In an effort to encourage families to locate within Ellsworth County, the Smoky Hill Development Corporation offers incentives through the Welcome Home Plan. Please review the details of the plan below and click here for the needed applications. Free Lots for Residential Construction Free Residential Building Lots for those willing to build a new house within 24 months. Deadlines are: 1. Sign with a contractor within 6 months 2. Break ground within 12 months 3. Complete beneficial occupancy in 24 months • Lots are available in Ellsworth, Kanopolis, Holyrood and Wilson. • Homes must be new construction • At least 1,000 square feet • Have at least a 5:12 roof pitch • Not carry a personal property title (like a mobile home) • Sit on a poured concrete foundation formed as a crawl space or basement • Lot sizes average 100’ x 165’ Any cost associated with preparing the lot for building will be borne by the winner of the lot. A complete application for a free lot must include a pre-approval letter from your lender. An example is available for you Down Payment Assistance The Smoky Hill Development Corporation Board of Directors are providing funding for down payment assistance for new families moving into Ellsworth County and who have only rented within the county for less than 6 months. It is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Down Payment Assistance applies to those enrolling students in USD 327 or USD 328\. Enroll school-age children into either USD 327 or USD 328 and remain in school district through enrollment reporting date for three full years. Funding is not available to children age 18 and over. • Must provide copies of birth certificates of children. • Must have residential custody of your children. • Must remain in Ellsworth County and continue enrolling children in USD 327 or USD 328 for a period of 3 years. • $1,000 for your first child enrolled and $250 for the 2nd and 3rd child. • These funds were allocated by the Smoky Hill Development Corporation and may run out soon. • Must move into Ellsworth County from outside the County. Proof of former residence will be required. • May be applied to the purchase of an existing home or the building of a new home. • Payment is made to the lender at the time of closing. If you move out of the school district before the end of the three year period, the amount of down payments assistance you received will be owed back to Ellsworth County in full. A soft-second mortgage will be applied to your home by Ellsworth County. The second-second mortgage will be removed at the end of the three year period provided you have met all requirements during the three year period Fringe Benefits & Services (Offered on a case by case basis) Each city in Ellsworth County is offering fringe benefits and services to any new resident to the respective city. The items are available ONLY to those who build a new home or buy an existing home in the respective cities and move into the County from outside the County. City of Ellsworth: City Office: 785-472-5566 • Waiver of water hook-up fee • Waiver of sewer tap fee • Waiver of building permit fee • One of the following: family golf pass for one year, annual family swimming pool pass, or monthly recreation fees for one year. City of Holyrood: City Office: 785-252-3395 • Waiver of water hook-up fee • Waiver of sewer tap fee City of Kanopolis: City Office: 785-472-4732 • Waiver of water hook-up fee • Waiver of sewer tap fee City of Wilson: City Office: 785-658-2272 • Waiver of new water service tap & water connect fee • Waiver of new sewer tap fee & sewer connect fee • One month free water, refuse service • Waiver of setup fee plus one month free analog basic cable TV service • Waiver of dial-up internet installation fee plus one month free • Waiver of application fee for electric service Donated by City of Wilson, K.C. Enterprises, Inc., Rolling Hills Electric Cooperative, Inc. and Wilson Telephone Company, Inc. Home Financing Assistance The lenders and bankers of Ellsworth County have agreed to apply the value of the free lot received towards the down payment on the home you will build on said lot. This assistance is available to new county residents and current county residents. Additionally, the county lenders and bankers will waive all fees normally charged by the bank associated with financing the construction of a new home or the purchase of an existing home in Ellsworth County. See an Ellsworth County banker for more information. Citizens State Bank, Ellsworth, KS First Bank Kansas, Ellsworth, KS Wilson State Bank, Wilson, KS Bank of Holyrood, Holyrood, KS 785-252-3239 Lyons Federal Savings, Ellsworth |
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| Smoky Hill Development Corporation P.O. Box 321 114 1/2 Douglas Ellsworth, KS 67439 Phone: 785.472.4136 Fax: 784.472.3486 Executive Director: Rob Fillion |
