LIHEAP DCL National LIHEAP Training Meeting 2019

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program

Dear Colleague Letter

DCL#: LIHEAP-DCL-2019-04

DATE: February 15, 2019

TO: All LIHEAP Grantees

SUBJECT: 2019 National LIHEAP Training Meeting

ATTACHMENT(S): Draft Agenda (DOCX)

The Office of Community Services (OCS) is pleased to announce that we will convene a National Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Grantee Training Meeting April 30 through May 2, 2019, at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Denver, CO. This is a unique training opportunity and we strongly encourage all directly funded LIHEAP grantees to participate.

Each LIHEAP grantee is expected to send at least one representative and will be permitted to register only one participant. Grantees may add additional participants to a waiting list.

The National LIHEAP Grantee Training Meeting is a closed training event for directly funded LIHEAP grantees only. There is no registration fee for this training. Grantees may use federal LIHEAP funds within their administrative cost cap for travel expenses related to this training. We ask that participants bring their own work laptops to the meeting for sessions that involve hands-on training and small group exercises.

This will be an opportunity for state, tribal, and territory LIHEAP coordinators to hear directly from OCS regarding important changes to LIHEAP policies and procedures and receive training in key areas of program and fiscal administration. Topics to be covered include, but are not limited to, the following overarching areas:

• Fiscal and program coordination
• Performance management for success
• Innovative LIHEAP practices

The training will also provide an opportunity for newer grantee staff to engage in discussions with other LIHEAP coordinators, Federal OCS staff, and partners to share ideas, coordinate, and develop a network of resources. Additionally, OCS staff will be available upon request for one-on-one consultations with LIHEAP grantees.

Future communication regarding conference registration, detailed agenda, and hotel information will be disseminated directly by Capital Consulting Corporation, which is managing the meeting logistics under contract to OCS. Details will soon be posted online here: http://event.capconcorp.com/meeting/liheap/index.php

Other Important Events

OCS believes the annual National Energy and Utility Affordability Conference (NEUAC) is an important training opportunity and encourages participation among LIHEAP administrators and staff new to LIHEAP administration and management. NEUAC will be held in Fort Worth, TX from June 3-5, 2019. It covers a broader array of home energy topics and is widely attended by hundreds of people representing the energy assistance field including local intake centers, utility companies, and advocacy organizations. You can learn more about NEUAC and register online at: https://neuac.org/event/2019-neuac-annual-conference/

We also encourage grantees to attend the Annual Meeting held by the National Energy Assistance Directors’ Association (NEADA) which will be held June 2, 2019, in conjunction with the NEUAC conference. Details for both meetings will be available on NEADA’s website at: http://neada.org/communications-events/neada-meetings/

Please contact your OCS liaison for your region if you have questions. We look forward to seeing you this spring and summer.

Thank you for your attention and OCS looks forward to continuing to provide high quality services to OCS grantees.

/s/
Clarence H. Carter
Acting Director
Office of Community Services