Bridgewater seeks pre-applicants for housing rehabilitation grant

The town is seeking pre-applicants for a state grant that could provide families up to $30,000 for major home repairs.

We need to show that theres a need, said Marilee Kenney Hunt, chairwoman of Bridgewaters Community Preservation Committee. If nobodys completing pre-applications, then the state is likely to think that theres no need.

The Community Development Block Grant would provide up to $30,000 each for six families in town, Town Planner Greg Guimond said.

The grant money would cover repairs including but not not limited to electrical, heating and plumbing work, roof or siding repairs, lead paint and asbestos removal, insulation and window replacement, and making a home handicap accessible.

The grants are actually zero-percent loans that would be forgiven after 15 years if the homeowner still met the financial requirements.

Filling out a pre-application does not mean the family would need to follow through with the project, Guimond said, but it would move them to the top of the list if the town wins it.

Bridgewater is working with Norwood to apply for the grant, Guimond said.

There are a lot of things that theyre doing or just finished that we need to do, he said, including downtown facade redevelopment and upgrades to Norwoods water and sewer systems.

The town applied for the grant last year in partnership with Middleboro, but did not receive it, said Hunt, who added that only five or six are given each year statewide. Last year, she added, the town of Norwood received five of the six grants given.

Pre-applications are online at bridgewatercommunitypreservation.org, or in Town Hall, the Academy Building, the public library and senior center.

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Bridgewater seeks pre-applicants for housing rehabilitation grant