A grant is currently helping five Polk County homeowners make needed repairs and one Tryon resident demolish and rebuild his home.

Polk County was awarded $400,000 ($333,000 for rehab and demolition) in 2008 through the Polk County Community Development Block Grant Scattered Site Housing Project. The funds were awarded specifically to be used to complete substantial housing repairs on five homes and to demolish and replace one unit for low income homeowners who reside in Polk County.

Homes that are being addressed were selected at the time of the grant application after the county held two public hearings to announce their proposed plans.

The county is also completing emergency repairs for various homeowners who have urgent needs, such as roofs and ramps, etc., according to Paula Kempton, grant services assistant manager with the Isothermal Planning and Development Commission (IPDC), which is administering the grant.

The first project undertaken with the grant funds is the demolition and replacement of Calvin Carsons home at 940 Markham Road in Tryon.

Demolition of the home at 940 Markham Road was done a couple of weeks ago by Glance Building, a Polk County contractor. Contractors said part of the reason for the grant funding is to put people back to work locally.

Other contractors working on the project include Larsen Excavating, CB Smith Plumbing and Joe Pfaff Construction.

Carsons home is the only home to be torn down and rebuilt. Repair work will begin on the other five homes after Carsons home is finished.

CDBG funds are provided to the state by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). They are administered at the state level by the N.C. Department of Commerce through the Division of Community Assistance and the Commerce Finance Center.