The towns of Oak Bluffs, Tisbury, Edgartown, West Tisbury and Aquinnah are applying for grant funds that will provide income-qualified homeowners with needed home repairs. Applications are now being taken and funds will be awarded on a first come-first serve basis. To learn more about this program, please attend one of the following public information sessions:

Wednesday, Jan. 14 at 5 p.m. at the West Tisbury Free Library

Wednesday, Jan. 14 at 6 p.m. at the Edgartown Library

Thursday, Jan. 15 at 11 a.m. the Up Island Council on Aging

Thursday, Jan. 15 at 5:30 p.m. at the Aquinnah Town Hall

Residents are invited to attend any session to learn more about this program, which will address code, safety, and health issues in owner-occupied year-round or landlord-owned homes. Applications will be available at each session.

Bailey Boyd Associates of Harwich is currently writing the grant applications for this program to secure monies to continue the very successful program in Oak Bluffs and Tisbury while expanding to Edgartown, West Tisbury and Aquinnah. The grants total approximately $2 million.

Participants must income-qualify under HUD guidelines and earn less than 80 per cent of median income ($62,900 for a family of four). Grant funds of up to $35,000 are allocated per household and are structured as a 0 per cent interest deferred payment forgivable loan. The loan is forgiven at a rate of 1/15th each year.

Michael Galasso of The Resource Inc. (TRI) oversees the program. Michael can be reached at 508-696-3285 or by e-mail: Michael@theresource.org.

All interested residents are encouraged to pick up program applications, available at their local town hall office. Preapplications are due by Feb. 1, 2009.