LEWISTON – The city of Lewiston has been awarded a $200,000 Maine State Housing Authority Multi-family Rehabilitation Grant.

The grant will be used for the city’s Residential Rehabilitation Program. Eligible activities under that program include: rehabilitation of building exteriors, site amenities, upgrading of building interiors, upgrading of mechanical systems and structural repairs.

The city’s Housing Rehabilitation Loan Program is offered to property owners, both investor-owned and owner-occupied, who are looking to improve their buildings by creating safe, affordable and decent housing for the city’s low-income residents, according to the city.

Targeted for multi-family projects, the grant funds will seek to leverage private investment for the rehabilitation of residential properties, to enhance appearances throughout the city with a focus on downtown neighborhoods and to eliminate blighted properties.

Grants Coordinator Alyson Stone said, “In 2002, multi-family housing rehabilitation projects supported by funding provided by the Community Development Division totaled $223,000 for 26 units. Approved projects and applications in process this year to date, with a total value of $499,530 for 56 units, already exceed last year’s total by 125 percent. “

By adding the grant money to the rehabilitation loan pool, the city will be able to rehabilitate approximately an 21 more units.

For more information about the rehabilitation loan program, interested individuals may contact Yvette Bedard at 784-2951, Ext. 313.