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The Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) received an allocation of $62,000,200 in Community Development Block Grant Mitigation (CDBG-MIT) funds under the recently approved Method of Distribution (MOD) for the H-GAC region. This allocation of funds from the Texas General Land Office’s (GLO) Regional Mitigation Program is intended to support local government projects of regional significance or urgent local need. H-GAC will formally apply on or before April 10, 2023, to GLO to use these funds for a variety of projects identified by H-GAC’s Board of Directors (H-GAC Board).
As specified in the GLO Regional Mitigation Plan Application Guidance Texas General Land Office CDBG-MIT Competition Application Guide, H-GAC posted our substantially completed applications for a 14-day public comment period. H-GAC followed a detailed citizen participation plan that provides for and encourages citizen participation.
The Projects
Following the approval of the MOD for the Houston-Galveston region on September 6, 2022, the H-GAC Board considered local government projects for inclusion in applications to the GLO under the regional priority projects allocation. On October 18, 2022, the H-GAC Board formally approved a list of projects to use in developing the applications. After discussions with the local government partners, five projects were selected to move forward, including a mix of regional and local efforts designed to increase community resilience to future storm events.
Further information about the projects and the selection process can be found in the draft applications.
The Applications
GLO must formally review and approve the proposed projects. The substantially complete applications available on this page represent:
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four projects being proposed by H-GAC in Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) designated Most Impacted and Distressed (MID) areas; and
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one project being proposed for State-designated MID areas.
Following the public comment period, H-GAC will consider all comments received, amend the applications as necessary, and submit them to GLO on or before April 10, 2023.
Beneficiaries
Low-to-moderate income individuals are often more economically vulnerable and less resilient to flooding conditions and other disasters. At least 50% of the funding to be disseminated through the projects in these applications will benefit areas whose population are at least 51% low-to-moderate income.
Public Comment Period
The public comment period took place from March 21, 2023, at noon to April 3, 2023, at noon. Public comments could be submitted the following ways:
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Via an online comment form
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Via email to [email protected]
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By leaving a voicemail at 877-442-2777
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By postal mail, to be received by or before April 3, 2023, to the following address:
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Houston-Galveston Area Council
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C/O Justin Bower
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P.O. Box 22777
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Houston, TX 77227-2777
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Accommodations
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Houston-Galveston Area Council will provide reasonable accommodations for persons submitting a public comment. Requests from persons needing special accommodations should be received by agency staff at least 72 hours prior to the close of the public comment period. Please call 877-442-2777 or email [email protected] for assistance. Information will be provided in English. Para más información en español, comuníquese con H-GAC al [email protected].
Complaint Procedures
Complaints and grievances from the public related to this project will be answered in writing, within fifteen (15) business days of the receipt of the complaint..
Citizens may file a complaint in person or in writing at:
Houston-Galveston Area Council
C/O Justin Bower
PO Box 22777
Houston, TX 77227-2777
Email: [email protected]
Business Hours: Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Complaints will be researched and investigated by H-GAC staff and responded to accordingly.
Complaints regarding fraud, waste, or abuse of government funds will be forwarded to the HUD OIG Fraud Hotline (phone: 800-347-3735 or email: [email protected]).
Documentation for complaints will be maintained digitally. Each file will include contact information for the complainant, the initial complaint, the property address, any communications to and from the complainant, results of the investigation, together with any notes, letters or other investigative documentation, the date of the complaint or appeal was closed, and any other actions taken.
Technical Assistance
When requested, H-GAC shall provide technical assistance to groups representative of low- and moderate-income persons in developing comments for these applications, as applicable. The level and type of assistance shall be determined based upon the specific needs of the community’s residents.
Method of Distribution (MOD)
On September 6, 2022, the Texas General Land Office (GLO) approved the Houston-Galveston Area Council&'s (H-GAC) Method of Distribution (MOD) for the allocation of U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant Mitigation (CDBG-MIT) Regional Mitigation Program funds to counties and local jurisdictions for risk mitigation projects related to flooding, hurricanes, and other natural disasters.
The approved MOD includes the amount of funding available for eligible jurisdictions (counties and cities) for risk mitigation projects. A complete list of eligible activities is available in the Texas General Land Office (GLO) guidelines for the Regional Mitigation Program - Council of Governments Method of Distribution (COG MODs).
With the exception of the City of Houston which received reallocated funding from funding declined by another city, neither Harris County nor cities wholly within Harris County are included in this funding allocation. However, cities located partially in other counties are eligible for partial funding allocations for the portions of the cities outside of Harris County.
Developing the Method of Distribution
The Texas General Land Office (GLO) is administering the CDBG-MIT Regional Mitigation Program at the state level under a federally approved State Action Plan. Under this plan, the GLO issued guidelines for regional councils of governments, including H-GAC, for the development of regional MODs.
The GLO allocated $488,762,000 of CDBG-MIT Regional Mitigation Program funds to the H-GAC region and partnered with H-GAC to develop and submit a MOD for the funding.
Following a public comment period and H-GAC Board of Directors review in February 2022, H-GAC submitted the preliminary MOD to the GLO.
In June 2022, the GLO issued conditional approval this preliminary MOD allocating funding to governments in the following counties of the H-GAC service area: Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Colorado, Fort Bend, Galveston, Liberty, Matagorda, Montgomery, Waller, Walker, and Wharton.
Public Involvement
Informational Meeting
H-GAC staff hosted an informational meeting to provide an overview of the conditionally approved preliminary MOD, including information about data used in its development. At this meeting participants heard asked questions and speakers addressed the questions. The meeting was Thursday, July 14, 2022, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Zoom.
Public Hearing
H-GAC accepted oral and written comments related to the conditionally approved preliminary MOD during a public hearing on Thursday, July 21, 2022, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
The hearing was held in person at 3555 Timmons Lane, Houston, Texas, second floor conference room, and on Zoom. Participants heard a brief overview of the conditionally approved MOD and were able to make comments about the MOD.
Public Comments
H-GAC accepted oral and written comments on the conditionally approved preliminary MOD until Thursday, July 28, 2022, at 5 p.m. Comments were accepted by:
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Email
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Phone Message
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Postal Mail
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Hand Delivery
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Online Form
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Public Hearing