HUD money finally being allocated to Texas counties
By SHARON KERR Staff Writer

Texas legislators leapt to claim success in getting $428.6 million approved by the U.S. Department of Houston and Urban Development (HUD) last Friday, April 13.

U.S. Congressman Kevin Brady said, "this is welcomed news. It's been 17 months since the hurricanes, and our communities have had to wait too long for the money needed to recover."

This money was allocated last year, part of a pool of $1 billion that was approved in June 2006 for Texas, Alabama, Florida and Mississippi, according to Texas Railroad Commissioner Michael L. Williams, who was designated by Governor Rick Perry to coordinate the Texas recovery.

What was announced last Friday is that plans have been developed and approved, opening the door for funds to begin flowing to the regions affected by the storms.

"The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) developed a balanced plan to address the devastation that occurred in Southeast and Deep East Texas. HUD's action today provides fellow Texans greater peace of mind, granting them additional financial security to get their lives, businesses and communities back on track," according to Williamson.

"By law, the state may use up to five percent of the funding to cover the administrative costs of the recovery program. The remaining $407 million will be used to assist in rebuilding the region's housing stock and critical infrastructure damaged by the hurricanes," according to a press release from Brady's office.

Michael Gerber, executive director of TDHCA, said, "With this approval, TDHCA will release next Monday more than $100 million in funds to repair both multifamily rental properties and critical infrastructure, and we will be working to get the remainder of these funds to the region in coming weeks."

Jasper County Judge Mark Allen pointed out that many fingers are in pie. The way the grant is worded, it will cover both damage and evacuations costs from both storms. More than six million is earmarked for Harris County, other funds are designated for coastal cities hit hardest by Rita's landfall, and even inland cities that were undamaged, like Dallas, are eligible for a cut because they housed evacuees.

"My feeling is that in Deep East Texas we are looking at about $22 million, and that will be awarded on a competitive bases among several jurisdictions," Allen said. "Five million is probably the maximum Jasper will see."

"We're going to compete for large scale debris removal," Allen said, "and get matching funds wherever we can, so that every time it rains we don't flood."

"Congressman Brady insured that the grants would be awarded on fair competitive procedures and that the counties affected most will be offered an opportunity to get their allotment (of the grant funding)," according to Allen.

The judge also noted that Jasper has only received $487,000 of the $2.2 million approved in the first round of funding.

"We're hoping the rest of that will be flowing this way soon," Allen said. "We will direct (those funds) toward debris removal, flood plain management and mitigation to ensure that now and future development does not experience more flooding."