Hickory council approves FY 2024–25 CAPER after regional COG outlines housing shortfall

Hickory — The Hickory City Council on Sept. 2 approved the city’s FY 2024–25 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER), formalizing how federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and related funds were spent during the July 1, 2024–June 30, 2025 program year and receiving a regional housing briefing from the Western Piedmont Council of Governments (COG).

The vote came after a presentation from Annabeth Walker, community development specialist for the City of Hickory, and a data briefing from Anthony Starr, executive director of the Western Piedmont COG. Walker told the council the CAPER documents project expenditures and accomplishments and is required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). "As Mr. Wood stated, I will be doing a public hearing on the Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report, also known as the CAPER," Walker said during the meeting.

The CAPER the council approved lists the city’s FY 2024–25 CDBG and related outlays, including $31,121.62 for Cliff Teague Park improvements, $124,910.47 for housing rehabilitation that served four low- and moderate‑income homeowners, $1,880 for fair‑housing outreach and $75,736.46 for program administration. The CAPER also records roughly $60,000 in nonprofit public‑service grants distributed to eight local organizations and a $4,000 microenterprise award to Golden Rule Music School for advertising and equipment.

The City and the COG emphasized the CAPER’s programmatic details during the public hearing. Walker described the scope of a recent housing rehab project, listing accessibility and repair…