Our Mission
The staff of the Community Development Division of the Western Piedmont Council of Governments assists local governments in providing affordable, decent and safe housing and related infrastructure improvements for residents of the Western Piedmont. The Community Development staff assists local governments in the application preparation and administration of the local and NC State grants.
Community & Economic Development
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Grant Support
Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) uses funding provided by the NC Department of Commerce for grants related to scattered site housing, economic development, infrastructure and small business entrepreneurial assistance. We also assist with grants provided by the NC Housing Finance Agency which include the Urgent Repair Program and Single-Family Rehabilitation Program. Other granting opportunities include Clean Water Management Trust Fund, parks and recreation planning, recreation planning and building reuse and Restoration Grants Program and Infrastructure Grants Program through funding by the NC Rural Economic Development Center. Follow the "grant services" link located in the right navigation for more information.
Housing Counseling Services Still Available
The WPCOG’s Housing Counseling program has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Staff is operating remotely, and still available to assist you. Please call (828)485-4220, leave a message and your call will be returned as soon as possible. You can also contact us by email at jeff.currie@wpcog.org
Contractors Needed for Home Repair Programs
The Western Piedmont Council of Governments is seeking contractors to participate in several home repair programs available in counties across the region.
The WPCOG has received more than $2 million for programs such as Essential Single-Family Repairs (ESFR), Urgent Repair Program (URP) and Scattered-Site Housing. The repair programs' maximum expenses are up to $30,000 for ESFR, $9,000 for URP, and $72,000 for Scattered-Site Housing.
The counties included in the WPCOG program area are Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba and Iredell. Typical repairs for ESFR include heating, electrical, handicapped access, windows and doors. URP repairs include heating, roofing, flooring and handicapped access. The Scattered-Site Housing repair program is funded through the N.C. Department of Commerce and involves more comprehensive repairs. The WPCOG provides administration for the programs, and payments are made promptly.
For projects under $30,000, contractors do not have to be licensed. Still, they must carry liability insurance of at least $300,000 for personal injury and $100,000 for property damage, along with workers' compensation insurance if required by statutes.
For projects more than $30,000, contractors must be licensed and carry the same type of liability and workers' compensation coverages.
The WPCOG maintains a list of eligible repair projects in the five counties it services. For more information about contracting opportunities, contact Laurie Powell at the WPCOG at 828-485-4249 or by email at laurie.powell@wpcog.org.