Dougherty County was recently awarded the Commu- nity Home Investment Program (CHIP) grant by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Administered by the Georgia Department of Community Af- fairs (DCA), the $300,000 grant will focus on rehabilitation of owner-occupied homes and the option of building and renovating affordable single-family homes for sale to eligi- ble homebuyers.

The CHIP grant is part of a home buyer development program to help counties provide funds to applicants for new construction, rehabilitation, and/or reconstruction of single- family units for homeownership. Under the program, construction loans to applicants will be provided at zero percent interest upon the sale to a home buyer who is eligible under the HOME Program.

Dougherty County has received the CHIP Grant for several years. Under the new 2020 plan, however, if an application proposes the development, including new construction and rehabilitation, of housing units that will be sold to low and moderate income home buyers, a formal agreement will be required between the subrecipient and a HUD-ap- proved housing counseling agency to provide pre-purchase and home buyer education services to all new home buyers.

“The CHIP Program will once again provide an option for Dougherty County residents to become homeowners,” said Michael McCoy, Dougherty County Administrator. “We are pleased to be able to administer this grant to our citizens, who may not otherwise qualify to purchase a home.”

Dougherty County anticipates being able to accept applications in approximately six to eight months. Appropriate documentation and DCA approval must be met in order to comply with the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA), Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as well as other criteria outlines by DCA, before applications are ac- cepted.

For more information on the CHIP Grant, visit https://www.dca.ga.gov/safe-affordable- housing/rental-housing-development/home-investment-partnership-program-home-1