In 2008 the UMVRDC authored a Small Cities Development application for the City of Benson. It was funded in spring of 2009 and to-date four homes have been improved, while another 13 are in progress and set to be completed by next summer. The Benson City Council and staff recently toured some of the updated homes, and were able to see first-hand the improvements that were made to these four homes in Benson (pictured below) through the Small Cities Development Program.
The Swift County HRA is overseeing the site administration of these projects. Vicki Syverson, Director of the HRA , said the program is a tremendous benefit to the Benson community. “The SCDP program is the perfect opportunity to leverage personal funds against grant dollars to improve your home’s energy efficiency, safety, increase the value of your home and improve your neighborhood. Everybody wins!”
The home projects have gone over so well that the City has become eligible to reapply to the program to add on to their existing grant to do some additional home improvements. Award announcements will be made by the Department of Employment and Economic Development this winter.
For more information on the Small Cities Development Program, contact Michelle Bouta or Katie Meyer at 320-289-2981.
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