Natchez and Adams County have been awarded $500,000 in Home Buyer Assistance funds from the Mississippi Department of Economic and Community Development.

Supervisors announced the county’s approved application for the funds through the Housing Revolving Loan program on Monday.

Adams County has been awarded $250,000 and the City of Natchez has been awarded $250,000, said James L. Johnston, Community Development Coordinator for the Mayor’s Office.

The money will be used to build 34 new houses in the city and county once complete environmental assessments are finished, Johnston said.

Land is being acquired for the project in both the Broadmoor area of the county and within the city limits. Henry Watts of Natchez is the developer.

&uot;This is more good evidence of the city and county working together for better housing for the people of Natchez and Adams County,&uot; said Mayor Larry L. &uot;Butch&uot; Brown. &uot;I’m real excited about breaking ground so that people who wouldn’t otherwise be homeowners will have that chance.&uot;

&uot;It’s going to help the community by providing opportunities for housing to people who might not otherwise have that available to them,&uot; said Darryl Grennell, Adams County supervisor.

The $500,000 is Adams County’s share in $5 million the state Legislature allocated for public service, Johnston said.

The Legislature placed the Mississippi Department of Economic and Community Development in charge of preparing and receiving the applications, and then following through on the program of constructing new homes for moderate income families, Johnston said.

Qualifying homeowners cannot exceed 115 percent of the median income of Adams County. Johnston calculated that income cap to be $36,500.

Applicants for these houses would still be required to qualify for a conventional home loan, Johnston said.

&uot;The banks that participate in the program will still have to go through their existing lending practices,&uot; Johnston said.

The houses would be three bedroom, two bath homes made of brick veneer with just under 1,300 square feet of interior living space. Lot sizes are expected to be roughly 80 feet by 120 feet, Johnston said.

The final price on the houses are expected to be around $70,000, he said.

&uot;It’s a good service to the people of Adams County,&uot; he said.