Special to The Hays Daily News

Kansas Housing Resources Corp. has awarded $3.8 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to build affordable, energy efficient rental housing in Bird City and Wamego.

The stimulus funds, allocated through the Tax Credit Assistance Program, will create 38 rental units serving low-income families and seniors.

ARRA provided $2.25 billion nationwide for TCAP with Kansas receiving $17.1 million in funding. KHRC estimates TCAP funds will assist in the construction of 165 affordable housing units across the state.

In Bird City, KHRC awarded a TCAP grant of $660,333 and $360,000 in HOME funds to Northwest Kansas Housing Inc. to build two single-family homes and two duplexes. Rents will range from $425 to $450 for the single-family homes and $300 to $350 for the duplexes.

"If you don't have housing, businesses won't come, people won't come," said Loyce Schamberger, Executive Director of Northwest Kansas Housing, Inc. "Today's award will spur the economy and help families and senior citizens find appropriate housing," said Schamberger.

Additional partners in the Bird City development include the city of Bird City, Northwest Kansas Planning and Development Commission, Federal Home Loan Bank of Topeka and Century II Foundation.

In Wamego, KHRC awarded a TCAP grant of $3,185,000 and $400,000 in HOME funds to Homestead Affordable Housing, Inc. to help build 32 rental units for the elderly.

In both Wamego and Bird City, all rental units will be Energy Star certified. Developers plan to finish construction of the Bird City development by spring 2010. The Wamego property is expected to be finished by late summer.