Redevelopment Commission approves $35,000 local match for owner-occupied rehabilitation grant

The Franklin Redevelopment Commission on Monday voted unanimously to approve a resolution authorizing a $35,000 local match for an owner-occupied rehabilitation grant application.

The action lets the city participate in a HUD-funded program administered through the state; the grant’s maximum award is $350,000 and the presenter said the combined project is expected to be about $385,000. Whitney Kelling, grant administrator with Administrative Resources Association, briefed commissioners on the program and the city’s role before the vote.

Kelling said the program is a resident-focused home-repair effort for low- and moderate-income homeowners. Eligible work, she said, focuses primarily on exterior repairs to avoid triggering HUD lead-based-paint rules and can include roof repair or replacement, HVAC replacement, water-heater replacement, exterior ADA accessibility improvements and select electrical or lighting upgrades. Kelling said the program will use a points-based application scoring matrix tied to household income relative to area median income and certain priority populations such as veterans and people with disabilities.

Kelling outlined the timeline: the application was due Friday, the city would learn whether it had been awarded in March, and — if funded — the city would begin an application and eligibility process. She said the grant requires income verification and other documentation (deeds, employment verification, asset verification, mortgage verification) and that ARA will perform or coordinate environmental reviews, home inspections and local procurement. Kelling said the earliest construction start would likely be in the September–October window, with 18 months allowed to complete the grant overall.

Commissioners moved and seconded the resolution, and the vote was recorded as unanimous. The resolution was identified in discussion as “resolution 20 25-11” (as read aloud at the meeting). The motion did not list a named mover or seconder in the meeting record.

Kelling encouraged public engagement, noting the city will accept applications electronically and in hard copy, will hold a public hearing at the city council meeting, and is collecting letters of support. She said ARA plans to select roughly four to five local contractors to bid on repairs and will ask the Board of Works to approve contractor selections.

The commission’s approval authorizes the local match funding needed to submit the application and, if the award is made, to proceed with program administration and the local procurement steps outlined by ARA.

The commission will receive follow-up as the application outcome and contractor selections are finalized.