AUBURN – Twin Cities officials are hoping a federal program will encourage low income families to save money for a home.

Participants open a special banking account, putting aside part of their regular paycheck for at least six months. When they are ready to make a downpayment for a home, they get a $3 grant for every dollar they’ve saved.

“It’s an opportunity to save $2,000 and wind up with $8,000,” said Auburn community development administrator Reine Mynahan.

Coastal Enterprises Inc. is running the program with help from the cities of Lewiston and Auburn. It uses a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Community Development Block Grant money from both cities.

It’s available to Lewiston or Auburn families making 80 percent of the median local income. That amounts to $40,900 per year for a family of four or $28,600 for a single person.