Overview
The United States Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) has allocated funding through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program to the state of Texas. The Texas General Land Office (GLO) has been designated to administer the CDBG funds on behalf of the state of Texas. The Harris County Flood Control District is a direct recipient of CDBG funds through both the Mitigation (CDBG-MIT) and Disaster Recover (CDBG-DR) programs.
CDBG-MIT
CDBG-MIT dollars are focused on funding projects that mitigate future disasters and flooding. $502.5 million is available to fund Flood Control District mitigation projects through CDBG-MIT. These projects must meet the following criteria:
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Benefitted Areas:
- 53% of CDBG-MIT funds must be spent in low-to-moderate income (LMI) census tracts or census block groups with a 51% or higher LMI index.
- After that criterion is met, “urgent need” projects may be considered, which do not have a minimum LMI requirement.
- Timeline:
- Under the current schedule, 50% of allocated funds must be spent by June 30, 2025, and 100% of the allocated funds must be spent by March 31, 2027.
- There is a possibility for a three-year extension on these dates. Timelines will be formally determined and approved by GLO as projects are added by amendment to the GLO/County Contract.
- Additional Considerations:
- CDBG-MIT funding cannot be used to supplant local funds already assigned to a project. The funds can only be used to cover unfunded project costs or project cost overruns.
- Ideal project size due to approval requirements and environmental reviews is between $3 million and $10 million.
- Avoiding right-of-way acquisition and complicated environmental clearances due to timelines.
CDBG-DR
CDBG-DR dollars are focused on funding projects with a direct tie to areas impacted by Hurricane Harvey, as part of disaster recovery efforts. $322 million in funding is available to fund Flood Control District projects. These projects must meet the following criteria:
- Benefitted Areas:
- 50% of CDBG-DR funds must be spent in LMI census tracts or census block groups with a 51% or higher LMI index.
- After that criterion is met, “urgent need” projects may be considered, which do not have a minimum LMI requirement.
- It is preferred if CDBG-DR funds are utilized in racially/ethnically concentrated areas of poverty (R/ECAP). Project selection for CDBG-DR funds will prioritize projects in R/ECAP areas.
- All CDBG-DR projects have a requirement for the project to have a direct link to areas impacted by Hurricane Harvey.
- Timeline:
- All CDBG-DR funds must be expended by June 15, 2026. There is little-to-no chance of extension on CDBG-DR funds.
- Additional Considerations:
- CDBG-DR funding cannot be used to supplant local funds already assigned to a project. The funds can only be used to cover unfunded project costs or project cost overruns.
- Ideal project size due to approval requirements and environmental reviews is between $3 million and $10 million.
- Avoiding right-of-way acquisition and complicated environmental clearances due to timelines.
Additional Criteria
Harris County Commissioners Court has identified additional goals for CDBG-MIT and CDBG-DR funds. These include:
- An aspirational goal of 70% of funds expended should benefit LMI and R/ECAP residents.
- Projects selected shall be projects included in the 2018 Bond Program.
- Projects with a 51% or higher LMI index will take precedence over other projects meeting the required criteria.
- Projects with a Flood Control District Prioritization Framework score of at least 5.0 will take precedence over other projects meeting the required criteria to the maximum extent practical.
Status
Proposed project lists for CDBG-MIT and CDBG-DR were submitted to Harris County Commissioners Court in June 2022 and were approved unanimously. Formal applications will be submitted to the GLO after contracts between the Flood Control District and the GLO are finalized for each program.
Project lists and associated maps are included below for reference.