County awarded housing grant

News of a big boost in the fight against substandard housing in Grady County was received this week as county officials learned its Community Home Investment Program (CHIP) grant application was approved by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs.
The county was awarded $306,000 that can be used for the rehabilitation of privately owned homes in the county.
The board of commissioners and the City of Cairo jointly made application for the CHIP grant and local leaders were happy with the news.
“We are both happy and proud. This will be a real asset in ending substandard housing in our community,” Grady County Commission Chairman Al Ball said Tuesday.
As part of the grant process local citizens were asked to pre-apply for homeowner rehabilitation assistance. Chairman Ball says that it is important for those who pre-applied to know they are not automatically approved for assistance.
“Those pre-applicants are not automatically eligible for funding. There is a formal application procedure they must complete now that the grant has been approved,” Chairman Ball said.
Brenda Wade of Southwest Georgia Regional Commission will administer the grant on behalf of Grady County and a recipient’s workshop will be held in mid-November when the presentation of the funds will be made, according to Ball.
Additional information about the formal application process will be made available later next month.