Franklin County Commissioners approved a plan on Tuesday for housing and urban development funds next year, which includes a small decrease in federal funds.
This year’s plan includes almost $1.6 million for affordable housing, focused largely on home repairs. It also provides $305,000 for economic development and almost $242,000 for homelessness prevention.
Every year, Franklin County decides how it will use U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development funds for things like affordable housing. This time around, the county is expecting an almost $100,000 in federal funds.
Still, Economic Development and Planning Director James Schimmer says a new training and assistance program will help reduce barriers minority businesses face when trying to do business with the local government.
“We try to be strategic as much as possible, but we also want to be looking at government as being entrepreneurial, and that’s what we’re doing in this case," Schimmer said.
