Downtown French Lick. Photo from Cozetta Herron, Google Maps.

News Release

INDIANAPOLIS — The Office of Lt. Governor Micah Beckwith and the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs announced five Indiana communities will receive $1,310,000 in Owner Occupied Rehabilitation Grants and Planning Grants through the Community Development Block Grant program.

Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation grants are used to empower communities to directly fund homeowners of low-to-moderate income to make needed repairs on their homes. While communities awarded Planning Grants will use the funding to develop plans for long-term planning efforts.

“These grants are more than just dollars – they build hope for future growth and prosperity,” Beckwith said. “By helping Hoosiers make essential repairs to their homes, we are strengthening communities and ensuring families can build better lives right where they are.”

Communities awarded an Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation Grant will establish a program to help fund low- and moderate-income homeowners make repairs on their homes. Eligible repairs include roof repair or replacement, ADA accessibility, heating and cooling replacement, lighting and electrical upgrades, and water heater replacement.

Owner Occupied Rehabilitation Grants are awarded to the following communities:

• The Town of Brookville is awarded $350,000.
• The Town of French Lick is awarded $350,000.
• Fayette County is awarded $500,000.

“The Owner Occupied Rehabilitation program gives communities a boost in supporting vulnerable homeowners with necessary quality-of-life improvements. In addition, the Comprehensive Planning grant gives communities an opportunity to analyze their needs and identify next steps,” OCRA Executive Director Fred Glynn said. “Congratulations to each of the five communities awarded for their hard work to earn this funding and improve the quality of life for their residents.”

The Planning Grant program encourages communities to plan for sustainable community development with the aid of subject matter experts and community input. The applications being funded this quarter address comprehensive planning efforts.

Comprehensive Planning Grants are designed to aid communities in evaluating assets and identifying opportunities to address current needs in the following areas: land use, government capacity, public services, placemaking, economic development, housing, transportation, agriculture, natural resources and historic resources.

Comprehensive Planning Grants are awarded to two communities:

• The Town of Remington is awarded $50,000.
• Decatur County is awarded $60,000.

Funding for OCRA’s CDBG programs originates from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant program and is administered for the State of Indiana by OCRA.

For more information, visit in.gov/ocra/cdbg/.