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Asheville council authorizes submission of CDBG-DR amendments to raise reconstruction cap to $450,000
Summary
City council authorized the city manager to submit HUD CDBG-DR action-plan amendments that raise the state-aligned reconstruction maximum to $450,000 and lower a public-services minimum award to $250,000; staff said the changes reflect higher construction and mitigation costs and aim to expand eligible service providers.
The Asheville City Council on a unanimous voice vote authorized the city manager to submit proposed amendments to the city's Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) action plan that would align local limits with state program changes and expand eligible implementers.
James Shelton, community development division manager, told the council the package includes three items: increasing the maximum award for reconstruction under the state's Renew NC program from $375,000 to $450,000 to reflect higher construction and mitigation costs; lowering the minimum project award for the Housing and Economic Security Support Services program from $500,000 to $250,000 to widen the pool of eligible organizations; and a non-substantial correction to a Code of Federal Regulations citation. "The state has amended their maximum for reconstruction to $450,000 per home to reflect the true cost of construction, which includes mitigation activities like elevation," Shelton said.
Shelton said the city has allocated $3 million to the state-administered Renew NC program and is executing an agreement with the state so the state will administer hard-construction costs and cover administrative expenses. He also said the public-services program under discussion has been allocated $2 million and the lower minimum is designed to allow smaller but capable providers to compete for funds.
Staff noted the city's citizen participation plan requires a 30-day public comment period for substantial amendments; Shelton confirmed the city is accepting comments and will publish the amended plan with responses before submitting it to HUD. He also said the city's HMGP and other recovery applications remain under review by state and federal agencies. A council member moved to authorize the city manager to submit the amendments; the motion was seconded and passed with all present voting "aye."
What happens next: staff will collect and respond to public comments through the close of the comment period, publish the amended action plan on the recovery web page, and submit the package to HUD for approval. Shelton said aligning the city's maximum with the state's increase is intended to allow full benefit to Asheville residents whose homes require reconstruction or mitigation.
