Gov. Kay Ivey has awarded about $43.8 million in grants to help low-income households across Alabama pay heating and cooling costs during extreme winter and summer weather, with assistance available to eligible residents in Baldwin County.

The funding will support the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, commonly known as LIHEAP, and will be distributed through 18 community action agencies statewide a news release said. These agencies provide emergency assistance to help families keep utilities connected during periods of high energy demand.

“The cost of heating a home during the coldest parts of winter and cooling it during the hottest parts of summer can pose a challenge for those who are most vulnerable and have extremely limited incomes,” Ivey said in the release. “These grants will ensure that help is available to those who need it most during extreme weather.”

In Baldwin County, assistance will be administered by the Community Action Agency of South Alabama, which received $2.8 million to serve Baldwin, Clarke, Conecuh, Escambia, Marengo, Monroe and Wilcox counties. Residents can contact the agency at (251) 626-2646 or visit http://www.caaofsa.org/  for information on application periods and eligibility requirements.

Community action agencies manage LIHEAP locally and set their own application schedules. Officials cautioned that funding announced by the state may not be immediately available for applications and urged residents to check directly with their local agency.

“This program is meant to help people who have the lowest income and those who are most vulnerable, including the elderly, people with disabilities and young children,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said. “ADECA stands with Gov. Ivey in supporting Alabamians who are in need of this emergency assistance.”

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grants using funds provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The allocation includes regular LIHEAP funding along with supplemental dollars from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which expanded support for households facing rising utility costs.

Across the state, the Community Action Agency of Northeast Alabama Inc. received the largest allocation at $9.27 million to serve Blount, Cherokee, DeKalb, Jackson, Jefferson, Marshall and St. Clair counties. Community Service Programs of West Alabama Inc. was awarded $4.27 million to serve Bibb, Choctaw, Dallas, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Lamar, Perry, Sumter and Tuscaloosa counties.

Other grants include $3.8 million to Mobile Community Action Inc. for Mobile and Washington counties; $2.9 million to the Community Action Partnership of Huntsville, Madison and Limestone counties; and $2.46 million each to the Community Action Partnership of Middle Alabama Inc., serving Autauga, Chilton, Elmore and Shelby counties, and the Community Action Agency of Talladega, Clay, Randolph, Calhoun and Cleburne counties.

Additional funding was awarded to Southeast Alabama Community Action Partnership Inc. at $2.27 million for Barbour, Coffee, Geneva, Henry and Houston counties; Montgomery Community Action Committee and Community Development Corporation Inc. at $2.2 million for Montgomery County; Organized Community Action Program Inc. at $1.9 million for Bullock, Butler, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Lowndes and Pike counties; and Alabama Council on Human Relations Inc. at $1.79 million for Lee County.

Smaller allocations include $1.6 million to the Community Action Agency of Northwest Alabama Inc. for Colbert, Franklin and Lauderdale counties; $1.1 million to Community Action of Etowah County Inc.; $881,019 to Macon-Russell Community Action Agency Inc.; $760,959 to the Community Action Committee of Chambers, Tallapoosa and Coosa counties; $623,646 to Walker County Community Action Agency Inc.; and $202,227 to Pickens County Community Action Committee and Community Development Corporation Inc.