ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Buncombe County officials are beginning the process of applying for a competitive state grant program aimed at helping communities recover from Tropical Storm Helene, with early proposals focused on parks, affordable housing infrastructure and improving the resilience of county facilities.
The county’s Helene Recovery and Economic Development staff outlined three potential projects for the state’s Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Community Infrastructure funding opportunity. The program is designed to address unmet infrastructure needs following the storm and support long-term recovery efforts.
The proposed projects have completed the state’s initial prescreening process, which is an early step in determining eligibility.
County officials said infrastructure was the top concern identified by residents in a recovery survey following Helene, with many respondents highlighting the need for road repairs, bridge improvements and water system support.
However, Buncombe County does not have authority over road construction, bridge rebuilding or local water systems. Officials said the county is focusing its application on areas where it manages infrastructure directly.
“We know traditional infrastructure that we think of, like roads, bridges and utilities, are still a major concern after Helene,” Helene Recovery Officer Kevin Madsen said. “Our goal is to identify areas where we can make use of this infrastructure funding and go after as many recovery dollars as possible.”
The county’s proposals include:
Buncombe County Parks Recovery and Resilience
The county is seeking funding to repair and rebuild parks damaged by Helene, including Owen Park, Alexander Park and Lake Julian Park. The project would restore park services, address storm damage, improve accessibility, support ecological restoration and add measures aimed at protecting parks from future disasters.
Ferry Road Affordable Housing Infrastructure
The county is proposing improvements to Ferry Road and Dry Ferry Road to support development of the Ferry Road Affordable Housing Community.
Officials said Helene damaged or destroyed 6,505 rental housing units in Buncombe County, adding pressure to an already strained affordable housing market.
The proposed infrastructure improvements would help prepare the site for future affordable housing development.
Community Resilience at County-Owned Facilities
The county is also seeking funding for backup power systems and other improvements at critical county facilities. The project could include generators, controllers, battery energy storage systems and other upgrades designed to help facilities remain operational during future extreme weather events.
County officials said the projects align with goals outlined in the Helene Recovery Plan, including restoring parks, expanding affordable housing opportunities and improving disaster preparedness.
Public comment period opens
Community feedback is required as part of the CDBG-DR application process. Residents can submit comments on the proposed projects beginning July 31 through Aug. 28.
Buncombe County will hold a public hearing during the Board of Commissioners meeting at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 18, at the Commissioners Chambers, 200 College St., Asheville.
Residents can also submit comments by email to helenerecovery@buncombenc.gov, by phone at 828-250-6100, or by mail to:
Buncombe County Helene Recovery Office
200 College St.
Asheville, NC 28801
Officials ask residents to include “Community Infrastructure Comment” in the email subject line. All submitted comments will become part of the public record.
Grant program details
North Carolina received about $1.4 billion in CDBG-DR funding to support recovery efforts following Helene. The Community Infrastructure program is one of the larger funding opportunities available through the program, with the first round making about $55 million available statewide.
Individual projects may receive up to $15 million.
Applications must show a direct connection to Helene recovery, meet a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development national objective and qualify under the state’s action plan.
Only local governments are eligible to apply, and the program prioritizes projects that are ready to move forward quickly.
Buncombe County expects to finalize its proposals and submit its application by Sept. 8. Projects selected by the state will move into additional review phases, including environmental and compliance reviews.
