The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting applications from eligible entities to provide planning, training and technical assistance to rural communities for place-making activities to spur economic growth and community development.  USDA is making up to $3 million in cooperative agreement grants available under the Rural Place-making Innovation Challenge (RPIC).  Eligible entities may use the funds to help rural communities create plans to enhance capacity for broadband access, preserve historical and cultural structures or develop transportation, housing and recreational spaces. Public or private groups, organizations, or institutions that demonstrate experience in providing place-making technical assistance and administering federal grants are eligible to apply. USDA seeks to partner with at least one entity each located in the northeastern, southern, midwestern and western regions of the United States.  The maximum award for any one applicant is $250,000.  Applicants must provide a funding match of 15 percent. 

Electronic applications must be submitted via grants.gov by July 26, 2021, at 11:59 PM, EDT.  For more information contact: RD.RPIC@usda.gov or review Federal Register Notice RBS-21-CO-OP-0011.
 

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The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) will hold one public hearing during a 31-day Public Comment period to accept public comment on the draft 2022 State of Texas Consolidated Plan: One-Year Action Plan (the Plan). The public comment period for the draft Plan will be held Monday, May 16, 2022, through Wednesday, June 15, 2022.


The one public hearing for the 2022 One-Year Action Plan is scheduled to take place as follows:

Wednesday, June 1, 2022, at 2 p.m., Austin local time
Stephen F. Austin Building, Room 172
1700 Congress Ave, Austin, TX, 78701


TDHCA, the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA), and the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) prepared the Draft 2022 State of Texas Consolidated Plan: One-Year Action Plan (the Plan) in accordance with 24 CFR Section 91.320. TDHCA coordinates the preparation of the State of Texas Consolidated Plan documents. The Plan covers the State's administration of the Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) by TDA, the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS Program (HOPWA) by DSHS, and the Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) Program, the HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) Program, and the National Housing Trust Fund (NHTF) by TDHCA.

The Plan reflects the intended uses of funds received by the State of Texas from HUD for Program Year 2022. The Program Year begins on September 1, 2022, and ends on August 31, 2023. The Plan also illustrates the State's strategies in addressing the priority needs and specific goals and objectives identified in the 2020-2024 State of Texas Consolidated Plan.

The Plan may be accessed from TDHCA's Public Comment Web page at http://www.tdhca.state.tx.us/public-comment.htm. Anyone may submit comments on the Plan in written form or oral testimony at the June 1, 2022, public hearing. In addition, written comments concerning the Plan may be submitted in the following ways:

- by mail, send to: The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, Housing Resource Center, P.O. Box 13941, Austin, TX 78711-3941
- by email, send to: info@tdhca.state.tx.us

Comments may be submitted at any time during the comment period. Comments must be received no later than Wednesday, June 15, 2022, at 5 p.m., Austin local time.


Individuals who require auxiliary aids or services at the public hearing should contact Elizabeth Yevich, at (512) 463-7961 or Relay Texas at 1-800-735-2989 at least three days before the meeting so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

Non-English speaking individuals who require interpreters at the public hearing should contact Danielle Leath by phone at (512) 475-4606 or by email at danielle.leath@tdhca.state.tx.us at least three days before the meeting so that appropriate arrangements can be made.


Aviso de audiencia publica y periodo de comentarios publicos sobre el borrador del plan consolidado del estado de Texas 2021: plan de accion de un ano (el Plan).


La unica audiencia publica para el Plan de accion de un ano 2022 esta programada para llevarse a cabo de la siguiente manera:

Miercoles, 1 de junio de 2022 - 2:00 p.m.
Stephen F. Austin Building, Room 172
1700 Congress Ave, Austin, TX, 78701

TDHCA, el Departamento de Agricultura de Texas (TDA) y el Departamento de Servicios de Salud del Estado de Texas (DSHS) prepararon el Borrador del Plan Consolidado del Estado de Texas 2021: Plan de Accion de Un Ano (el Plan) de acuerdo con 24 CFR Section 91.320. TDHCA coordina la preparacion de los documentos del Plan Consolidado del Estado de Texas. El Plan cubre la administracion estatal del Programa de Subvenciones en Bloque para el Desarrollo Comunitario (CDBG) de TDA, el Programa de Oportunidades de Vivienda para Personas con SIDA (HOPWA) de DSHS, y el Programa de Subvenciones de Soluciones de Emergencia (ESG), las Asociaciones de Inversion HOME (HOME) Y el Fondo Fiduciario Nacional de Vivienda (NHTF) por TDHCA.

