Housing and Commercial Rehabilitation Programs

Small Cities Development Program (SCDP)

Each year, the Stearns County Housing and Redevelopment Authority applies to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development for funds to administer the Small Cities Development Program, or SCDP.

This program, SCDP, provides funds to rehabilitate single-family homes, commercial buildings, and rental units for eligible applicants. Review the program summary

This is a highly successful program and a high priority of the Stearns County HRA. Some of the benefits of this program include:

  1. Preservation of housing stock.
  2. Preservation of commercial buildings (downtowns) in our smaller cities.
  3. Energy and handicapped accessibility improvements to allow the elderly to remain in their homes.
  4. Local employment opportunities for contractors, lumber yards, etc.
As of 2011, this program has injected almost $6 million into our small communities.

For more information on this program, call the Stearns County HRA at 320.685.7771, and ask for Jim. Directions to the HRA office

SCDP Project Summary

Melrose Grant: April 2002 - September 2004

  • $530,000 SCDP funds awarded
  • 23 Residential Homes Rehabilitated in Core Neighborhood
Albany Grant: April 2003 - September 2005
  • $555,000 SCDP funds awarded
  • 26 Residential Homes Rehabilitated in North Central Neighborhood
Sauk Centre Grant: July 2005 - September 2007
  • $1,185,300 SCDP funds awarded
  • 19 Residential Homes Rehabilitated Citywide
  • 7 Rental Properties consisting of 18 units Rehabilitated Citywide
  • 25 Commercial Properties Downtown Sauk Centre
Countywide Grant: July 2005 - September 2007 
  • $409,100 SCDP funds awarded
  • 21 Residential Homes Rehabilitated in Stearns County
Paynesville Grant: April 2007 - December 2009
  • $814,506 SCDP funds awarded
  • 23 Residential Homes Rehabilitated in Target Neighborhood
  • 6 Rental Properties consisting of 17 units Rehabilitated Citywide
  • 23 Commercial Properties Rehabilitated in Downtown Paynesville
Paynesville American Recover and Reinvestment Act Grant: June 2009 - September 2011 (Completed September 2010)
  • $207,280 SCDP funds awarded
  • 12 Residential Homes Rehabilitated in Target Neighborhood
Melrose/Brooten Grant: May 3, 2008 - December 31, 2010 (Completed December 30, 2009)
  • $414,000 SCDP funds awarded
  • 24 Residential Homes Completed - 3 with additional Melrose Revolving Funds
Melrose/Brooten Grant: April 16, 2010 - December 31, 2012 (Completed May 20, 2011)
  • $206,950 SCDP funds awarded
  • 12 Residential Homes Rehabilitated Citywide
Stearns County (Holdingford/Belgrade) Grant: April 16, 2010 - December 31, 2012
  • $676,300 SCDP funds awarded
  • 26 Residential Homes Rehabilitated (13 Holdingford, 13 Belgrade)
  • 7 Commercial Buildings Rehabilitated Downtown Business District
Stearns County (St. Martin/Cold Spring) Grant: June 30, 2011 - December 31, 2013
  • $501,400 SCDP funds awarded
  • Goal: 12 Residential Homes (4 St. Martin, 8 Cold Spring), 7 Commercial Buildings (2 St. Martin, 5 Cold Spring)
  • This Grant is in Progress
Request to Apply for the following Grants:

Stearns County (Holdingford/Belgrade) Grant: June 2012 - December 31, 2014

  • Requesting $207,000 SCDP funds
  • Goal: 10 Residential Homes
Stearns County (Albany/St. Joseph) Grant: June 2012 - December 31, 2014
  • Requesting $736,000 SCDP
  • Goal: 10 Commercial buildings in Albany, 10 Residential Homes, 15 Rental Units in St. Joseph