The City of Navasota has lit the fire under going after numerous grant opportunities for city wide improvements.
City Grand Coordinator Evette Fannin recently spoke at city council about hiring Public Management as the Grant Administrator, for helping with the applications, and Bleyl Engineering for the engineering services of the projects.
One of the big ones is applying for the 2023-24 Community Development Block Grant Porgram.
“This grant specifically is a $500,000 grant maximum, with a city match of 10%,” said Fannin.
Money from the grant is eligible to improve water, wastewater, drainage, streets, roads and bridge projects, with 51% benefiting low to moderate income (LMI) areas.
Public Management was also hired as the grant administrator to assist the City of Navasota with receiving its allocation of $996,000 through the Brazos Valley Council of Governments (BVCOG). That grant is funded by the Texas General Land Office (GLO), and requires that 33% benefit LMI areas, which city manager Jason Weeks says should be no issue.
“Plan is to use the funds for the water projects, water tower and water plant, which supplies all of our residents, so we will deifnitely meet that 33% requirement,” said Weeks.
Council also approved authorizing Request for Proposals (RFP) for grant administration and planning services for the Resilient Communities Program administered through the GLO, with potential for $300,000 in funds.
Last on the list was the 2023 Downtown Revitalization Program administered by the TDA. Award amounts ranges from $250,000-$500,000, with 50% related to sidewalks and ADA compliance.
Weeks says projects for that include revitalizing the area behind Blues Alley.
