Yearly Archives: 2015

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, announces a grant of over $12 million in federal funds to improve an existing storm water detention basin and provide for the construction of a new storm water detention basin. The project when completed will lower flood water surface elevations and reduce structure flooding.

The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) today announced the availability of $8.5 million in grant funding to assist nonprofit groups and local governmental agencies through the Texans Feeding Texans: Home-Delivered Meal Grant Program. More than 18 percent of our state’s elderly population is facing the threat of hunger. With that in mind, the 84^th Texas Legislature increased funding for this vital grant program.

Home sharing has become popular as homeowners in areas near seasonal festivals and events discover a ready source of additional income in short-term rentals. Before renting out your home, it is important to find out if your homeowners insurance policy will cover such arrangements.

Faced with a long local history of dangerous tornadoes, Cooke County officials wanted to help residents protect themselves. They achieved that goal by offering homeowners financial incentives to build tornado shelters and safe rooms.

The New Hope Center of Paris received a total of $20,000 in Partnership Grant Program (PGP) awards today from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas), and its member institutions, First Federal Community Bank and Liberty National Bank. The funds will be used to cover operational expenses and for finish-out of the Center's new thrift store, slated to open in late 2015 or early 2016.

The Texas Association of REALTORS® installed its 2016 officers this month during the Texas REALTORS® Conference in Fort Worth. Set to take office on Jan. 1, 2016, these officers have more than a century of combined leadership experience, serving in the Texas real estate industry and their local communities. Incoming officers include Chairman Leslie Rouda Smith of Collin County, Chairman-Elect Vicki Fullerton of The Woodlands, Secretary/Treasurer Kaki Lybbert of Denton, and Immediate Past Chairman Scott Kesner of El Paso.

Hunt Mortgage Group, a commercial real estate lender, announced today it has closed its first loan in the healthcare sector through its Proprietary Loan Group, the firm’s new balance sheet lending platform launched earlier this year

One unfortunate trait shared by many rural Texas communities is a shortage of safe, decent rental housing. Because of this short supply, it can be extremely difficult – not to mention expensive – to secure such housing

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas) and member institution, Amegy Bank, have awarded a $500,000 Affordable Housing Program (AHP) grant to The Men's Center Inc. The grant will help the Houston-based nonprofit build a $12.2 million, 56-unit housing complex for men and women ages 18 and older who are recovering from substance abuse and other crisis situations.

Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today welcomed Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Chairman Dr. Bryan Shaw, who testified before a Subcommittee on Environment hearing to examine the impacts of the Environmental Protection Agency’s power plan regulation. The plan would require Texas to shoulder the burden of at least 18 percent of the total national emissions reduction.

Homeowners, renters and business owners in Willacy County and Cameron County in Texas are encouraged to look over newly-released preliminary flood maps in order to determine their flood risks and make informed decisions.

MERSCORP Holdings, Inc. today announced that Collin County District Court in Texas granted a motion for summary judgment in MERS’ favor reinstating the MERS lien on the property, which the Court found to be “in full force and effect.”

Texas home sales purchased by international homebuyers contributed $8.32 billion to the Texas economy between April 2014 and March 2015, according to the 2015 Texas International Homebuyers Report released today by the Texas Association of REALTORS

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller today applauded a federal court’s decision to block the expansion of the Clean Water Act by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The new Clean Water Act requirements took effect today. The injunction out of North Dakota impacts the 13 states that were part of the lawsuit filed in North Dakota in June 2015.

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker and Mexican Secretary of Finance and Public Credit Luis Videgaray Caso, Secretary of Communications and Transport Gerardo Ruiz Esparza, Secretary of Foreign Affairs José Antonio Meade Kuribreña, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner R. Gil Kerlikowske inaugurated the West Rail Bypass International Bridge in Brownsville, Texas. The bridge is the first new international rail crossing between the U.S. and Mexico in 105 years, connecting Brownsville, Texas and Matamoros, Tamaulipas.

Passco Companies, LLC has acquired Lone Oak Apartments, a recently completed 304-unit, Class-A garden-style multifamily community located in Round Rock, Texas, a suburb of Austin, according to Gary Goodman, Senior Vice President Acquisitions of Passco Companies.

As Texans rebuild or repair their homes damaged by the May 4 through June 22 storms, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and local home improvement stores have teamed up to provide free information, tips and literature on making homes stronger and safer

I’m thrilled to be home in Texas this week! I will be attending some great events and meetings with folks across the district. I will be in Lubbock meeting with homeschoolers from the Texas Home Educators Organization. It’s always great to meet with our youth and future leaders. I will also attend the Lubbock Area Republican Women Luncheon. I’m looking forward to meeting with our local credit unions to discuss the economy and what I am doing to bring regulatory relief to our community financial institutions.

The Altman Companies, a nationally recognized developer of luxury apartment communities, has broken ground on its first development in Austin, Texas. Located at 12700 Ridgeline Blvd., the 354-unit Altís Lakeline is rich with features and amenities.

As a recipient of Community Development Block Grant funds, the City is required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to identify the various factors that may affect fair housing choice in Midland and to develop an action plan to overcome them. The AI resulted in the identification of six major impediments to address in the next five years