LISBON — The Columbiana County Community Action Agency was among the 23 nonprofits who were recipients of $7.3 million in grant awards from the Ohio Department of Development to help improve housing and provide down payment assistance for low- and moderate-income Ohioans.

CAA will receive a $200,000 grant to provide 40 home repairs to income-eligible homeowners.

Habitat for Humanity, and 42 affiliate agencies, will receive a $400,000 grant to provide home repairs to income-eligible homeowners in all 88 Ohio counties.

The funding comes from the Housing Assistance Grant Program, which utilizes Ohio Housing Trust Fund dollars to help non-profit organizations across the state promote more affordable housing opportunities and improve housing conditions through emergency home repair, renovations for handicap accessibility, limited down payment assistance, and homebuyer education.

With these grants, nonprofits can contract with local qualified construction companies to complete essential home repairs such as heating systems, water heaters, plumbing systems, severely deteriorated roofs, walls, windows, doors, hazardous electrical systems, and more.

The grants also allow investments of up to $5,000 per home toward down payment assistance and associated out-of-pocket expenses, as well as up to $500 per household for homebuyer education.