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Crothersville Homeowner Rehabilitation Grant under Comprehensive Community Development

Funder:  Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA)

Grant Amount: $294,062 Community Development Block Grant Funds

Local: $13,000 in local matching funds

Project:  Owner occupied homes would be renovated based on health and safety issues.  Improvements consist of roofing, HVAC, windows, siding, etc. Approximately 17 homes will receive funds for improvements.

Comprehensive community development approach:

Comprehensive community development is active in the Town of Crothersville.  A Comprehensive Community Housing Strategy document was prepared for the Town of Crothersville by Administrative Resources association (ARa) specifically to help the town identify a targeted revitalization area and prioritize efforts to improve it.  The identified area is based on dilapidated housing structures, foreclosed and abandoned properties and unsafe structures that pose a risk to the community.  The overall goal is long-term physical and financial viability of the area.  Other non-housing projects are currently underway.  Recently, the town received a $200,000 grant from the City of Lawrenceburg to extend the road and utility extension on Industrial Way leading to Aisin Chemical.  Aisin plans to retain 30 existing jobs and add 37 new jobs by 2013.  Attracting new industry is necessary for the survival of the community.  As land use has changed with more buildings and paved areas, infiltration and inflow of wastewater has increased, causing overflows throughout the entire community.  Improvements were imperative to both sewage collection and treatment facilities.  Crothersville is under an Agreed Order and has developed a project to address both sewage collection issues and improvement to treatment facilities.  The total project cost is $3,572,270; $2,143,362 will come as a low-interest loan from the USDA Rural Development, while $1,428,908 (40%) was awarded in CDBG Disaster Recovery funds in December 2010.  Completion of this project will benefit local residents by resolving health issues associated with untreated wastewater.  Storm drainage (while some issues are being alleviated through the waste water project) continues to be an issue within the community.  In December 2007, a Storm Water Improvement Study was completed.  The $30,000 study was funded by the Office of Community and Rural Affairs.  Crothersville Indiana 5-Year Park and Recreation Master Plan, created by the-five member park board was presented to the town council in the Spring of 2009.  There are two area parks within the community, both located in the midst of residential neighborhoods.  The parks department is 100% volunteer based and has responded to the needs and wants of the community by providing traditional programs like youth and adult sports, as well as non-traditional activities (at the request of users).

Emergency repairs approach:

The ability to provide assistance quickly in an emergency situation is crucial, especially when dealing with one's home.  Often times if the issue is not dealt with immediately, it becomes magnified and potentially dangerous for the residents, as well as causing more damage to the home.  Setting aside funding specifically for emergencies will enable the town to move quickly and protect the household members from possible health and safety threats, while at the same time preserving the town's housing stock.  (Note:  One eligible applicant has moved from her home due to very bad, leaking roof.  She plans to move back when improvement is made, but cannot afford to fix the problem.)