Nearly $500K in grants available for home repairs in these four Northern Michigan counties

What’s happening: Nearly $500,000 in home repair grants have been announced for rural residents in four Northern Michigan counties, it was announced on Tuesday, Dec. 12. The grants are made possible through the Housing Preservation Grants program from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development.

Where it’s going: Alpena County and its housing department have been awarded $147,760 to repair or improve 28 housing units; Alcona County and its housing department have been awarded $77,760 for 10 units; Crawford County and its home improvement program have been awarded $147,760 for 17 units; and Ogemaw County and its home improvement program have been awarded $122,760 for 20 units.

Where it came from: The nearly $500,000 in home repair grants was announced as part of a much larger package of investments from the USDA totalling $80.1 million for projects that improve the economic, housing, and infrastructure conditions for underserved rural and Native American communities throughout the country.

How to get it: For those interested to learn more about accessing the grants for home repair or improvement projects, visit the websites of the Home Improvement Office in Alpena County; the Housing Commission in Alcona County; the Housing Commission in Crawford County; and the Housing Commission in Ogemaw County.

What they’re saying: ​​“In addition to providing housing loans, USDA also can help rural residents make needed repairs, protecting their investment and keeping their homes safe and comfortable,” says U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development State Director for Michigan Brandon Fewins. “By working with our partners, we are able to leverage these funds, expanding the number of people we can help.”

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