Hello friend,
I’m writing with some exciting updates in higher education and workforce development happening here in our county. And, an update on water utilities.
First, Durham Technical Community College (DTCC) announced that 2021 and 2022 graduates of NC High Schools are eligible to attend DTCC tuition free for 2 years starting this fall! This announcement proves Durham Tech’s commitment to higher education and our labor market as Orange County continues to grow. You can read more about the program here.
Second, the Orange County Summer Careers Academy (SCA) had an amazing orientation last week, and students will be starting their pre-apprenticeship this week! The SCA is an eight-week registered Youth Pre-Apprenticeship program where students get in classroom education and hands-on experience with employers in the construction trades. The credits earned during this summer can be applied towards earning full certification at a community college. The SCA addresses an important need in our community for young folk to access an alternative path to success. You can read more about the Summer Careers Academy here.
In other news, the County lifted the state of emergency on May 2nd. As a result, OWASA is resuming its standard collection practices as the moratorium on fees collection has also been lifted. OWASA remains dedicated to ensuring Orange County’s residents get the assistance they need to pay for important utilities during this time. As such, here are some assistance programs available:
Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP): A temporary federally-funded program is currently available to provide utility bill assistance to low-income households. The Orange County Department of Social Services is managing this program. Since mid-December 2021, the LIHWAP Program has provided over $106,300 of bill assistance to OWASA customers; since May 2, 2022, nearly $15,000 of bill assistance has been pledged by the LIHWAP Program for 33 customers (average $454/customer). We are continuing to promote this program to our customers, as it can cover 100% of the past due balance for eligible households.
Extended Payment Plans: OWASA is offering 6-, 12-, and 18-month fee-free extended payment plans. Currently 34 of the customers are enrolled in an extended payment plan. The average monthly installment for customers on extended payment plans is $82.37. Nearly $35,000 is currently enrolled in a payment plan.
Care to Share: Our locally-supported customer assistance program, Care to Share, is available to provide all customers up to $200 of bill assistance. Since May 2, the Care to Share program has provided nearly $3,000 of bill assistance to 15 customers.
If you have any questions, please email me, and I will get it addressed. As always, please let me know if there’s anything I can do for you.
In partnership,
Anna Richards, County Commissioner, Orange County, NC