Upper Susitna Seniors approved for grant

The Upper Susitna Seniors recently received word they have been approved for a $20,000 grant from the Alaska Housing and Finance Corporation (AHFC).

The grant covers related predevelopment costs for affordable senior housing, such as costs for preliminary engineering, architectural and schematic drawings, site environmental review, legal and permit fees and overhead costs.

The predevelopment costs are to bring affordable senior housing to the upper Susitna Valley area, a need which has been repeatedly identified through population surveys of the upper Susitna Valley.

Funding for the construction phase of the project would come from an AHFC grant, which was proposed last October, along with the predevelopment grant. It is up to the state Legislature to approve or deny the funds. Six rental units are part of the grant, which would be built on the lot of the Upper Susitna Seniors, just east of the center.

In 1998 and 1999, AHFC was unable to secure Legislative money for Senior Citizens Housing Development Fundings applications the Upper Susitna Seniors, which were approved by AHFC.