At their October 9, 2018 meeting, the City Council of Midland approved nearly $800,000 in low-income assistance projects.
$50,000 will be allocated to the low-income home repair program. This initiative provides small grants to homeowners who are unable to afford repairs to essential household mechanical elements. Families who meet certain income thresholds are eligible to use the funds to make repairs to air conditioning, heating, and plumbing systems. The program expects to help approximately twenty homeowners annually.
$250,000 will be designated for a first-time home-buyer assistance program. These funds are available to first-time home-buyers for assistance with down payment and closing costs.
“It feels wonderful to designate funding to programs like the home repair and down-payment assistance initiatives,” said Isaac Garnett, Community Development Manager. “These programs help everyone – families, individuals, the elderly – get and stay in housing,” he added.
$403,102 will be designated to the Greenwood subdivision infrastructure improvement project. This project’s purpose is the installation of sidewalks in the Greenwood subdivision. Sidewalks are an essential mobility tool for the handicapped, and help improve quality of life.
$30,000 will go towards a housing study. The focus of research will be forecasting housing needs and impediments for 2020 through 2025. The study is expected to be delivered by September 2019.
$66,000 will be directed to purchase new cardio, weight room, and audio equipment in the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center.
“The exercise equipment is very popular at the MLK Center,” said Laurie Williams, Assistant Community Services Director. “We are looking forward to a revitalized and updated facility to serve our citizens.”
For more information about Community Development resources, visit www.midlandtexas.gov and click on the Community Development Department.
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Media Contact: Isaac Garnett, Community Development Manager (432) 685-7408.