The City of Moultrie, represented by Main Street Director Amy Johnson, left, and City Manager Pete Dillard, right, received a symbolic check months ago for $300,000 representing the CHIP grant the city has been awarded. The money itself has not been made available yet, though; a public hearing on Thursday is the next step to making that happen. Presenting the check, center, is Christopher Nunn, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Community Affairs.

MOULTRIE, Ga. —  A grant announced last year to repair housing in Moultrie is moving closer to fruition.

A public hearing will be held at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the City of Moultrie Council Chambers, 21 First Ave. N.E., to update the community on the Community HOME Investment Program grant.

The Department of Community Affairs grant has allotted $300,000 to Moultrie to improve housing in certain parts of the city, mostly northwest.

One of the stipulations to receive these housing improvement funds is that the resident be the owner of the property. But a person with a mortgage may also qualify. Renters do not qualify, and the grant can’t be used to repair mobile homes or manufactured housing.

A family of one can make no more than $26,500 to qualify. For a two-person family $29,800; three-person, $33,500; four-person, $37,200; five-person, $40,200; and six-person, $43,200.

Up to $49,000 can be spent per house improvement.

Applicants must live within the city and within the targeted areas. Maps of the targeted areas will be available at Thursday’s meeting.

The city can apply for the grant again when 50 percent of the money has been used up. This grant covers a two-year period, ending on Aug. 1, 2019.