CONGRESSMAN RUBÉN HINOJOSA ANNOUNCES $129 MILLION IN RELIEF FUNDS THROUGH DISASTER RECOVERY GRANT FOR DEEP SOUTH TEXAS

Congressman Rubén Hinojosa (D-TX-15) announced today that a total of $129,534,387 in disaster recovery funds were awarded to several counties, a city and to the Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council through the Texas Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recover Grant and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

"This funding will help thousands of people by upgrading their quality of life when it comes to health and safety," said U. S. Rep. Hinojosa. "We are still recovering from the effects of Hurricane Dolly which hit the Rio Grande Valley in 2008 and caused severe wind damage and flooding. This grant award is very much needed and appreciated."

$122,034,387 was awarded to the Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council and will be used for the Non-Rental Housing Assistance Program. The funds will provide homeowner rehabilitation and reconstruction assistance activities for households, including Homeowner Opportunity Program (HOP). All households served through this program must be low and moderate income families.  The grant also includes the use of Non-Rental Homebuyer Assistance Program, Non-Rental Rapid Housing Recovery Pilot Program and Multi-Family Rental Housing Units. This part of the grant will serve 815 households.

$4,500,000 was awarded to Hidalgo County and will be used to construct a drainage channel to direct storm water to a primary drainage channel to reduce flooding from storm water in Hidalgo County between Edcouch and La Villa. The funding will also be used to improve canals, irrigation and drainage to prevent flooding in Hidalgo County between Alberta Road and Owassa Road 3/4 of a mile east of Tower Road. This project should benefit over 50 residents.

$1,000,000 was awarded to Brooks County for regrading, realigning and widening of roadside drainage ditches in the Cantu Addition and the Los Olmos South Drainage Improvements area. The project includes the replacement of culverts. These projects should benefit approximately 183 residents.

$1,000,000 was awarded to Jim Wells County to be used to remove and replace culverts, resurface crossings, repair driveways in order to ensure proper disposal of storm water and reduce flooding. These improvements will be made at Lattas Creek on McMasters Road and on Gulf Street (Ditch and Storm Sewer) from Eva Street to Range Street and on to Lattas Creek. Over 500 residents will benefit from this project.

$1,000,000 was awarded to the City of Falfurrias for various repairs and replacement of drainage pipes, culverts, the excavation of roadside ditches and pavement repair. The project will improve the drainage capacity within the storm sewer and increase the efficiency of water drainage. The project will take place on several streets in the Cibolo Creek area. This project should benefit close to 1,000 people.

The grant funds are made available from the 2008 Supplemental Community Development Block Grant associated with the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act which was appropriated b Congress through HUD.

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