Chippewa County on Dec. 16 held a public hearing on applying for 2026 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) housing funds for the West Central Wisconsin housing region and unanimously approved a resolution authorizing the county to file the regional application.

Rochelle Rizzo, executive director of the Chippewa County Housing Authority, opened the hearing and described the CDBG small cities housing program and eligible activities, saying the purpose of the hearing was "to inform the public of the opportunity of Chippewa County to apply for funds through the 2026 CDBG small cities housing program and gain input from the public on the needs of the West Central Wisconsin housing region and the proposed activities." She told the board the state had granted a one-week extension to move the application deadline to Dec. 17.

Rizzo listed eligible program activities including housing rehabilitation, homebuyer assistance, planning, economic development and public facilities. She said housing rehabilitation and homebuyer assistance commonly use deferred-payment loans at 0% interest, and that down-payment assistance may be offered up to 10% of a purchase price with a required buyer match and HUD-approved homebuyer education.

Rizzo also reviewed progress on the board's current regional grant awarded in 2024, reporting the West Central Region received $5,133,141 across housing, an Indian Head Motel conversion project, and manufactured home community work. She said that as of Feb. 1, 2025 the region had obligated $4,162,205 and had provided 18 loans to date with an average loan of $45,356; she reported 41% of loan recipients were female head of household, 41% were elderly and 29% had a physical disability. Rizzo said there were currently 134 applicants on the regional CDBG home repair waiting list.

After the hearing, the board considered Resolution 37-25, which authorizes Chippewa County, as lead county for the West Central Wisconsin housing region, to prepare and file a regional CDBG application and empowers the county board chair and program administrator Rochelle Rizzo to sign necessary documents. Adviser Gearing moved the resolution; Bart seconded. The board approved the resolution unanimously.

The hearing produced no public input specific to the application beyond the presentation. The county will now proceed as the region's applicant for the 2026 CDBG small cities housing competition, with the state's extended deadline noted by staff.