According to a Wilkes-Barre city press release,

Mayor George C. Brown announced his plans to extend the Homeowner Occupied Improvement Program. The assistance provided is a non-repayable, income qualifying grant up to $7,500 towards property improvements for homeowner occupied houses, only.

This grant is funded by the American Rescue Plan, pursuant to Mayor George Brown’s nine-point plan. Payments to be paid directly to the contractor towards pre-approved work to the home.

“This program has been overwhelmingly successful, for both the residents and smaller contractors as well,” stated Mayor Brown.  Brown’s administration developed the program procedures keeping the small business contractors in mind.

“We wanted to be sure that the small business contractors were able to participate and compete fairly without hurting financially,” said Mayor Brown. “They suffered greatly from the pandemic.”

The Homeowner Occupied Improvement Program currently has 124 pre-approved applications of which 46 have completed the second portion and started their projects.

Visit the City’s website at www.wilkes-barre.city/americanrescueplan to learn more about the Homeowner Occupied Improvement Program, download the pre-application, and other city programs made available to city residents.