Aug. 10, 2026
By Jonathan Rich
BrevardBeagle.com
Ten million dollars in grant funding previously dedicated for use in Transylvania County has yet to be returned for use locally after state lawmakers reclaimed it as part of the latest budget, but North Carolina House District 119 Representative Anna Ferguson says she is still working to make good on her promise to correct the “clerical error” that put that money on the move this summer.
Last month Ferguson attended the July 13 meeting of the Transylvania County Boad of Commissioners and explained that state grant funding for three local projects(extending sewer service along Azalea Avenue, building a pump station at Brevard High School and construction plans along Calvert Road in Rosman) had been misidentified on the part of the state four years ago and promised constituents that she and other elected officials were working to return that funding.
“It’s a clerical mistake that was made and is fairly simple to correct, so I’m happy to be able to step in and make sure that happens with an abundance of assistance,” Ferguson told the Commissioners on July 13, later adding that all three projects would all be fully funded to completion. “We’re simply going about it the correct way so that the General Assembly knows what the money allocated for these projects is.”
The Cherokee native appointed to fulfill the remainder of the late Representative Mike Clampitt’s term in Swain, Jackson, and Transylvania counties said that she and other lawmakers were working to return the grant funding through a technical amendment to the budget. She also told the commissioners that during this process she had secured an additional $4 million in hurricane relief funds for Transylvania County.
“All three water projects will be able to be funded to completion. That’s not an issue. And in addition, four million additional dollars in Helene recovery was specified for Transylvania County,” she told the commissioners on July 13.
However, the state legislature has now adjourned until November and the budget revisions she mentioned were approved without any official word on Transylvania County’s missing grant money.
When asked about the current status of the $10 million, Ferguson replied via email on Aug. 7 that she and other lawmakers were pursuing that funding under different means.
“I listed the technical revisions as a potential process of funding for the completion of the water projects,” Ferguson wrote. “We have opted for what we feel is a more appropriate funding method, and are continuing to move forward in that direction.”
Transylvania County Manager Jaime Laughter said local officials remain hopeful the money could still return to pay for those specific projects as part of grant application processes already underway for possible approval this fall.
“Two weeks ago she (Ferguson) forwarded information about an infrastructure grant workshop for a grant cycle this fall,” Laughter said. “The applications typically require that the water/sewer provider apply directly to get the funding, so we notified the town and the city to make sure that they are prepared to apply and have a representative attend the workshop. This would allow the two entities to also manage the projects directly without needing a MOU (memo of understanding) for the county to manage them. We are going to have a staff member attend the workshop as well and explore if we can apply, even though we are not a provider.”
“This is to pursue the remaining funds we need to finish the Brevard High School pump station project,” Laughter continued. “That would allow for a smoother project since part of the construction is funded under another grant source and it is in the middle of the work we are already doing at BHS for renovation and new construction under the $62 million state grant we received and the bond proceeds.”
Brevard City Councilman and Mayor Pro Tem Aaron Baker has been following these developments and said while he remains hopeful local needs will be met through this additional grant funding strategy, it is not what was previously promised when the initial $10 million went missing.
“Asking the city of Brevard to participate in an infrastructure grant workshop for a grant cycle to be awarded in 2027 is not the same as restoring the $10 million previously granted in 2023 and subsequently reallocated due to a ‘clerical error,’” Baker said when asked about his perspective on these developments. “It is not the city’s responsibility to restore this funding. If a mistake was made at the state level, it should be fixed at the state level.”
Baker added that Ferguson’s new direction for finding the funding needs to pick up some progress if it is to resolve any lingering issues from the grant funding reallocation situation.
“That money was going to help real people in Transylvania County and Brevard. It was going to keep people in their homes. It is now gone,” Baker said. “Applying for a grant feels a little bit like playing the lottery. We had that money, and now it’s gone. It should be restored without requiring the city to enter a lottery. “
Read the initial July 13 County Commissioner coverage by BrevardBeagle.com here