Mercy Housing Northwest-Idaho has received a $100,000 grant from Wells Fargo to support a neighborhood revitalization project that buys and rehabilitates abandoned and foreclosed homes in Canyon County so they can be sold to low-income families.

Through the project so far, 12 homes have been rehabilitated and sold to first-time homebuyers. Mercy Housing Northwest-Idaho has already or is in the process of having 17 more homes rehabilitated.

Wells Fargo awarded the money as part $6 million in grants to 59 nonprofits to help stabilize and revitalize distressed neighborhoods. Up to 20 percent of the grant can be used to help homebuyers with expenses such as down payments and closing costs.

This is the third year the local affiliate of the national Mercy Housing nonprofit received one of these grants. Wells Fargo awarded the affiliate $100,000 in 2010 and $150,000 in 2011.

“We’re pleased to once again recognize Mercy Housing with a grant for its extraordinary efforts to revitalize neighborhoods in Canyon County," said Don Melendez, Idaho regional president for Wells Fargo.