The Petersburg Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved a resolution authorizing a grant application for 2026 HOME grant funds. Officially known as the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, the grant is a federal assistance program through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that provides funding to states and local governments to create affordable housing for low and very low-income families. It aims to expand the supply of decent and affordable housing and offers financial assistance for home purchase or rehabilitation.

Mayor Shantel Gatlin said the board previously applied for the grant but wasn’t awarded funding. She said Tia Lockridge, housing director with the South Central Tennessee Development District (SCTDD), said most of the grant funds went to East Tennessee following Hurricane Helene — the powerful and devastating Category 4 hurricane that caused widespread catastrophic damage across the Southeastern United States in late September 2024.

The resolution states the Tennessee Housing Development Agency is accepting grant application to authorize federal funding to address substandard housing. Petersburg in applying for $270,000 because “there exists a need for rehabilitation of substandard housing in the Town of Petersburg.” No matching funds are required to carry out the program. However, SCTDD will prepare all necessary documents for the completion of the grant application. If Petersburg is awarded funding, SCTDD will perform all administrative services for the project “at a cost of 8% of the total award.”

Alderman Charles Gatlin made the motion authorizing the mayor to execute and submit an application for HOME grant funds totaling $270,000. Alderman Logan Jolly seconded the motion. Gatlin, Jolly and Vice Mayor Kevin Coffield voted in favor of the resolution. Alderman Randy McDonald was absent from the meeting.