A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT To provide notice to local governments and the public of the availability of weatherization funds and to authorize the green business fund to be used for the development of businesses that install energy efficiency measures in the homes of low‑ and moderate‑income persons.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 143B‑216.72C is amended by adding five new subsections to read:
"(a1)	At least 30 days prior to an eligible entity submitting an application for a grant under this section, the applicant shall notify its intent to apply for the grant to the governing board of every city and county located within the area that the applicant serves. The notice shall include a description of the process by which the application is made for grant funds, the process that determines each county's allotment from any grant funds, and the process by which a city or county may provide input to the management or governing board of the applicant prior to the applicant submitting the application. The notice shall include the applicable timetables pertaining to the application and the expected date by which any grant funds may become available for the county. The notice of intent to apply shall also include all of the following information: 
(1)	The amount of grant funds the applicant is applying to receive, the grant funds that would be allotted for the county, and the specific weatherization assistance that the applicant provides.
(2)	The eligibility criteria for weatherization assistance under the application.
(3)	The name and physical address of the office of the applicant and the name of a contact person, including the phone number and electronic mail address for each, for information regarding the application. 
(4)	A description of the process for reviewing applications for the weatherization assistance under the application.
(5)	The criteria for prioritizing applications under this section.
(6)	Waiting lists, if any, in the area the applicant serves, for weatherization assistance services provided by the applicant.
(a2)	At the time of submitting the application for a grant under this section or within five days of receiving the request, whichever is later, the applicant, if requested in writing, shall submit a copy of the application to the governing board of a city or county in the area the applicant serves.
(a3)	Within five days of being notified that the grant recipient was selected to receive a grant under this section, the grant recipient shall provide written notice to the governing board of every city and county located within the area that the grant recipient serves that includes all of the following information:
(1)	The amount of the grant funds available for the county and the specific weatherization assistance provided by the grant recipient.
(2)	The eligibility criteria for receiving any weatherization assistance from grant funds.
(3)	The name and physical address of the office and the name of the person to contact, including the phone number and electronic mail address for each, to apply for the weatherization assistance. 
(4)	A description of the process for reviewing applications for the weatherization assistance.
(5)	The criteria for prioritizing applications for weatherization assistance.
(6)	Waiting lists, if any, in the area the grant recipient serves, for weatherization assistance services provided under the grant.
(7)	A contact person who can provide any additional information pertaining to the grant and the availability of weatherization assistance.
(8)	The process whereby the city or county is able to provide input to the management or governing board of the grant recipient.
(a4)	Within five days of being notified that the grant recipient was selected to receive a grant under this section, the grant recipient shall provide notice to the public within the area that the grant recipient serves by posting signs in conspicuous areas of the following buildings or offices: 
(1)	Each city or town hall. 
(2)	Each county administrative building.
(3)	The office of the county department of social services.
(4)	Each public utility payment center. 
(a5)	The sign posted under subsection (a4) of this section shall be easily readable by most citizens conducting business in the buildings and offices under subsection (a4) of this section, shall be a minimum of one-inch-high block letters, and shall state all of the following pertaining to the grant the grant recipient received:
(1)	The amount of weatherization funds available in that county.
(2)	The specific weatherization assistance available in that county. 
(3)	The maximum income an individual and a family may receive to be eligible for the weatherization assistance and any other eligibility criteria.
(4)	The name and physical address of the office and the name of the person to contact, including the phone number and electronic mail address for each, to apply for the weatherization assistance.
(5)	The dates and times to apply for the weatherization assistance, including the date and time of the application deadline, if any."
SECTION 2.  G.S. 143B‑437.4(b) reads as rewritten:
"(b)	Purposes. – Moneys in the NC Green Business Fund shall be allocated pursuant to this subsection. The Department of Commerce shall make grants from the Fund to private businesses with less than 100 employees, nonprofit organizations, local governments, and State agencies to encourage the expansion of small to medium size businesses with less than 100 employees to help grow a green economy in the State. Moneys in the NC Green Business Fund shall be used for projects that will focus on the following three priority areas:
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(2)	To encourage the development of the green building industry in the State. The Department of Commerce may make grants available to assist in the development and growth of a market for environmentally conscious and energy efficient green building processes. Grants may support the installation, certification, or distribution of green building materials; energy audits; and marketing and sales of green building technology in North Carolina, including grants to enhance workforce development for green building processes. Grants may support the creation of jobs through the development of businesses that install energy efficiency measures in the housing of low‑income and moderate‑income families.
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SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law.