Johnson County highlights 40 years of CDBG, schedules HOME-ARP ribbon cutting

Johnson County leaders used the April 2 business session to mark 40 years of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) activity and to promote public outreach around federal housing investments.

Leslie Davis, Johnson County Community Development Grant Administrator, described the local impacts of CDBG and HOME programs — from emergency rental assistance to housing rehabilitation — and said partner organizations will staff an information booth in the administration building during National Community Development Week, April 6–10. Davis also announced a ribbon cutting for HOME-ARP rental housing units on April 10 at 1:30 p.m., hosted by Metro Lutheran Ministries.

Housing Services Director Heather McNeve introduced a new housing counselor, Mary Zapanov, and invited residents to a fair housing forum on April 21 at 6 p.m., saying the forum will include presentations from county staff and an attorney from Kansas Legal Services. McNeve noted the counselor will distribute rent assistance funded by HOME-ARP and support eviction mediation and financial literacy work.

County officials framed CDBG and HOME funding as earned federal investments that support neighborhood infrastructure, nonprofit partners, and housing services, and encouraged residents to attend outreach events to learn about available programs.