The City of Asheville invites residents to participate in one of six public meetings throughout February to learn about the Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program and provide input on your unmet needs related to Helene Recovery. The feedback received will influence the creation of the Action Plan Draft, which outlines how the $225 million in CDBG-DR funds allocated to Asheville will be invested.
Each meeting will include a presentation on what CDBG-DR funds are, the process the City must follow to receive and allocate these funds, and the requirements set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Following the presentation, attendees will have the opportunity to share feedback on unmet disaster-related needs in their communities. The feedback received will be incorporated into the draft Action Plan and will inform what kinds of programs and activities receive funding. We will publish the draft Action Plan in March for public comment and will host several public meetings to answer questions and get feedback before submitting the plan to HUD for approval in April.
Public Meeting Schedule:
-
February 10, 2025: 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. – Virtual
-
February 12, 2025: 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. at West Asheville Library
-
February 18, 2025: 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. – Virtual
-
February 19, 2025: 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. at Skyland/South Buncombe Library
-
February 24, 2025: 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. at Grant Southside Community Center
-
February 26, 2025: 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. at East Asheville Library
Meeting information and registration is available at publicinput.com/cdbg-dr.
General CDBG-DR Background
CDBG-DR is a federal disaster recovery program that provides funding to communities affected by major disasters. Unlike the City’s annual Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, CDBG-DR funds are not permanent and must be approved by Congress in response to specific events. These funds must be used to address unmet disaster-related needs, particularly in housing, economic revitalization, and infrastructure restoration.
Public participation is a critical part of this process, and the City encourages all residents to attend a meeting, learn more about CDBG-DR, and share their perspectives on recovery needs.