GGHRA, Planters Bank awarded Special Needs Assistance grant

Planters, Greater Greenville partner, give 5 homes facelifts
Mary Alford malford@ddtonline.com
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Thanks to teamwork, multiple Greenville area homes were able to receive facelifts.

Through the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas and their Special Needs Assistance Program (SNAP), Planters Bank was able to partner with the Greenville Greater Development Foundation to complete necessary repairs to five homes throughout the city. The finishing touches were made last week.

Daniel Boggs, chief executive officer of Main Street Greenville and Greater Greenville Development Foundation, said the program aims to assist the elderly or those with special needs in home repairs.

The program is presented every year by the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas, of which Planters Bank is a member.

“The Special Needs Assistance Program is a program that is put out every year by Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas. … What they do, as part of their Community Reinvestment Act, they have to invest a certain amount of their proceeds back into community development. And they do that through a long list of projects and programs they have for community development projects and a lot of it centers around economic development, housing, employment growth and creating job stability,” Boggs said.

He said the program is highly competitive, with all the funds being dispersed within a day of the application deadline.

“It has gotten so competitive that you actually have to be kind of approved as a member sponsoring entity,” Boggs said, noting Greater Greenville submitted their application Jan. 11 and were contacted in March.

Boggs said SNAP, a homeowner rehab program for low-icome elderly or disabled individuals, benefits the area because of the age of the housing stock in Greenville.

For the five homes, about $21,000 in grant funds were supplied, with the majority of the monies going toward roof, electrical or drainage repairs.

“All of this centered around leaks, mold, electrical, health issues, hazardous stuff. We know ... the elderly and disabled are the most vulnerable in those types of situations,” he said.

Boggs said the Greater Greenville Development Foundation has completed several programs with the Planters Bank program throughout the years, giving facelifts to more than 85 homes since 2008.

“We’re just thankful for what Greater Greenville Housing is doing and glad we are able to be a sponsor. It’s a good partnership to invest in community and support those in need,” said Andy Sanders, president of Planters Bank.

The houses selected for repairs were selected first come, first serve from a database the Greater Greenville Development Foundation has developed.

This was the first year Greenville has participated in SNAP, and Boggs said they look forward to applying again next year. “Planters has supported us and they are even looking at additional investments moving forward. We are glad they are standing behind us to allow us to serve the community,” he said.