FAIRMONT - Safety issues, energy efficiency and aesthetics for 12 homes in Fairmont have been addressed, thanks to a small cities development grant and funding partnership from two housing agencies.
"We took 12 houses in dire shape and fixed them up," said Mike Humpal, assistant city administrator.
Fairmont's building inspector, Pat Parsley, walked through each of the selected applicants' homes, checking for need based on the city's building code, life safety and aesthetics.
The 12 completed projects cost about $200,000, with about $300,000 remaining to continue the work. The development grant was for $250,000, with the city and Southwest Minnesota Housing Partnership collaborating to provide matching funds. Minnesota Valley Action Council also has assisted.
"We had at least two times as many applicants as have money for," Humpal said.
Work on eight more houses is under way, meeting the city's goal of completing 20 projects with the grant.
"If we can handle more, we will," Humpal said.
Humpal is hoping once all 20 projects are done, the city can show there is enough need based on public interest in the small cities grant to avoid going through the application process again.
"When we're finished, we'll have done close to 100 homes ... and apartments since 1997," Humpal said, referring to past small cities grants Fairmont has received.
Some of the home owners will have to repay a portion of the funds, based on their income. Households earning 61 percent to 80 percent of the county's median income will have to pay back 30 percent of a project's cost. Households earning 51 percent to 60 percent of the county median income will have the entire loan forgiven in seven years, if the homeowners remain in their residence for that time period.
The grant was awarded in 2008, and by this time, the city had expected the projects to be completed. With the economy as it is, no one expected any trouble finding contractors for the jobs, but that hasn't been the case.
"We've had trouble finding contractors that can work with lead abatement," Humpal said. "... In the past, we had certified contractors, but not they're not here, or they're not choosing to bid this time around."