Officials in New Braunfels considered the dispersal of an additional allocation of federal funds given through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development during a Jan. 11 public hearing.

Council is scheduled to make a decision on the allocation of about $423,000, given through the HUD's Community Development Block Grant, or CDBG-CV, program, during the body's Jan. 25 meeting.

New Braunfels Grant Coordinator Jennifer Gates said the funds can only be used for eligible activities related to organizations that aid victims of COVID-19.

The city's first two rounds of CDBG-CV funding, dispersed in 2020, totaled about $243,000 and $424,000, respectively.

Round-three funding amounted to about $424,000, and Gates said eligible uses include rent and utility assistance, food distribution and nonprofits that serve the public.


Organizations included in the first two rounds of recipients included CASA of Central Texas Inc., Family Life Center and Crisis Center of Comal County.

For round three, the city received applications from eight local nonprofit organizations, including Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Texas, Inc., Hope Hospice and New Braunfels Housing Partners.

"As you can imagine, there was a lot of conversation and a lot of consideration," Gates said. "Everyone is providing worthwhile services, but whether HUD guidelines determine them eligible is [what results in] a yes or a no."

Gates said city staff considered multiple factors for the third round of allocation and recommended giving the highest portion, $230,000, to New Braunfels Housing Partners, with other recipients being Hope Hospice and Family Life Center.


New Braunfels staff recommendations for third round of CDBG-CV funding

  • Comal County Habitat for Humanity: $54,912

  • Crisis Center of Comal County: $5,419

  • Family Life Center: $10,839

  • Hope Hospice: $122,482

  • New Braunfels Housing Partners: $230,167


Total: $423,819