JACKSON, MS - Under its Long-Term Work-Force Housing program, the Mississippi Development Authority is awarding a second round of projects totaling more than $89.5 million, Gov. Haley Barbour announced Tuesday. "This action will help construct 2,528 low- and moderate-income homes in our three coastal counties," Barbour said. "The award recipients represent a cross-section of proposals from nonprofit organizations as well as projects specifically designed to serve the elderly and disabled. We've also been very deliberate in making sure these projects are spread among Harrison, Hancock and Jackson counties, and that the projects are built near schools and jobs."
The LTWH initiative empowers individuals, private businesses and nonprofit groups to leverage federal disaster recovery grants to construct both single and multifamily homes designed to ensure a healthy stock of worker housing, particularly to support the ongoing Hurricane Katrina recovery.
In this round, Hancock, Harrison and Jackson counties will see LTWH projects totaling $16.1 million, $44.4 million and $28.9 million and unit levels of 348, 1,016 and 1,164 respectively.
Of the total $89.5 million awarded, single-family and multifamily funding is $53.9 million for 1,437 units and $35.6 million for 1,091 units, respectively.
"These grants will greatly accelerate the pace of installation of affordable housing and will meet many previously unmet needs," Gerald Blessey, Katrina recovery housing director, said. "We will work with recipients to facilitate rapid implementation."
Source: SunHerald.com