The 144 Corridor Housing Initiative board recently met to review the requests for exterior housing improvements for Paton, Grand Junction, and Rippey. Dana residents were eligible to apply, but no one submitted an application. Twenty-six awards were given totaling $25,000. The awards ranged from $500 to $1,000, but sparked total improvements to the 144 Corridor of $231,671.
Funds were made available through the city councils of Paton, Dana, Grand Junction, and Rippey as they allowed 10 percent of their municipality funds from Grow Greene County to be used for 144 CHI exterior home improvements. Additionally, funds were solicited from the Greene County Development Corporation, the Greene County board of supervisors utilizing Louis Dreyfus funds, Home State Bank, Peoples Bank, Community State Bank, Rolling Hills Bank, and the Rotary Club of Jefferson.
This is the second year of funds being awarded to homeowners living within the towns, and has resulted in improvements being made to roofs, windows, doors, sidewalks, tree removal, and landscape plantings. During the first year, 21 projects were completed, with awards of $17, 94. That was $8,000 more in improvements than the previous year, and in total this project has resulted in almost $500,000 worth of exterior improvements for the east side of Greene County.
Scoring of applications is completed by 144 CHI board members, and points are given for improved property values, safety, location in a highly trafficked area, and purchase of materials from local suppliers. Applicants must provide one-half the cost of the materials. In addition, they provide before and after photos of the project.
The 144 CHI board thank donors and applaud the initiative demonstrated by the homeowners as they seek to improve the exterior appearance of their homes.
An awards reception will be held at the end of the project cycle to recognize award donors as well as recipients.
