By: Donovan W. Mann – [email protected]
Dakota City, IA – Dakota City is helping low to moderate income home owners get repairs and improvements done to their homes.
The program is going through is funded through the federal Community Development Block Grant funds to assist the community in making improvements to their homes. The CDBG does allow these funds to be used for a few different things but Dakota City makes them available for current home owners to make improvements.
City Administrator Angelique Berry says that the city has focused on the rehabilitation program. The owner occupied rehabilitation program is focused on improve three key areas of a home. The areas include energy efficiency, exterior improvement and the removal of architectural barriers. The applicant must be a low or moderate income homeowner to qualify.
Berry reported to the Dakota City, City Council during the meeting on Aug. 12 that the applicants who applied last year have been sent a pre-application for this year. She says there were about 17 people who applied before and that at the time of the meeting 13 had already returned the pre-application. She and the council are glad to see there is interest in the program from the residents.
The process is a little different than it was in the past according to Berry. She says that in the past MSA has worked with homeowner to compile a list of improvements. This year applicants will have to specify what specific improvements they would like to have done if they are approve. In the past Berry says about six houses have been approved in Dakota City.
The applications are accepted on an ongoing basis as funds are available. Applications are available and more information can be obtained by interested parties by contact Dakota City, City Hall.