[media-credit name=’MATTHEW KUTZ/Herald photo’ align=’alignnone’ width=’648′][/media-credit]Gov. Jim Doyle announced Friday several state and local housing projects will receive more than $14 million in grants to bolster community programs.

The funding will come from state and federal housing programs, and will benefit 45 housing and community projects in 32 counties in northern, eastern and central Wisconsin.

"These grants will further our commitment to helping all Wisconsin residents have a decent, affordable place to live, while helping to strengthen community infrastructure to support growth," Doyle said in a release.

All of the funding will come from the Community Development Block Grant and the HOME Single-Family program, both of which are federal programs backed by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Though the grants come from federal programs, they are administered through the state and individual counties, and many state, county and city funds are also used to match some of the allotments.

Projects in northern and central Wisconsin will each receive $5 million, and eastern Wisconsin will be granted about $3 million; much of the money will make affordable, quality housing more accessible to residents in the state.

The funds awarded will be used to help low and moderate income families purchase housing through assistance in making down payments and covering closing and construction costs; other families will be able to use funds to rehabilitate and improve their existing homes.

Amery Mayor Harvey Stower, whose city received $650,000 in CDBG money, said some of the award his community was granted will be used to mend water and sewer mains in the town.

"We will use the rest of the money to improve housing in Amery for low and lower-middle income families," Stower said. "We have a number of houses that need some rehab, and places that need work before families can move into them."

Renovations to make homes accessible for handicapped residents will also be provided through this money, Stower added, stating the programs will especially help people in the rural areas of the state.

The allotments granted to the families are not a handout however, according to Stower, as the money will stay in the community through a "revolving" loan system.

"This is also good for the ongoing communities because in essence, the money that we get from the grant will be used by individuals … and it will be paid back over time, but with little or no interest," Stower said.

Once the city is repaid, the money will then be given to other residents in the area so they can purchase homes or make improvements.

Not only will the money help Wisconsin families have better housing, Doyle said, it will give state and local economies a boost as well, as many businesses in the area will be hired to do much of the building and perform home improvements.

Tina Heuss, a community development administrator for the Antigo Housing Authority, which received more than $200,000 in HSF money, said such programs have been vital for many residents in the state. However, Heuss noted the future of the funding for the programs was put into question as of late.

"We've gotten grants in the past, and we appreciate the fact that [the legislators] did keep the funding in the budget at the federal level," Heuss said. "This is one of the most make-sense programs in the state."