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NEWS RELEASE

A new home repair program is ready to provide loans for up to $50,000 to homeowners in the historic Santa Fe Neighborhood. The Home Improvement Program (HIP) is funded through a grant made by the City of Kansas City, Missouri’s Central City Economic Development (CCED) Sales Tax District, with support from 3rd District Councilwoman Melissa Robinson.

With legal services and support from Legal Aid of Western Missouri, the Santa Fe Area Council received $910,000 to rehabilitate existing homes in the Santa Fe neighborhood, which has been a part of the National Register of Historic Places since 1986. This Kansas City neighborhood is home to four churches, a fire station, an arts-focused preschool, many long-time residents, and locally-owned businesses.

“This innovative approach demonstrates our commitment to partnering with residents to stabilize neighborhoods and secure economic opportunities that have the potential to create generational wealth for working families, Robinson said.  “It is critical that we accelerate home ownership and provide the necessary supports for residents, neighborhood associations and stakeholders to build strong communities.

This program would mean a lot because my husband is an amputee and me being older and unable to work like I used to,” said Winnie Townsend, long time homeowner in the Sante Fe Area. “This would be a big asset for us. Our neighborhood is growing and we would not want to be the only eyesore. The entire neighborhood would benefit greatly from this program.”

Arvest Bank will administer loans in partnership with the Santa Fe Area Council to sustain homeownership within the community boundaries (27th Street on the north, Linwood Boulevard on the south, Prospect Avenue on the west, Indiana Avenue on the east). HIP will provide resources to single-family homeowners and expand on the previous work of the Santa Fe Area Council to stabilize the community and support homeowners committed to the area who meet income and application guidelines.

The CCED Sales Tax District Board and the KCMO City Council approved funding from the sales tax, a 1/8th cent sales tax passed in 2017 to fund economic development projects in the Central City. The CCED Sales Tax District includes the area bounded by 9th Street on the north, Gregory Boulevard on the south, The Paseo Boulevard on the west, and Indiana Avenue on the east.

For additional information on the program email Santa Fe HIP Project Manager, or 816.665.7794.

For media inquiries please contact Marquita Taylor, Santa Fe Area Council President.


About the Central City Economic Development Sales Tax

Kansas City voters took a bold step in 2017 to spark redevelopment along the Prospect Avenue corridor by approving a one-eighth-cent sales tax designated to support economic development.

Visit KCMO.gov/CCED for the latest information.