Today Commissioner George P. Bush announced the launch of the Texas General Land Office’s (GLO) Resilient Communities Program (RCP), which will fund the development, adoption, and implementation of modern and resilient building codes and flood damage prevention ordinances to ensure that structures built within the community can withstand future hazards.
The GLO allocated up to $100 million in Community Development Block Grant – Mitigation (CDBG-MIT) funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the program. Cities, counties, councils of government, and federally recognized Indian Tribes located in a CDBG-MIT eligible areas are eligible to apply for up to $300,000 per applicant. Applicants must have legal authority to adopt and enforce building codes, zoning ordinances, land use plans, and/or comprehensive plans proposed in the RCP application.
Applicants may apply for the d evelopment, adoption, and implementation of:
- Codes that meet or exceed the standards set forth in the International Residential Code 2012 (IRC 2012);
- Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance that meets CDBG-MIT requirements of at least 2 feet above base flood elevation.
- Zoning Ordinance based upon a land use plan or comprehensive plan;
- Forward-looking land use plans that integrate hazard mitigation plans;
- Forward-looking Comprehensive Plans that integrate hazard mitigation plans; or
Additionally, the funds can be used for public service activities focused on education and outreach campaigns designed to alert communities and beneficiaries to opportunities to further mitigate identified risks through insurance, best practices, and other strategies. Funding can also be used to increase community knowledge of the National Flood Insurance Program’s voluntary Community Rating System’s (CRS) incentive program. Public Service activities must meet a HUD national objective.
RCP team members are available to assist potential applicants with understanding how the program can best assist in meeting the needs of the community with regard to mitigation activities, such as modern building code adoption, that increase the resilience and reduce the likelihood of losses of life and property from future disasters. Potential applicants should call the RCP team at 512-770-4900 or email rcp.glo@recovery.texas.gov to ask questions related to the application and program. For additional information, please visit the RCP webpage at recovery.texas.gov/rcp.
Application intake begins June 1, 2022, and will be processed for eligibility on a first come, first served basis until June 1, 2028, or until funding is exhausted, whichever is first. Communities are also encouraged to also learn about RCP’s companion program, the Local Hazard Mitigation Plans Program (LHMPP), which is actively accepting applications. Visit LHMPP’s web page at recovery.texas.gov/mitigation/lhmpp.