City council approves application for grant to help first time homebuyers

Upper Exploreland Regional Planning Commission will be hired to make an application for an Iowa Finance Authority grant that would help up to ten Decorah low to moderate income families make down payments on houses.

The program provides up to $24,999 in assistance to those at or below 80 percent of the LMI, approximately $18,440 for a family of four.

The approval came on a 4-2 vote, with council members Gary Rustad and Paul Wanless not opposing the application, but wanting to wait until the first of next year, when new city council members would take office.