FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WOWO): Thursday afternoon, Lt. Governor Sue Ellspermann announced that Fort Wayne and South Bend will be receiving a joint award of $6.3 million to help eliminate blighted and abandoned homes.

The funds come from the Hardest Hit Fund Blight Elimination Program (BEP). It provides an opportunity for local units of government in all 92 Indiana counties to compete for the funding.

Both cities were winning applicants in the second of six rounds of funding.

“As Indiana moves forward with the second round of funding for the Blight Elimination Program, I am pleased that we will be able to assist Fort Wayne and South Bend officials in revitalizing and redeveloping targeted areas within their communities,” said Lt. Governor Ellspermann.

“Neighborhoods across Indiana that have been struggling with the damaging effects caused by vacant and abandoned properties will soon see the benefit of these federal funds,” said Treasury Deputy Secretary Sarah Bloom Raskin. “We believe this program is a critical step in preventing foreclosures by reducing blight in our communities and hope these efforts help stabilize neighborhoods for years to come.”

The Blight Elimination Program funds will be drawn from the $221.7 million Hardest Hit Fund money allocated to Indiana. In February 2014, the U.S. Department of the Treasury approved the use of $75 million of Indiana’s Hardest Hit Funds by Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA) for successful BEP applicants.