Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs Director Jim Byard Jr. has named Maureen Neighbors as the chief of the department’s Energy Division.
Neighbors, who has served as head of ADECA’s Community Services Unit for the past five years, will assume her new duties on Jan. 15. She takes over for Terri Adams, who retired after 35 years of service with the state including 15 as ADECA’s Energy Division chief.
“Maureen has demonstrated outstanding leadership and organizational skills as chief of our Community Services Unit, and her abilities will carry over well in the important programs that are handled in our Energy Division,” Byard said. “I look forward to Maureen’s leadership of the Energy Division programs as ADECA continues our partnerships with communities and our service to the people of Alabama.”
Neighbors has been employed for 14 years with ADECA as manager of various grant programs. Before that, she had her own consulting firm where she assisted local governments in obtaining grants. A graduate of Auburn University, Neighbors also worked with the city of Memphis, Tenn. in the Bureau of Housing and Community Development.
“Certainly, Terri Adams has been an institution as Energy Division chief, and following in her footsteps is an honor,” Neighbors said. “I am excited about the programs offered by the Energy Division and their impact in Alabama, and I look forward to continuing the accomplishments established by the talented staff.”
The mission of ADECA’s Energy Division is to increase energy efficiency while reducing energy consumption, promote renewable energy resources and to make energy more affordable for low-income persons. The division administers programs including the Low-income Home Energy Assistance and the Weatherization Assistance programs which help low-income and elderly homeowners with heating and cooling bills and the AlabamaSAVES program which provides low-interest-rate loans to businesses looking to make improvements to the energy-efficiency of their buildings.
ADECA also manages a wide range of other grant programs that support community and economic development, law enforcement and traffic safety and water resource management. For more about the department, visit www.adeca.alabama.gov.
To obtain a high resolution photo go to: https://www.flickr.com/photos/adeca/32005911551/in/dateposted-public/
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