COLUMBUS – The state on Thursday announced nearly $25.9 million in grants and targeted tax credits to help Ohioans achieve home ownership in the latest round of a program that has so far benefitted 24 counties.
Thursday’s round of funding included more than $25.7 million in grants toward the construction, purchase, or rehabilitation of 130 homes and $119,274 in planned tax credits to support the construction or rehab of three homes.
The money is part of the state’s Welcome Home Ohio program, an initiative enacted in 2023 that targets $100 million in grants to landbanks to help income-eligible Ohioans become homeowners. Another $50 million in tax credits is targeted for other qualifying activities.
The program is administered by the Ohio Department of Development.
“These investments are transforming our communities by creating homes Ohio families can be proud of,” Lydia Mihalik, director of the Development Department said in a statement. “From our charming small towns to our energetic big cities, the Welcome Home Ohio program is helping revitalize neighborhoods and bring a sense of comfort and stability to people looking to set roots in our great state.”
With Thursday’s announcement, awards have been made in nearly all of the counties in Northeast Ohio, including Cuyahoga, Medina, Portage and Summit counties in Greater Cleveland.
Since the program’s inception, nearly $60 million of the authorized $100 million for Welcome Home Ohio has been awarded to support the creation of 440 owner-occupied, single-family homes, the state said.
Another $25 million in nonrefundable tax credits remains available to landbanks and eligible developers for rehab and new construction projects once a property is sold.
“Safe, affordable housing opens doors to better opportunities for families and strengthens the fabric of our communities,” Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said in a statement. “The Welcome Home Ohio program is creating pathways to homeownership for more Ohioans, while bringing new life to neighborhoods.”