News Photo by Darby Hinkley Habitat for Humanity Northeast Michigan Executive Director Ted Fines talks about a housing development project in Hillman.

ALPENA — Habitat for Humanity Northeast Michigan recently received a $275,000 grant from MSHDA for energy-efficient home upgrades through MI-HOPE.

The Michigan State Housing and Development Authority awarded $7.4 million in grants to organizations across the state in a third wave of funding for the Michigan Housing Opportunities Promoting Energy Efficiency program (MI-HOPE).

“In such a short time with MI-HOPE, we’ve been able to make significant progress rehabilitating homes for our neighbors in communities all over Michigan,” said Amy Hovey, MSHDA chief executive officer and executive director. “With this round of awards, new and existing grantees will make great strides in expanding our impact this year. As we invest in updating these aging homes, we are pursuing sustainable, green solutions that will have a lasting effect for years to come.”

Habitat for Humanity Northeast Michigan Executive Director Ted Fines said the money will be used to help existing homeowners complete much-needed repairs to make their homes more energy efficient.

“It’s promoting energy upgrades ­– upgrading a furnace from 83% standard furnace to a 96-plus,” Fines said, using the furnace as an example. “That can have a tremendous impact on how much gas usage — how much you’re paying, but also the impact on the environment by not using up all that gas.”

He listed some other possible upgrades, including hot water tanks, insulation, and window replacement.

“Within our service area of five counties, we have that need,” Fines said, adding that “$275,000 sounds like a lot of money, but guess what? It doesn’t go very far.”

He said the needs are great in Northeast Michigan, so they continue to pursue as many grant opportunities as possible.

“I think you need to take monies like this and leverage with other monies, grants that we have,” Fines said. “We’re able to write additional grants through the County of Alpena, their Older Persons Committee, for anyone over the age of 60, we are one of five Habitat affiliates across the country that are tapping into a HUD Older Persons grant of $1.25 million over the next few years.”

He added that they are the only affiliate in Michigan who participated in writing that grant.

“We got asked to help write this grant through Habitat International,” Fines said. “We need to tap into the opportunities.”

He added that they recently hired Katie Wolf to augment their grant writing.

“That’s going to have a big impact,” he said.

Grant writing is a continuous effort.

“We’re also writing a grant through a company in Grand Rapids for $600,000 to $800,000 for the development in Hillman,” Fines said. “We’re developing six properties there, in addition to the 19-1/2 acres. That’s a five-year strategic plan.”

Habitat for Humanity Northeast Michigan is working on several projects, including a new home on Merchant Street, and another completed home which the family moved into in January on Washington Avenue, both in Alpena.

“Presently, we have over 50 sub-contractors, because we have a huge area,” Fines said.

Habitat for Humanity Northeast Michigan currently covers the counties of Alpena, Alcona, Oscoda, Montmorency, and Presque Isle, with future plans to expand its coverage area.

Since October 2022, MSHDA has provided MI-HOPE grants to local government and nonprofit agencies, who distribute support to residents in their communities through an application process. Homeowners can increase the energy efficiency of their homes through repairs and upgrades, such as roof and window replacement, HVAC modifications, electrical and appliance upgrades, storm door installation, and more.

In this round of funding, which comes from state-appropriated federal American Rescue Plan (ARP) money, MSHDA awarded $3,064,500 to the following organizations:

∫ Albion Economic Development Corporation: $495,000

∫ Alger Marquette Community Action Board: $300,000

∫ City of Highland Park: $300,000

∫ City of Owosso: $160,000

∫ Habitat for Humanity of Michigan: $495,000

∫ Habitat for Humanity Northeast Michigan: $275,000

∫ Habitat for Humanity of Oakland County: $346,500

∫ Neighborhoods Inc. of Battle Creek: $495,000

∫ Village of Cassopolis: $198,000

An additional $4,358,250 was granted to 12 high performing organizations who previously received MI-HOPE funding. These grantees successfully disbursed their previous funds and have now received the following grants to continue their work:

∫ Alger Marquette Community Action Board: $50,000

∫ Alpena County Home Improvement Program, County of Alpena: $150,000

∫ City of Grand Rapids: $500,000

∫ Community Action Network: $500,000

∫ Gogebic-Ontonagon Community Action Agency: $200,000

∫ Habitat for Humanity of Huron Valley: $141,875

∫ New Development Corporation: $166,375

∫ Saginaw-Shiawassee Habitat for Humanity: $500,000

∫ TrueNorth Community Services: $500,000

∫ Wayne County Land Bank Corporation: $500,000

∫ Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency: $650,000

∫ Western Upper Peninsula Planning Development Region (WUPPDR): $500,000.