AUSTIN – The Texas General Land Office (GLO) announced that $4,294,590 in U.S. Department of Housing and Development (HUD) Community Development Block Grant for Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds had been awarded to Jim Wells County and the cities of Orange Grove and Premont for infrastructure projects. These awards were eligible to communities affected by the 2015 floods.
Jim Wells County received two grants totaling $1,635,500 for road and drainage improvements to reduce flooding risks in the Rancho Alegre and Meadow Ridge colonias.
The City of Orange Grove received two grants totaling $1,200,00 for drainage and sewer improvements.
The City of Premont received two grants totaling $1,459,090 for drainage improvements.
As Vice Chair of the Senate Finance Committee and the lead budget author for the GLO’s budget during the past two sessions, Senator Hinojosa worked to ensure that the GLO is accountable for tracking the receipt and expenditures of all CDBG-DR funds received by the GLO.
Senator Hinojosa issued the following statement:
“After the devastating floods in 2015, I worked with the Texas General Land Office to ensure that the areas of our state most affected get the help they need to rebuild and to prevent future flooding damage to their communities. Several of our communities in Jim Wells County were heavily impacted, and I am pleased to see that they will receive over $4 million in grants for much need infrastructure projects.
The grants will go towards important flood mitigation measures in the cities of Orange Grove and Premont, and in the Meadow Ridge and Rancho Alegre colonias. These projects will improve these communities and make them more resilient against future storms.”
Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa proudly represents the counties of Nueces, Jim Wells, Brooks, and Hidalgo (part). Senator Hinojosa served as the Senate President Pro Tempore of the Texas Senate in the 84th Texas Legislature. Senator Hinojosa currently serves as Vice-Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, and serves on the Senate Committees on Natural Resources & Economic Development, Agriculture, Water & Rural Affairs and Transportation.