The Lima Community Improvement Corporation (LCIC) held a public open house Monday. Monday's open house gave the public an opportunity to LCIC Executive Director, Marcie Barlow, along with board members. Also, residents learned more about the corporation's mission to bring more family owned residential properties by rehabilitating existing homes in addition to infilling vacant land parcels in the city. Recently, the LCIC received a grant to help fulfill this mission.
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Two Findlay families are closer than ever to making their homeowner dreams a reality! Habitat for Humanity of Findlay/Hancock County raised the walls for homes number 60 and 61 for the Butler and McMaster Families. The walls raised will eventually become 3-bedroom, 1-bathroom, 1100-square foot houses that will be constructed in just 10 weeks. At the ceremony, we talked with the McMaster Family about the excitement and emotions they are feeling of seeing their home being built.
Pictured: A model house is placed on wood word TAX.
Lima City Council gives Mayor Sharetta Smith the green light to launch the Lima Rapid Rental Repair Program on Tuesday, June 18th. The program aims to assist landlords with turnover and renovation costs for their rental properties to prepare for the next tenant to rent. The program is funded through "Better Together Funds" with $200,000 being allocated, and landlords can apply for a maximum grant award of up to $5,000 per unit, a way, Mayor Smith says, to help landlords with the rental registration program passed earlier this year and improve housing in Lima.
The lives of one Findlay family have changed forever as they now have a permanent place to call their home. Talisha Balicki and her two daughters were joined by Findlay community members as they receive their keys and got to show off their brand new house. The 3-bedroom 1-bathroom house was constructed in just 10 weeks by Habitat for Humanity of Findlay/Hancock County and was the first home to be built this year. Once Talisha opened the front door, we went inside to talk with her about what it feels to now have their own home to establish their roots.
Dog and cat sit on the floor and look into the camera.
The City of Lima has received 27 applications for these funds. On Monday evening, city administration personnel discussed which organizations have submitted proposals to receive funding. For 2023, the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development has allocated over $300,000 of HOME funds to support possible housing and rental possibilities and improving living situations throughout the city. A little over $1.05 million have been allocated for CDBG funds where the money will go towards administration, economic development, public facilities, and public services organizations. With these federal dollars coming into Lima, city leaders are working to funnel this money into the community.
The City of Lima is currently drafting an ordinance that would create a rental registry to improve living conditions in rental properties and could have its first reading within the next several weeks.
It was a busy Monday night at Lima City Council as multiple pieces of legislation were passed to help spur the economy and boost living conditions in the city.
At Monday night's meeting, Lima City Council moves forward with Mayor Sharetta Smith's "Better Together" housing plans as discussed from her State of the City address. Several key ordinances were passed Monday night that would allow Mayor Sharetta Smith to move forward with her plan.