The Perry City Council held the needed public hearings and approved the requisite resolutions at its Monday meeting in order to receive nearly $300,000 in U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funds through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.
The federal dollars were funneled proactively through the Iowa Economic Development Authority as part of the COVID-19 economic stimulus package. The CDBG Housing Rehabilitation Exterior Home Improvement grant brings $254,000 in exterior repairs and improvement to six houses in Perry.
The city will receive assistance from the Carroll-based Region XII Council of Government (COG) in technical and administrative services in executing the program. The city will pay the Carroll-based COG $23,000 for administration and $4,500 for technical help.
The second well of HUD money comes to Perry in the form of a $39,356 CDBG Response and Recovery grants for COVID-19 relief. Four local programs benefit from the federal funds:
- Perry Emergency Food Pantry was awarded $5,800 carts and freezer
- Lutheran Homes Meals on Wheels was awarded $11,488 for operating expenses
- Perry Parks and Recreation Department was awarded $9,288 for equipment and fitness-on-demand programming
- Perry Public Library was awarded $12,780 for the Free Book Fridays program
In other business, the Perry City Council approved some changes in the contract for improvements at the McCreary Community Building.
