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Exodus presents workforce-housing plan; county told it must apply for state CDBG planning grant
Summary
A nonprofit developer, Exodus, briefed the board on a proposed 21-unit workforce housing development and said the county must apply for an initial Virginia Community Development Block Grant (planning grant) if the project is to receive state construction funding.
Exodus, a nonprofit developer, presented a proposal on Feb. 4 for a 21-unit workforce homeownership development on land the group controls and asked the board to consider pursuing a Virginia Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) planning grant. Chip Boyles of the George Washington Regional Commission (GWRC) explained the two-step program used by Virginia: up to $100,000 for planning activities and, if the application is competitive, a subsequent construction-implementation grant that may go up to $1 million.
Exodus representatives stressed the project targets local essential workers — teachers, first responders and health-care staff — who earn below incomes that would allow them to afford the county’s median home price. The developer said several models can preserve long-term affordability, including deed restrictions, shared-equity arrangements, community land trusts and right-of-first-refusal mechanisms; the presenters said those mechanisms can be incorporated to maintain affordability over multiple resale cycles.
GWRC staff clarified the program is competitive and that local government must be the applicant for the state-administered CDBG funds. Chip Boyles cautioned that many rural localities do not win construction grants because award decisions weigh low-income demographics and other statewide priorities; he also reminded the board the county will not receive a grant if it does not apply.
Board members asked for more detail on financial feasibility, developer capacity, long-term operating arrangements (for homeowners associations and maintenance) and whether the grant alone would enable construction. Exodus said it owns the land, has preliminary interest from lenders and partners, and believes grant funding would lower household cost by limiting infrastructure charges and reducing sales prices. The developer requested the board allow staff to proceed with a planning-grant application.
Supervisors agreed to place the matter on the Feb. 18 agenda for action, asking staff to circulate a grant-application plan and to outline any county obligations tied to the application process. No grant or county commitment was made on Feb. 4.
