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Director Beard urges tracking of federal housing package after National League of Cities trip
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Summary
Director Phyllis Beard briefed the board on National League of Cities conference takeaways, including a bipartisan federal housing package that would create new grant programs and allow CDBG funds for new housing construction, and recommended contacting Arkansas congressional offices to advance grants.
Director Phyllis Beard gave a detailed report on her recent National League of Cities (NLC) trip and urged the board to track a new federal housing package she described as the "21st Century Road to Housing Act."
Beard said the bipartisan package—backed by the White House and supported through NLC advocacy—would create five new grant programs aimed at increasing the affordable housing supply and would reauthorize the HOME Investment Partnerships program while expanding Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) rules to permit some new housing construction for low- and moderate-income residents. "So we should track the progress of this bill to urge our Arkansas leaders in Washington to support this legislation because our residents and community could benefit from these opportunities," Beard said.
She also highlighted NLC member benefits such as a complimentary CGI digital package called Hello Nation, ideas for celebrating the nation's 250th anniversary, an NLC civility pledge to encourage respectful public discourse, and an NLC pilot for drone deployment as a first-responder tool. Beard reported follow-up steps on outstanding federal grant applications and told the board she has been in contact with her senator's office and will continue to pursue updates.
Board members asked about holdups in grant disbursements; Beard said some municipalities have received funds while others have not and that she will continue outreach to congressional offices to press the issue.
