JCC Notebook: County Wins Award, First Time Home Buyer Program, Better Energy Efficiency

By Desiree Parker Saturday, September 17, 2011

This week's county news includes an award from the Virginia Association of Counties, a first-time homebuyer program offering Ironbound Square homes, and help for home owners who want to improve home efficiency.

James City County received a 2011 Virginia Association of Counties (VACo) Achievement Award for williamsburgworks.com, a one-stop portal to information and resources of interest to prospective employees with emphasis on job and relocation opportunities.

The website is a result of collaboration between James City County, the City of Williamsburg, and York County as well as Busch Gardens and Water Country USA, the College of William and Mary, the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, Jamestown Yorktown Foundation, Kingsmill Resort and Spa, and Sentara Hospital. The Greater Williamsburg Chamber & Tourism Alliance hosts the site.

The Award was presented at the September 13 Board of Supervisors meeting, Pictured (l to r): Mary K. Jones, Board of Supervisors Chairman; Phyllis Errico, VACo; and Robert C. Middaugh, County Administrator.

Since its launch in April 2010, response to the website has been extremely positive with an average of 600 visits a month, according to the county.

James City County is one of 12 counties receiving an award this year.

County Homebuyers Program Offers Homes for Sale

James City County’s First-Time Homebuyers Program has several single-family homes for sale in the Ironbound Square neighborhood.

The First-Time Homebuyers Program, administered through the County’s Office of Housing and Community Development, offers qualified homebuyers grants for down payment assistance.

Grants for up to 10 percent of the purchase price which are forgiven after 10 or 15 years are available to purchasers who contract to buy a house before October 31. Grants for up to $7,500, forgiven after five years, are available on a first-come, first-served basis until the end of the year.

Eligible homebuyers must meet credit-worthiness guidelines and have an annual household income between approximately $38,000 and $81,000.

Ranging in size from 1,000 to 1,645 square feet, the energy-efficient homes feature up to four bedrooms and one-and-a-half to two-and-a-half bathrooms and are priced between $155,000 and $210,000. The Ironbound Square neighborhood is within walking distance to New Town and is one mile from Route 199.

In addition to the First-Time Homebuyers Program, the County’s Office of Housing and Community Development offers Homebuyer Counseling and VHDA-approved First-Time Homebuyer Education classes.

For more information, contact the Office of Housing and Community Development at 259-5340 or online.

Energy Efficiency Program

James City County’s Office of Housing and Community Development recently launched the Home Energy Loss Prevention (HELP) Program to help homeowners take advantage of existing County, State and Federal home energy efficiency opportunities.

The HELP website www.jccenergyhelp.org has information for both homeowners and contractors. Homeowners can find information on energy assessments, ways to improve energy efficiency and help with finding a local area professional to perform the work. Contractors can learn about training opportunities and current energy efficiency projects being offered in the County.

Current HELP programs include a limited number of rebates on energy assessments for homeowners to help locate inefficient areas in the home. A lack of insulation, air leaks and unsealed ductwork can be hard to detect and have a large impact on a home’s energy usage. Energy assessments can help homeowners locate these problem areas. In addition to the rebates, homeowners can apply for zero percent interest loans for County residents interested in improving their homes’ energy efficiency.

James City County homeowners are invited to learn more about the HELP program at a free workshop Sept. 27 at the James City/Williamsburg Community Center at 5301 Longhill Road from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

At the workshop, homeowners will learn about home energy assessments and the rebate and loan program and see demonstrations on locating and fixing common energy inefficient areas of the home.

For more information, visit the HELP website or call the Office of Housing and Community Development at 259-5340.