by Miohael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian
Uvalde County Commissioners considered and approved several federal and state government grants to fund Uvalde County operations and projects.
Among the grants discussed was a Community Projects Funding Grant request for FY 2025 in the amount of $10 million dollars. According to Uvalde County Grant Writer Carl Esser who presented the agenda item, the deadline for applying for the grant was May 1st, 2024. According to Esser 75 percent of the grant money would be used for improvements at Wes Cooksey Park owned by the County. The Park is located along Hwy 55 on the northwest side of Uvalde County close to Camp Wood. The park is situated near the Wes Cooksey Nueces River Dam which is a popular river recreation area.
See more information here: https://gonzales.house.gov/2023/1/congressman-gonzales-secures-62-million-community-project-funding-tx-23
The remaining 25 percent of the grant would go towards conservation effort and enhance beautification.
According to Esser the grant has matching funds. Esser went on to say he is waiting on notification of the grant and it make take some time.
Commissioners approved accepting an Operation Stonegarden grant. The grant under the name Stonegarden would be used to fund the Uvalde County Sheriff’s Office and Border Protection.
The U.S.Department of Homeland Security has the following information on Operation Stonegarden:
“This program provides funding to enhance cooperation and coordination among state, local, tribal, territorial, and federal law enforcement agencies to jointly enhance security along the United States land and water borders.”
Total amount of the grant is $151,771 dollars.
According to Uvalde County Judge William “Bill” Mitchell, this is the 9th year the County will have participated in this grant. The awarded grant money will be used to fund overtime pay for Uvalde County Sheriff’s Deputies and to purchase radios.
Uvalde resident Diana Olvedo -Karau presented a citizen’s comment on the grant asking commissioners. “Over the last 9 years, whaf impact has been made to keep our borders secure? What is the impact to our community? Are we safer? Are we secure? she said.
Section 3 Goals of Uvalde County Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Contracts
It was announced that Uvalde County recently received funds from two grants to fund the installation of new water lines and street repairs in Knippa and also to fund the purchase of a new fire truck for the Knippa Volunteer Fire Department.
Grant CFC 23-0222 consists of $762,251 which will be used to install new water lines and street repairs in Knippa. This grant is funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of Agricuture.
Commissioners also acknowledged an award of $500,000 from CDBG funds CDV-23-0223 to fund the purchase of a new fire truck for the Knippa Volunteer Fire Department and also to fund park improvements.
“According to information from a powerpoint slide program about the aformentioned grant, it states: • As a condition of funding, Uvalde County must comply with Section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968.• To the greatest extent feasible, Grant Recipients must direct economic opportunities generated by CDBG funds to low- and very low-income persons.”
The following information about the CDBG Programs is from Texas Department of Agriculture website:
“The primary objective of the Community Development Block Grant program is to develop viable communities by providing decent housing and suitable living environments and expanding economic opportunities principally for persons of low- to moderate-income. Eligible applicants are non-entitlement cities under 50,000 in population and non-entitlement counties that have a non-metropolitan population under 200,000 and are not eligible for direct CDBG funding from HUD may apply for funding through any of the Texas CDBG programs.
Click HERE for more information about the TxCDBG program.”
TxCDBG Information Sheet
Federal Grants to State and Local Governments
According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office website:
“The The federal government awards hundreds of billions of dollars in grants to state and local governments each year. These grants help finance a broad range of services, including health care, education, social services, infrastructure, and public safety.”
Why it matters:
Federal Grants are funded by Tax Dollars
