August 4, 2022 – The City of Decatur is inviting contractors to apply for hundreds of home rehabilitation projects as part of a multi-million-dollar neighborhood revitalization initiative.
The City launched its home rehabilitation programs in May 2022 and received over 500 applications for the owner-occupied rehab program. These projects will likely take a few years to complete given the overwhelming response and need in our community.
“It is imperative that we have enough pre-qualified, qualified, and lead abatement contractors to help us meet this great demand,” said Cordaryl “Pat” Patrick, Director of Economic and Community Development. “Minority, disadvantaged, and women-owned businesses are strongly encouraged to submit the necessary information per the contractor’s manual to be considered for this program.”
The Decatur City Council has allocated around $6 million in American Rescue Plan (ARP) monies for home rehabilitation. Over the next two years, the goal is to rehab 150-300 homes in Decatur.
The owner-occupied rehab program is a lottery system that is targeting the city’s urban core. Homeowners inside targeted neighborhoods completed the pre-application, and those drawn from the lottery are being notified by mail.
Some of the program objectives include:
- To remove unhealthy or hazardous housing conditions in low- and moderate-income areas.
- To revitalize and preserve the existing housing stock.
- To preserve and increase the property values in low- and moderate-income neighborhoods.
- To encourage employment and training opportunities for residents and minority persons through the opportunity to bid on housing rehab programs.
- To create sustainable mixed-income neighborhoods in the urban core.
As part of the owner-occupied rehabilitation program, and to help contractors access the capital necessary for these large projects, the City has partnered with Land of Lincoln Credit Union to manage a robust loan fund that is attractive and easy to navigate. Contractors that become pre-qualified or qualified with the City may automatically be approved for the Contractor’s Loan Fund.
The Loan Fund will help contractors that may not have the necessary cash flow for payroll, materials, supplies, transportation, lodging, etc. This will help small contractors build personal credit and build their capacity as a business, which is critical to the success of our housing initiatives.
Interested companies may find the contractor’s manual on the City’s website, or contact the Neighborhood Revitalization Division, Connie Hamilton at 217-450-2350, or cfarrar@decaturil.gov. An optional contractor’s meeting will be held via Zoom on August 26, at 9:00 a.m. to provide more information. Contractors may register for the meeting by emailing Connie.
