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Kingsport holds public hearing and approves 2025–26 CDBG annual action plan and five‑year consolidated plan
Summary
The Board of Mayor and Aldermen held a public hearing and unanimously approved the city’s 2025–26 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) annual action plan and five‑year consolidated plan, with staff outlining allocations and noting federal funding uncertainty.
The Board of Mayor and Aldermen on April 15 held a public hearing and approved a resolution authorizing the mayor to apply for and receive Community Development Block Grant funding for fiscal year 2026 and to adopt the 2025–26 annual action plan and five‑year consolidated plan.
The consolidated plan, presented by Michael Price, Kingsport community planner, lays out the four jurisdictions in the HOME consortium (Kingsport, Bristol, Johnson City, Washington County and Sullivan County, and Bristol, Virginia) and the city’s priorities for housing and community development over the next five years. “We are an entitlement city with HUD, which means we get an automatic allocation of funding, to use towards community needs,” Price said during his presentation.
Price told the board HUD had not yet announced 2025–26 allocations but that the National Community Development Association had reported funding would likely remain at last year’s level. He described the expected uses: 20% for administration; about 15% for public services/community enrichment; $70,000 toward a Section 108 loan for housing development on Sherwood and Hiwassee; $50,000 for code enforcement and demolition; and the remainder for the city’s emergency home repair program, which he said in 2024 equated to $172,971.90. Price also listed partner organizations that administer subawards or projects, including Carpenter’s Helper, Holston Habitat for Humanity, the First Tennessee Area Agency on Aging and Disability, and the Appalachia Service Project.
Vice Mayor Duncan and other board members asked about the federal budget and whether programs might be cut. Price said HUD had been “pretty tight lipped” about reversions and that Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA) also had no confirmed allocation; he said the NCDA communication suggested funding would likely hold at last year’s levels. When asked about the largest grant the city has received, Price said $450,000 was the largest allocation he had administered, while noting allocations were larger in the early 2000s.
No public comments were received during the 30‑day comment period and no speakers spoke during the public hearing. After the presentation and brief discussion, Alderman Baker moved to approve the resolution and Vice Mayor Duncan seconded. The board approved the resolution unanimously, 6–0.
The city manager said staff will bring recommended subawards from the Community Development Advisory Committee to the board once HUD allocations are confirmed.
Votes at a glance: resolution approving 2025–26 CDBG annual action plan and five‑year consolidated plan — motion by Alderman Baker; second by Vice Mayor Duncan; outcome: approved, 6–0.
How this matters: CDBG funds support home repair, neighborhood code enforcement and public services for low‑ and moderate‑income residents; local allocations and subawards will be finalized after HUD announces exact funding levels.
