Litchfield Hills Business Energy Efficiency Program (BEEP)
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A cooperative venture of the Litchfield Hills Council of Elected Officials, Northwest Connecticut Chamber of Commerce, and the towns of Barkhamsted, Colebrook, Goshen, Hartland, Harwinton, Litchfield, Morris, New Hartford, Norfolk, Torrington and Winchester
LHCEO
42E North Street
Goshen, CT 06756
Tel: (860) 491-9884
Fax: (860) 491-3729
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STATEMENT OF PURPOSE - The Litchfield Hills Council of Elected Officials believes that promoting energy efficient commercial buildings is important to the economic health of the Litchfield Hills region. The intent of the Litchfield Hills Business Energy Efficiency Program (BEEP) is to strengthen the economic viability of the region's businesses through a comprehensive energy efficiency improvement program. By providing a financial incentive for improving the energy efficiency of business buildings, we hope to stimulate reinvestment in those buildings and facilitate local economic development.
FINANCING DESCRIPTION - The BEEP will provide incentive financing to stimulate improvements and reinvestment to commercially owned real estate, and eligible non-profit organizations in the following member towns of the Litchfield Hills Council of Elected Officials: Barkhamsted, Colebrook, Goshen, Hartland, Harwinton, Litchfield, Morris, New Hartford, Norfolk, Torrington, and Winchester.
$200,000 from OPM's Supplemental Regional Bonus Pool Block Program will leverage an estimated $190,000 in private resources to achieve an estimated total pool of $390,000 for rehabilitation investment in the eleven participating towns.
The BEEP will rebate 50% of the cost of approved energy efficiency building improvements for the first $5,000 of improvement, with a 20 % rebate for additional project expenses up to a maximum project cost of $30,000. Thus, the maximum rebate that could be provided for a single application is $7,500. The rebates apply to the expense of materials and installation costs for an improvement project and do not pertain to the cost of borrowing. The rebate will apply to projects that secure bank financing and to projects that are self-financed.
The BEEP is patterned after the highly successful Litchfield Hills Façade Improvement Program, administered by the Litchfield Hills Council of Elected Officials. A BEEP rebate will be paid after the project is approved by the local and regional BEEP Committees and implementation is complete.
PROGRAM PRIORITIES - The focus of the BEEP is to improve the energy efficiency of existing commercial buildings. Projects which enhance structures owned or operated by private, non-profit organizations are eligible provided they serve to enhance economic development (e.g. local historical society building which serves to attract tourists). Home-based businesses that are not assessed as commercial property, religious establishments, and municipal buildings are not eligible.
OPERATIONAL MATTERS - The Litchfield Hills BEEP will work as a partnership with the eleven municipalities and their Local BEEP Committees. The Litchfield Hills Council of Elected Officials, in cooperation with Northwest Connecticut Chamber of Commerce, will provide coordination and technical assistance.
The funds have been allocated to the participating communities according to a fair-share formula (see Attachment A). Any uncommitted funds remaining in a municipal allocation after one year of program operation will be re-allocated to a regional pool. Funds from this regional pool will be made available to those participating towns that
have fully utilized their initial allocation. A modest percentage of the grant amount (5%) is being retained for program management by the LHCEO.
Each of the eleven participating communities will establish a local BEEP Committee appointed by the municipality's Board of Selectmen. Ultimately, it is the responsibility of the local BEEP Committee to operate the program at the local level. The duties of the local BEEP Committee are to:
- Appoint a committee chairperson.
- Designate a committee member as the local BEEP Coordinator
- Select a location/office as the primary contact point for program information (e.g. First Selectman's office)
- Determine local application scheduling - one initial deadline; first come, first served; quarterly reviews, etc.
- Establish local timetable requirements/performance standards for the BEEP Committee and applicants regarding application processing, length of time which applicant has to secure financing, complete project, etc.
- Promote the program; sponsor informational briefings; contact eligible applicants; distribute brochures, etc.
- Provide on-going technical assistance to applicants throughout the process, including assistance in completing the federal environmental form (EF-1 form).
- Review and act upon funding applications, including forwarding the application to the CT Historical Commission for review.
- Maintain communication with applicant and Regional BEEP Committee.
- Monitor project implementation to ensure project proceeds as planned.
- Upon completion, review project paperwork and recommend final rebate amount to regional BEEP committee.
