Public Hearing notice to solicit input for Buncombe County Community Development Block Grant Neighborhood Revitalization Program application

Press release from Buncombe County Government:

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the County of Buncombe will hold a Public Hearing on Tuesday, August 16, 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 in order 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: Community Revitalization, Housing Rehabilitation, Scattered-Site Housing, Public Facilities, Housing Development, and Water and Sewer Connections to Existing Housing.

CDBG-NR funds received by Buncombe County cannot be used for activities within the City of Asheville because the City of Asheville, as an 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. A separate public hearing will be held to discuss and approve the application prior to submittal to the North Carolina Department of Commerce.

A copy of the CDBG-NR guidelines is available at: https://www.nccommerce.com/documents/application-cdbg-neighborhood-revitalizationgrant-program-guidance-and-application.

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 August 16, 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 for this request.

Esta información está disponible en español o en cualquier otro idioma a pedido. Comuníquese con Lamar Joyner, County Clerk al (828) 250-4105 para obtener los arreglos necesarios para esta solicitud.