now accepting applications for the Neighborhood Energy Challenge; a
program encouraging neighbors to join forces to develop innovative and
practical strategies for improving their neighborhoods' energy use.
The program is open to any neighborhood association or homeowners
association in Charlotte that has been established for at least three
months. Up to five neighborhoods will be selected from the entire city
to participate, regardless of location or economic conditions. Those
selected will receive monies from two different pools of funding; one
focused on developing improvements that benefit an entire
neighborhood, such as more bus stops to promote public transit; and
the second to focus on a limited scope of high impact energy
efficiency improvements in households, such as attic insulation, duct
sealing, and weatherization within the five selected neighborhoods.
Applications are due July 31.
Residents interested in applying must register and take part in one of
five pre-application workshops, designed to provide applicants with
detailed information about the program and application process. The
pre-application workshops are scheduled as follows:
Thursday, May 20, 6:00pm-8:30 p.m., Arbor Glen Recreation Center, 1520
Clanton Road
Thursday, June 10, 6:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Hickory Grove Recreation
Center, 6709 Pence Road
Saturday, June 26, 9:30 a.m.-Noon, Old City Hall, Uptown, 600 E. Trade
Street
Tuesday, July 13, 6:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Park Road YWCA, 3420 Park Road
Saturday, July 17, 9:30-Noon Old City Hall, Uptown, 600 E. Trade Street
To learn more and register for the workshop, call (704) 353-1130 or
visit http://nbs.charlottenc.gov.
Funded by a grant from the US Department of Energy, the Neighborhood
Challenge is one of 17 City of Charlotte projects to receive funding
through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program,
part of the American Resource and Recovery Act. To learn more about
Charlotte's energy strategy, visit the city's economic recovery web
site at www.charmeck.org.
