Jonesboro council approves $717,683 CDBG action plan for 2026–27

The Jonesboro City Council on Tuesday approved Resolution 26‑064, adopting the city’s FY2026–27 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) annual action plan and a $717,683 federal allocation for community projects.

City staff and the clerk presented the plan, which lists line items including $143,536.60 for administration; $107,652 for public services (distributed among local service providers such as Jonesboro Church Health Center, Family Crisis Center and others); approximately $99,973.24 for low‑ and moderate‑income homeowner rehabs; $332,344.16 for public infrastructure; and smaller awards for homelessness services and first‑time homebuyer assistance.

“Public services is a percentage of the overall allocation. It’s 15% of your overall allocation,” said the city’s grants staff in response to council questions about how awards were set. Staff described an application and advisory‑committee review process: a request for applications was issued in February, applicants were scored using a rubric, and awards were made according to those scores and the amounts requested.

Council member [speaker labeled S7] asked for more detail on how advisory‑committee members were appointed and whether the scoring rubric could be shared; staff said they would provide the rubric and noted the committee was formed a few months earlier and comprises seven to eight members.

Public infrastructure projects funded by the plan were not finalized at the meeting. Staff said infrastructure funds have in the past been used for overlays, sidewalks, parks and facility work in low‑ and moderate‑income areas; specific projects will be identified after the plan receives final CDBG sign‑off and staff coordinates with city engineering and parks.

The council cast ballots on the resolution and the measure carried; the transcript does not record a roll‑call tally in the public record.

What happens next: the grants and community development department was authorized to submit required documents for the CDBG program, and the mayor or the mayor’s designee was authorized to execute agreements related to any future award of FY2026–27 CDBG funding.

Authorities and actions: The action taken was recorded as Resolution 26‑064 (FY2026–27 CDBG annual action plan), which the council adopted at the meeting. The plan is part of the city’s five‑year consolidated plan (2022–2026) and will proceed to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for program administration where required.

The council did not specify a vote tally in the public transcript.