Commissioners approve applying for owner-occupied rehab grant and to pursue income survey

The Blackford County Board of Commissioners authorized staff to submit an owner-occupied rehabilitation grant application and approved moving forward with an income survey for future use.

Warren Brown told the board that owner-occupied rehabilitation (referred to in the meeting as OCRRA/OOR) does not require a countywide income survey to apply because each homeowner would qualify individually. He described eligible work (livability items such as roofs, plumbing, HVAC and electrical), noted that "25,000 maximum per home," and moved to approve submitting the grant application. The board seconded the motion and voted in favor (announced "3 0").

Brown also recommended the county consider conducting a new income survey for future grant competitiveness and planning. He said an income survey is useful for about five years, estimated the likely cost at "probably 5 to 7" thousand dollars depending on response rounds and explained that Indiana University (IU) performs certification of the survey results. Commissioners voted to move forward with pursuing an income survey and asked staff to return with steps and estimated costs.

Why it matters: an owner-occupied rehab grant would provide up to $25,000 per qualifying home for necessary livability repairs, potentially helping low-income homeowners with health-and-safety improvements. An updated income survey would make the county better positioned to apply for future programs that require demonstrated local income data.

Next steps: staff will prepare the grant application materials and return to the board with the income-survey scope, estimated cost, and schedule if funding is pursued.