$5 million to support hard-hit areas including Bastrop County
WASHINGTON, D.C. – November 6, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today approved a $5 million State of Texas disaster plan to primarily assist Bastrop County to recover from devastating wildfires in 2011. This disaster recovery plan will rely on grants provided earlier this year through HUD’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program.
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Earlier this year, HUD allocated $5 million to the State of Texas to supplement long-term disaster recovery efforts in especially hard-hit areas throughout Bastrop County. In addition, HUD allocated $31.3 million to Texas last year to promote recovery from the 2011 fires.
“This is another important step toward recovery and healing,” said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. “State and local planners will now be able to implement their recovery strategies for restoring critical infrastructure in Bastrop County.”
The Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013, signed into law by President Obama on January 29th, included $16 billion in CDBG-Disaster Recovery funding. HUD will announce additional allocations throughout the year based upon the level of remaining needs to help other states and local communities impacted by natural disasters in 2011-2013.
HUD’s CDBG-Disaster Recovery grants are intended to confront housing, business and infrastructure needs beyond those addressed by private insurance and other forms of public assistance. Using a combination of data from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Small Business Administration (SBA), HUD identified those states and local communities requiring the greatest assistance to recover from devastating tornadoes in the Southeast and Missouri; remnants of Hurricanes Irene and Lee in the Northeast and New England; severe flooding in parts of North Dakota; and destructive wildfires in Texas.
The state plans to use these funds in conjunction with the previous grant ($31,319,686) awarded to address damage of the wildfires in 2011. These funds will be used for infrastructure within Bastrop County. Funds will be used solely for necessary expenses related to disaster relief, long-term recovery, and restoration of infrastructure in the most impacted and distressed Texas counties.
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HUD’s mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all.
HUD is working to strengthen the housing market to bolster the economy and protect consumers; meet the
need for quality affordable rental homes: utilize housing as a platform for improving quality of life; build
inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination; and transform the way HUD does business.
More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and
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Contact:
Brian Sullivan
(202) 708-0685
