The City of Asheville’s Community and Economic Development Department will be accepting applications for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for fiscal year 2025-26 until February 7, 2025. We expect to make around $1,000,000 in awards this year.
Please note that this is separate from the recently awarded $225,010,000 CDBG-Disaster Recovery grant the city received. Information regarding that grant is forthcoming.
The CDBG program is a federal grant program through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) which provides grant funds for eligible projects to create affordable housing for low-income households and support community development activities to build stronger and more resilient communities. The City’s Community and Economic Development Department manages and administers the CDBG program for the City of Asheville.
How to Apply:
You can access the CDBG application instructions and informational slides here: CDBG Application Instructions.
The application can be accessed via our Neighborly software here: CDBG Application Portal.
The deadline to submit an application for CDBG funds is February 7, 2025 at 5:00 PM ET.
Questions about the CDBG application process can be sent to the Community Development team via email: HUDFundingQuestions@ashevillenc.gov.
Community Impact:
CDBG projects have had a significant impact for low to moderate income households including:
Helpmate, Inc. – Emergency Shelter for Domestic Violence Survivors Program
In the fiscal year 2023-2024 Helpmate was awarded $23,736 in CDBG funds for their
Emergency Shelter for Domestic Violence Survivors Program. The program serves survivors of domestic violence, prioritizing those at the highest risk of homicide by providing them with food, toiletries, case management, counseling, court advocacy, and hotline response. Through this funding, Helpmate sheltered 235 individuals who were fleeing domestic violence.
Pisgah Legal Services – Homelessness Prevention Program
In the fiscal year 2023-2024 Pisgah Legal Services was awarded $35,750 in CDBG funds for their Homelessness Prevention Program. The program prevents and reduces homelessness by providing free legal assistance and advocacy to: help low-income residents prevent or delay eviction and foreclosures; stabilize housing for families by obtaining or protecting housing they can afford; and improve or preserve the quality of housing conditions. Through this funding 1,157 Asheville residents benefited from legal assistance to ultimately prevent or delay evictions and foreclosures, improve substandard housing conditions, and secure or preserve access to affordable housing.
Mountain BizWorks – Opportunity Asheville:Expanding Access to Small Business
In the fiscal year 2023-2024 Mountain BizWorks was awarded $162,500 in CDBG funds for their Opportunity Asheville – Expanding Access to Small Business Program. The program gives technical business assistance to entrepreneurs within Asheville, helping to spur entrepreneurship for both existing business, startups and potential future businesses in the service area. Through this funding 125 low to moderate income entrepreneurs received high quality business training, leading to the creation or expansion of 68 Asheville microenterprises & 260 jobs created.