GREENVILLE, N.C. — As a result of its exemplary community engagement during Community Development Week, the City of Greenville's Community Development Department Housing Division was recently recognized with the John A. Sasso Award by the National Community Development Association (NCDA).

The City was one of only nine municipalities to receive the award, which recognizes outstanding community efforts to promote and celebrate the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and the HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) Programs.

"This is really an exciting opportunity to recognize our staff for receiving a national award," City Manager Ann Wall said. "Our Community Development staff, and particularly our Housing Division, does a wonderful job of working with our community development and HOME funds every single year, but this award is really symbolic of their hard work and how they really engaged our community and showed our community the value of community development dollars and really how we can do more through partnerships."

City staff and partners hosted events April 22-27 as part of Community Development Week. The events included an opening ceremony to acknowledge community participants, Tenant Talks: A Fair Housing Workshop to educate renters about their rights, three lead hazard control workshops to prepare contractors for the Healthy Homes program, a Community Housing Development Organization interest meeting to establish partnerships with potential non-profit builders, an Annual Action Plan public meeting, a West Greenville block party to engage with the community, and a homeownership education workshop in partnership with the Greenville Housing Authority. Members of the Housing Division were recognized for earning the award by the Greenville City Council during its meeting on August 19.