Neighborhood Resources

A Message from ECD Director Chris Cauley and FMHA Executive Director Dawn Weeks:

We are writing to update you on the recent news with the Choice Neighborhood Implementation Grant submitted to HUD by the City of Fayetteville and Fayetteville Metropolitan Housing Authority. We received notification that our grant application was not selected for this round of funding. Funding is allocated by Congress to HUD for this program and the number of applications funded is dependent on scoring factor and funding available. Unfortunately there were more applications than funding available. HUD received 28 Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant applications and is awarding 7 grants totaling $305,593,615. It was an honor to be selected as a finalist in our first attempt applying for this incredibly competitive grant.

FMHA and City staff have done an extraordinary job of involving the community, leveraging partnerships, planning for these funds, and creating a community-led vision for the future of this important historic area. Dawn and I could not ask for a better team of staff, experts, consultants, and leverage partners. City Council and the FMHA board continue to be committed to this project and staff will seek feedback from HUD to strengthen our application for success in future rounds. In the meantime, the Economic and Community Development Department will continue to offer grants, loans, technical assistance, and partnerships to help achieve the goals of this transformation plan and build upon the historic investment in parks and infrastructure already underway from City Council.

After we have gotten feedback from HUD and Congress passes the next budget with Choice funding included, we will be in touch for next steps. Don't hesitate to reach out with plans and opportunities between now and then!

On Thursday, June 13, 2024, City of Fayetteville officials, including the Economic and Community Development department, welcomed a delegation from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to Fayetteville for a site visit of the Murchison Road Corridor. The delegation visited Fayetteville State University, toured several Murchison Road neighborhoods, and heard from City officials about plans to revitalize the Corridor (see The Transformation Plan tab below). The City is now awaiting the delegation's decision regarding being awarded the Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant. An award notification is anticipated by August 2024.

On February 13, 2024, the City of Fayetteville submitted an application for a HUD Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant. 

While awaiting results on the HUD Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant, the City of Fayetteville is continuing to meet with residents, community partners, and the planning team to ensure that, regardless of the outcome, the Transformation Plan is still ready to be implemented in the coming program year.

Click here to read more about the Murchison Choice Neighborhood Initiative.

The City of Fayetteville has partnered with local nonprofit organizations to support and foster youth development. These nonprofits offer various programs and services designed to provide mentoring, education, entrepreneurship, court diversion, or strengthening of the family unit.

Communicare - Youth mentoring/development, mental health services

Tulsa Initiative - Youth mentoring and development, entrepreneurship training, education

R.O.O.T.S. Mentoring - Youth mentoring and development

Greater Life of Fayetteville (GLOF) - Mentoring and education for at-risk and/or behaviorally-challenged youth

The Two-Six Project - Youth mentoring and leadership development

Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks and Recreation also has several opportunities available to youth at recreation centers in your neighborhood. Click below for information on the Fayetteville-Cumberland Youth Council and to see what other resources are available through Parks and Recreation for youth within the City and County.

• Fayetteville-Cumberland Youth Council (Youth Development)
• Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks and Recreation

Water & Sewer Assessment Assistance Program

The City of Fayetteville's Water & Sewer Assessment Assistance Program helps low- to moderate-income homeowners in Fayetteville manage the costs associated with new water and sewer lines installed by the Fayetteville Public Works Commission by reducing the financial burden of assessment fees and plumbing hook-up costs.

The program is funded through the City of Fayetteville's general fund budget and aims to promote community revitalization. The City provides grants for assessment fees and hook-up costs to qualified homeowners. Homeowners must apply for assessment assistance within two years of the assessment date (there is no deadline for plumbing hook-up assistance). 

To be eligible:

• Property must be within Fayetteville city limits
• All property taxes must be paid
• Property is homeowner occupied
• Homeowner must verify income and meet HUD-approved income guidelines

Neighborhood Sign Program

In an effort to invest in neighborhoods across the city, the City of Fayetteville has instituted a Neighborhood Sign Program through the use of general funds. This program provides new neighborhood entrance signs and landscaping to established neighborhoods within Fayetteville city limits. The signs must be at the entrance or main thoroughfare of the neighborhood, and each neighborhood is only eligible for one (1) sign per year, regardless of the number of entrances into the neighborhood. 

Neighborhood watches and/or community groups/organizations may apply for signs. The group must have more than one (1) active member and the group must agree to be responsible for the sign and landscaping after installation.

Click here to download the Neighborhood Sign Program application.

In accordance with its mission, the Economic and Community Development department works towards building a stronger community by assisting with the demolition of blighted or dangerous structures, as determined by the Development Services department. The Demolition and Clearance Program is available at the discretion of the City of Fayetteville to assist property owners or other interested parties with the costs associated with the voluntary demolition of blighted or dangerous properties. To be eligible for the program, a property must be located within the city limits and must be determined to be "condemned" by the City's Development Services code enforcement staff.

Click here for the Demolition and Clearance Program Guidelines.

Empowering Community Safety Micro-Grant Program

The Empowering Community Safety Micro-Grant Program is designed to support individuals and  community groups’ efforts to prevent crime and violence in Fayetteville. Grant awards are limited to the areas of the City that have high or recent spikes in violent crime.

The program offers local groups and non-profits micro-grant opportunities, coupled with capacity-building training, to increase crime reduction activities and build the City’s local non-profit capacity.

The micro-grant program provides low-barrier grant opportunities ranging from $1,500 to $5,000 while teaching grantees about the processes and procedures of non-profit and community organization activities.

The Empowering Community Safety Micro-Grant program is currently reviewing applications and an award notification for Cycle 5 is expected soon.

For more information or an application visit www.FayettevilleNC.gov/Microgrants

Smoke alarms saves lives. The Fayetteville Fire Department offers Smoke Alarm Inspections or Installation to City residents. To request a member of FFD to come out and inspect or install smoke alarms in your home, please click here.

Community Watch

According to the Fayetteville Police Department, Community Watch is a crime prevention program that enlists the active participation of citizens in cooperation with law enforcement to reduce crime in their communities. Community Watch is neighbors working with neighbors and the police to prevent crime. The Community Watch Group is based on the concept of people looking out for one another and to send a message to potential criminals that someone is watching. Neighborhood Watch, Block Watch, Town Watch, Apartment Watch, Crime Watch – no matter what it’s called, it is one of the most effective and least costly answers to crime. Watch groups are a foundation of community crime prevention. They can be a stepping stone to community revitalization.

For more information on Community Watch, or to find or form a Community Watch group in your neighborhood, visit the Fayetteville Police Department's website by clicking here.