EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT

National Energy Awareness Month is an annual observance held in October to raise awareness about energy conservation, efficiency, and sustainability. It provides an opportunity for organizations, communities, and individuals to come together and focus on the importance of responsible energy usage. For Central Kentucky Community Action Council and the state of Kentucky as a whole, participating in National Energy Awareness Month carries several significant implications:

1. Promoting Energy Efficiency: Kentucky can use this month to encourage its residents and businesses to adopt energy-efficient practices. This includes steps like using LED lighting, sealing and insulating buildings, and investing in energy-efficient appliances and technologies.
2. Reducing Energy Costs: Promoting energy awareness can help Kentucky residents reduce their energy bills by adopting energy-saving measures. This can be especially beneficial for low-income households, as it helps them save money on utility expenses.
3. Environmental Benefits: Emphasizing energy awareness also contributes to environmental sustainability. Kentucky can promote cleaner and more sustainable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, to reduce its carbon footprint and combat climate change.
4. Educational Initiatives: National Energy Awareness Month is an excellent time to launch educational campaigns and programs in schools, colleges, and communities. These initiatives can teach people about the importance of energy conservation, renewable energy sources, and the role individuals can play in reducing energy consumption.
5. Community Engagement: Central Kentucky Community Action Council will engage with local communities to promote energy awareness. Empower individuals to take practical steps to reduce their energy consumption.
6. Economic Opportunities: Kentucky can also use this month to highlight the economic benefits of energy conservation and renewable energy initiatives. It can showcase how investments in energy efficiency and clean energy can create jobs and stimulate economic growth.

In summary, National Energy Awareness Month presents an opportunity for Central Kentucky Community Action Council and the state of Kentucky to emphasize the importance of responsible energy usage, promote sustainability, and empower individuals and communities to take action in reducing their energy consumption. It’s a chance to make positive changes that can benefit both the environment and the economy of the state.

More to come……………much more

CSBG/LIHEAP 2023

Our program continues its work from being an immediate emergency assistance provider to becoming a program that really helps the families of low-income change their lives. Although we continue to provide emergency assistance, we also assist with budgeting, developing family goal plans and strategies to avoid future emergencies. As we work with families to develop strategies to prevent future emergencies, tips such as budget billing, paying your rent first, shopping at less expensive stores, and controlling impulsive spending are helpful and sometimes well received. Those not working are encouraged to find employment. Our employment and education programs can assist with small barriers to gaining full time employment or better employment. How do we help? It can be partial assistance with a CNA, CDL class, or proper clothing and shoes for a new job, or even gas for transportation to work for a week.

SUMMER COOLING   2906 households have been assisted; total spent $526,356.00.

LIHWAP Water Assistance 1,122 households have been assisted, total spent $108,750.00.

PREPARING FOR LIHEAP

Official Dates for Subsidy, Nov. 6^th  through Dec. 15^th.    

We will be taking appointments this year.

The vendor information packets have been sent to over 100 vendors. Vendor advertisements have run in local papers throughout the 8-county region. The vendor agreements must be on file in the Central Office before vendors can participate in the Low-Income Heating Assistance Program. Special thanks in advance to Judith for a job well done. When these agreements are returned by mail, they will be reviewed, filed, and then the information updated in the computers in the county offices.

Pre-registration opportunities for the 2023-2024 Subsidy Heating Assistance Program will be offered by appointment, October 23rd – November 3rd for those residents who are on a fixed income, and who are elderly (age 60 or over) or disabled receiving social security, SSI, pension, or Black Lung benefits. Pre-registration benefits will be posted in November.

Applicants must be within 150% of the federal poverty guidelines and willing to provide the documentation below:

• Address Verification, metered utility bill, unopened legal piece of first-class mail confirming the name and address, etc.
• Proof of all household income for the preceding month (food stamp award letter, pay stubs, etc.).
• Social Security card(s) or official documentation with social security numbers or Permanent Resident Card Numbers for everyone living in the household.
• Most recent heating bill or verification from landlord that heating expenses are included in the rent (i.e., lease agreements).

