Now that we’ve all been warned about the dangers of new spending in Houston’s government, it should be noted that there is some money available for various projects, thanks to the stimulus package. Via City Controller Annise Parker’s September newsletter:
The city has received $42 million in grants:
- $13.5 million to purchase and redevelop foreclosed or abandoned homes and provide homebuyer assistance. These dollars will likely be used in low-income Houston Hope neighborhoods.
- $12.4 million for homelessness prevention: emergency shelter and transitional housing for people who’ve lost homes or are on the verge of losing them.
- $8 million in Community Development Block Grants (CDBG):
– Single Room Occupancy (SRO) projects;
– New fire truck pumpers;
– Renovation of the Acres Home and Sunnyside Multi-Service Centers;
– Parking lot expansion at the Fifth Ward Multi-Service Center.- $4.8 million Airport Improvement Grant to fund taxiway, tarmac and drainage improvements at Ellington Field.
- $2.4 million to replace city’s oldest, highest-emitting diesel fuel vehicles with clean diesel equipment.
- 600 summer jobs for low-income area youth and adults.
Anticipated grant funding – $54 million:
- $7.7 million for the Radio Interoperability Project to allow area fire, police and other first responders to communicate despite incompatible equipment.
- $23.4 million for weatherization to reduce low-income homeowners’ utility bills.
- $22.8 million to help make city facilities more energy-efficient.
Competitive grants – $277.5 million
This includes more dollars for fuel-efficient vehicles, homelessness efforts, new firefighter equipment, clean water efforts, drug enforcement and port security.
Other area funding:
- $160 million for Houston ISD infrastructure, help for at-risk students and students with disabilities, and technology improvements.
- $123.9 million for Port of Houston dredging, grass plantings and other projects.
- $9 million to the Environmental Defense Fund, the Port and the Houston Galveston Area Council for bridge loans to retrofit or buy less-polluting trucks to transport shipping containers.
So there you have it. You can track federal stimulus dollars in Houston here (PDF).