Representatives of the Newcastle Land Bank updated the Henry County Commissioners on May 28 about the group's property acquisitions, sales, rehabilitations and finances, saying the nonprofit has grown from a $5,000 seed grant to roughly $120,000 in its account.

Speaking on behalf of the Land Bank, Jerry Cash said the group received $5,000 in seed funding in January 2022 and later sold properties and collected funds. "We've gone from that $5,000 seed money where we're right at a hundred and $20,000 in our bank account now," Cash said.

Nut graf: The Land Bank described ongoing property work — including rehabilitation of structures, plans to demolish one building that needs removal, coordination with utilities and occasional use of a structure for emergency-services training — and said the board is prepared to expand the model countywide if commissioners decide to pursue a county-operated land bank.

Board members described different property outcomes: some properties are being rehabilitated and listed for sale, one with a structure will be demolished with Land Bank funds once utility cutoffs and asbestos checks are completed, and one property has been used by a SWAT team and fire department for training exercises.

Mark Brunk and other board members credited a legal blueprint prepared by Joel (legal counsel) and said the group's volunteer mix of bankers, realtors and citizens has supported the effort. Lisa Loveless noted the Land Bank maintains a rotation of three realtors who market properties that include structures.

Commissioners did not take formal action during the update; the Land Bank asked whether the county would consider taking "the next step" to implement a county-level program. Jerry Cash said the existing blueprint would make expansion straightforward, and the group expressed appreciation for county support of property transfers to the Land Bank.

Ending: Board members took commissioners' questions and offered to return if the county wants to pursue a broader land-bank model.