INDIANAPOLIS -- A long-delayed federal stimulus project aimed at weatherizing homes of low-income families in Indiana will get under way soon, state officials said.

The federal government came through on Tuesday with $53 million to start fixing houses to make them more energy efficient, employing contractors and home energy evaluators in the process, 6News' Norman Cox reported.

State officials told Cox they believe Washington dragged its feet on approving Indiana's weatherization plan because of the several changes ordered by Gov. Mitch Daniels.

Indiana's plan reduces the maximum benefit from $6,500 to $5,000 per household in an effort to weatherize more homes, and allows additional agencies to help distribute the funds.

"We chose to do things a little bit differently with the plan that we submitted, and we allowed other organizations outside of the Community Action network to apply," said Sherry Seiwert with Housing & Community Development.

When the U.S. Department of Energy finally approved the plan on Tuesday, it failed to even notify the state, Cox reported. Still, officials said they're happy to finally get going.

"For the clients in Indiana, they really need this badly. We've got such a surplus of homes that are not in great condition that are causing people to spend enormous sums of money," said Edgar Tipton with the Community Action Agency.

Tuesday's announcement means Washington has released half of the nearly $132 million in funds allocated for home weatherization in Indiana.