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Ashe County holds public hearing on 2025 CDBG neighborhood revitalization application
Summary
High Country COG housing planner Judson Blevins outlined Ashe County's plan to apply for 2025 CDBG Neighborhood Revitalization funds, described eligibility (owners occupying homes with household income under 80% of county median) and examples of eligible activities; the public hearing closed after one question about fall-prevention repairs.
Judson Blevins, housing planner/coordinator with the High Country Council of Governments, presented a public hearing on Ashe County's intent to apply for 2025 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Neighborhood Revitalization funding administered by the North Carolina Department of Commerce.
Blevins told the board the statewide program has $12,280,000 budgeted and allows maximum awards up to $5,000,000 per grantee for FEMA‑declared hurricane‑impacted areas, but he emphasized the grant is competitive and not contingent on hurricane damage. Eligible activities include housing rehabilitation (from urgent repairs to full home replacement), new construction, development projects and public facilities work. He described household income eligibility as under 80% of county median income and gave examples: $48,900 for a two‑person household and $61,100 for a four‑person household, with a chart available for other household sizes.
The board opened the hearing for public comment at 9:23 a.m. Charles Stafford asked whether fall‑prevention work (handrails, grab bars) would be an eligible use. Blevins said such repairs may be allowable under the NC Department of Commerce rules and that the High Country COG has an aging department program that focuses on fall prevention and upfits.
Blevins said homeowner applications will be available on the county website, the High Country COG website, or at the Ashe County DSS office, and he invited interested residents to contact him for assistance. He also noted a second public hearing will be held after a draft application is prepared and before submission. The application deadline is Oct. 29, 2025.
Next steps: the board closed the hearing at 9:26 a.m. and will receive the draft application at a future meeting before the Oct. 29 submission deadline.
