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Nonprofits ask Bristol council for CDBG dollars for repairs, accessibility and workforce tech
Summary
At a CDBG public hearing April 22, local nonprofits requested federal Community Development Block Grant funds — including $35,000 for Holston Habitat to perform critical home repairs — while staff said the citys estimated PY2025 entitlement is $259,696 and public service funding is capped near $37,000–$38,000.
Representatives of local nonprofits urged the Bristol City Council April 22 to fund housing repairs, accessibility upgrades and workforce-technology programs through the citys HUD Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) allocation.
Laura Kelly, Executive Director of Holston Habitat for Humanity, asked the council to allocate $35,000 for critical home repairs such as roofs, ramps and wiring, and said the organization "could put roofs on at least 100 houses in this city if we had the funds." Steve Halley, Executive Director of the Appalachian Independence Center, described accessibility services the agency provides at no charge, including ADA surveys, portable ramps, walkers and pickup of donated medical equipment. Kathy Rourke of the Childrens Advocacy Center said the center has delivered 867 individual services to city children and their non-offending caregivers so far this fiscal year. T.J. DeWitt, representing the Bristol Public Library, said a proposal for the Homer and Ida Jones Creative Arts Technology and Workforce Development Center would distribute at least 150 Chromebooks over the next 18 months to help job applicants and workers learn essential digital skills.
Ellen Tolton, the citys CDBG coordinator, told council the citys PY2025 allocation is not yet final; staff estimated the entitlement at last years $259,696 and home-fund estimates near $70,000. Federal rules cap public-service spending at 15% of the entitlement, which Tolton said would make roughly $37,000–$38,000 available for public-service grants; total public-service requests submitted exceed $132,000. Council will receive a staff recommendation at a later meeting before funds are allocated.
The hearing is part of the City of Bristols five-year consolidated planning process required by HUD; staff will return with a recommended Annual Action Plan for council consideration.
