USDA Rural Development Funding Leverages Ohio’s Largest Solar Powered Self-Help Housing Development
COLUMBUS, OHIO, June 18, 2008 – Randall Hunt, state director for USDA Rural Development awarded $601,230 in grant funding to the Community Action Commission (CAC) of Fayette County to help finance construction of 28 homes in the Arbor Village Subdivision of Washington Court House, Ohio. The funding comes from Rural Development’s Mutual Self-Help Housing Program and will be used to assist families in building their own homes.
“We’ve been steadfast partners with the CAC for about 16 years, and during that timeframe Rural Development funding has helped more than 200 Ohio families build their own homes,” said Rural Development State Director Randy Hunt. “This latest endeavor, which introduces the addition of solar-power technology, embraces a more environmentally friendly construction approach. We definitely hope this isn’t the last of these kinds of projects for Ohio.”
Rural Development has awarded more than $2.9 million to the CAC of Fayette County since Fiscal Year 1992 through eight Mutual Self-Help grant funding awards. The program’s funding provides technical assistance through the use of construction professionals. These professionals provide guidance and support enabling families to build their homes to code.
The Department of Development’s Office of Energy Efficiency, the Ohio Housing Trust Fund, and several other partners helped fund the solar systems for the project. Rural Development staff members joined CAC staff to work on four homes in the Arbor Village Subdivision in various stages of construction.
“Rural Development has been an excellent partner with us over the years as we’ve expanded our housing operations,” said CAC Housing Director Patty Griffiths. “This addition to the subdivision is our first attempt to include solar power into our construction program, and we think there will be a definite improvement in the overall efficiency of the solar equipped homes.” Third Sun Solar and Wind Power is providing the solar technology for the project. Its President, Geoff Greenfield, said the project will include 10 solar powered systems and will be the largest collection of solar homes in one neighborhood in the state.
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USDA Rural Development's mission is to deliver programs in a way that will support
increasing economic opportunity and improve the quality of life of rural residents. Rural Development provides equity and technical assistance to finance and foster growth in
home ownership, business development, and critical community and technology infrastructure.
Further information on rural programs is available by calling 614-255-2400, visiting a local USDA Rural Development office or by viewing USDA Rural Development’s web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov <http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/> .
USDA Rural Development State Director Randy Hunt (center) presents check for $601,230 to the Community Action Commission of Fayette County for the latest solar powered addition to their Arbor Village Housing Subdivision. The funding helps add 28 new homes, 10 of which will be fitted with solar powered systems.
Geoff Greenfield, President of Third Sun Solar and Wind (blue shirt facing crowd) explains how the addition of solar powered systems to the newest addition in the Arbor Village Subdivision will help reduce the electricity costs for families. Third Sun Solar and Wind produced the solar systems to be installed in the new homes.
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