Rocky Mount proposes reallocation of CDBG and HOME funds; Edgecombe County raises concerns about reduced home-rehab dollars

Rocky Mount on Monday presented its draft 2025 annual action plan for U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) funds and proposed substantial amendments covering 2019–2024 that would move some housing rehabilitation money into down-payment assistance and single-family home development.

Stephanie Taylor, community development manager for the City of Rocky Mount Department of Housing and Community Development, told the Edgecombe County Board of Commissioners the draft plan estimates $495,363 in CDBG allocation and $359,420 in HOME funds for fiscal year 2025 and that the city is proposing amendments to reallocate previously planned rehabilitation funding to economic development, down-payment assistance and the development of homeownership units.

The shift would, according to Taylor’s presentation, reduce the budget for housing rehabilitation projects (one line item cited a reduction of $338,196) and move CHDO set-aside funds of $420,625 to develop single-family homes for resale to income-eligible households. The draft plan and amendments are on public display for a 30-day comment period from April 12 through May 12, 2025; written comments are being accepted through May 12. The city council for Rocky Mount is expected to act on the plan on May 12 and, if approved, submit the plan to HUD on or after May 15.

County Manager Evans told commissioners the city serves as the entitlement jurisdiction and lead for the Down East HOME Consortium, of which Edgecombe County is a member. He said each member’s share of HOME resources is calculated by population and that the county’s outside‑city allocation is relatively small. “So what is available to us, us being the county outside of the city limits of Rocky Mount, is a relatively small amount of money,” he said, adding that the county’s Downeast HOME Consortium representative votes on how consortium HOME funds are used in the county.

During the public portion of the hearing, a resident raised the common concern that smaller, often elderly homeowners need rehabilitation help for existing houses and argued that down‑payment assistance “is no good if they can’t continue it once they get into the home.” The commenter said the county has “a lot of people, especially a lot of elderly people who need their homes rehabbed.” The speaker asked whether the county had input into the proposed reduction of rehabilitation funding.

Taylor and Evans responded that the HOME formula and the city’s internal choices determine how the consortium’s HOME and CDBG dollars are allocated. Taylor noted the county has $71,884 proposed in the draft HOME allocation for Edgecombe County scatter‑site housing rehabilitation and that Edgecombe County retains a balance of $325,000 for housing rehab. Evans emphasized the public hearings are intended to gather feedback from residents on the proposed reallocation and thanked the commenter for raising rehabilitation needs.

No county action was taken at this meeting; the public hearing was held to receive comment and the county did not approve or disapprove the Rocky Mount plan at this session.

Residents who wish to review the draft plan or submit comments were directed to the Rocky Mount community development office and to contact Stephanie Taylor by email at stephanie.taylor@rockymountnc.gov or by phone at (252) 972‑1267.