http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wium/local-wium-913279.mp3
Rushville, IL – Rushville will soon receive more than two million dollars to build new housing for low to moderate income seniors. It'll also receive a few-hundred thousand dollars to make life-safety upgrades to existing homes.
Mayor Scott Thompson announced the grants this week. A little more than $2 million from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will pay for the construction of new homes. A $394,000 grant from the state's Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) will help address life safety issues at nine homes in the city.
Thompson says the grants came about due to the efforts of the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs.
"If it weren't for the guidance of the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs, in doing their community outreach, and helping create citizens advisory boards, this money never would have landed in Rushville," says Thompson.
He says the process has been in the works since 2007. He says the IIRA reached out to Rushville to gauge how much need there was in the community for this type of assistance. Thompson about 20 percent of the population is eligible.
The $2 million will build a 15 unit complex composed of one bedroom apartments. Thompson says that money will pay for the entire project -- no matching money is required. All that's left to do is set up a board of directors.
"Once the construction is completed, the day to day management is handled by this non-profit board of directors," says Thompson. "And, HUD subsidizes the maintenance for 40 years."
He says the likely location for the project will be by the city's commercial park, between a day care center and Deb and Di's restaurant.
Thompson says the city will start seeking construction bids for the project in a couple of weeks when a board of directors has been named.