Salem due part of 4-way split of $1.5M federal housing grant
By LARRY SHIELDSSALEM - The city will receive part of a four-way split from a $1,529,816 federal housing grant this year.
The grant is for Columbiana and Carroll counties and is part of $83 million in Ohio Neighborhood Stabilization Program funds.
The funds are designated to improve neighborhoods by purchasing and redeveloping abandoned and foreclosed properties, establishing land banks, and demolishing blighted structures.
Administered by the Ohio Department of Development's Community Development Division, the money will be awarded based on foreclosures, subprime loans, defaults, delinquencies, and vacancy rates, with the areas of greatest need receiving funding.
The Columbiana-Carroll county region will be required to select a lead entity to administer the program locally.
Mayor Jerry Wolford said the money will be split between the two counties, East Liverpool and Salem. That would equate to $382,545 apiece, but it doesn't work that way, Wolford said, adding that Bleckman Associates, the company that handles the city community development grants, will assist in disbursing the money.
All four government entities will meet at 10 a.m. Friday in Lisbon with Columbiana County Commissioner Dan Bing, a Carroll County commissioner, East Liverpool Mayor Jim Swoger and Wolford. Wolford said they will lay out the "nuts and bolts" and "ground rules" and a lead entity may be determined.
He expected the meeting to also target areas for cleanup, rehabilitation or demolition, adding an organization like the Habitat for Humanity may have some input.
There are about 20 to 30 properties in the city and Wolford said Salem will try to get "it's fair share." He said some of the properties are vacant and some aren't.
The Housing, Planning and Zoning office was involved in compiling the list.
Wolford said with the money distribution is based so many factors like foreclosure and vacancy rates and demographics they will look to draw up maps of the most pressing areas.
"We'll hold out to get what we can," he said, noting there are some homes that can be rehabilitated and some will need to be torn down.
In the past it has cost the city about $5,000 to tear a house down.
Larry Shields can be reached at lshields@salemnews.net
