In the community

Nyssa FFA awarded grant to help tackle local housing issues

NYSSA – The Nyssa FFA chapter recently received a $1,200 grant from the National FFA Foundation for a project to remodel low-income housing units in Nyssa.

The “Living to Serve” grant provides money to local FFA chapters to support service projects that “address needs related to community safety, environmental responsibility, hunger, health, nutrition; and community engagement,” according to a press release.

The Nyssa chapter plans to remodel the bungalow homes across the street from Amalgamated Sugar near the old Wong’s Cafe, according to Chad Cruickshank, Nyssa FFA advisor. 

“We’ll be working on a handful of homes, depending on how far $1,200 can get us,” said Cruickshank. He said the work would include house repairs, laying cement block for a patio area, and adding “curb appeal.”

Cruickshank said the bungalows were built to house workers for the Amalgamated Sugar, which drew hundreds of migrant families to Nyssa after the factory opened in 1938 and became “a staple in the community.” However, after Amalgamated halted its production in Nyssa in 2005, the homes became “unlivable” homes, he said.

The Nyssa FFA will be partnering up with the Key Club to rehabilitate the homes. 

“Our hope is that by assisting with creating a safe, quality, space for tenants will improve their housing situation and bring life back to a historical part of our town in the process,” according to the news release.

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