(Indianapolis, IN) – The Office of Lt. Governor Micah Beckwith and the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs have announced five Indiana communities will receive $1,310,000 in Owner Occupied Rehabilitation Grants and Planning Grants through the Community Development Block Grant program.
Locally, the Town of Brookville has been awarded a $350,000 Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation Grant, while Decatur County will receive a $60,000 Comprehensive Planning Grant.
Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation grants are used to empower communities to directly fund homeowners of low-to-moderate income to make needed repairs on their homes.
Communities awarded Planning Grants will use the funding to develop plans for long-term planning efforts.
“These grants are more than just dollars – they build hope for future growth and prosperity,” Beckwith said. “By helping Hoosiers make essential repairs to their homes, we are strengthening communities and ensuring families can build better lives right where they are.”
Communities awarded an Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation Grant will establish a program to help fund low- and moderate-income homeowners make repairs on their homes. Eligible repairs include roof repair or replacement, ADA accessibility, heating and cooling replacement, lighting and electrical upgrades, and water heater replacement.
Also receiving Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation Grants are the Town of French Lick ($350,000) and Fayette County ($500,000)
“The Owner Occupied Rehabilitation program gives communities a boost in supporting vulnerable homeowners with necessary quality-of-life improvements. In addition, the Comprehensive Planning grant gives communities an opportunity to analyze their needs and identify next steps,” OCRA Executive Director Fred Glynn said. “Congratulations to each of the five communities awarded for their hard work to earn this funding and improve the quality of life for their residents.”
The Planning Grant program encourages communities to plan for sustainable community development with the aid of subject matter experts and community input. The applications being funded this quarter address comprehensive planning efforts.
Comprehensive Planning Grants are designed to aid communities in evaluating assets and identifying opportunities to address current needs in the following areas: land use, government capacity, public services, placemaking, economic development, housing, transportation, agriculture, natural resources and historic resources.
Also receiving a Comprehensive Planning Grant was the Town of Remington ($50,000)
Funding for OCRA’s CDBG programs originates from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant program and is administered for the State of Indiana by OCRA.
For more information, visit in.gov/ocra/cdbg/.
