Ross County commissioners authorize signing of 2026 CHIP grant application to repair affordable homes

Dale Arum, president of the Ohio Regional Development Corporation, told commissioners during a public hearing that Ross County is eligible to apply for a $750,000 CHIP (Community Housing Impact and Preservation) grant, with an initial allocation split of $400,000 to the county and $350,000 to the city of Chillicothe. Arum said the county would administer the program and described permitted activities, income limits and loan-forgiveness rules.

Arum outlined program details: owner rehabilitation projects can receive up to $85,000 per unit and must be brought to state residential rehab standards; rental rehabilitation is subject to the state rule that landlords must contribute 50 percent of the cost; homeowner repairs are capped at $30,000 per unit; and tenant-based rental assistance can provide up to $12,000. He cited income limits included in the application materials (example: one-person household up to $47,007.50; two persons $54,550) and explained a five-year declining mortgage forgiveness schedule where 20 percent of the assistance declines each year.

"Ross County is eligible to apply for $750,000," Arum said. "The county will administer the program. The maximum we can spend on a house is $85,000." He also said the county would prioritize home repair activities where practical, noting the state sets program percentages.

Commissioners discussed budget timing and administrative responsibility; the chair said the county's preliminary budget work in June and July will determine whether the county can contribute additional financial support for a business stabilization fund (a separate proposal discussed later in the meeting). The commissioners voted to authorize signing the 2026 CHIP application and related documents; the motion passed by voice vote with all present answering "aye." The grant application deadline in the presentation was listed as June 24, with state awards expected by December 1, subject to state funding availability.

Clarifying details provided at the hearing — including program caps, income thresholds and the state's landlord-match requirement for rental rehab — will be included in the application materials and administered by the county if the award is received. The county indicated staff will return any needed signatures and paperwork by mail as requested.

The hearing closed after Arum’s presentation and the commission’s authorization to sign the application; any further procedural steps hinge on the state's award decision and subsequent county program design.