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BY THE RECORDASHEVILLE
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Helene disaster recovery grant (CDBG-DR)

The City's $225 million federal grant to recover from Helene, for infrastructure, businesses, housing and planning.

Address
City of Asheville (city limits)
Program
HUD disaster recovery grant

In plain English

HUD disaster recovery block grant money allocated directly to the City after Tropical Storm Helene. It pays for infrastructure, economic revitalization (small businesses, flooded commercial districts, workforce), housing (Renew NC single-family repair and new affordable multi-family rentals), planning, public services, and administration. The award runs until March 2, 2031.

Where it stands

Most money is allocated, and a growing share is obligated through agreements: Renew NC $22.2M, small business $15.5M, parks $30.375M, planning $2.19M. Multi-family awards are waiting on project agreements and LIHTC. The record reviewed shows no program-wide spent figure.

Next

Execute the multi-family project agreements by year end, announce small business grant awards this fall, and sign the North Fork MOA later.

Last on the public record May 12, 2026 (5 months ago).

RSS feed
Cleanup continues in the hard-hit downtown area of Biltmore Village, North Carolina, on Oct
Cleanup continues in the hard-hit downtown area of Biltmore Village, North Carolina, on Oct. 17, 2024. Biltmore Village was devastated by Hurricane Helene, damaging many of the towns businesses.Photo: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers photo by Dylan Burnell (via DVIDS). Source, Public domain (U.S. federal government work; DVIDS page marked "PUBLIC DOMAIN").

Stage by stage

Why it matters: Each stage is checked against a public record. A stage with no record yet is shown as not verified.

  1. ApprovedConfirmed, May 14, 2025HUD approved the Action Plan
  2. FundedConfirmed, Aug 20, 2025Grant agreement signed; money is obligated program by program
  3. ConstructionPartly confirmedFirst home repaired through Renew NC in June 2026
  4. FinishedNot verifiedThe award ends March 2, 2031

Timeline

  1. Jan 16, 2025

    HUD allocated $225,010,000.

  2. Apr 8, 2025

    Council authorized submitting the CDBG-DR Action Plan to HUD. Vote: unanimous.

  3. May 14, 2025

    HUD approved the Action Plan. The City news post is dated May 15.

  4. Aug 20, 2025

    CDBG-DR Grant Agreement signed.

  5. Oct 14, 2025

    Consent agenda authorized the subrecipient agreement with NC Commerce for Renew NC home repair and reconstruction ($3M at the time). Vote: unanimous.

  6. Jan 7, 2026

    NC Commerce signed the Renew NC subrecipient agreement.

  7. Jan 27, 2026

    Consent agenda authorized $15,500,000 in small business subrecipient agreements. Vote: unanimous.

  8. May 12, 2026

    Council awarded multi-family funds to District East Commons and 319B Biltmore. Vote: unanimous.

  9. Jun 9, 2026

    Council added an award of up to $9.5M for Terrace at River Hills. Vote: 6-1, Turner no.

  10. Jun 23, 2026

    Council approved a substantial amendment moving $19.2M to single-family repair ($9.2M from multi-family, $10M from infrastructure). Vote: 6-1, Hess no.

  11. Jun 2026

    First home repaired through Renew NC.

  12. Jul 13, 2026

    HUD approved the substantial amendment.

  13. Jul 28, 2026

    Consent agenda amended the Renew NC subrecipient agreement from $3,000,000 to $22,200,000. Vote: unanimous.

  14. Aug 14, 2026

    319 Biltmore B received a LIHTC award.

  15. Aug 25, 2026

    Consent agenda authorized MOAs for two infrastructure projects ($30,375,000) and five planning projects ($2,185,750). Vote: unanimous.

  16. Fall 2026, planned

    Asheville Recovers Together expects to announce small business grant awards.

  17. Mar 2, 2031, planned

    CDBG-DR award end date.

Contracts

  • Mountain BizWorks, Venture Asheville, Arts AVL, Eagle Market Streets Development Corporation

    Small business grant administration subrecipients (combined)

    Amount
    $15.5 million
    Date
    Jan 27, 2026
    The Council decision →

  • Laurel Street Residential, LLC

    Developer, 319-B Biltmore (CDBG-DR award)

    Amount
    $7.0 million
    Date
    May 12, 2026

  • Commonwealth Development Corporation

    Developer, District East Commons (CDBG-DR award)

    Amount
    $1.4 million
    Date
    May 12, 2026
    The Council decision →

  • Mountain Housing Opportunities / South Creek Development

    Developer, Terrace at River Hills (CDBG-DR award, not to exceed)

    Amount
    $9.5 million
    Date
    Jun 9, 2026

  • NC Department of Commerce (Renew NC)

    Subrecipient: single-family repair/reconstruction (hard construction costs reimbursed)

    Amount
    $22.2 million
    Date
    Jul 28, 2026

Money, by stage

Why it matters: Money is listed at its own step, such as set aside, committed or spent. The steps are never added together.

  • Obligated: Renew NC single-family repair/reconstruction (subrecipient agreement with NC Commerce): $22,200,000 (Jul 28, 2026)
  • Obligated: Small Business Support Program subrecipient awards (Mountain BizWorks, Venture Asheville, Arts AVL, Eagle Market Streets): $15,500,000 (Jan 27, 2026)
  • Allocated: Multi-family award: District East Commons (1311 Tunnel Road, 93 units): $1,385,000 (May 12, 2026)
  • Allocated: Multi-family award: 319-B Biltmore (4 John Walker Avenue, 112 units): $7,000,000 (May 12, 2026)
  • Allocated: Multi-family award: Terrace at River Hills (110 River Hills Road, 126 units): $9,500,000 (Jun 9, 2026)
  • Obligated: Infrastructure: French Broad Riverfront Parks Recovery and Azalea Parks & Infrastructure Recovery (internal MOAs): $30,375,000 (Aug 25, 2026)
  • Allocated: Infrastructure: North Fork pretreatment (reserved): $79,777,440 (Aug 25, 2026)
  • Obligated: Planning: five internal planning projects (internal MOAs): $2,185,750 (Aug 25, 2026)
  • Allocated: Infrastructure: $115,000,000 (Sep 30, 2026)
  • Allocated: Economic Recovery (Flooded Commercial Districts $30,000,000; Small Business Support $17,000,000; Workforce Development $5,000,000): $52,000,000 (Sep 30, 2026)
  • Allocated: Housing (Renew NC single-family $22,200,000; Affordable Multi-Family Construction $18,800,000): $41,000,000 (Sep 30, 2026)
  • Allocated: Administration: $11,250,500 (Sep 30, 2026)
  • Allocated: Planning: $3,759,500 (Sep 30, 2026)
  • Allocated: Public Services: $2,000,000 (Sep 30, 2026)

Decisions about it

Not verified yet

  • No program-wide amount spent is in the record reviewed.