Commissioner Dawn Buckingham Announces More Than $48.5 Million in Newly Approved Regional Mitigation Program Projects for Deep East Texas
Total funding approved nears $120 million for Deep East Texas
Austin — Today Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, M.D., announced the Texas General Land Office (GLO) approved $48,563,000 in new regional mitigation funds for eight federally eligible infrastructure projects to include improving water facilities, streets and roadside drainage systems, along with the construction of public community resource centers and shelters. These new grants are approved in addition to $71,198,000 previously announced. Through the Regional Mitigation Program, the GLO enabled local prioritization, which will have a tremendous impact across multiple regions.
The Texas General Land Office is proud to help communities grow knowing that the projects we fund will help protect local infrastructure, businesses, and the homes of those who live here, Commissioner Buckingham said. Federal funds can be complicated to administer, but the GLO is helping communities across Texas cut red tape and turn funds promised into projects delivered. These projects were prioritized at the local level by those who live in the communities that will ultimately benefit from the improvements. We are in Deep East Texas because we care about this region and want to help move these projects forward for the
benefit of these communities.
Newly approved grant awards:
| Grantee | County | Project Description | Grant Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newton County | Newton | Newton County community center and shelter | $13,627,000 |
| Onalaska | Polk | Street improvements | $679,000 |
| Livingston | Polk | Street improvements | $2,541,000 |
| City of Newton | Newton | Water and sewer improvements | $2,558,000 |
| Polk County | Polk | Water facilities, street, and drainage systems Improvements | $15,510,000 |
| Polk County | Polk | Road and water control systems improvements at three plants | $1,588,000 |
| Tyler County | Tyler | Drainage improvements | $2,672,000 |
| Tyler County | Tyler | Water and street improvements and Colmesneil area emergency generator | $9,388,000 |
| Total New Awards | $48,563,000 |
Previously announced approved awards:
| Grantee | County | Project Description | Grant Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| City of Shepherd | San Jacinto | Citywide water system improvements | $1,964,000 |
| City of Coldspring | San Jacinto | Sewage collection system improvements | $631,000 |
| City of Corrigan | Polk | Water storage rehabilitation | $561,000 |
| City of Hemphill | Sabine | Street improvements | $924,000 |
| City of Ivanhoe | Tyler | Street improvements | $1,933,000 |
| Sabine County | Sabine | Street improvements | $5,912,000 |
| City of Woodville | Tyler | Street improvements | $3,325,000 |
| Jasper County | Jasper | Construct community resource centers, reconstruct roadways, and install elevated water storage tanks | $13,254,000 |
| Deep East Texas Council of Governments | DETCOG | Broad and interoperable radio communications infrastructure | $42,694,000 |
| Previously Announced Total Grants | $71,198,000 |
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.
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