Northeast Iowa Regional Housing Trust Fund accepting applications

The Northeast Iowa Regional Housing Trust Fund (NEIRHTF) has been awarded funds from the Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) and is again accepting applications for housing rehabilitation\improvement projects. Applicants can be low-to-moderate income homeowners, non-profit and for–profit organizations to promote and create affordable housing activities. All applicants must be in one of the four counties of Allamakee, Clayton, Howard, and Winneshiek.
Applications will be accepted through February 2011 and ranked according to income and scope of work, with projects being awarded in March 2011. Roofs are the number-one priority.
The mission of the NEIRHTF is to improve the housing in the four-county region, and 2010 was the first year with over $240,000 expended on projects. The NEIRHTF approved 19 roof projects, nine window projects, siding, electrical, handicap accessibility, First-Time Home Buyer Funds, and a new construction project in Garnavillo.
To obtain the IFA funds, the NEIRHTF had to acquire a 25% match of $59,375.  This match was generously acquired from: the Allamakee County Supervisors, Howard County Economic Development, Winneshiek County Supervisors, City of Decorah, City of Garnavillo, City of Marquette, Northeast Iowa Board of Realtors, Upper Mississippi Gaming Corporation, Clayton County Foundation (Darby), Bank of the West, Clayton County Economic Development, and Cresco Union Savings Bank.  With the help of these sponsors, the match was exceeded and $70,560.00 was raised.
For the 2011 funding cycle, the housing trust fund again submitted an application to IFA with contributed support from the following organizations: Aspenson Real Estate, Howard County Supervisors, Cresco Bank and Trust, Decorah Bank & Trust, City of Cresco, Northeast Iowa Board of Realtors, City of Decorah, City of Lansing, Burke Real Estate, City of Postville,  Allamakee County Board of Supervisors, Luana Savings Bank, Kerndt Brothers Savings Bank, Howard County Economic Development, City of McGregor, Security State Bank-Guttenberg, Winneshiek County Supervisors, Interstate Federal Savings-McGregor, Freedom Bank-Postville, Monona, and Elkader, City of Monona, City of Strawberry Point, Cresco Union Savings Bank, and New Albin Savings Bank. Again, the required match dollars were exceeded and $65,000 was raised.
For more information on the NEIRHTF, contact Upper Explorerland RPC at 563-864-7551 and ask for Lori Brockway or Sarah Snitker. An application can also be obtained online at www.uerpc.org by clicking on the rental assistance tab.