City Home Improvement Grant Program

How it works

The City Home Improvement Grant Program is a shared-cost grant from the Hutchinson HRA. The program assists homeowners with 50% of eligible home improvement costs.

What the money covers

The program page says eligible repairs are permanent improvements for:

• Basic livability
• Basic energy conservation
• Bringing a property into compliance with state, county, municipal health, housing, building, fire, and/or housing maintenance codes or other public standards applicable to housing

The page also says the work must be subject to a building permit inspection and cannot begin before HRA approval. Grant funds are paid directly to the contractor on behalf of the homeowner after completion.

Amounts and matching

• The grant covers 50% of the repair cost
• Maximum grant: $10,000
• The homeowner pays the other 50%
• Any costs above the cap are the homeowner’s responsibility
• Two comparable bids from Minnesota-licensed contractors are required
• Grant funds may not be used to purchase only equipment or materials
• Homeowner-paid administration fees listed by the HRA may be wrapped into the grant if they do not exceed the maximum grant:
  • $350 loan application fee
  • $50 title search fee

How to apply

• Submit the application with at least two comparable bids
• The contractor must obtain applicable city building permits and state electrical and plumbing permits before work starts
• The work must follow permit inspection processes
• The HRA/City says it will not inspect the house and is not responsible for existing code problems

Timing and deadlines

The page does not give a fixed deadline or open/close date.