El plan refleja los usos previstos de los fondos recibidos por el estado de Texas de HUD para el ano del programa 2022. El ano del programa comienza el 1 de septiembre de 2022 y finaliza el 31 de agosto de 2023. El plan tambien ilustra las estrategias del estado para abordar la prioridad necesidades y metas y objetivos especificos identificados en el Plan Consolidado del Estado de Texas 2020-2024.

Se puede acceder al plan desde la pagina web de comentarios publicos del TDHCA en http://www.tdhca.state.tx.us/public-comment.htm. El periodo de comentarios publicos para el Plan estara abierto desde el lunes 16 de mayo de 2022 hasta el miercoles 15 de junio de 2022. Cualquiera puede enviar comentarios sobre el Plan en forma escrita o testimonio oral en la audiencia publica de 1 de junio de 2022. Ademas, los comentarios por escrito sobre el Plan se pueden enviar de las siguientes maneras:

por correo postal a: Departamento de Vivienda y Asuntos Comunitarios de Texas, Centro de recursos de vivienda, P.O. Box 13941, Austin, TX 78711-3941,
por correo electronico a: info@tdhca.state.tx.us

Los comentarios pueden enviarse en cualquier momento durante el periodo de comentarios. Los comentarios deben recibirse a mas tardar el miercoles 15 de junio de 2022 a las 5:00 pm, hora local de Austin.


Las personas que requieran ayudas o servicios auxiliares en la audiencia publica deben comunicarse con Elizabeth Yevich, al (512) 463-7961 o Relay Texas al 1-800-735-2989 al menos tres dias antes de la reunion para que se puedan realizar los arreglos apropiados.

Personas que hablan espanol y requieren un interprete, favor de llamar a Danielle Leath al siguiente numero (512) 475-4606 o enviarle un correo electronico a danielle.leath@tdhca.state.tx.us por lo menos tres dias antes de la junta para hacer los preparativos apropiados.

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The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) is pleased to announce it is launching the statewide rent and utility assistance, the Texas Rent Relief Program. The program will accept applications beginning Monday, February 15, at 8 a.m., Central Time.

TDHCA is holding two identical informational sessions on Friday, February 12, 2021, at noon and 3 p.m., Central Time. The sessions will provide general program information to landlords, apartment associations, Community Action Agencies, Council of Governments and any other interested associations or organizations interested in learning more about the program to share with their stakeholders.

Register at the following link to join the 12 p.m. (noon), Central Time, webinar: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5202218733421377293.

Register at the following link to join the 3 p.m., Central Time, webinar: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4817535898746438413.

After registering, attendees will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Program eligibility information is currently available at TexasRentRelief.com or by calling 1-833-9TX-RENT (1-833-989-7368) to speak with call center representatives. The call center is open Monday thru Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Assistance is available in multiple languages, including English, Spanish, Mandarin, Vietnamese and Korean.

Applicants can complete an application by phone or submitting an online application at TexasRentRelief.com starting 8 a.m. on Monday, February 15.

