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Presentation, discussion, and possible action on Colonia Self-Help Center Program Awards to Maverick County, Val Verde County, Webb County, and Hidalgo County in accordance with Tex. Gov’t Code §2306.582 through Community Development Block Grant Funding
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RECOMMENDED ACTION
recommendation
WHEREAS, the Department is required to establish Colonia Self-Help Centers (CSHCs) in Cameron/Willacy, El Paso, Hidalgo, Starr, Nueces, and Webb counties;
WHEREAS, in 2001 the Department opened two additional CSHCs in Maverick and Val Verde counties as authorized by Tex. Gov’t Code §2306.582 to address the needs of colonias in these counties;
WHEREAS, in accordance with Tex. Gov’t Code §2306.585(b) the Department is required to meet with the Colonia Resident Advisory Committee (C-RAC) at least 30 days prior to the Board’s consideration of a CSHC award;
WHEREAS, on August 29, 2024, the Department met with the C-RAC to discuss funding proposals for Maverick, Val Verde, Webb, and Hidalgo counties, and the C-RAC recommended to award funds to these counties;
WHEREAS, these awards will make Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding available to serve Maverick, Val Verde, Webb, and Hidalgo County colonias with the CSHC Program; and
WHEREAS, the Previous Participation Review and Approval Process (PPRAP) has reviewed the compliance history of all Applicants, and recommends approval with no conditions for all proposed CSHC awards;
NOW, therefore, it is hereby
RESOLVED, that the Executive Director, his designees, and each of them be and they hereby are authorized, empowered, and directed, for and on behalf of the Department, to take any and all such actions as they or any of them may deem necessary or advisable to effectuate awards totaling $3,900,000 for CSHC funding recommended by C-RAC, and as recommended by PPRAP.
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BACKGROUND
The Department is required to establish CSHCs under Tex. Gov't Code §2306.582 to provide on-site technical assistance to improve the quality of life for colonia residents located in five counties (El Paso, Hidalgo, Starr, Webb, and Cameron/Willacy). Additionally, the Department is authorized to establish other CSHCs if it determines it is necessary and appropriate. Since the creation of the program in 1995, two additional CSHCs have been established in Maverick, and Val Verde counties. Effective September 1, 2021, HB 2893 requires that a third additional CSHC be established in Nueces County.
The CSHC contracts have a term of four years per Tex. Gov’t Code §2306.587, and a limit of $1,000,000 in accordance with 10 TAC §25.5. The CSHCs are funded through a 2.5% set-aside (approximately $1.5 million per year) of the annual Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) non-entitlement allocation to the State of Texas. The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) receives the allocation from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and TDA and TDHCA together manage CDBG funds and implement the CSHC Program through a Memorandum of Understanding.
TDHCA’s Colonia Resident Advisory Committee (C-RAC) review proposals from participating counties that include a Performance Statement and Budget for the activities to be implemented in their respective designated colonias. On August 29, 2024, the C-RAC convened for presentations of proposals by Maverick, Webb, Val Verde, and Hidalgo counties. The C-RAC recommends to the Board that it award all Counties’ proposals in full, which are summarized in the attached Exhibits A and B.
All CHSCs recommended for award by C-RAC have been reviewed for previous participation. On September 30, 2024, PPRAP recommended approval with no conditions for all proposed awards. The Contract Term for each county is anticipated to be four years from a mutually agreed upon date, not to predate October 10, 2024, and no later than December 1, 2024.