Today, Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, M.D. announced the Texas General Land Office (GLO) approved $125,504,800 in regional mitigation funds for 16 federally eligible infrastructure projects to improve streets as well as water and drainage facilities in the cities of Aransas Pass, Beeville, El Campo, Friendswood, Gregory, Hemphill, Ivanhoe, Mathis, Refugio, and Woodville and the counties of Austin, Chambers, Jasper, Sabine and Wharton in addition to the Deep East Texas Council of Government (DETCOG). Through the Regional Mitigation Program, the GLO enabled local prioritization, which will have a tremendous impact across multiple regions.
"The General Land Office is helping to empower communities to move forward projects that will protect the homes and businesses of those who live there," Commissioner Buckingham said. "Locally led prioritization of mitigation projects is important because it strengthens critical infrastructure and protects communities against the impacts of natural disasters. I am proud of the work being done at the Texas General Land Office to not only helping those in need but support our communities as they grow."
| Applicant | Project Title | County | Amount Awarded |
| Coastal Bend Council of Governments (CBCOG) | |||
| City of Aransas Pass | City of Aransas Pass Stormwater Pump Station # 3 Euclid | Nueces | $5,086,700 |
| City of Beeville | City of Beeville Water Improvements | Bee | $2,663,500 |
| City of Gregory | Wastewater Treatment Plan Improvements | San Patricio | $3,946,700 |
| Town of Refugio | Street and drainage improvements | Refugio | $2,813,300 |
| City of Mathis | Water and wastewater improvements | San Patricio | $3,330,600 |
| Deep East Texas Council of Government (DETCOG) | |||
| DETCOG | Broad and interoperable radio communications infrastructure | Newton, Polk, Jasper, Tyler, San Jacinto | $42,694,000 |
| City of Hemphill | Street improvements | Sabine | $924,000 |
| City of Ivanhoe | Street improvements | Tyler | $1,933,000 |
| Jasper County | Construct Community Resource Centers, reconstruct roadways, and install elevated water storage tanks | Jasper | $13,254,000 |
| Sabine County | Street improvements | Sabine | $5,912,000 |
| City of Woodville | Street improvements | Tyler | $3,325,000 |
| Houston-Galveston Area Council (HGAC) | |||
| Austin County | Street and drainage improvements | Austin | $6,750,100 |
| Chambers County | Drainage improvements | Chambers | $14,923,200 |
| City of El Campo | Drainage and storm sewer improvements | Wharton | $1,554,100 |
| City of Friendswood | Ground Water Storage Tank at Ground Water Plant 4 and Annalea Neighborhood Improvements | Galveston | $4,636,100 |
| Wharton County | Drainage improvements | Wharton | $11,758,500 |
| Total | $125,504,800 | ||
For more detailed project descriptions, please visit the Regional Mitigation Program webpage and click on “Approved Regional Mitigation Program Project Descriptions” under Regional Mitigation Program Approved Projects in the drop down menu.
*Aransas Pass project approved in June, being celebrated with a check presentation today.
Texas GLO Regional Mitigation Program Council of Government Method of Distribution (COG MOD):
The Texas General Land Office (GLO) allocated $1,166,997,000 in Community Development Block Grant Mitigation (CDBG-MIT) funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the Regional Mitigation Program to reduce the risks and impacts of future natural disasters. Each Council of Government (COG) with HUD-designated eligible counties developed a method of distribution (MOD) for allocation of funds to units of local governments. Each COG developed their MOD through extensive public participation.
HUD defines mitigation as activities that increase resilience to disasters and reduce or eliminate the long-term risk of loss of life, injury, damage to and loss of property, and suffering and hardship, by lessening the impact of future disasters. HUD requires that at least 50% of total funds must be used for activities benefiting low- to moderate-income (LMI) persons. For more information, please visit recovery.texas.gov/mitigation.
# # #