Lake Apopka Natural Gas District honored with national innovation award

AT&T and Government Technology Magazine honored Lake Apopka Natural Gas District (LANGD) as a national award winner in the 2021 Special Districts Awards Program. The program is designed to recognize innovation and leadership within special district agencies across the country and winners were announced during the annual Special Districts Year-in-Review & Recognition Summit Nov. 3, 2021. 

The District was honored for its new customer assistance fund, LANGD’s Helping Hand, in the Technology Innovation: Citizens Category, which “recognizes special districts that have utilized technology to improve service delivery to citizens including, but not limited to, making physical services available online, deploying new citizen engagement solutions or enhancing user experience, et al.”  

LANGD’s Helping Hand was born during the COVID-19 pandemic after the District noticed an uptick in residential customers who were struggling financially from COVID-related furloughs and layoffs. As a result, a small group of employees set out with a mission to find the best way to assist customers in need. This led to the launch of a formal partnership with Heart of Florida United Way (HFUW) to create LANGD’s Helping Hand – the District’s first-ever customer assistance fund. Now, LANGD customers with a past due account who meet a specific set of criteria can apply for financial assistance through an online portal on HFUW’s website.  

“LANGD’s Helping Hand is truly an incredible initiative that represents our team’s unwavering commitment to give back to our customers,” said Samuel Davis Jr., District general manager and CEO. “I’m so proud of our team for coming together to create something so special, and I’m incredibly grateful their hard work is being recognized in such a big way.”  

If you, or someone you know, is a LANGD residential customer with a past due account and may qualify for financial assistance with their gas utility bills, contact LANGD’s Customer Service Department at (407) 656-2734 to learn more about LANGD’s Helping Hand. If you are interested in donating to the fund, please contact Deborah Johnson at (407) 656-0200 or donate online on HFUW’s website.  

Lake Apopka Natural Gas District (LANGD) provides clean, environmentally friendly, and economical natural gas service to more than 25,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customers in Orange and Lake counties. In 2020, the District was honored with the Gold SOAR Award by the American Public Gas Association, the highest distinction for public natural gas distribution utilities. For more information on natural gas service for your home, business or vehicle, please contact the LANGD Marketing Team at (407) 656-2734 ext. 307, marketing@langd.org or visit www.langd.org. 

Heart of Florida United Way (HFUW) is Central Florida’s most comprehensive health and human services charity and the largest provider of funds to the region’s most critical health and human service programs. Last year, it delivered more than $23M in programs and services throughout Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties. HFUW is working to advance the common good by focusing on education, income, health and basic needs. It operates United Way 2-1-1, Central Florida’s information and assistance, crisis, suicide and referral helpline; Volunteer Resource Center; Emergency Homelessness Services; and, the Ryan White Part B program, which administers nearly $3M to provide HIV/AIDS services and referrals. HFUW impacts more than 490,000 individuals annually through its direct service and funded programs. United Way partners with local businesses, government and other charities to increase awareness of local health and human service issues, and to inspire hope, provide options and create possibilities for people in need. It received the GuideStar Platinum Seal of Transparency in 2020. Visit www.HFUW.org for more information or call (407) 835-0900. Follow on Facebook @HeartofFloridaUnitedWay or Instagram and Twitter @hfuw.