Williamson County commissioners on July 27 approved the reception of and the action plan for the CDBG grant funds.
According to county documents, the county will receive more than $2 million of CDBG funds total from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to support seven infrastructure and public facilities projects countywide. This funding will be reflected in the county’s 2021-22 fiscal year budget.
The CDBG program distributes annual grants to states, counties and cities to help “develop viable urban communities by providing decent housing and a suitable living environment, and by expanding economic opportunities, principally for low- and moderate-income persons,” according to HUD.
The following projects are set to receive federal funds for implementation:
- Habitat for Humanity home repair program ($150,000)
- Georgetown home repair program ($100,000)
- Granger wastewater project Colorado Street ($344,050)
- Liberty Hill sidewalk project ($488,000)
- Georgetown Housing Authority rehab project ($330,000)
- Granger Housing Authority rehab ($12,000)
- Jarrell water system improvements ($467,000)
Williamson County also set aside $96,984 to CDBG administration and oversight, as well as an additional $35,000 to social services. Together, those account for 7.7% of the CDBG funds granted to the county.
In all, four housing rehabilitation projects will receive a combined $592,000 of federal funds from HUD this year. That accounts for more than a quarter of all Williamson County CDBG funds this year.
According to commissioners court backup documents, Williamson County expects the CDBG funds will help the Georgetown and Habitat for Humanity home repair programs both repair 20 homes each. The county expects the Granger Housing Authority to improve on 26 households or multifamily units with the federal money. The units are 2-3 bedroom spaces set aside to serve low-income families.
The Georgetown Housing Authority will see the largest slice of CDBG funds for affordable housing projects, according to county documents. With the $330,000 it receives, the Georgetown Housing Authority is expected to improve or rehabilitate 158 low-income housing units.
The largest chunk of Williamson County’s CDBG funds will be directed to infrastructure projects in different corners of the county. Three projects—a Granger Colorado Street wastewater line replacement, the Liberty Hill sidewalk installation project and Jarrell water system improvements—account for $1.3 million of CDBG funds as a whole.
