SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — A nearly $3 million grant would allow 14 homeowners in the South Bend area to sell their flood-damaged properties to St. Joseph County.

The South Bend Tribune reports Sunday that the county plans to demolish the Jewell Woods-area homes if it receives the Federal Emergency Management Agency funding.

Rainfall and flooding over the past few years have caused a ditch to overflow, damaging homes in the low-elevated neighborhood just south of South Bend.

Officials say demolishing the homes would make the neighborhood less vulnerable to flooding during storms because more water would flow into open green spaces.

Homeowners would have the right to reject offers from the county which would need to cover a quarter of the grant.

The grant proposal also calls for buying one flood-damaged home in Mishawaka.