The City of Washington will receive a $400,000 share of a $4 million grant from the Home Rehabilitation Block Grant Pilot Program made available by Federal American Rescue Act state and local fiscal relief funds. ECICOG helped to prequalify homeowners for the program with the city’s input and then wrote and submitted a proposal to the Iowa Finance Authority on Washington’s behalf. As a result, the city was invited to submit a full application, which ECICOG also helped to write.
Washington will use the grant funds to rehabilitate a minimum of 12 owner-occupied homes in the area surrounding the downtown business and commercial district. Funds will be used for exterior and interior repairs that ensure code compliance, extend the useful life of the property, and address health and safety issues. Rehabilitation activities will prioritize exterior repairs that are impactful to the neighborhood, but interior rehabilitation and energy efficiency improvements will also be eligible. For more information, contact Housing Director Tracey Achenbach at tracey.achenbach@ecicog.org.