- Maintain all appropriate records and documents.
Membership on the Local BEEP Committee may include:
- Local Building Inspector
- Engineer and/or building contractor experienced in renovation projects;
- Representative from the local historical society and/or historic preservation organization;
- Chief elected official or appointee thereof.
At the regional level, the Litchfield Hills Council of Elected Officials shall appoint and authorize a Litchfield Hills BEEP Committee to provide the necessary administrative oversight to the program and serve as a quality control check in approving projects and issuing funds. The Litchfield Hills BEEP Committee will:
- Provide technical assistance to the participating communities in developing their program/operating procedures.
- Review and act on applications forwarded by the communities.
- Authorize funding distribution.
- Assure that all renovation projects are initiated and completed in accordance with program guidelines.
- Maintain contact with OPM for reporting and accountability.
Membership on the Litchfield Hills BEEP Committee may include:
- LHCEO representatives;
- Northwest CT Chamber of Commerce representative;
- Financial institution representative;
- Representative from the Northwestern CT Economic Development Corporation;
- Representative from the CT Office of Policy and Management.
ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS - Owners or tenants of existing commercial structures, located within one of the BEEP-participating towns, are eligible to apply for BEEP funding.
Private, non-profit organizations (such as arts/cultural agencies or historical societies) which own or use property within the one of the BEEP-participating towns are also eligible if the facility is open to the public and building use is consistent with local revitalization goals.
If a business tenant is an applicant, the property owner must provide written authorization for the proposed improvement project.
Properties that are exclusively residential in nature (apartment buildings), home-based businesses that are not assessed for commercial use, religious institutions, and municipal buildings are not eligible.
Mixed-use projects with commercial space on the ground floor and residential space above are eligible applicants.
ELIGIBLE BEEP IMPROVEMENTS - Eligible expenses include materials and installation costs for energy efficiency improvements to buildings owned or used by eligible applicants. Eligible work is limited to:
- Window replacement
- Building insulation and weather stripping
- Light-bulb replacement
- Solar electricity or solar thermal installation (Note: Solar electricity/photovoltaic installations are eligible for appropriately sized system or a unit on existing rooftops and parking shade structures; or a 60 KW system or smaller unit installed on the ground within the boundaries of the existing facility. Solar thermal systems must be 20 KW or smaller. Solar thermal hot water systems must be appropriately sized for small buildings.)
INELIGIBLE EXPENSES -
- Any project expenses incurred prior to application submittal, review and approval;
- Cost of borrowing (loan interest & fees)
- Wages paid to the applicant, employees of the applicant, or members of applicant's family for improvement related work
- Any portion of expenses for which the applicant pays a contractor in merchandise or service in lieu of cash.
APPLICATION, APPROVAL AND PAYMENT PROCESS
1. Interested business/property owners contact the local BEEP Coordinator for program information and application forms. The Local Coordinator meets with prospective applicants (if necessary) to provide information, and explain the process. It is the applicant's responsibility to secure any and all needed permits.
2. Business prepares and submits application to Local BEEP Coordinator with all necessary documentation including a description of the proposed project; a minimum of two written cost estimates for each component of the project; the applicant's preferred vendor(s) for the project; documentation that any iron, steel, or manufactured goods used for the project will comply with “Buy America” provisions of the American Recovery and Re-investment Act of 2009, and completion of the federal environmental form (EF-1). No construction work is to occur prior to project approval by the local and regional BEEP Committees.
3. The Local BEEP Committee meets to review applications. The Committee may invite an applicant to the meeting to discuss their proposed plans and answer questions. If the application is complete, the project is eligible for a rebate, and the Committee is receptive to approving the application, the Committee forwards the application to the CT Historic Commission for review and comment.
4. Once the Local BEEP Committee makes a final decision on an application, it issues a letter to the Regional BEEP Committee stating the committee's decision and funding commitment - approved, approved with minor conditions, denied as presented but with guidance for modifications, etc. A copy of the complete application packet is also provided to the Regional BEEP Committee.
5. Regional BEEP Committee meets to review application and recommendation of Local BEEP Committee. Regional BEEP Committee issues a decision letter to the applicant with a copy to Local BEEP Committee.
6. If approved by the Local and Regional BEEP Committees, the applicant moves on to the next step. If denied, the business works with Local BEEP Committee to modify the project accordingly and resubmit the revised plans, reduced scope of work, new cost estimates, etc.
