BLAINE – (Nov. 18, 2021) – After the first of the year, Blaine homeowners can find out if they qualify for a grant to help fix up their older homes. It’s an effort to keep the city’s housing stock and neighborhoods at high quality.
“We want to focus on the homes that are older and in need of a little bit more attention,” said Community Development Specialist Elizabeth Showalter.
The new pilot program recently approved by the city’s Economic Development Authority, would help pay for repairs and upgrades to homes more than 30 years old, and valued at less than $350,000. There is grant money for beautification, which could include things like a new front door and landscaping. There’s also a program for major remodeling, like finishing a basement or gutting a kitchen. City Community Development officials say the grants could combine with a loan program that’s been in existence for more than 20 years.
“There is a large amount of interest from folks who may be able to afford to make the improvements but may need that sort of nudge in order to actually do the work and that grant provides that,” said Showalter. “There are a lot of people who will utilize both programs and see the grant as what pushes them over the edge to do the project and will use the loan program to get the full amount of funds necessary to do the project.”
The loan program was established through a bond sale in the 1990’s. But now since loans have been repaid with interest, it has a balance of $2.7 million. Officials say that’s more than enough to sustain the loan program. They hope providing grants will motivate more homeowners to take on a project.
Beautification grants would pay up to 25 percent with a $5,000 cap. The major remodeling grant could cover up to 15 percent of a project with a maximum of $7,500. The city is budgeting about $200,000 for the grants. There are also grants for manufactured homes and rental property.
The pilot program is expected to run for five years. The application process is expected to open after January 1, 2022.
