Jackson Free Press

Several Mississippi counties, including Hinds, will receive funding from the U.S. Department of Energy channeled to the state through Energy Efficient Block Grant Programs.

The state was recently awarded $9 million from the DOE through stimulus funding to establish the Sustainable Mississippi Communities Initiative. The Initiative will create green jobs, strategic planning, and a market for sustainable products and services. One of the goals of the Sustainable Communities Initiative is to reduce building energy usage by 25 percent.

The Mississippi Development Authority is administering the program and is expected to begin the first phase of the program this fall. Eligible cities and counties will undergo energy audits to identify possible cost-saving measures. All grantees have measures they must take before spending funds awarded to them, such as ensuring oversight and transparency, submitting a conservation strategy to the Department of Energy and complying with environmental regulations.

Tomorrow, Sept. 29 at 10 a.m., the Mississippi Development Authority will host a webinar focusing on several funding opportunities from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. To register for the webinar visit, the MDA Web site.