Deadline for tornado rebuilding program approaching

BOSTON (WWLP) - The deadline is approaching for a rebuilding program that helps out tornado-damaged homes and businesses.

ReBuild Western Massachusetts provides grants or 0% construction loans toward energy efficiency improvements for homes and businesses damaged by the June 1 tornadoes last year.

The deadline to apply for assistance from the program is October 1.

Up to $200,000 has already been allocated to low-income apartment buildings in Springfield. For instance, one Wilcox Street building received a new heating system, water tank and updated electrical power system. The project is expected to save more than $9,000 annually in energy costs, and Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Richard Sullivan told 22News that that’s not the only one.

“Some of the multi-family units in Springfield have really been able to go in and do significant retrofits of their energy systems to be able to drive down their annual utility costs,” he said.

The program has also allocated money to plant 11,000 trees in tornado-damaged neighborhoods.

For more information, check out www.mass.gov/energy/rebuildwesternma or call (877) 524-1325.