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City council adopts 2025–2029 CDBG consolidated plan and 2025 action plan, allocates $38,000 for public services
Summary
Council approved the five-year CDBG consolidated plan and the Program Year 2025 annual action plan, allocating $38,000 to public services and identifying $119,750 for homeownership and down-payment assistance and other housing rehabilitation funds.
The Bristol Virginia City Council approved the 2025–2029 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) consolidated plan and the Program Year 2025 annual action plan at its June 24 meeting, directing federal CDBG funds toward housing rehabilitation, public services and infrastructure priorities.
Ellen Tolton presented staff recommendations and said CDBG priorities remain similar to prior cycles: housing rehabilitation, affordable housing, public services, sidewalks, demolitions and economic development. She said up to 15% of the city’s allocation may be used for public services and that staff recommended $38,000 for public service grants in program year 2025.
Tolton said the city received 11 applications requesting $131,976 and carried over roughly $65,000 from PY2024. Staff recommended allocations to multiple agencies including $8,000 for Crossroads Medical Mission; $4,500 for Highlands Community Services/Children’s Advocacy Center; and funding for the public library and Jones Creativity Center. Staff also reported $119,750 currently in the city’s homeownership and down-payment assistance account and proposed directing reconstruction activity funding toward major rehab and new construction where needed.
Council members who served on the review subcommittee—Councilmembers Osborne and Farnam—described the selection process as difficult and noted the committee prioritized basic needs and organizations that met program requirements. Council discussion included questions about demolition cost estimates (staff identified a typical single-house demolition near $6,000) and how allocations fit alongside other state and federal housing programs.
A motion to approve the consolidated plan and the PY2025 action plan passed on a roll call vote. Staff noted that HUD eligibility guidelines apply to CDBG-funded projects and that some applicant requests could not be funded because they did not meet those guidelines.
