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People living in the Dunlap Gardens Apartments are in for an upgrade.

The Tennessee Housing Development Agency has granted $500,000 to pay for energy-efficient improvements at the low-income housing project in Dunlap, Tenn.

The Southeastern Housing Foundation II Inc. will use the money to buy and rehabilitate the 50-unit complex on Buddy Skyles Road, according to a housing development agency news release. The project is one of eight allocations totaling more than $2.25 million the housing agency announced at its May 20 board meeting, the release said. The grants require a local match.

The Southeastern Housing Foundation will install new EnergyStar appliances, light fixtures and heating/air conditioning units in each apartment along with double-paned, energy-efficient windows and low-flow toilets and faucets.

The news release said the complex is fully rented now, and future marketing efforts to fill vacant units will target minority and underserved populations in the Dunlap community who are at or below 50 percent of the area median income.

"[The Southeastern Housing Foundation] is a trusted housing provider," Ralph M. Perrey, THDA's executive director, said in the release. "We are delighted their application was successful and are excited to see the work they accomplish."

The spring round of the Housing Trust Fund received 23 complete applications requesting $7 million. Since the first round of grants in 2007, the fund has distributed more than $29 million to affordable housing initiatives across the state, the release stated.