Blackford County Sets $500,000 Housing Repair Grant Priority

From the Blackford County Commissioners meeting on October 5, 2026

Blackford County commissioners approved an owner-occupied housing rehabilitation grant as their top OCRA priority after hearing a plan for a $500,000 application with a $125,000 local match.

Mike Kleinpeter of Kleinpeter Consulting Group said the county plans to apply by Nov. 1. He said grant funds can cover up to $25,000 per house for repairs. The priority statement approved by commissioners said the program would target unsafe roofs, electrical systems, HVAC systems, hot-water systems, and accessibility problems.

The proposed local match discussed at the meeting was $25,000 from Hartford City, $25,000 from Montpelier, $25,000 from Blackford County Economic Development Corporation, and $50,000 from Blackford County general funds.

Kleinpeter also warned that an OCRA water or wastewater grant for Lake Mohee Dam likely would not work well. He said federal requirements could add roughly 10% to a roughly $4 million project while producing only about a $400,000 grant under beneficiary limits.

Source: Meeting transcript — Blackford County - County Commissioner Meeting - October 05, 2026

Some information may be inaccurate due to video audio quality.