Summary: North Carolina is eligible for $1.4 billion from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The Facts: The Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery program provides resources to communities impacted by a major disaster. A new Division of Community Revitalization (DCR) was established by Governor Josh Stein’s “to oversee the rebuilding of homes destroyed or damaged by Hurricane Helene and to coordinate and lead efforts to revitalize the economy of western North Carolina.”

A draft plan has been published, and the DCR is now seeking feedback on it. You can review that plan and offer feedback here. The deadline is March 20.

Buncombe County staff have drafted feedback to this plan, which will be presented to the County Commissioners at their briefing on March 18th. You can see their presentation here and their draft letter to the DCR here.

Our Assessment: A racial equity orientation is of vital importance with this funding, just like with the City plan. Buncombe County’s feedback seems to be on the right track – especially their emphasis on the need for more support for renters.

Things to do: Weigh in with your feedback on the plan here by March 20th.