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Read. Follow. Verify.North Carolina House Bill 604 Appropriates $80 Million for Rural and Downtown Grants
Last action · April 1, 2025: Ref to the Com on Appropriations, if favorable, Finance, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House (House action)Sponsors: Robert Reives and 32 others
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What This Bill Would Do
North Carolina HB 604 appropriates $80 million in for the 2025-2026 to establish the Rural Community Development Grant Program and the Downtown Revitalization Grant Program, providing competitive matching grants to local governments beginning July 1, 2025.
Local county and municipal governments can apply for up to $2 million per grant to fund amenities and economic development projects, provided they supply a 1-to-1 non-State funding match and meet eligibility requirements.
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
County and Municipal Governments
Local governments are eligible to apply for up to $2 million in grant funding for community and downtown development projects, subject to application requirements and matching funds.
Department of Commerce
The Department receives $80 million in appropriations, administers the grant programs, establishes guidelines, and submits annual reports to the General Assembly.
Municipal Service District Administrator Entities
These entities become eligible to apply for funding under the Downtown Revitalization Grant Program.
Key Facts
- Appropriates $40 million in nonrecurring funds for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to the Department of Commerce for the Rural Community Development Grant Program.
- Appropriates $40 million in nonrecurring funds for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to the Department of Commerce for the Downtown Revitalization Grant Program.
- Allocated funds do not revert and remain available until June 30, 2027.
- The Department of Commerce may use up to five percent of the appropriated funds for program administration.
Show all 12 facts
- Grants under the Rural Community Development Grant Program require a 1-to-1 match of non-State funds for every dollar of State funds.
- Individual grant awards under both programs cannot exceed $2,000,000.
- All county and municipal governments are eligible to apply for the Rural Community Development Grant Program.
- County governments, municipal governments, and municipal service district administrator entities are eligible to apply for the Downtown Revitalization Grant Program.
- Rural Community Development Grants are awarded competitively based on factors including non-State investment, projected wage and job growth, and demonstrated community support.
- Applicants must use grant funding for projects that are part of a comprehensive local government plan intended to promote downtown revitalization or community development.
- The Department of Commerce must submit an annual report on grant activities to legislative oversight committees no later than September 15 of each year.
- The act becomes effective July 1, 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible to apply for the Rural Community Development Grant Program?
What is the maximum amount an individual grant can receive?
Is a financial match required to receive a rural community development grant?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
3 actions- Apr 1, 2025HouseRef to the Com on Appropriations, if favorable, Finance, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
- Apr 1, 2025HousePassed 1st Reading
- Mar 31, 2025HouseIntroducedFiled
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Show 28 more sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
www.ncleg.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance75How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy20Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz40Current news / social attention level
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