Asheville leaders want input on how to spend the $225 million the federal government is providing to help with disaster recovery.
The money, received in early January, comes from the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program. Statewide, North Carolina has received $1.4 billion in CDBG-DR funds.
An action plan for how the money will be used is due to HUD by April 21. A 30-day public comment period is required before that plan is submitted.
The money must be spent in the next six years and at least 70% of those funds must be used for activities that benefit low to moderate income people. Funds can be used for housing, infrastructure, economic revitalization and mitigation and must address a direct or indirect impact from Hurricane Helene.
Examples of projects eligible for CDBG-DR funding include home rehabilitation, new construction of affordable housing and infrastructure repair (including water treatment centers), job training and grants and loans for small businesses, according to Stan Gimont, a Senior Advisor for Hagerty Consulting, the city’s recovery consultant.
As the steward of the funds, the City of Asheville is permitted to use up to 5% or $11 million from the grant for administrative costs.
Community members can attend meetings in February to offer input about how to spend CDBG-DR funds. The schedule for those meetings is:
Public meeting schedule:
- Feb. 12, 4-5:30 p.m. at West Asheville Library
- Feb. 18, 6-7:30 p.m., virtual
- Feb. 19, 6-7:30 p.m. at Skyland/South Buncombe Library
- Feb. 24, 6:30 - 8 p.m. at Grant Southside Community Center
- Feb. 26, 6-7:30 p.m. at East Asheville Library
After these input sessions, the city plans to publish a draft action plan on March 4. There will be three public feedback sessions. Council will vote on a final action plan on April 8, and CDBG-DR projects are expected to begin in summer or fall of 2025.
More information about the process, including registration for the virtual event, may be found here.