Income-eligible residents who do not meet the requirements for pre-registration (who are not elderly or disabled) may still apply for Subsidy LIHEAP benefits starting November 6 – December 15, 2023, by appointment. Walk-ins will be offered an appointment or wait for an opening. 

COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT for 2023-2024 is underway. The results help determine the CSBG program budget for the upcoming year. We need a broad range of community members to complete the survey, so feel free to share. Your help is greatly appreciated. If you are a CKCAC Board member completing the survey, please choose board member.

Could you please go online and complete this survey for Central Kentucky Community Action? This survey is for our Community Needs Assessment for year 2024-2025.

The survey allows us to continue to have programs in our county. You can do this by clicking on the link below. 

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HXWPKW3-2023-2024CNA

The Kentucky Works Program supports the Kentucky Transitional Assistance Program (K-TAP) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in the following Kentucky counties: Anderson, Breckinridge, Bullitt, Franklin, Grayson, Hardin, Henry, Larue, Marion, Meade, Nelson, Oldham, Shelby, Spencer, Trimble, Washington, and Woodford. Our goal is to assess these individuals to identify barriers, work to overcome those barriers to make them self- sufficient. We also have job readiness classes to help with resumes, job search, job interviews, etc.

Covid-19 has had a significant impact on both of our programs over the past couple of years with a state of emergency “Good Cause exemption” where clients were not required to participate in the programs, but as of July 1, 2023 that exemption has ended for both KTAP and SNAP E&T programs.

·       KY Works currently has 39 clients that are employed in the K-TAP Program. This is up 5 from when last reported. Our Employment Specialists continue to follow up with each of these clients and track the hours they are working. We served 69 clients in the K-Tap program for the first quarter of the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023.

·       On the SNAP Employment and Training program, we continue to reach out to these clients and complete assessments when they are referred to us. KY Works served 376 clients for the SNAP program during the last quarter.

·       KY Works continues to stay in touch with employers and if we do get referrals we match the clients skills with the employer needs to have a good match. We call new employers each week and keep a current job listing for each county we serve.

·       Our staff continues to stay in touch with staff meeting every other month, either in person or virtually to discuss all relative matters in the program.

·       KY Works continues to offer a wage subsidy program where if an employer hires one of our K-TAP clients they will be reimbursed for a portion of their wages during the first six month of employment.

·        KY Works is under contract for KTAP and SNAP E & T through June 2024.

The Weatherization Program has 63 clients on the waiting list for weatherization services as of September 30, 2023. The Weatherization Program provides weatherization services to our 8-county area with 6 jobs completed, 5 walkaways, 2 cancellations and 6 jobs in-progress. The Weatherization Program is working with staff and additional crew, and we are continuing to utilize contractors to perform HVAC and electrical work that we must perform during the dwellings receiving services. We look forward to the future of this new contract year for CKCAC’s Weatherization Program to progress and better serve our 8-county service area.

Our goal with weatherization is to continue to reduce energy waste and assure the health and safety of each client we serve through testing consisting of aliening air and thermal boundaries, pressure diagnostics, heating system diagnostics, indoor air quality, and base load energy consumption diagnostics.

Central Kentucky Community Action Council Weatherization Program is staffed with a highly trained supporting and technical staff consisting of Josh Mattingly, Dwelling Needs Evaluator EA/QCI Trainee and Crew Leader; Mike Burden, Retrofit Installer and Barbara Garrett, Weatherization Administrative Support Specialist. We would like to say a huge thank you to our Weatherization staff for their dedication to improving the quality of work and to ensure the health and safety of all the clients we serve.

