Kingsville Awarded $7,293,111 in Grant Funding
Press Release
KINGSVILLE - The City of Kingsville has been awarded $7,293,111 in grant funding from the Texas General Land Office for flood mitigation projects.
The Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush announced the Texas General Land Office (GLO) approved $135,462,438 in flood mitigation projects to 21 grantees in the second round of grant funding for the GLO’s $2.3 billion regional mitigation competitions
“Texas continues to experience tremendous economic and population growth across our state, and the GLO is working with local leaders to protect our communities against natural disasters such as flooding," said Commissioner Bush. "The GLO was provided with historic funding to help communities fortify critical infrastructure in preparation for flooding events. This $135 million in vital mitigation funds awarded by the GLO will provide essential protection for residents, businesses, and local government infrastructure."
The GLO received a historic $4.3 billion allocation in Community Development Block Grant Mitigation (CDBG-MIT) funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to mitigate against future damage from hurricanes, flooding and other natural disasters in repetitively damaged areas. Within the $2.3 billion set aside for regional mitigation awards, $147,680,760 was allocated to the 2016 Floods State Mitigation Competition, with 50% going to the HUD- and state-designated Most Impacted and Distressed (MID) areas. HUD requires at least 50% of the total $4.3 billion must be spent on activities benefiting low- to moderate-income (LMI) populations. Of the 504,428 residents benefiting from the announced grants, 284,196 – or more than 56% – are low- to moderate-income.
For the 2016 Floods Competition, the GLO received 35 applications representing a total request of $244,674,464 for $147,680,760 in available funding. The grantees announced represent the highest scoring applications meeting program eligibility requirements based on the 2016 Floods State Mitigation Competition Applicant Scoring and Eligibility Competition Criteria and the CDBG-MIT Action Plan. The remaining funds allocated to these two competitions will be announced as the competition continues through the eligibility process.