Fayetteville City says it has submitted Choice Neighborhoods application for Murchison Road corridor

City Manager Mr. Hewett told the Fayetteville City Council on March 9 that city staff, the economic development team and the Fayetteville Housing Authority "were able to successfully submit a Murchison Choice, or Choice Neighborhood application" to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The application, Mr. Hewett said, "includes more than $531 million in committed public and private leveraging" aimed at supporting a broader transformation along the Murchison Road corridor. He described the submission as "historic and monumental for the community" and thanked council and staff for their work pulling the proposal together.

The Choice Neighborhoods program makes competitive grants intended to revitalize public and assisted housing and coordinate investments in neighborhoods, but Mr. Hewett did not specify the requested HUD award amount or the exact breakdown of the $531 million figure beyond calling it "committed public and private leveraging." The city manager also credited Director Collie, Alex Baker and the broader project team for completing the application.

Mr. Hewett also used his report to announce recent staff certifications in finance and purchasing, highlighting two assistant finance directors and a purchasing officer who earned statewide designations; he thanked council for supporting staff professional development.

Next steps: the city will await HUD's decision on the Choice Neighborhoods application; no formal council vote on the application was recorded in the meeting minutes.