County finally receives CBDG state money

Jasper County Judge Mark Allen reported last week that the first payment of Community Block Development Grants, $487,000+, is finally in Jasper County's bank account.

Allen said, "It's a start, and a relief to finally have these funds in our account, but we're only one quarter of the way. We will keep pushing forward."

County officials have wrangled for months with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Office of Rural Community Affairs (ORCA) to get the funds allocated by Congress to reimburse hurricane-devastated counties for expenses incurred in the aftermath of the storm.

After a day-long session last month, followed by a visit from U.S. Congressman Kevin Brady, ORCA officials finally unequivocally agreed to $487,000 of $1.8 million the county is seeking.

Terms for resubmitting expenses in accordance with grant requirements were agreed to at the meeting. Allen said now it's just a matter of more time and more paperwork to get the remainder of the reimbursement.