Fayetteville City Council Votes 8-0 to Pursue Housing Grant

The Fayetteville City Council approved an 8-0 vote on October 21, 2023, to apply for a $60,000 grant from the National League of Cities (NLC). This funding aims to support the implementation of a housing preservation-focused workforce development program.

The grant would facilitate the next phase of Fayetteville’s involvement in the Southern Cities Economic Initiative (SCEI), a program dedicated to assisting municipalities in developing local solutions for economic and housing challenges. Chief Housing Officer Marlee Stark presented the proposal, titled “Development2: Building Fayetteville’s Future,” which emerged from the city’s Housing Co-Create event in collaboration with Circles NWA.

Stark emphasized that the initiative aims to reactivate vacant properties while providing essential workforce training in construction and property preservation. The proposal states, “Implementing a community-generated solution that addresses workforce and housing needs will provide the City with a replicable model for municipal action that leverages expertise from staff, community organizations, and residents’ lived experiences.”

The council’s vote follows a previous award of a $15,000 planning grant from the NLC in April 2023, which allowed the city to explore various potential projects, including Development2. If Fayetteville receives the grant, it will necessitate a local match, either in cash or through in-kind contributions, on a 1:1 basis.

The pilot program is slated to commence in January 2026, with an expected completion date by November 2027. According to the initiative’s proposal, city staff from the Housing and Community Services Department, alongside the Long Range Planning Division, will collaborate to pinpoint target areas experiencing high vacancy rates. They will also partner with local training providers and work to recruit residents for hands-on workforce training opportunities.

The complete proceedings from the Fayetteville City Council meeting held on October 21 are available for public viewing online.