CONCORD — The City of Concord will contribute $3 million toward Cooperative Christian Ministry’s planned Tucker Rebuilders Campus at Brown Mill Commons, which is expected to include 96 family apartments along with support and workforce-development services.
Concord City Council unanimously approved the funding for the campus, planned for the historic Brown Mill property on Cabarrus Avenue in Concord.
The project is part of Cooperative Christian Ministry’s efforts to expand housing options as the organization responds to what it describes as a growing housing affordability and homelessness problem in Cabarrus County.
The need is great
According to figures recently shared by CCM, Cabarrus ranked sixth among North Carolina’s 100 counties in evictions among renter households in 2023, while 51% of renters were struggling to afford their housing. The organization also reported that more than 800 homeless students had been identified in local schools and that CCM was receiving more than 50 applications for housing assistance each month.
The Tucker Rebuilders Campus is planned to combine 96 family apartments with services intended to help residents address issues contributing to housing instability. CCM’s plans include individualized case management, financial stability resources, workforce development, education and connections to other community services.
A community hub also is planned as part of the Brown Mill development.
“This $3 million investment from the City of Concord is about much more than buildings — it is an investment in people, families and the future of our community,” CCM CEO Ed Hosack said.
Hosack thanked Mayor Steve Morris and members of City Council for supporting the project, saying the unanimous vote demonstrates a community commitment to addressing housing instability.
Services at the campus
The services at the campus will be part of CCM’s Path to Stability initiative, designed to help individuals and families move from an immediate crisis toward greater financial and housing independence.
Morris said the investment continues the city’s longstanding relationship with CCM and reflects the council’s support for partnerships between government and nonprofit organizations.
“Concord has always been a community that recognizes the importance of neighbors helping neighbors, and The Tucker Rebuilders Campus represents an opportunity to make a lasting difference in the lives of individuals and families who are working toward greater stability,” Morris said.
Morris said the council recognizes CCM’s work in the community and believes the campus can have a long-term impact in both Concord and Cabarrus County.
The Brown Mill project is part of CCM’s $24 million Rebuild, Repair, Restore campaign, which also supports the organization’s expansion of housing and stability programs.
Grace Place @Caremoor
Another major piece of that effort is Grace Place @ Caremoor in Kannapolis.
CCM acquired the former Caremoor Retirement Community on Kannapolis Parkway in December 2023 with assistance from an American Rescue Plan Act investment by the city of Kannapolis. Grace Place @ Caremoor is being developed to provide housing stability for senior adults and mothers with children.
Together, Grace Place and the Tucker Rebuilders Campus represent a significant expansion of CCM’s housing ministry during the organization’s 45-year history.
The $3 million Concord commitment provides another source of funding as CCM seeks support from businesses, churches, foundations, nonprofits and individual donors to complete its plans.
CCM also operates food assistance, emergency financial assistance, transitional and supportive housing, education and resource-navigation programs. The organization says those programs, along with the new housing developments, are intended to create a continuum that helps individuals and families move from crisis toward long-term stability.
