georgia.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Rules state: Grant funds will NOT be awarded for projects that solely benefit a particular commercial product or provide a profit to a single organization, institution, or individual. Single organizations, institutions, and individuals are encouraged to participate as project partners.

Grant applications must be submitted by 5:00pm on July 17, 2009. Please refer to the links on this page for the grant application, guidelines, and additional information.

GDA will accept grant applications with a value of up to $150,000 and a minimum of $10,000. Grants will be awarded for up to three years. Once all applications are submitted to GDA, each one will be carefully reviewed and evaluated. All GDA approved projects will then be developed into one grant submission to the USDA. Upon approval from USDA, GDA will notify applicants (sub-grantees) of their status. No final awards to any sub-grantee will be made until a final grant award is made to GDA (grantor) by USDA. Final approval is expected by September 30, 2009, but is subject to change.

For questions or additional information contact:
Georgia Department of Agriculture
Specialty Crops Block Grant Program
19 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. SW
Atlanta, GA 30334
or email: grants@agr.state.ga.us

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HHS Takes Additional Steps Toward Development of Vaccine for the Novel Influenza A (H1N1)

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced today that the department will
take important steps necessary to prepare for potential commercial-scale
production of a candidate vaccine for the novel Influenza A (H1N1). The
Secretary is directing approximately $1 billion in existing funds that
will be used for clinical studies that will take place over the summer
and for commercial-scale production of two potential vaccine ingredients
for the pre-pandemic influenza stockpile.

"Preparation and planning are critical to keep Americans safe in the
face of a potential pandemic," Secretary Sebelius said. "Our goal
throughout this new H1N1 outbreak has been to stay one step ahead of the
virus. An important part of this effort has been our work to develop a
potential vaccine because vaccines can help prevent and control
influenza virus outbreaks. The actions we are taking today will help us
be prepared if a vaccine is needed."

The funds will be used to place new orders on existing contracts with
companies that hold U.S. licenses for flu vaccines. With these orders,
they will produce a bulk supply of vaccine antigen and adjuvant. Antigen
is the active ingredient in a vaccine that causes the human body's
immune system to develop antibodies that help fight an invading virus.
Depending on the results of clinical studies, adjuvants could be added
to a vaccine to improve the immune system's response and potentially
reduce the amount of antigen necessary for the body to recognize and
fight a virus.

Having both antigen and adjuvant on hand provides maximum flexibility in
a future immunization program, if a program is recommended. For example,
if needed these ingredients could be used in vaccine to help protect
health providers and other members of the critical workforce, as
recommended by the National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza.

With these funds manufacturers will also prepare pilot lots of potential
vaccine for use in clinical studies to determine the proper dose for a
vaccine, determine if adjuvants are appropriate and ensure a vaccine is
safe and effective. The U.S. government will share as much information
as possible from the results of these clinical studies with the World
Health Organization and the global community so that other countries can
benefit from the U.S. efforts to determine dosage, safety and
effectiveness.

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More Than Five Billion Dollars Released Under LIHEAP

GFP Note: Georgia will receive over $80,000,000 under this program.

HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt today announced the release of $5.1 billion
from the federal government's Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program
(LIHEAP) under the Fiscal Year 2009 Continuing Resolution. The funds
will assist states, territories, tribal areas and the District of
Columbia with addressing their energy needs, particularly for the
upcoming winter season.

"The release of these funds will help low-income families stay warm this
winter," Secretary Leavitt said. "These funds will also help reduce the
risk of health and safety problems exacerbated by exposure to extreme
temperatures."

LIHEAP funding is provided to states through the Office of Community
Services in the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at HHS.
The funds will assist eligible low-income households in meeting their
heating and other energy needs.

"The funds released by the Bush Administration will help our most
vulnerable citizens, including the disabled, elderly and children," said
Josephine Robinson, director, Office of Community Services at ACF.

Under the language of the Continuing Resolution, $4.5 billion in block
grant funds and $590 million contingency funds must be released by Oct.
30, 2008. Block grant funds will be allocated to states under a formula
specified in the Continuing Resolution. Of the $590 million in
contingency funds, $100 million will assist states where large numbers
of eligible households use heating oil for heat: Alaska, Connecticut,
Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. The
remaining $490 million will help individuals in all 50 states.

For a complete list of state allocations of the funds released today go
to:
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/news/press/2008/liheap_allocations_fy2009.htm.

Individuals interested in applying for energy assistance should contact
their local/state/LIHEAP agency. For more information, go to
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/liheap or
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/liheap/brochure.html.

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