Robert Gruner Loud, executive director of Snowball Housing Company, told the Lewis County Board that the county’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) housing rehabilitation program has completed or is nearing completion on 11 total projects aimed at helping low- and moderate-income households.

At a public hearing opened by the board, Gruner Loud said Lewis County was awarded just over $621,000 through the CDBG program in December 2023 to support single- and multifamily rehabilitation. A grant agreement took effect in February 2024 and requires that all funds be spent within 24 months, by February 2026. The original application anticipated repairs on roughly 10 owner-occupied homes and four rental units.

"As the program comes to a close, we have completed or are completing 11 total projects: 9 owner occupied and 2 renter occupied," Gruner Loud said. He reported eight projects fully complete and three in their final stages. The scope of work has included roofing, windows, doors, heating, electrical, plumbing and lead-hazard control; all work must meet local code and HUD housing-quality standards.

Gruner Loud estimated the final total construction cost at approximately $508,000 and said all projects were awarded to income-qualified Lewis County residents. He provided a demographic summary: of 14 total households assisted, three were senior households, four were headed by single women, five included individuals with disabilities and two were large young families. He said projects were countywide, including homes in Harrisville, Fort Leiden, Constableville, Copenhagen, Osceola, Turin, West Leiden and Louvain.

The board opened the hearing for comments and, hearing none further, closed the public hearing and proceeded with other business. The grant’s Feb. 2026 expenditure deadline remains a requirement for completing remaining work.