Supervisors show support for NPI housing project

The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors is backing Nishna Productions, Inc. in their plan to construct affordable housing.
Supervisor Donna Robinson said she was contacted by Nishna Productions executive director Sherri Clark requesting a letter of support to seek a grant through the Nonprofit Innovation Infrastructure Fund.
“They are getting support from other county boards, in Mills County, specifically also some legislators and other entities,” said Robinson. “The funding is for the construction of three family homes that are totally accessible to individuals with disabilities who have mobility impairments.”
According to Robinson, Nishna Productions has received between 20 and 25 referrals of current residents of the Glenwood Resource Center who need to transfer to a community provider and setting as a result of the center’s closure. The grant would assist Nishna Productions, as it is having difficulty locating affordable housing for the individuals.
“According to information from Nishna Productions, housing prices are extremely high and it is not able to compete with current market prices. By using the grant funding to construct new houses, Nishna Productions would be able to provide an affordable option for residents leaving the Glenwood Resource Center with extremely low Social Security benefits, sometimes in the range of $841 per month,” commented Robinson.
The plan calls for one of the four-bedroom homes to be constructed in Red Oak, a measure supported by Nishna Productions. The organization is dedicated to the agency’s mission: Delivering high-quality support and assistance to those individuals whom require it 24 hours per day, seven days per week.
The supervisors unanimously approved the request by NPI to submit a letter of support for the grant funding request.
The supervisors also re-approved a letter of support for the Iowa DNR County Creek Sign grant application request. Assistant to the engineer Barry Byers said the letter had to be redone as they are adding to the additional signage request.
“We had to revise our estimate, as they have a $5,000 minimum for their funding application. We had to add signs to our request to meet that threshold. We’re essentially doubling our signage request,” said Byers.
The supervisors approved the letter as presented in regards to the signage grant request.
In other business, the supervisors:
• Approved the sheriff’s report of fees for June, in the amount of $14,033.
• Approved the recorder’s report of fees for June, in the amount of $29,147.
• Approved the treasurer’s ending fund balance for June, in the amount of $11,737,532.