Ottawa County: Grants to fund home rehabs, rent assistance

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With the help of federal and state funding, Ottawa County officials plan to rehabilitate at least 15 homes over two years as well as provide financial assistance for renters.
The county commissioners recently approved a motion authorizing the county to enter into an agreement for the grants.
Under the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, the county is expected to receive $446,000 in HOME funds and $204,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds.
The agreement is with the Ohio Department of Development, which administers the grant program.
Mark Messa, director of the Ottawa County Regional Planning Commission, said the county plans to combine grant funding of about $487,361 to rehabilitate at least five privately owned homes. The project will encompass two years, he said, and will utilize $346,000 in HOME funding while the county will provide $136,525 as part of its share of the grant and $4,836 in CDBG program income.
In a separate project, at least nine homes, one septic system, and one rental unit will be repaired over the next two years.
Approximately $160,000 in CDBG funding and $50,000 from the Ohio Housing Trust Fund are being allocated for the project, Messa said.
He said $60,000 is also being set aside for tenant-based rental assistance and there will be funds to pay for administration of the grant.
The HOME program provides formula grants to states and localities that communities use – often in partnership with local non-profit groups – to fund a range of projects, including construction, buying, or rehabilitating affordable housing for low income people.
HOME is the largest federal block grant to state and local governments designed exclusively to create affordable housing for low-income households.

School demolition proceeds
Demolition of the former Carroll Elementary School building is expected to be completed within six weeks, weather permitting, Messa said.
The contractor is AJ Riley, Inc.
Asbestos and other wastes were removed from the building prior to the start of demolition, he said.
In 2013, the Benton-Carroll-Salem school board approved the sale of the building to Carroll Township for $15,500.
The board opted to close the building along with Graytown Elementary School in 2011 as part of a consolidation plan of the district’s schools.
The Carroll Elementary building covers about 24,000 square feet and housed pre-kindergarten through fifth grade classes.
Last June, Jim Meek, a Carroll Township trustee, said the township didn’t have any immediate plans for the site once the building is torn down other than to leave it as a green space.