Greer holds public hearing on Greenville County CDBG/HOME plan; council approves allocations

Greer City Council held an in-person public hearing March 25 on the Greenville County Redevelopment Authority''s proposed 2025 annual action plan for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnership (HOME) programs, and later adopted a resolution approving the recommended allocations.

The hearing featured a presentation by Jose Reynoso, senior community development planner at the Greenville County Redevelopment Authority, who described how the city participates in the county CDBG and HOME programs funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Reynoso said the proposed program-year allocations include an estimated $326,577 in CDBG funds and $111,760 in HOME funds available in July, plus an estimated $32,563 in CDBG program income. "The annual action plan is the application that we submit to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development every year as to what we plan to use the funds allocated to the City of Greer," Reynoso said.

The plan outlines eligible activities including new construction, façade improvements, infrastructure, demolition, facility improvements and funding for nonprofit subrecipients. Reynoso described specific Greer uses: previous support for Fairview Townhomes and the Red Creek/Creekside neighborhood, loan programs for landlords to bring units up to code, homeowner rehabilitation loans, first-time homebuyer assistance in partnership with CommunityWorks Carolinas and rental assistance and rapid rehousing programs. He said homeownership units developed with HOME funds carry an affordability period determined by the amount of HOME assistance, typically 10 to 15 years for new construction, with prorated recapture if sold earlier.

After the public hearing, the council considered Resolution 6-20-25, which adopts the Greenville County allocations recommended during the hearing. Deputy City Administrator Mike Sell told council the figures in the resolution matched the GCRA recommendations presented at the hearing and that staff had coordinated with GCRA on the proposed budget. Council approved the resolution on first and final reading by roll call vote.

Why it matters: CDBG and HOME are federally funded programs that local governments use to fund affordable housing, infrastructure improvements and services for low- and moderate-income residents. Greer officials said the city has historically reinvested program income from prior HOME-funded projects into new projects rather than treating the money as one-time revenue, allowing continued investment in housing over multiple years.

Council members asked for clarification on county income limits (Greer spans Greenville and Spartanburg counties, so HUD income limits differ by parcel), how program income is generated (sales from previously assisted units), the scale of subrecipient awards, and how HOME money is retained and used across years. Reynoso and GCRA representatives answered those questions during the hearing.

The council'approved allocation lists include subrecipient awards for local nonprofits (Creative Advancement, Greer Relief/Career Relief, Greer Community Ministries/Meals on Wheels) and city programs for parks, senior center equipment, summer youth programs and other activities identified in the plan. The resolution passed on the council's unanimous roll call vote.

Looking ahead: GCRA will submit the adopted allocations to HUD for final approval and expects program funds to be available during the program year beginning July 1. Community members may submit written comments to Joe Smith, executive director of the Greenville County Redevelopment Authority, as noted at the hearing.