Bastrop County grants encourage innovative community solutions within social health determinants

The Bastrop Economic Development Corporation meeting on March 17, 2025, spotlighted an innovative grant initiative aimed at fostering community-driven projects. Individuals awarded the grant will have 18 months to utilize the funds, with a strong encouragement for applicants to think creatively about solutions that can lead to significant and lasting impacts in Bastrop County.

To qualify for the grant, projects must align with one of four key social determinants of health: economic stability, education, thriving communities, or health. This focus aims to ensure that funded initiatives contribute meaningfully to the community's well-being. For those new to grant writing, the corporation is offering technical assistance during the application period, available Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 4 PM. Applications can be submitted in various formats, including written, in-person, or via video, with submissions directed to impactbastropcares.org.

In addition to the grant discussions, the meeting also covered the financial report for February 2025. Notably, sales tax revenues exceeded projections by $64,000, and total revenues surpassed expectations by $84,000. However, expenditures were also higher than anticipated, primarily due to capital project contributions. The city manager indicated that budget amendments would be presented in April to adjust revenue projections accordingly.

This meeting underscored the Bastrop Economic Development Corporation's commitment to enhancing community engagement and financial transparency, setting the stage for impactful projects in the region.