4 local communities get state housing grants
YOUNGSTOWN -- Four area communities were among 70 in Ohio to receive state grants for improving housing conditions.
Grants were awarded through the Ohio Department of Development's Community Housing Improvement Program to East Palestine, Campbell, Girard and Newton Falls. Columbiana and Mahoning counties also received grants.
Officials from each of the local communities said the funding will go toward housing rehabilitation, repairing owner-occupied homes, private rental units and down-payment assistance. Funding is available only for people with low to moderate incomes.
A total of $36.7 million in CHIP money was awarded statewide. More than $3.2 million of that came to the Mahoning Valley.
East Palestine received $500,000.
Campbell and Girard each received $556,000.
Newton Falls received $485,000.
Mahoning County received $612,000.
Columbiana County received $555,000.
Officials from those counties said they will work with Habitat for Humanity on construction of new homes for low- or moderate-income families.
They also will use funding for repairing or rehabilitating homes and for assistance with down payments for first-time home buyers.