LAWRENCE COUNTY — The Lawrence County Commissioners have officially received and taken under advisement construction bids for a major countywide housing rehabilitation project.
The local repair initiative is funded through a $500,000 Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation (OOR) grant awarded by the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA). Lawrence County was one of only five communities in the state to secure the maximum grant amount.
To manage the project, county leaders partnered with the Southern Indiana Development Commission (SIDC). SIDC representative Jenny Dearwester is overseeing grant administration and contractor vetting, relieving participating homeowners of the responsibility of managing construction workers or navigating building codes.
Rather than cosmetic updates, the program focuses on critical structural fixes and health hazards for low-to-moderate-income families and elderly residents aiming to safely age in place. Covered repairs include:
- Roofing & Structure: Full roof replacements and necessary structural safety repairs.
- HVAC & Electrical: Complete updates to electrical wiring and replacements or upgrades to heating and cooling systems.
- Safety & Accessibility: Environmental radon mitigation and ADA-compliant accessibility modifications, such as wheelchair ramp installations.
Final decisions on winning contractor bids will be made on or before October 6.
