State grants benefit affordable rural housing developments

Developers in the southwest Missouri cites of Willard and Lamar are among those to benefit from more than $550,000 in grants released by Missouri Gov. Bob Holden earlier this fall.

The money will help fund new affordable housing units for low- to moderate-income families in rural Missouri communities, according to an announcement from Holden's office.

In Lamar, developers Carlson Gardner Inc. and Economic Security Corporation of the Southwest Area received $132,500 for 36 multifamily units in Divine Estates.

In Willard, Affordable Homes Developments Inc. received $125,000 for 24 single-family units in the Fox Creek Subdivision. Two other developers received grant funding: RCH Development in Jackson received $200,000 for 38 senior housing units in Jackson Senior Center, to complement Jackson Senior Garden Apartments II; and Brian K. Briggs of Windsor Estates LLC and DRS Consulting in Windsor, received $128,000 for 12 senior housing units in Rockaway Estates, Windsor Senior Apartments.

"Providing resources for new housing units in our communities is an important investment and another vital step in building economic security for Missouri families," Holden said. "We must continue our efforts to ensure that an adequate amount of affordable housing is available to all Missourians, particularly in our rural communities."

The rural affordable housing development grants were made through the Missouri Department of Economic Development's Community Development Block Grant program. The grants will fund the construction of the housing developments.

"The Department of Economic Development is pleased to work in partnership with communities to meet the needs for affordable housing in rural Missouri," said DED Director Joseph L. Driskill. "Enhancing the quality of life in our communities is an increasingly important task in the 21st century economy. By providing for adequate infrastructure, such as affordable housing, we are building a brighter future for Missourians and our communities."

The four projects included in the $550,000 worth of grants released also will be considered for additional funding from federal and state housing subsidies through the Missouri Housing Development Commission.

"I have asked various state agencies to work together, particularly in these difficult economic times, to pool resources at the federal, state, and local levels in order to meet rural Missouri's affordable housing needs," Holden said.

The CDBG program provides grants to cities with a population under 50,000 and counties under 200,000 to assist a variety of public work projects that address issues considering public health and safety.