Sherman, TX - Federal Stimulus dollars are finally starting to make their way into Texoma and being put to work for area residents. The Federal Government awarded TCOG $5.8 million in weatherization funds to help more low income families make their homes more energy efficient.

Patricia Owens has lived in the same house for 40 years on South Branch Street in Sherman. But now she’s transformed her old, drafty home into a re-done, more energy efficient place to live, all because she took action and asked the government for help when her utility bills got too high.

"I feel better, I mean just my house period, since they came in and did what they did it makes me feel better," said Owens.

It's people like Patricia, with unnecessarily high utility bills, that the Texoma Council of Governments helps by weatherizing their homes.

"And I am on a fixed income so that has helped me a whole lot and not to worry about my utilities going sky high this year cause I know it's going to be cold," said Owens.

TCOG helped Patricia make changes from the inside out of her home with energy saving appliances like a new heater and air conditioner unit, and adding insulation into her attic.

But TCOG hasn’t always been able to help so many people.

"For the years that we've been doing this we've been struggling to meet the people that are waiting,” said Weatherization Program Manager Mark Bullard.

But thanks to almost 6 billion dollars in federal stimulus money, which will be distributed in two $2.9 million installments, TCOG estimates they will be able to serve an additional 700 homes this year.

"It's fantastic, you couldn't ask for something better, it's a growing pain that we're having but it's a good feeling to have that,” said Bullard.

Until now, TCOG could only help families whose income is 25% over the federal poverty guidelines. Now they're expanding to help those with income that is double the poverty line.

"Up until about three months ago we only had three people in this program now we have 12 in-house staff members, our contractors we've gone from two contractors to eight contractors, we've just exploded,” said Bullard.

TCOG serves 15 counties in North and East Texas by repairing homes with insulation, energy saving heaters and air conditioners, and making windows and doors air tight. And with all this expanding work, that also means more business for local contractors.