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Certified Green Renovations Completed at Forest View Apartments

Name
Deborah Callahan
City
WADLEY
Release Date

The Department of Agriculture today celebrated the completion of renovations at the Forest View Apartments affordable housing complex. The $5.5 million project modernized each of the apartment homes, including extensive energy efficiency upgrades, while keeping rents affordable for low income tenants.  It is financed through a leveraged public-partnership using Low Income Housing Tax Credits from the Department of Community Affairs and USDA Rural Development Multi-Family Housing Direct Loan Program, which provides affordable financing for construction, improvement and purchase of multi-family rental housing for low-income families, the elderly and disabled individuals. 

“USDA is honored to be a part of this partnership resulting in affordable and highly energy efficient homes,” said Jill Stuckey, USDA Rural Development Georgia State Director. “The upgrades are not only good for the environment, but also result in utility bill savings for the tenants and operational costs savings for property management.

   Forest View Apartment complex is one of more than one hundred housing communities that the Morrow Companies have developed, built or acquired and rehabilitated. The gated community has been built to meet the Southface Energy Institute’s Earthcraft Multifamily green certification standards, a multifamily-specific green building program requiring dedicated fresh-air intakes for each unit. The certification results in an operationally cost effective building that is also energy, water and resource efficient.

   USDA’s Multi-Family Housing Programs offer loans to provide affordable rental housing for very-low-, low- and moderate-income residents, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. Funds also may be used to buy and improve land and to provide necessary facilities such as water and waste disposal systems. In addition, USDA offers rental assistance to help eligible rural residents with their monthly rental costs. For more information about these programs in Georgia, contact (706) 546-2164.

   President Obama’s plan for rural America has brought about historic investment and resulted in stronger rural communities. Under the President’s leadership, these investments in housing, community facilities, businesses and infrastructure have empowered rural America to continue leading the way – strengthening America’s economy, small towns and rural communities.

   Since 2009, nationwide, USDA Rural Development has invested $13.5 billion for 5,739 water and waste infrastructure projects, benefiting 19.1 million rural residents; invested nearly $13 billion to start or expand nearly 112,000 rural businesses; helped 1.1 million rural residents buy homes; funded nearly 9,200 community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care facilities; and helped bring high-speed Internet access to nearly 6 million rural residents and businesses. USDA also has invested $31.3 billion in 963 electric projects that have financed more than 185,000 miles of transmission and distribution lines serving 4.6 million rural residents. For more information, visit www.usda.gov/results.