Home and Community Care Block Grant Advisory Committee Meeting | September 23, 2026

The Buncombe County Home and Community Care Block Grant Advisory Committee met on September 23, 2026, to discuss various procurement and funding issues related to aging services. Key topics included reviewing service unit utilization, addressing invoicing and contract compliance concerns with providers such as Blue Ridge Pride and Amberlite, and managing a $400,000 statewide reduction in block grant funding that translates to an $11,000 cut for Buncombe County. The committee also deliberated on grant application timelines for fiscal year 2028, ultimately voting to keep the application and scoring tools unchanged except for adjusting the application window to open January 4 and close February 5 to allow more review time. Additionally, the committee discussed the need for timely invoicing to ensure monthly payments and emphasized the fiduciary responsibility to maximize fund utilization. The meeting concluded with announcements about staff transitions and scheduling future meetings to accommodate grant review processes.