FORT VALLEY, Ga. — A new home was built from the ground up for a Fort Valley woman using the Community Home Investment Program (CHIP) funding.
On Wednesday, Fort Valley's Mayor Jeffery Lundy and city council gathered at the completed home of owner Sybil Dixon.
Doctor Ulrica Jones, who is the local CHIP Grand Administrator of Eventual Success, says the city received $300,000 from the National HUD Community Housing and Improvement program.
The CHIP grant and funds are a federally-funded program created to give safe, decent, and affordable housing in Georgia by granting funds to city and county governments.
They also grant funds provided to public housing and nonprofits to renovate occupied homes and rebuild new homes for people who qualify.
Jones says in order to qualify, you must be a homeowner with current taxes, have homeowner insurance, and meet low-income requirements.
Dixon's home met the requirement since the repair work needed exceeded the limit for a renovation project.
She says The CHIP grant and funds have renovated eight homes and brought them up to standard building code, including rebuilding Dixon's home.
They say Dixon was truly grateful for the help.
The City of Fort Valley plans to apply for more funds to assist citizens needing help, and the city also received the Plan First designation allowing them to apply yearly for grants.
