OLD FORT, N.C. (828newsNOW) — The town of Old Fort has purchased the former Westmoreland Funeral Home property and plans to convert it into the town’s future municipal offices, officials announced in a social media post Friday.

Town leaders said the building will become the new town hall, providing more space for municipal offices, improving accessibility for residents and creating a more efficient location for delivering town services.

Officials said the property was selected because it offered a cost-effective opportunity to establish a permanent municipal facility as the town continues recovering from tropical Storm Helene.

The town emphasized that the purchase was paid for using FEMA Public Assistance funding made available through Helene recovery efforts. Officials said no local property tax revenue or money generated by the town’s recent property tax increase or water and sewer rate adjustments was used to buy the building.

Town leaders said the recent tax and utility rate increases were approved to support ongoing operations, maintain critical infrastructure and ensure the long-term sustainability of public services. They said those funding decisions are separate from the Town Hall project.

Using FEMA Public Assistance funding for the acquisition allows the town to preserve local tax dollars for day-to-day services while investing in permanent municipal infrastructure, officials said.

“This is about making a responsible investment in Old Fort’s future,” Mayor Pro Tem Iretha Hancock said in a statement. “Following Hurricane Helene, our community was presented with opportunities to rebuild stronger. Using FEMA Public Assistance funding to establish a permanent Town Hall allows us to improve the services we provide to our citizens without placing the financial burden of this purchase on our taxpayers. We believe this investment will serve our community for generations to come.”

According to the town, the former funeral home provides a strong foundation for a modern municipal building with additional office space, improved customer service areas and meeting space to accommodate future growth.

Town officials said they will provide updates as planning and renovations move forward, including information about the project timeline and opportunities for public input.

The acquisition is part of Old Fort’s broader recovery and rebuilding efforts following Helene, with town leaders saying they remain committed to transparency and responsible use of recovery funding.