Harris County agencies are advancing an innovative path forward to protect federal disaster recovery funding, cut through bureaucratic barriers, and keep critical flood risk reduction projects moving for residents.
The proposed approach goes beyond standard government processes by coordinating across agencies, funding programs, and project timelines to solve complex federal funding challenges.
Rather than allowing program deadlines or administrative silos to limit delivery, the Harris County Flood Control District and the Harris County Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) are working to align CDBG-DR and CDBG-MIT funding in a way that preserves project commitments and maximizes benefits for Harris County communities.
Working together with our partners at the Texas General Land Office (GLO), we have developed an approach that will:
- Meet the February 28, 2027, CDBG-DR spending deadline;
- Keep CDBG-DR disaster recovery funding in Harris County;
- Preserve the full scope and intended benefits of flood risk reduction projects originally planned through CDBG-DR and CDBG-MIT;
- Create an opportunity for approximately $125 million in additional mitigation work through HCD’s CDBG-MIT program; and
- Position HCD and the Flood Control District for a potential CDBG-MIT extension.
The approach includes:
- Phasing projects across programs so eligible work can move forward under CDBG-DR while remaining project scope is delivered through CDBG-MIT.
- Moving seven fast-moving subdivision drainage projects into the CDBG-DR program to maximize eligible spending before the federal deadline and free up approximately $125 million in HCD’s CDBG-MIT program for additional mitigation work.
- Continuing to identify eligible opportunities for any remaining CDBG-DR funds, including planning studies, additional subdivision drainage projects, project transfers, and acceleration strategies.
All CDBG-DR projects have been bid for construction. Seven projects totaling more than $70 million are currently under active construction, and four more are expected to enter construction by the end of June. Three CDBG-MIT projects totaling more than $65 million are also under active construction.
The Flood Control District will present the proposed approach for discussion and possible action at the June 11, 2026, meeting of Harris County Commissioners Court. A more formal release with additional details will be distributed next week.
All elements of the proposed approach remain subject to applicable HUD and GLO rules, regulations, reviews, and approvals.