Blue Earth County EDA accepts $3.35 million Bring It Home rental grant; also wins $150,000 local housing trust fund award

The Mankato and Blue Earth County Economic Development Authorities on Sept. 9 authorized the executive director to sign a Bring It Home grant agreement with Minnesota Housing and accept a $150,000 Local Housing Trust Fund award. Nicole Cunningham, housing coordinator for the Mankato and Blue Earth County EDAs, told the board the Bring It Home award totals $3,347,771 and is intended to provide rental assistance across Region 9.

Why it matters: The Bring It Home funds are targeted to cost-burdened households and include both startup and direct housing-assistance dollars that the EDA says will expand rental voucher capacity in the region.

Cunningham said, “The grant amount of 3,347,771 is made up of $62,575 in start up cost to be used in the first 12 months of contracting, and $3,285,196 in housing assistance payments and administrative fees intended to be used during the full two-year contract term.” She said the program is expected to provide an additional 150 to 180 vouchers and will be administered in partnership with housing authorities across Region 9 via a memorandum of agreement.

The EDA described eligibility as targeting households with incomes up to 50 percent of area median income, with priority for households that include children 18 years or younger and for those with incomes at or below 30 percent of area median income.

In the same meeting, Cunningham said Minnesota Housing approved a $150,000 Local Housing Trust Fund award to the Mankato and Blue Earth County EDAs to support affordable homeownership. The EDAs have approved a local match of $150,000 from the EDA general fund, for a combined $300,000 intended to create about 12 affordable homes under the Partnership Community Land Trust program. The board approved a resolution authorizing the executive director to execute the grant agreement.

Board action and next steps: Commissioners moved and seconded approval of both authorizations; the motions carried. Staff must execute the contract documents with Minnesota Housing and finalize memoranda of agreement with regional housing authorities to administer Bring It Home. The Local Housing Trust Fund award requires the EDA to complete the grant agreement and to coordinate with the Partnership Community Land Trust on homeownership development.

Context and limits: Cunningham described program priorities and the estimated voucher count; the board approved only the grant acceptance and execution authority. The transcript and staff report did not specify the names of all partner housing authorities, specific voucher issuance timeline beyond the two-year contract term, or the detailed terms of the memorandum of agreement.