7. The business and Local BEEP Coordinator hold a pre-construction meeting to finalize project details, if necessary. The BEEP Coordinator, who may refer a decision to the entire Committee, must authorize any modifications to the originally approved project plans in writing. Project modifications must be within the limits of the Local BEEP Committee's original funding commitment. Any proposed expenses in excess of the original funding commitment must be reviewed and acted upon by the Local and Regional BEEP Committees. The Local BEEP Coordinator authorizes the applicant to proceed with project implementation.
8. Building improvement project commences. Local BEEP Coordinator monitors implementation for on-going compliance with the approved improvement plans.
9. Applicant provides BEEP Coordinator with complete documentation that the approved project expenses are paid. Documentation will include either a cancelled check or invoice marked “paid in full” and completion by contractor or sub-contractor of a “Certification of Project Payment” form.
10. BEEP Coordinator conducts an inspection of the project, with assistance from local building official if necessary. The BEEP Coordinator prepares a project report that summarizes the actual project expenses and recalculates the rebate amount accordingly. The Local BEEP Committee meets, as necessary, to review the project accounting and recommend a final rebate amount to the Regional BEEP Committee.
11. Regional BEEP Committee meets to review final paperwork and authorize distribution of rebate payment to business.
PROGRAM TIMETABLE - We anticipate that the local BEEP Committees will begin accepting funding applications by August 1, 2010. The eleven communities will have a one-year period to promote the program and accept funding applications. At the conclusion of this one-year period, any uncommitted funds remaining from their original allocation will revert to a regional pool which will then be available on a first come, first served basis for a one year period for enhancement projects in all eleven communities.
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ATTACHMENT A
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TOWN ALLOCATIONS
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Town
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2008 Population
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Base
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Population Adjustment
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Total
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Barkhamsted
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3,662
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$5,000
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$ 6,075
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$11,075
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Colebrook
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1,520
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$5,000
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$ 2,521
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$ 7,521
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Goshen
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3,203
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$5,000
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$ 5,313
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$10,313
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Hartland
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2,079
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$5,000
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$ 3,449
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$ 8,449
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Harwinton
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5,560
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$5,000
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$ 9,223
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$14,223
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Litchfield
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8,625
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$5,000
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$14,308
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$19,308
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Morris
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2,329
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$5,000
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$ 3,863
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$ 8,863
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New Hartford
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6,728
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$5,000
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$11,161
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$16,161
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Norfolk
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1,647
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$5,000
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$ 2,732
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$ 7,732
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Torrington
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35,312
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$5,000
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$58,579
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$63,579
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Winchester
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10,716
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$5,000
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$17,776
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$22,776
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Total
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81,381
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$55,000
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$135,000
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$190,000
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BEEP Coordinators
Barkhamsted
Donald Stein,
First Selectman
Town Hall
67 Ripley Hill Road,
PO Box 558
Barkhamsted, CT 06063
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Colebrook
Thomas McKeon,
First Selectman
Town Hall
558 Colebrook Road,
PO Box 5
Colebrook, CT 06021
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Goshen
Rhonda Gelormino,
Administrative Assistant
Town Office Building
42A North Street
Goshen, CT 06756
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Hartland
Wade Cole,
First Selectman
Town Office Building
22 South Road
East Hartland, CT 06027
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Harwinton
Melissa Santoro,
Administrative Assistant
Town Office Building
100 Bentley Drive
Harwinton, CT 06791
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Litchfield
Roxanne Carroll,
Administrative Assistant
Town Office Building
74 West Street,
PO Box 488
Litchfield, CT 06759
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Morris
Barbara Bongiolatti
First Selectman
Town Hall
3 East Street,
PO Box 66
Morris, CT 06763
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New Hartford
Daniel Jerram,
First Selectman
Town Hall
530 Main Street
New Hartford, CT 06057
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Norfolk
Susan Dyer
First Selectman
Town Hall
19 Maple Avenue,
PO Box 592
Norfolk, CT 06058
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Torrington
Rose Ponte,
Econ. Dev. Coordinator
City Hall
140 Main Street
Torrington, CT 06790
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Winchester
Helen Bunnell, Director
Friends of Main Street
398 Main Street,
PO Box 18
Winsted, CT 06098
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