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Wabasha County board approves housing trust awards for Multi County Builders and Habitat for Humanity
Summary
The board approved two awards from the county-administered housing trust fund: a 30-year forgivable loan of $125,840 to Multi County Builders for repairs and efficiency upgrades to an existing project, and a $50,000 grant to Habitat for Humanity for a Lake City home lot and construction.
WABASHA — The Wabasha County Board of Commissioners approved two awards from the county’s housing trust fund on a motion and a second during the board’s meeting.
Buffy Borenick, executive director of SEMSHOT, and Patrick Michener, grant writer (Sumatra), told the board the trust fund was seeded with $202,000 in state Affordable Housing Aid from the 2023 legislative session and that the 2025 RFP process received three applications.
The board approved a 30-year forgivable loan of $125,840 to Multi County Builders to preserve affordability at a 48-unit, HUD-subsidized project; the funds will be used to replace a collapsed sewer line and update lighting fixtures. The board also approved a $50,000 grant to Habitat for Humanity of Goodhue County to purchase a lot and support construction of a single-family home in Lake City intended for a single mother with three children who is also a veteran. Borenick said the Habitat project includes participation from a local builder-trades course and that both awards were recommended by the administering board (Centra board) after a competitive RFP process.
Borenick told commissioners the housing trust was oversubscribed and the two recommended awards would leave roughly $25,000 to carry into next year’s RFP. She explained the 30-year forgivable loan preserves long-term affordability: if the property ceases to be affordable before the 30-year term ends, the loan amount would be returned to the trust fund.
Board discussion clarified that the $50,000 to Habitat is a grant and is not recoverable; the Multi County Builders award is structured as a forgivable loan tied to affordability for 30 years. Commissioners moved and seconded approval; the board voted unanimously.
No further conditions or amendments were recorded. Borenick and Michener said they expect the funds to be used by 2026, subject to construction timelines.
