MSHDA Awards Over $2 Million in Housing Resource Fund Grants

LANSING, Mich., Sept. 16, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Scott Woosley, executive director of the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA), today announced more than $2 million in Housing Resource Fund (HRF) grants, which will allow home rehabilitation and emergency repair projects to move forward across the state.

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Three cities and seven counties will benefit, with awards ranging from $82,300 to $300,000 each. Woosley said repair and rehabilitation grants make a lasting difference in each community.

"Projects that stem from these grants have great potential to create a positive and sustained community impact," Woosley said. "As the physical condition of housing in these areas improves, pride of ownership is restored and nearby homeowners feel empowered to improve their homes and businesses. All of this has a significant ripple effect on the area and its residents."

The grantees:

• Emmet County will receive $200,000 to rehabilitate homes and provide emergency repairs. Details: Cynthia Van Allen, 231.328.1714.
• Kalkaska County will receive $150,000 to rehabilitate five owner-occupied homes and provide emergency repairs to two homes. Details: Tracy Nichol, 231.258.3304.
• Lenawee County will receive $300,000 to assist with home rehabilitations of 12 owner-occupied homes and assist another 13 homeowners with emergency repairs.
• Berrien County will receive $300,000 to rehabilitate eight owner-occupied homes and provide emergency repairs to eight more. Details: Catherine Montoya, 269.983.7111. Fifty percent of this grant will be utilized county-wide, and 50 percent will be strategically targeted.
• Gladwin County will receive $175,000 for home rehabilitation assistance to about 10 households. Fifty percent of funds will be spent county wide and the remaining 50% will be spent in up to three target areas. Eligible households will meet income eligibility requirements. Details: Josh Reid, 989.426.4821.
• Hillsdale County will receive $225,000 for rehabilitation of eight owner-occupied homes and will assist nine homeowners with emergency repairs. Fifty percent of this grant will be utilized county-wide, and 50 percent will be strategically targeted. Details: John Burtka, 517.437.3391.
• Antrim County will receive $175,000 to rehabilitate eight owner-occupied homes and provide emergency repairs to five homes.  Fifty percent of this grant will be utilized county-wide, and 50 percent will be strategically targeted. Details: Patricia Lowery, 231.533.8727.
• The City of Marine City in St. Clair County will receive $123,520 to assist landlords with the rehabilitation of three rental units in its downtown. Details: John Gabor, 810.765.0513.
• The City of Morenci in Lenawee County will receive $82,300 to assist landlords with the rehabilitation of two rental units in its downtown. Details: Leasa Slocum, 517.458.6828.
• The City of Tecumseh in Lenawee County will receive $287,200 to assist landlords with the rehabilitation of seven rental units located in its downtown. Details: Paula Holtz, 517.424.6003.

A small percentage of the funding may be used to oversee administrative operations of the program.

Local governmental units are eligible to apply for funding from the HRF for affordable housing projects through the Community Development Division at MSHDA. The HRF is comprised primarily of federal funds from the HOME Investment Partnership and the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), supplemented by allocations of MSHDA funds.

The Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) provides financial and technical assistance through public and private partnerships to create and preserve decent, affordable housing for low- and moderate-income residents and to engage in community economic development activities to revitalize urban and rural communities.*

*MSHDA's loans and operating expenses are financed through the sale of tax-exempt and taxable bonds as well as notes to private investors, not from state tax revenues. Proceeds are loaned at below-market interest rates to developers of rental housing, and help fund mortgages and home improvement loans. MSHDA also administers several federal housing programs. For more information, visit www.michigan.gov/mshda.

SOURCE Michigan State Housing Development Authority