Avery County holds public hearing, plans to seek $5 million CDBG award for new senior center

County staff opened a public hearing on Sept. 9 to solicit citizen input on an upcoming application to the North Carolina Department of Commerce for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Neighborhood Revitalization funds intended to support construction of a new senior center.

"The NC Department of Commerce has approximately $12,200,000 budgeted for the program and has a maximum award of $5,000,000 for hurricane-impacted counties, and that's what we're going for," the presenter said, noting the county’s intent to apply for the full $5 million. She said the program requires 51% of beneficiaries be low- to moderate-income and the planned senior center's intended beneficiaries meet the program’s income thresholds.

The presenter said the county’s application is due Oct. 29 and that a second public hearing will be held at the board’s October regular meeting before the application is submitted. Commissioners expressed appreciation for staff work and confirmed they intend to request the maximum award.

The meeting record does not show a formal vote to submit the application at this meeting; commissioners nonetheless advanced the public hearing process and scheduled the required second hearing. County staff indicated additional supporting documents and a grant application timeline will be available on the county website and at county offices.

Next steps: staff will prepare the full application and present a second public hearing at the Oct. 6 meeting; the application will be submitted to the NC Department of Commerce by Oct. 29 if the board continues its support.