City names finalists for "One Block at a Time" ARPA home repairs; 55 finalists plus alternates selected

The New Iberia City Council approved a list of finalists for the city’s "One Block at a Time" American Rescue Plan Act homeowner-repair program, forwarding roughly 55 primary recipients and about 20 alternates for eligibility verification and follow-up. Staff said more than 200 applications were received, 83 met preliminary qualification criteria and staff applied a blind point system to prioritize finalists.

Mayor DeCourte and staff said finalists will be invited to a public meeting to verify documentation, sign agreements and schedule work. The program will fund items such as handicap ramps and roof repairs; staff said some applications that do not qualify for the city program will be referred to other agencies for assistance.

Why this matters: The program uses federal ARPA dollars to make critical home repairs for low-income residents, which can preserve housing stock and reduce immediate safety hazards. The administration emphasized a need to lock in a finalist list so funds can be obligated within program timelines.

Next steps: City staff will send letters to finalists and alternates, perform site inspections and then finalize awardees; alternates will be moved into primary slots if initial recipients fail eligibility checks.