Pflugerville City Council on June 23 submitted a disaster recovery grant application through the Economic Development Administration. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act has provided $1.5 billion to the EDA for economic development assistance, according to city documents. States, counties, cities and other political entities are eligible to apply. Funding can be used on infrastructure and economic development, higher education institutions and nonprofit organizations, per city documents.
City officials and the Pflugerville Community Development Corp. are applying for the grant to enhance eastern and western mobility improvements along Pecan Street the FM 685 and Dessau Road intersections. The application pertains to intersection improvements "in support of job creation via Project Charm," documents state. Project Charm is a code name the city and the PCDC use for a 3.8 million-square-foot distribution facility under construction on Pecan Street near SH 130.
The intersection improvement project is currently in the design phase by Pacheco Koch Consulting Engineers Inc. Construction costs are estimated around $2.5 million. The federal grant would cover 80% of construction costs if awarded, according to city documents.
The maximum allotment for grant funding is listed as $3.8 million. The intersection project's total cost—including engineering, environmental work and review fees from the Texas Department of Transportation—is estimated to be around $3.2 million, per city documents.
