Courtyard Apartments renovation completed

Montana Lt. Gov. Mike Cooney and state Commerce Director Tara Rice were in Kalispell Tuesday for the grand opening of the Courtyard Apartments, a 32-unit affordable housing complex that underwent a $4.8 million through a collaboration that included federal housing tax credits.

Constructed in 1994 as a partnership between the city of Kalispell and nonprofit Community Action Partnership, the newly renovated Courtyard Apartments on Airport Road provide rental housing for households earning 60 percent or less of area median income, or about $28,000 for a one-person household. In addition, eight of the units provide increased affordability for people with long-term disabilities, through Montana Housing’s 811 rental assistance program. As a result of the renovation, Courtyard’s rents will remain affordable for at least another 46 years, according to a Montana Department of Commerce press release.

The upgrades included installation of new flooring, Energy Star appliances, cabinets, window, roofs, siding and other improvement to improve accessibility. A heat recovery ventilator was installed for indoor air quality.

Community Action Partnership of Northwest Montana and Rural Community Assistance Corp. collaborated with Mountain Plains Equity Group to put the $4.8 million deal together with the federal housing tax credits from the state Board of Housing. Housing tax credits are the primary funding source for affordable housing development across the United Stated.

The Courtyard Apartments project created at least 64 local jobs and $2.8 million of earned wages, the Commerce Department said.