Renew NC Multi-Family Construction and Repair Program: Non-LIHTC

The Renew NC Multi-Family Construction and Repair Program: Non-LIHTC is administered by the North Carolina Department of Commerce through its Division of Community Revitalization and funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development through Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery resources. The program is designed to support long-term recovery efforts following Hurricane Helene by increasing the availability of safe, sanitary, and resilient affordable rental housing in impacted communities. It specifically targets multi-family housing developments that are not receiving Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, thereby filling a financing gap for projects that still meet critical housing needs but fall outside other subsidy programs. The primary objective of the program is to address unmet rental housing needs in areas identified as Most Impacted and Distressed by HUD and the State of North Carolina. These areas include a defined set of counties and a specific ZIP code where disaster-related damage, displacement, and housing shortages have been documented. Projects must demonstrate a clear tie-back to Hurricane Helene, meaning applicants must provide evidence that the proposed activity directly or indirectly responds to disaster impacts such as physical damage, increased housing demand, or vulnerabilities exacerbated by the storm. Preference is given to projects addressing direct physical damage. Funding for the program totals approximately seventy million dollars, with individual project awards generally ranging from five hundred thousand dollars to fifteen million dollars depending on scope and demonstrated need. Funding is awarded through a competitive process and may be structured as forgivable loans or grants at the discretion of the administering agency. The funds may be used for eligible activities including new construction of multi-family rental housing or substantial rehabilitation of existing properties. Ineligible uses include luxury improvements, operating reserves, and activities that do not demonstrate a disaster recovery connection. Eligible applicants include for-profit developers, nonprofit housing developers, public housing authorities, units of local government, and joint ventures among these entities. Applicants must demonstrate experience in developing and managing affordable housing, maintain good standing with federal and state agencies, and meet all legal and financial requirements. Projects must include at least five rental units under common ownership and management, be located in eligible geographic areas, and comply with federal accessibility, environmental, labor, and civil rights requirements. Additionally, projects must incorporate resilience measures and meet energy efficiency standards, as well as include broadband infrastructure unless a waiver is granted. The application process is conducted through the Renew NC Grant Portal, where applicants must submit a complete application form along with required documentation such as project plans, budgets, and evidence supporting disaster tie-back. Applications must meet threshold eligibility criteria before advancing to scoring. Evaluation is based on factors including applicant capacity, community need, project feasibility, leverage of additional funding sources, and anticipated outcomes. Bonus points may be awarded for deeper affordability, enhanced resilience features, longer affordability periods, and service to underrepresented areas. The application window is currently open and will close on November 2, 2026, at five o'clock Eastern Time. While prescreening is not required, applicants are strongly encouraged to participate in the process to assess readiness and receive feedback before submitting a full application. Questions may be directed to the program via email or phone, and technical assistance is available upon request. Following award, projects must undergo environmental review and receive authorization before beginning any construction or related activities. Awardees must also comply with ongoing reporting, monitoring, and compliance requirements throughout the project lifecycle.

Provide strong documented disaster tie-back evidence; demonstrate project readiness and feasibility; include leveraged funding sources; ensure compliance with all federal requirements; align with community housing needs and Action Plan priorities