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Story County hears ARPA housing update and Raising Readers impact report
Summary
At the June 9 meeting the Story County Housing Trust reported ARPA-funded first-time homebuyer grants and two delivered Homes for Iowa units; Raising Readers highlighted free countywide literacy services and expansion into rural workshops and pediatric book distribution.
Story County supervisors received updates June 9 on two county-supported community programs: an ARPA-backed expansion of housing supports and a year of programming milestones from Raising Readers.
Lucas Young, presenting for the Story County Housing Trust, said ARPA funds enabled a first-time homebuyer grant program that provided $5,000 awards to 10 buyers and has since funded an additional 20 $5,000 grants. "These funds have allowed the Story County Housing Trust to expand support for affordable housing in Story County," Young said, and he reported that two "Homes for Iowa" units constructed by Iowa Prison Industries—delivered to Nevada and McCallsburg—are being finished by the trust; one closed earlier in the month and the other is scheduled to close before month-end. Young said proceeds from sales will be revolved into additional homes.
Christy Mayo, director of Raising Readers in Story County, summarized program delivery and outreach. She said Raising Readers continues to provide its programs and resources "completely free to families," and highlighted a redesigned Play & Learn space at North Grand Mall and a mobile "Playful Pages" family-workshop effort that brought literacy programming into Cambridge, Nevada and Gilbert. Mayo said Reach Out and Read book distribution occurs during pediatric well visits from six months through five years and that the program plans to add earlier (two- and four-month) touchpoints.
Supervisors thanked both presenters for measurable, locally delivered results. Board members noted the popularity of the first-time buyer grant among lenders and the potential for revolving sale proceeds to fund future homes. The board took no formal action tied to these presentations during the meeting; both updates were received as reports and will inform future budgeting and partnership decisions.
