CLEARFIELD – Clearfield County’s Blight Mitigation Program provides funding to municipalities for the demolition of structures that are unfit for habitation, a public nuisance, structurally unsound or in danger of collapse, lacking utility service having the presence of vermin or are housing vagrants.
Municipalities will be required to acquire site control or may partner with another entity who has site control, such as a redeveloper or qualifying conservator, explained Jodi Brennan, county planning director.
According to her, all requests for funding must include a match of at least 50 percent of the total costs for demolition. That match can be met with either public or private funds. A cost cap of $10,000 per property will be implemented, she said.
Brennan noted that funding through this program will be targeted to those priority blighted structures identified by local elected officials.
She also said that, “The long-term goal for the property should result in an affordable housing use that will serve low- to moderate-income households, with preference given to households with household income below 50 percent – 80 percent of the median area income.”
This funding, Brennan said, can assist developers and local landlords with mitigation of unsafe structures in order to make additional affordable housing available.
To receive assistance through the Blight Mitigation Program, contact the Clearfield County Office of Planning & Community Development at 814-765-5149 for details.