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CASS LAKE — The city of Cass Lake has received a $345,000 grant as a part of the Minnesota’s Small Cities Development Program, meant to help with the rehabilitation of owner-occupied homes.
“It will be on a first-come, first-serve application basis, and should be based on the median income of the area,” said Sue Uhrinak, Cass Lake’s city clerk and treasurer. “It’s going to be pretty easy for most residents to qualify.”
While applications are not currently available, the plan is for them to open up in the coming weeks so that contractors can be arranged in the new year.
“I’m hoping within the next couple weeks we’ll be able to start getting applications out and returned,” Uhrinak said, “then we can start working on getting contractors lined up.”
Uhrinak explained that the city is looking at serving between 12 and 15 residences with the grant, providing around $25,000 to each.
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“(The grant) can be used for new windows, doors, roof work, siding, interior, plumbing, heating. ” she shared. “It’s quite an extensive list, basically to help with the health, welfare and energy efficiency of the residents’ homes.”
Housing in Cass Lake, like much of the region, is in high demand, and Uhrinak explained that programs like this can help keep the city’s housing stock in good condition, both for the homes’ current residents and for those who might live there in the future.
“We do have a high need for housing in the area, and unfortunately some of the housing that is here is substandard,” Uhrinak said. “(This grant) will allow these individuals to improve their homes and when the time comes for them to sell their home, it will be viable on the market.”
The program will be available to any homeowner with a residence within the city and further eligibility criteria will be provided as the process continues.
“It will be open to everyone as soon as we have the applications and the process done,” she said. “Leech Lake Financial Services will be administering this grant for the city, but I will have information (at Cass Lake City Hall).”
