COLUMBIA, Missouri (KMIZ)

The Boone County Commission will hold a presentation at 10 a.m. Friday to introduce Welcome Inn to the latest round of ARPA funding.

Four affordable housing projects totaling nearly $3 million have been approved. These include:

• $850,000 for Welcome Inn
• $835,000 for the rehabilitation of the Bear Creek extension by the Columbia Housing Authority
• $750,000 for Central Missouri Community Action
• $560,000 for Habitat for Humanity

Boone County Commissioner Janet Thompson said in April that funding for housing projects in both rounds of ARPA funding was targeted to figure out how to provide people with both affordable and permanent housing.

Of the 19 applications that received funding, the Welcome Inn is the project with the most funding at $850,000.

Welcome Inn is an extended stay hotel that serves hundreds of people each year who struggle to find affordable housing. ARPA funds will be used to renovate the existing Welcome Inn at 1612 N. Providence Road.

Welcome Inn stated in its application for ARPA funds that in addition to renovations, the company wants to create affordable housing, jobs and community strengthening.

Boone County Commissioners approved a total of $6.5 million in ARPA funds in April.