June 11, 2026 11p
(WGTD)---A free financial counseling service for City of Racine residents partially funded by expiring federal COVID relief dollars is closing.
Over the past five years, the Financial Empowerment Center has helped over 700 residents reduce their debt, establish savings and improve their credit scores.
The city-contracted service provided by Housing Resources, Inc. will end June 30th, with the center's three full-time employees being absorbed by the non-profit.
In a statement, Mayor Cory Mason said the city is proud of what was accomplished. He said the goal was to help as many people as possible with the funds that were available. The city allocated $150,000 annually from its share of the American Rescue Plan.
In an unrelated move, the city's Finance and Personnel Committee recommended approval this week of a new program called "Rehabbed and Ready." It's designed to make rundown and vacant homes and duplexes ready for the market and habitable again. Grants of up to $25,000 will be made available to owners who agree to a deed restriction requiring that the owner live there. Mayor Mason said its modeled after a program in Detroit. The $1 million program is funded by leftover money from a recently-closed tax incremental financing district.
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