Central Kentucky Community Action Council has leveraged funds from utilities to expand the reach of the Weatherization Assistance Program. This year we are leveraging funding from DOE, DOE BIL, LIHEAP, East Kentucky Power, Kentucky Utilities, and Louisville Gas& Electric.

INVITATION FOR BIDS

BID # 0123-SW

CKCATS will receive bids pertaining to a major software/camera system upgrade for all transit operations in its fleet.  

All bids must be turned in to CKCATS, 332 Hood Ave., Lebanon KY 40033, no later than 5:00 PM EST on October 13, 2023. Bids cannot be accepted at any other location. The complete bid package can be requested in writing by email to amanda.tungate@ckcac.org  on or before October 6, 2023  by 5:00 PM EST. Bids will be opened there upon or about 12:00 PM EST on October 16, 2023  at a public bid opening at CKCATS, 332 Hood Ave., Lebanon KY 40033. Bids must be received by the designated date and time, and none will be considered thereafter.

Electronic Bids: electronic bids can be emailed to amanda.tungate@ckcac.org with a CC to kerri.taylor@ckcac.org

Pre-Bid Meeting: There will be no pre-bid meeting set for this project.

Questions and Approved Equals Request Deadline:

Requests may be submitted in writing by email to amanda.tungate@ckcac.org  on or before October 9, 2023, by 5:00 PM EST.

Answers to Questions and Approved Equals Requests:

Answers will be posted on www.ckcac.org on or before October 13, 2023. Changes and addendums will also be emailed to all known possible bidders based on the return of “Confirmation of Receipt”.

CKCATS reserves the right to reject any and all bids received, and to select that bid which it determines to be in its best interest. The award of this bid will be made on the basis of the lowest evaluated bid price as permitted in KRS 45A.365.

All bid forms, information, and specifications regarding this bid are available from CKCATS. Bidders must submit their bid in a sealed envelope, and the bidder is advised to clearly mark the sealed bid with the bid number and description, opening time and date listed above. CKCATS is not responsible for the premature opening of, or the failure to open, a sealed bid not properly addressed or identified.

This bid package is subject to the requirements of Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 26, Participations of Disadvantaged Business Enterprises in Department of Transportation Financial Assistance Programs. The bid package is subject to a financial assistance between CKCATS, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinets Office of Delivery, and the Federal Transit Administration.

Bidders are invited to attend in person at 12:00 PM EST on October 16, 2023, in order to hear the opening of the bids submitted.

As the leaves begin to change and a new season unfolds, we’re excited to bring you the latest news and updates from Central Kentucky Community Action Council. This month, I want to highlight the importance of transportation in our community and how it impacts our daily lives.

Central Kentucky Community Action CATS Transportation is a lifeline that connects us, allowing individuals to access employment, education, healthcare, and social activities. Our community thrives when transportation options are abundant and accessible.

Consider this:

1. Access to Opportunities: Reliable transportation opens doors to job opportunities, enabling individuals to become self-sufficient and contribute to the local economy.
2. Healthcare Access:  Many rely on CKCATS transportation to access medical appointments, treatments, and pharmacies. Lack of transportation should never be a barrier to receiving necessary healthcare services.
3. Community Engagement: Transportation fosters social connections. It allows residents to participate in community events, cultural activities, and gatherings that build a sense of belonging.

Our Initiatives:

1. Transportation Assistance Programs: We are committed to providing transportation options for those who face financial barriers. Our programs aim to ensure that no one is left behind due to lack of transportation.
2. Collaborations: We work closely with state transportation authorities, businesses, and other nonprofits to enhance transportation services and create innovative solutions for our community’s needs.
3. Advocacy: We advocate for improved public transportation infrastructure and policies that prioritize accessibility and inclusivity. Together, we can create a more connected and resilient community.

As we move forward, let’s remember that transportation is not just a means of getting from one place to another; it’s a bridge that connects us to a brighter future. By working together, we can ensure that those in need in our community have the access they deserve.

More to come…………. much more.