HUD approves Asheville’s hurricane recovery plan after initial objection over DEI

The City of Asheville, North Carolina’s revised Hurricane Helene recovery plan, which aims to secure over $200 million in federal funds, has been approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) after an initial rejection and subsequent amendment.

HUD had initially turned down Asheville’s draft action plan in March, a necessary step to access the $225 million in Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds authorized near the end of the Biden administration. Following the rejection, Asheville made revisions to the plan to align with the Trump administration’s guidelines, particularly on diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.

While awaiting approval on the revised plan, HUD gave the green light to North Carolina’s action plan seeking $1.4 billion in recovery funding for the state. Asheville announced the approval of its revised plan, highlighting the allocation of funds for infrastructure, economic revitalization, housing, administration, planning, and public services.

Although the funds are not yet available, as HUD still needs to certify the city’s financial and grant management practices, Asheville has submitted all necessary documentation and is awaiting certification. Mayor Esther Manheimer expressed gratitude for HUD’s prompt decision and emphasized the importance of the funding for the community.

Ongoing discussions between city leaders and HUD are focused on ensuring compliance and governance responsibilities. Plans for utilizing the funds effectively are being developed, with projects like the French Broad Riverfront Parks Recovery project in the pipeline and programs expected to launch this fall.