Gov. Kay Ivey awarded $1.7 million to the Baldwin County organization Community Action Agency of South Alabama.

This grant will go toward low-income households with utility costs during the hot summer months to ensure families stay cool in their homes.

“Alabama’s hottest times of the year can hit many low-income residents particularly hard when they struggle to pay their utility bills along with other needs on extremely limited budgets,” Ivey said in a news release. “These grants will provide necessary funding to assist these Alabama families.”

The local grant is part of a statewide round of money Ivey is distributing to community agencies that manage programs at the local level and receive applications from individuals seeking assistance. A total of $26 million was awarded to 18 community agencies.

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grants from funds made available by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

“ADECA stands with Gov. Ivey in supporting those who need help most during our hottest months of the year,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said in the release. “These partnerships with local community agencies ensure that those who truly need assistance will receive emergency help with cooling their homes.”

For more information, contact Community Action Agency of South Alabama at (251) 626-2646.