Owners of small, distressed buildings with unhabitable rental units can apply for state funding to bring apartments up to code.

The Vacant Rental Improvement Program (VRIP) awarded $40 million to 18 nonprofits and municipalities across Upstate New York in hopes of transforming 600 vacant apartments into affordable housing units.

Of the total funding, $2.5 million was awarded to the city of Rochester and $2 million to the Ontario County Economic Development Corp.

"Everyone deserves a safe place to call home, and with the Vacant Rental Improvement Program, we're breathing new life into dormant properties by turning them into high-quality homes for those in need," Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a news release.

The funding will be available for properties that have one to five residential units or mixed-used buildings with up to five housing units. Building owners can receive up to $50,000 to renovate vacant apartments that would then be leased to tenants earning 80 percent of the Area Median Income, or up to $75,000 for landlords renting to tenants earning no more than 60 percent AMI.

Funds can be used for health and safety upgrades, correction of code violations, accessibility modifications, environmental remediation and general repairs that create a habitable apartment.

Once the units go on the market, a 10-year regulatory period would be in effect to ensure affordability.

The city of Rochester intends to provide information on the program launch in January, once a process is devised and then approved by City Council.

New York's Homes and Community Renewal office said interested property owners in Ontario County should contact the Ontario County Economic Development Corp. for details.