Grants Coordinator Jennifer Gates gave a presentation to the New Braunfels City Council on the Annual Action Plan, which outlines the anticipated use of CDBG funds determined by the New Braunfels Community Development Advisory Committee during a regular meeting June 26.
The details
The Community Development Block Grant is federal funding given to the city by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. New Braunfels distributes the funding to revitalize neighborhoods, support affordable housing, provide economic opportunities, and improve community facilities and services for low- and moderate-income residents.
New Braunfels Grants Coordinator Jennifer Gates gave council members a presentation outlining the recommended allocation of funding for the CDBG grant.
“It is more common for cities to utilize this funding for city projects. ... The process that we go through is very worthwhile. It's not the standard process and by no means required by [HUD],” Gates said.
A closer look
The city received 12 applications from 10 local nonprofit organizations for a variety of activities for a total of $166,160 within the public services category and approximately $351,633 within the public facilities and housing categories.
The local nonprofit organizations that are anticipated to receive funding are:
- Big Brothers Big Sisters
- Court Appointed Special Advocates of Central Texas
- Crisis Center of Comal County
- Family Life Center
- NB Housing Partners
- River City Advocacy
- San Antonio Food Bank
- The Salvation Army New Braunfels Corps
- Comal County Habitat for Humanity
- Connections Individual and Family Services
Nicole Douglas, the director of development for CASA of Central Texas, said she was grateful for the support the nonprofit has received from the city.
“CASA is charged to represent the best interest of the individual [children] or sibling group, work to find permanent homes [when] they have been placed in substitute care where they can thrive and be safe,” Douglas said.
Sarah Sorensen, the public policy and advocacy manager for the New Braunfels and San Antonio food banks, said the funding will help the organization fight food insecurity.
“With these funds, the New Braunfels Food Bank will provide an assortment of emergency food distribution services in the city of New Braunfels,” Sorensen said. “The food bank will provide 234 low-income to moderate-income residents of New Braunfels with approximately 20 to 25 pounds of fresh and perishable food.”
Amanda Hunt, River City Advocacy and Counseling Center executive director, said the funding will assist in providing counseling services to their clientele.
“About 30% of our clientele qualifies for the CDBG funding, so it's a really big help to have this funding. ... Our community's growing, and the need for mental health services that are affordable is growing as well,” Hunt said.
Items worth mentioning
On June 14, the committee also approved the city’s request to utilize a portion of the unallocated CDBG funding from previous program years to fund a city-managed Minor Home Repair Program for $109,900. The program will provide minor home repairs to low-income homeowners who reside within city limits.
