An update was given at the Dec. 20 Commonwealth Regional Council (CRC) meeting regarding a housing rehabilitation project in the Town of Dillwyn.

Dillwyn was announced as one of 15 localities in Virginia receiving grants, according to a news release from Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe on Sept. 15.

The Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) aid localities in Virginia to complete projects improving health care access, water and sewer infrastructure, downtown revitalization, public safety and housing rehabilitation, according to the news release.

Dillwyn’s Housing Rehabilitation Project was awarded a total of $176,300 for the project.

Todd Fortune, with the CRC, said the project would rehabilitate six homes on the project site, which includes Culbreth Street and parts of White, Carter, Hancock and Conner streets.

One house, Fortune said, will be torn down and rebuilt — a process called a “substantial reconstruct.” He said the house’s owner has had to live elsewhere as the home became uninhabitable.

In a Dec. 5 memorandum, Fortune cited that the CRC has been assisting the town with pre-contract activities which include “the Section 504 (handicap access) Plan, Section 504 Notice, Section 504 Grievance Procedure, Section 3 (local business) Plan, Non Discrimination (race/ethnic orgin) Notice, fair housing certification and residential anti-displacement plan have all been submitted to the town for adoption and/or publication.”

Fortune cited that CRC staff has also completed and submitted a DRAFT Project Management Plan, Program Design and Housing Rehab Board By-laws to the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) for its review.

In the memorandum Fortune cited a target for completion of all pre-contract activities as Jan. 12.

“It’s looking like we’re not going to have the pre-contract done by Jan. 12,” Fortune said at the Dec. 20 meeting. “The DHCD is aware of the situation, and the town has requested an extension.”

He said, “Hopefully we won’t be more than a month behind.”