[Previous entry: "BC Power Projects Put Salmon At Risk"] [Next entry: "Call In Tagged Lincod"]

04/29/2008: "Helping Others Help Themselves"

(Submitted photo)

Dick Kneipp, retiring as CEO/President of Islanders Bank after 27 years, who has also volunteered for several years as Homes For Islanders Treasurer, presents Home$tart Grants of $5000 each to 6 families who are building their own homes for the next several months in the Park Plaza project of Homes For Islanders.

This is the third project for HFI with 8 homes in each project. The grants are given by the Federal Home Loan Bank in Seattle, of which Islanders Bank is a member and the facilitator of the Home$tart program for San Juan County.

Islanders Bank has given out 38 grants since 2004 with this program. The funds are put to escrow at closing for down payment and closing cost assistance. The participants must open a Home$tart Savings account, to be used for closing costs, which is matched 3:1 by FHLB to a maximum grant of $5000. The grant is forgivable after 5 years of ownership in the home.

Anyone wishing to help these families with the construction weekly hours required is invited to call 370-5944 for times available. If there are questions about the Home$tart Program, please call Carrie Brooks at Islanders Bank, 378-1228.