County receives home rehab money

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Goodhue County recently received almost $370,000 to help rural low- and moderate-income residents fix their homes.

The grant was awarded by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.

The state agency handed out 39 grants totaling more than $15.9 million to help pay for housing, commercial property and infrastructure improvements in greater Minnesota.

Projects must benefit low- to moderate-income people, eliminate slum and blight conditions or eliminate an urgent threat to public safety to qualify for the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development grant.

City of Red Wing residents are not eligible.

Goodhue County residents who think they qualify should contact the Southeastern Minnesota Multi-County Housing and Redevelopment Authority at (651) 565-2638.

SEMMCHRA applied for the grant on behalf of the county.

"This is different than just going to a bank and getting a repair loan for your house," said Karen DuCharme, SEMMCHRA administrative assistant. "Economically it is just so much easier for people who qualify."

Homeowners are not asked the pay back the money as long as they stay in their home for at least 10 years, DuCharme said.

The grants were awarded under the Small Cities Development Program through funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

"More people in rural Minnesota will have access to decent and affordable housing thanks to this program," said DEED Commissioner Dan McElroy.

The DEED-administered program makes grants available to cities and townships with populations under 50,000 and counties with populations under 200,000.

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