Fulton’s vacant homes could soon be demolished. The Fulton Department of Planning & Protective Services will apply for a Community Development Block Grant, which aims to help small Missouri communities improve local facilities, and alleviate health and safety issues.
The grant is part of a program run through the Missouri Department of Economic Development. Funding for the grant comes from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Fulton’s Planning & Protective Services Director Les Hudson said getting this grant would help provide Fulton with the money it needs to get rid of these vacant homes.
“Like all towns, we have some homes that are not in very good shape that have been abandoned, and it’s quite expensive to take those down,” Hudson said.
Community Development Officer for the Fulton Department of Planning & Protective Services Gayla Dunn said many of the vacant homes are old and could be a potential hazard.
“It is a need in the community. It’s a need that this grant will fulfill,” Dunn said. “So we’re going to use this as a way to get the next step taken care of on our list.”
Dunn said cities can apply for up to $125,000.
However, before the department is able to apply for the grant, it’ll have to finish some ground work. Hudson said the department has to count the number of vacant homes, and then catalogue and photograph them. He said he hopes the department will apply for the grant by October.