Another $56 Million Available For Heating Help

ST. PAUL  (AP) -- Minnesota will get another $56 million in federal aid to help those struggling to pay heating bills.

The aid comes from the federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program. It's in addition to $86 million Minnesota has received so far this heating season. About 146,000 applications have been received this season from those in need of heating help. The average grant is about $500. The state says energy assistance applications are 6 percent higher than they were at this time last year and 16 percent higher than January of 2009.

Applications are available at 36 local agencies that distribute the aid.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)