The Vicksburg Housing Authority has hired a counseling agency to develop a career development program for its residents, a first for the authority.

The VHA board voted Tuesday to hire Joseph Johnson of Johnson Counseling Associates of Vicksburg for a fee of $25,000 a year for one year to implement the career skills and personal and professional development program.

Executive Director Dannie Walker said the program will help the VHA meet the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Section 3 requirement, which mandates that recipients of HUD financial assistance provide job training, employment and contract opportunities for low- or very low-income residents.

Also, the program will help residents who are required by HUD to perform community service by allowing them to log those hours they spend participating in the program. Residents who are unemployed or not full-time students are required to work eight community service hours a month in exchange for housing assistance, Walker said.

Johnson, whose company was one of two consulting companies to propose the program, is also the facility director of Central Mississippi Prevention Services. The other company, KSA Consulting Group, also of Vicksburg, suggested a lengthier program at an annual cost of around $280,000.

In other business, the board voted to hire Kim Walker Nailor and Toni Walker Terrett, both of Vicksburg, for legal services at $100 per hour, the lowest proposal among three submissions.

Also, Energy Consulting of Birmingham was hired to conduct a flat/ceiling rent study, which would look at rent alternatives.