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Roseville EDA backs Ramsey County and Met Council grants to rehab church, support Habitat homes
Summary
The Roseville Economic Development Authority unanimously approved resolutions supporting Ramsey County and Met Council grant applications that would fund an environmental site assessment and later rehabilitation of a church at 965 Larpenter Ave and provide gap financing and down-payment assistance for Habitat homeownership projects.
The Roseville Economic Development Authority voted unanimously Nov. 24 to adopt resolutions supporting several grant applications aimed at rehabbing a church at 965 Larpenter Avenue and advancing Habitat for Humanity homeownership projects.
Jeanne Kelsey, the city’s housing and economic development program manager, told the EDA the applicant seeks Ramsey County funds to complete a site assessment and, if needed, environmental remediation, and plans to apply for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds from the Met Council for building rehabilitation. "If they are awarded that grant, they'll do a site assessment," Kelsey said, and any environmental determinations would lead to additional county-funded remediation and follow-up grant applications.
Kelsey also outlined related support for a Habitat partnership through a separate packet item: the EDA received a $375,000 Livable Communities Demonstration Account (LCDA) award from the Met Council toward gap financing for at least three homes and $620,000 in Ramsey County funds earmarked for down-payment assistance (up to $95,000 per home). She said the EDA will amend a master grant agreement with Habitat to allow reimbursement for gap funds and will sign development agreements at each loan closing to determine subsidy amounts based on buyer eligibility.
Board members asked about applicant selection and prior notice. Member Schroeder confirmed Habitat uses an application process and verifies income eligibility before referring buyers; Member Bauer asked why the EDA had not previously authorized the Ramsey County application, and staff acknowledged an assumption that renewals for an ongoing program could proceed but pledged improved transparency and earlier reporting of grant applications.
The EDA then voted to adopt the support resolution for the church reuse applications and to approve the amended grant agreement and related documents with Ramsey County and Habitat. Both motions passed unanimously.
Next steps: the applicant will pursue the county site-assessment grant and, if awarded, seek CDBG funding and move forward with rehabilitation and loan-closing steps described by staff.
