County seeking $10 million grant for workforce housing
The county is applying for $10 million in federal grant money to preserve and develop housing aimed at low- to medium-income workers.
County commissioners approved the grant application Wednesday on behalf of the Housing and Redevelopment Authority to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Ed Mauk, authority chief executive officer, said HUD is making $85 million available nationwide for the Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing program.
He said the grant program will be highly competitive and the county will “shoot for the moon” by seeking $10 million.
The program targets the workforce by opening applications for housing to low- to middle-income people making up to 100% of the county median income, Mauk said.
Leslie Osche, commissioners’ chairwoman, said affordable housing is needed for workers.
Mauk said there are a number of housing programs available for low-income residents, but the Pathways program is intended for middle income residents.
After the meeting, Mauk said the Pathways program would augment the Butler Acquisition Rehabilitation program that addresses blight and preserves housing by renovating potentially blighted single family homes and renting them to families.
The Acquisition Rehabilitation program has been successful and is in high demand, he said. Of the 10 houses acquired, six have been renovated and are being rented, and the last four are being renovated, he said.
If the Pathways grant is approved, the authority could take on 20 to 30 or more houses, or multifamily buildings in a fashion similar to the Acquisition Rehabilitation program, Mauk said.
He said the application is due in early November and grant recipients should be announced before the end of the year.
In unrelated business, the commissioners awarded $89,550 from the county’s opioid misuse settlement to Recover Empower Institute LLC of Butler to operate a Medication Assisted Treatment support group for people recovering from addiction.
The funding pays for the support group retroactively from July 1 this year to June 30 next year.
In addition, the commissioners hired National Gunite of Johnstown for $307,158 through a Costars cooperative bidding contract to repair the Frank Denny Bridge on Spiker Road in Winfield Township. The project involves relining two steel arches in a culvert with a concrete-like material. Money the county receives from the state is funding the project.
The use of $75,000 from the fund containing the $5 fee the county imposes on vehicle registrations was approved for addressing drainage problems caused by beaver dams along Beaver Dam Road in Clay Township.
The commissioners approved a four-year contract with the Butler County Deputy Sheriffs Association.
The contract began retroactively on Jan. 1 this year and runs through Dec. 31, 2026, and provides the 22 full-time deputies and five part-time deputies with slight pay raises this year retroactive to Oct. 22 and 3% raises in each year through 2026.
It is the first contract for the deputy sheriffs, which split from the Service Employees International Union Local 688 and created their own bargaining unit.
The commissioners also approved a resolution supporting Operation Green Light in support of military veterans. The resolutions declares Oct. 25 though Veterans Day on Nov. 11 as a time to salute and honor the service and sacrifice of men and women who served the country, and for homes and business to display green lights in their windows from Nov. 6 through 12.
