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Community Development

The City of Hickory Community Development Division is committed to the betterment of its citizens and the community through strong economic development, housing rehabilitation, homelessness services programs, affordable housing, and Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) for improvement projects in lower income neighborhoods. The Community Development Division can be reached at (828) 323-7414.

Affordable Housing

Recognizing the need for affordable housing in the community, the City of Hickory launched the Hickory Affordable Housing Initiative in 2020. Through strategic partnerships, this initiative converts vacant City-owned property into affordable housing opportunities.   

Community Development Block Grant Program

The City of Hickory is an entitlement grantee for the U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) CDBG Program. The CDBG Entitlement Program provides annual grants on a formula basis to entitled cities and counties. The grants develop viable urban communities by providing decent housing, a suitable living environment, and expand economic opportunities for low- and moderate-income persons.  

2020-24 City of Hickory
CDBG Consolidated Plan
2024-25 CDBG
Annual Action Plan
 2023-24 Consolidated Annual Performance
and Evaluation Report (CAPER) - Draft
 Citizen Participation
Plan

Business Assistance

The City of Hickory is committed to promoting business and economic development and offers a range of incentives to new and expanding businesses, including two business incentive programs through CDBG funding. The City of Hickory identified increasing entrepreneurship opportunities as a high priority need.  The Microenterprise Grant Program provides microenterprise grants to businesses looking for funding necessary to take their business to the next level.  The Small Business Loan Program provides loans to businesses looking for funding to create jobs and purchase necessary equipment.

Housing Rehabilitation Program

The City of Hickory offers a housing rehabilitation deferred loan program, funded through CDBG, that aims to improve the quality of the local housing stock and make improvements that prevent the displacement of low to moderate income homeowners within the City limits.

Housing Rehabilitation Brochure Housing Rehabilitation Guidelines Housing Rehabilitation Application

Urgent Repair Program

The City of Hickory offers a housing rehabilitation forgivable loan program, funded through the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency, that aims to improve the quality of the local housing stock and make improvements that prevent the displacement of low to moderate income homeowners within the City limits.  These funds may be used for urgent repairs or accessibility improvements that are required to avert the displacement of the homeowner.

Urgent Repair Brochure Urgent Repair Program Guidelines Urgent Repair Program Application

Fair Housing

The City of Hickory is committed to affirmatively furthering fair housing in the community by eliminating racial and ethnic segregation and other discriminatory practices in housing. The City is committed to using all of its programmatic and enforcement tools to achieve this goal.

Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing