METROPOLIS – State Rep. Patrick Windhorst (R-Metropolis) is applauding a decision by the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) that will send nearly $1 million to nine Southern Illinois communities to aid with community revitalization and beautification projects and improving access to and the quality of affordable public housing.
The following entities will receive significant funding grants from IHDA’s “Strong Communities Program.”
- Brookport $175,000
- Cairo – $175,000
- Harrisburg – $100,000
- Mound City – $74,000
- Dongola – $75,600
- Pulaski – $46,200
- Ullin – $75,600
The funding will be used to help communities with acquiring, maintaining, remodeling, and demolishing blighted and abandoned properties.
“In speaking with local elected officials in some of these communities, I have learned that tearing down a blighted building can be extremely costly,” Windhorst said. “Building new properties is expensive, and maintaining our existing housing infrastructure is also expensive. The financial relief coming to these communities through IHDA’s Strong Communities Program are important investments for the future of affordable housing for Southern Illinoisans. This is welcome news and I look forward to continuing to push IHDA to invest in Southern Illinois to ensure our citizens have access to quality, safe, sustainable, and affordable housing.”
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