Kinston was granted the Community Development Block Grant funds for neighborhood revitalization.

Mayor Don Hardy said the $750,000 grant was awarded to the city, after applying for the 2018 N.C. Neighborhood Grant application and being accepted. The grant is designed for non-entitlement communities and must incorporate equitable affordable housing, the support of existing communities or valuing communities and neighborhoods.

“It’s exciting to hear the state gave us the opportunity to receive the award,” Hardy said. “We’ll be able to help the east side of Kinston, including recreational facility upkeep at Holloway and continuing the beautification of the center many of our youth attend every day.”

Kinston City Manager Tony Sears said he understands there are numerous entities which can be approved upon in the area, but the grant will be a good start.

“We couldn’t be happier to receive this grant,” Sears said. “We could spend $750,000 a lot of ways — there are plenty of needs in the city, but this one helps specific needs. We hope to be able to do more with Holloway in the future, and with the new center director and (Kinston-Lenoir County) Parks and Rec director, this would be a great way for them to start.

“Not all of the money will go to programming, but also to take care of some of the structural issues. We’re taking applications now to help individuals who need renovations for certain upgrades to their houses. There are specific guidelines and the person has to be a homeowner, but we encourage them to talk to us and allow us to help them through the process. We want to help them get the money and we’ll assist with the application. The renovations would increase their property value and the neighbors’ property value, which benefits everyone as a whole.”

Kinston Planning Director Adam Short said this is another program which will benefit those needing repairs while also assisting Holloway.

“We should be able to knock out at least 10 houses, which is pretty substantial,” Short said. “It may not sound like that many, but you have this program and the single family rehab disaster recovery program, as people are applying for the 2019 cycle. All of these programs are new opportunities and we’re doing our best to help homeowners repair. Right now, we only have six applications in.

“At Holloway, we should be able to do a lot of exterior and interior renovations, along with the computer lab upgrade that MIS is helping to do.”

For additional information, contact Short at 252-939-3269.