Mar. 21--A new program targeting Columbus public safety employees could enable many of the 1,400 workers to become homeowners.

Neighborworks Columbus, in partnership with Columbus Bank and Trust Co., is establishing the NeighborWorks Public Safety Individual Development Account Program. It will match $3 for every $1 a participating employee saves to go toward making a down payment or meeting closing costs to buy a house -- up to a $1,500 match.

NeighborWorks President/CEO Cathy Williams, in announcing the program Wednesday, said it is the first program she is aware of that targets a specific group of public employees to help fulfill their dream of becoming homeowners.

"It's not often we get to say thank you to the people who protect our freedom," Williams said during the morning announcement at the Public Safety Center. This program is a way, she said, to show support and appreciation for those who serve in all categories of public safety, including employees of the Columbus Police Department, Columbus Fire & Emergency Medical Services, Muscogee County Sheriff's Office, the Muscogee County Marshal's Office and Muscogee County Prison.

Steve Melton, president of CB&T, said initially the bank will make $25,000 available to the program. "I can't tell you how proud we are of our public safety employees," he said. "We appreciate the great work they've done. This is a small thing to recognize their good work."

The program will be evaluated after a period to determine it's success, Melton said. If it proves successful, he said they expect to continue it.

"We will offer a program to help them learn about being homeowners," Williams said. "They will go through an education process. We will help them save up to $500 toward homeownership that will be matched."

She said this program is similar to one NeighborWorks manages for Aflac that has helped about 70 employees buy houses.

Chief Jeff Meyer, of the Columbus Fire & EMS, said, "I think this partnership between NeighborWorks and CB&T in funding this program will be extremely beneficial for some of our employees. This is the American dream. We're excited to see the community provide this incentive to public safety employees. Besides, it's an incentive for us in recruiting."

Muscogee County Prison Warden W.W. Adamson said, "Obviously it's a tremendous incentive for the first-time homebuyer. It will be well received by our employees."

Williams read a statement from Mayor Jim Wetherington, who was in another meeting. "We are tremendously grateful to NeighborWorks Columbus for setting up this program and even more so to CB&T for their generosity in funding it," Wetherington wrote. "CB&T is a superb example of the wonderful corporate support we receive in this community."

NeighborWorks is an 8-year-old nonprofit affordable housing developer that provides homebuyer education counseling, mortgage lending and community revitalization.

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