Public Hearing notice to solicit input for Buncombe County Community Development Block

Press release from Buncombe County Government

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the County of Buncombe will hold a Public Hearing on Tuesday, September 20, 2022, at 5:00 p.m. in the Buncombe County Commission Chambers located at 200 College Street, Suite 300, Asheville, NC. The hearing will be held before the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners to solicit citizen input in the development of a Community Development Block Grant Neighborhood Revitalization Program (CDBG‐NR) application.

CDBG‐NR funds can be used for a variety of different activities in support of the North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Rural Economic Development Division’s three livability principles:

(1) to promote equitable, affordable housing;
(2) support existing communities;
(3) and value communities and neighborhoods.

Eligible activities must meet at least one of the three CDBG national objectives to be eligible:

(1) benefit low‐and‐moderate income (LMI) persons;
(2) prevent or eliminate slums or blight;
(3) or meeting other community development needs that are deemed to be urgent  because of existing conditions pose a serious and immediate threat to the health and welfare of the community, and other financial resources are not available to meet the need.

Eligible activities include Housing Rehabilitation, Water and Sewer Connections to Existing Housing, and Public Facilities for Community Revitalization.

The County of Buncombe proposes applying for a $400,000 grant for the following eligible activities, though all eligible activities remain open for consideration:

1. Housing Rehabilitation Activities – Including rehabilitation, clearance/remediation, relocation, substantial rehabilitation, reconstruction, replacement housing, and emergency repairs, available to owner occupied units designated as real property:  $360,000 minimum.
2.   General Administration: $40,000 maximum.

CDBG‐NR funds received by Buncombe County cannot be used for activities within the City of
Asheville because the City of Asheville, as a CDBG entitlement municipality, receives a direct
allocation of CDBG funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The maximum CDBG‐NR award amount is $950,000 and there is no minimum award amount. The application will be submitted to the North Carolina Department of Commerce by September 30, 2022.

A copy of the CDBG‐NR guidelines is available here.

The County of Buncombe promotes fair housing and makes all its programs available to low and moderate‐income families regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, physical or mental disability, age, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other legally protected class under federal or NC State law.

If you are unable to provide public comment during the September 20, 2022 meeting, you may: direct written comments to Buncombe County Planning and Development Department’s Community Development Division at 46 Valley Street, Asheville, NC 28801; telephone the Community Development Division directly at (828) 250‐4858; or email the Community Development Division at nancy.williams@buncombecounty.org.

Special requests for accommodations should be submitted by individuals at least 48 hours before the scheduled meeting time. Contact Lamar Joyner, County Clerk at (828) 250‐4105 (voice/ TDD) for additional information. This information is available in Spanish or any other language upon request. Please contact Lamar Joyner, County Clerk at (828) 250‐4105 for accommodations.