NATCHEZ — The City of Natchez is joining three other cities and the Mississippi State Department of Health to apply for a grant to make 100 homes in Natchez safer for children.

The Natchez Board of Aldermen approved an application for grant funding through the Lead-based Paint Hazard Control funding program Tuesday at the request of Community Development Director James Johnston.

Johnston said the Mississippi Department of Health contacted him about Natchez joining with Jackson, Greenwood and Greenville to apply for the funding, which is provided through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

MSDH Director of Communications Liz Sharlot said the department is applying for a $3 million three-year grant from HUD to remove lead paint from 430 houses.

The local impact of the grant could be up to $650,000 in Natchez, Johnston said.

Natchez along with other cities are targeted for MSDH’s lead-poisoning prevent program because of the number of pre-1978 houses, which are more likely to have lead-based paint, and the dangers of lead poisoning to children in the area.

“In those areas that are targeted, children have higher lead blood levels,” Sharlot said.

Lead poisoning in children can cause unexplained seizures, irritability, developmental delay, hearing loss, frequent tiredness, learning problems, nausea, growth failure and behavior disorders.

The houses eligible for grant funding must be the homes of children 6 and under or houses that children 6 and under routinely visit.

Eligible residents must also meet income requirements, and 75 percent of the houses must be occupied by renters and 25 percent owner occupied, Johnston said.

If the grant is awarded, MSDH would work with the city to identify houses for the funding.

The grant requires a 15-percent cost match, which Johnston said will be met by in-kind work by the city’s planning and inspections departments.

If the grant is awarded, Johnston said the city will conduct lead and environmental assessments using guidelines from HUD’s Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control.

The grant would also allow the city to provide lead-based paint and healthy homes community education.

The grant application will be submitted to HUD June 27, and MSDH should hear word on whether the funding has been awarded by the end of August.

If funded, the project will begin after Sept. 1.