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The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) Texas Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Program is now accepting applications under the second round of funding with more than $41 million available to replace or re-power vehicles configured to collect and transport municipal solid waste (refuse vehicles).  Eligible vehicles include Class 7 and 8 refuse vehicles powered by a diesel engine (model years 1992-2009).  Refuse vehicles may include garbage trucks, recycling trucks, roll-off trucks, dump trucks, grapple trucks and chipper trucks. An eligible refuse vehicle may be replaced or re-powered with a new all-electric, diesel, or alternative fuel vehicle or engine.  Refuse vehicles must be operated 51% of their annual mileage within one of the following priority areas:

 - Austin Area: Travis, Hays, Caldwell, Bastrop and Williamson counties
 - Bell County: Bell county
 - Beaumont-Port Arthur Area: Hardin, Jefferson and Orange counties
 - Dallas-Fort Worth Area: Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Hood, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker, Rockwall, Tarrant and Wise counties
 - El Paso Area: El Paso county
 - Houston-Galveston-Brazoria Area: Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery and Waller counties
 - San Antonio Area: Bexar, Comal, Guadalupe, and Wilson counties

Applications will be accepted until 5:00 pm on October 8, 2020, or until all funds have been awarded.  Please see www.TexasVWFund.org or call toll free at 833-215-8989 with questions regarding the grant application process.

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The Environmental Finance Center Network (EFCN) will be hosting a workshop on "Water System Finance and Effective Communication with Boards" on June 11, 2019.  This workshop will survey the basics of financial management of small water systems and provide tips for working with the board.  This workshop is ideal for individuals with only beginner knowledge of utility financial management, who are tasked with long-term asset maintenance and communicate directly with a board on utility finance matters.   

June 11, 2019: 8:00am - 3:30pm
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Region 5
2916 Teague Drive, Tyler, TX 75701
Register Online HERE

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The UTSA Institute for Economic Development, in partnership with the South-West Texas Border SBDC Network, and the Southwest Trade Adjustment Assistance Center, is hosting the 10th Annual Texas Rural Challenge in New Braunfels, Texas.  The Texas Rural Challenge aims to connect rural leaders with local, state and federal resources, in order to create opportunities for economic growth by drawing on regional strengths. 

        June 17 - 18, 2019 at the New Braunfels Civic Center
        Register at www.texasrurualchallenge.org
        (Early Bird Discount rate expires on April 15, 2019)

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The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide webinar using ePER on streamlining and simplifying the process for small communities to gain improved access to funding from the USDA's Rural Utility Service for water and waste water infrastructure. Focus areas for this effort have included an interagency template for the Preliminary Engineering Report (PER), an application portal called RD Apply, and a software portal that automates the development of PERs for consulting engineers called the electronic Preliminary Engineering Report (ePER).

Thursday, April 19th - 12:00PM (CST)
Register HERE

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The Texas Water Development Board's (TWDB) Water Loss Audit and Leak Detection Workshops available to retail public water suppliers across Texas. For additional information and to view upcoming workshops, please visit the TWDB's Water Loss Audit Resources webpage.

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The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) is providing two webinar presentations in coordination with the Texas Workforce Commission to celebrate fair housing in Texas. The series will feature training sessions that are designed to introduce, add to, or refresh your general fair housing knowledge.

Tuesday April 17 - 2:00PM
Register HERE

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The NADO Research Foundation has recently begun a partnership with the Environmental Finance Center Network to collaborate on the Smart Management for Small Water Systems Program.  The program, funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, provides free training and technical assistance to small public water systems in all fifty states and five territories.  These services are delivered through in-person workshops, webinars, and individualized technical assistance.

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The Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI) is accepting applications for its Targeted Small Grants Program until February 14, 2019.  The goal of this program is to stimulate fresh food retail development by helping healthy food retailers overcome higher costs and barriers to entry in low income and underserved communities across the country.  Eligible projects include those that expand or preserve the availability of staples and perishable foods in underserved areas and accept benefits under SNAP.  In general, grants range from $25,000 - $250,000.  A total of $1.4 million is available for Financial Assistance in this round. An additional $400,000 is available for Technical Assistance.  For additional information, please see the 2019 Request for Assistance.

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 External Resource Links:

USDA Seeks Applications for Funding to Increase Access to E-Connectivity/Broadband in Unserved Rural Areas

Winter 2017 Integrity Bulletin: Key Components of Financial Management for CPD Grants

Previous Bulletins (HUD Website)

Web-based Instructional System for Environmental Reviews (WISER)

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) offers free workshops pertaining to Revised Total Coliform Rule

TX-PACE: An overview for Local Government Officials