The Cleveland Utilities headquarters is in Cleveland, Tenn.
Ken WebbCLEVELAND, Tenn. – “Project Round Up,” a community assistance initiative funded by Cleveland Utilities customers, may more than double its expected contributions to The Caring Place by December.
The program already has provided $57,782 to help families seeking help through The Caring Place’s “Neighbors in Need” program, said Ken Webb, vice president of Cleveland Utilities’ financial division. At that rate, he said, Project Round Up will contribute $207,000 to The Caring Place by the end of its first year — an amount originally projected to be $100,000.
“We could possibly assist 663 families with utilities and 148 families with rent and other types of needs over the year,” said Webb, based on early figures indicating needy families each had received between $250 and $280, on average, in Project Round Up funds.
At least 80 percent of Project Round Up money must be used for utility bills, Webb said. Up to 20 percent of the contributed dollars may be used to help with medical, housing and other expenses.
Webb said Project Round Up is supported by 88 percent of Cleveland Utilities’ 30,000 customers, which he called “tremendous.”