Cmr. George P. Bush announces more than $31 million combined for infrastructure projects in Harvey-affected areas

Newly approved funds going to the cities of Refugio, Rockport, Victoria, Lumberton, Bayside, Bedias, Somerville, Rosenberg and Calhoun County

Contact: Brittany Eck
(512) 463-5708
Brittany.Eck@GLO.Texas.gov
PDF Version
PRESS RELEASE — Jan 27, 2020

AUSTIN — Today Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush announced the Texas General Land Office (GLO) approved $31,843,096 combined in Hurricane Harvey disaster recovery grants for infrastructure projects in Hurricane Harvey affected communities. Local leaders prioritized these projects to ensure the most effective use of available funds for infrastructure improvements.

"Hurricane Harvey devastated communities across the Texas Coast," said Commissioner Bush. "These recovery funds are critical to improving local infrastructure that will protect lives, homes and businesses from future storms. We continue to work with our partners in communities across the region to leverage these resources efficiently and effectively to benefit Texans affected by Hurricane Harvey."

The infrastructure funds have been approved in the following counties and municipalities:

Grants to facilitate proper functioning of critical wastewater-system components to reduce the impact of sewage contamination and backflow in emergency situations:

  • City of Rosenberg: $298,611

Grants for street improvements, facilitating proper stormwater conveyance, provide continued street access during rain events and reducing the impact of future flooding:

  • Town of Refugio: $8,419,112
  • City of Rockport: $7,572,632
  • City of Victoria: $6,056,722
  • Calhoun County: $5,936,548 (funds include public facility improvements for a fire station and park)
  • City of Lumberton: $2,505,137
  • City of Bayside: $720,132
  • City of Bedias: $167,101
  • City of Somerville: $167,101
     

Texas GLO Hurricane Harvey Recovery Funds:

Commissioner George P. Bush and the Texas General Land Office was appointed by Governor Greg Abbott to lead the historic Hurricane Harvey housing recovery efforts funded by $5.676 billion in Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The GLO allocated $413 million of the allocation for infrastructure projects to protect communities affected by the storm. The GLO allocated the funds to regional Council of Governments' (COGs) based on a HUD approved needs assessment. The locally-led COGs then conducted methods of distribution (MODs) for determining infrastructure and buyout and acquisition amounts for cities and counties within each jurisdiction. COG boards are comprised of officials from the impacted communities elected in part to prioritize funds allocated for recovery programs. The MOD process requires public engagement and the GLO reviewed each MOD for compliance with federal rules and requirements before approving each plan.

To review the approved MODs, please visit https://recovery.texas.gov/action-plans/hurricane-harvey/index.html.



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