Secure Funding for Demolition: Apply for a Grant in Mercer County Now

Princeton, Municipality in New Jersey — Property owners in Mercer County, West Virginia, who have dilapidated homes and structures that need to be demolished are being encouraged to take advantage of available grants that will cover the cost of the demolition.

In 2022, Mercer County received a $1.5 million grant from the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) specifically designated for tearing down dilapidated structures. This grant provides an opportunity for residents who cannot afford to demolish their own homes or structures to apply for funding to cover the expenses.

Lori Mills, the county’s dilapidated structures officer, reported on Thursday that approximately 50 structures have been demolished across the county since the availability of the grant. Two batches of structures have already been taken down, and a third batch consisting of approximately 43 structures is soon to be put out for bidding.

“We are currently bidding out Batch Three, and once the bid is awarded, we will commence work on Batch Four, which also comprises over 40 structures. However, it’s important to note that funding is limited, and there are deadlines to utilize the funding. We strongly encourage anyone with a structure in need of demolition to submit an application,” said Mills.

Although there is a possibility that the state DEP may allocate additional demolition funds to Mercer County once the $1.5 million from the 2022 grant is exhausted, it is not guaranteed. Therefore, residents are urged to apply for the grants without delay.

“Once the grant funding has been fully utilized, we will revert to our regular procedures, which means that when a property is identified for demolition, the homeowner will be responsible for the associated costs,” Mills explained.

The grant program is specifically designed to assist property owners who lack the financial means to demolish and remove structures themselves.

“We have encountered numerous homeowners who have expressed the desire to demolish structures but lacked the necessary funds to do so, and that is precisely the purpose of this program,” Mills noted.

There have been cases where property owners residing outside Mercer County were unaware of the grant program. Mills shared the story of a Lewisburg resident who owns a decaying structure in Mercer County and was thrilled to be informed about the available grants.

The grant funds in Mercer County are being allocated steadily. Mills clarified that the grant, which began in October 2022 with the possibility of a six-month extension, allows them until April of the following year to utilize the funds.

“While it may seem like a substantial timeframe, we currently have over 128 pending applications. We are now preparing to bid out Batch Three, and the ultimate goal is to have a total of six batches. Ideally, we aim to demolish a minimum of 180 structures in total,” Mills stated.

Applications for the grant can be obtained from Mills’s office located in the Memorial Building in Princeton, near the Mercer County Courthouse. Interested individuals can also contact Mills directly for more information. Her office can be reached at 304-431-8538, and she can be contacted at 304-325-6354 or via email at [email protected].

— Contact Greg Jordan at [email protected]