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City staff pitches HUD CDBG earmark for community center upgrades and seeks match for possible water earmark
Summary
Economic development and public works staff briefed council on pursuing a HUD Community Development Block Grant earmark to upgrade the Hopewell Community Center (AC/ventilation, locker-room accessibility) and described a separate potential water infrastructure earmark that would be an 80/20 grant requiring a local 20% match.
City staff said they will pursue federal earmark funding to upgrade the Hopewell Community Center and asked council to consider a later formal request for support on a separate water-project earmark that would require a local match.
Charles Bennett (presenting with recreation staff for an informational briefing) told council grant writers identified a good match between HUD’s Community Development Block Grant earmark program and community center projects such as air‑conditioning, ventilation and accessible locker-room upgrades. Bennett said CDBG is an entitlement program for Hopewell and that the city’s typical annual allocation is roughly $245,000. He said the community-center project sits in the City’s capital plan and — if awarded — earmark funds would replace local capital funds the city would otherwise have to provide.
Public works director Mike Crocker briefed council on a separate earmark avenue for water projects. Crocker said a typical ask for such a project would be up to $2 million, and that the earmark is structured as an 80/20 award — meaning the City would need to provide 20% of the project cost. He said timing requires the project to commence near the end of calendar year 2026; when a specific project is selected staff will return with an item requiring a council vote because of the local match obligation.
Why it matters: Earmarks can replace local capital dollars but can also require the locality to supply a match and meet schedules. Bennett said improvements to community amenities are part of the City’s economic‑development strategy; Crocker said water projects carry a substantive local funding commitment and a fast timeline if the City applies and wins.
No formal action was requested at the presentation; staff said they will return to council with formal funding requests when project scopes and match requirements are known.
