Jim Thorpe Borough Council agreed Thursday night to participate in a county program that could provide up to $50,000 in grant money for the rehabilitation of a double home when the other half is demolished for blight removal purposes.

Carbon County is set to launch the Double Home Rehabilitation Program utilizing just over a $1 million of COVID Relief ARPA Whole-Home Repairs Program funds.

Jim Thorpe’s council planned to demolish a vacant home at 204 Center Ave. using part of a combined $300,000 state grant it received with Palmerton and Lehighton in 2021, but the municipality did not have enough grant money left to cover post-demolition remediation to the other half of the duplex at 206 Center Ave.

The new county program, which requires a 10% match and qualifying homeowners to meet guidelines such as income eligibility, could provide that needed funding, officials said.

“I think the town should be in favor of the program with conditions,” Jim Thorpe Councilman Jay Miller said. “I do not want the people of this town to be responsible for any rehabilitation bill over and above the $50,000 the county would have available for this.”

Barry Isett and Associates, the borough’s engineering firm, estimated the cost of remediation to the 206 Center Ave., owned by Judy Williams, at a minimum of $55,000. The work includes construction of a masonry foundation wall, relocation of the main electrical panel, installation of temporary shoring and other checklist items.

Council last year voted to reallocate the grant funding it received for the demolition of 204 Center Ave. to other blighted properties in town. On Thursday night, however, the governing body reversed course and allocated the money back to 204 Center Ave.

“I made the motion to move the money in the first place, so I’ll make the motion to put it back,” Miller said. “The property is in terrible, terrible shape. Every time it rains it gets worse. I know we have other properties too. I wish we had $2 million to take them all down.”