Walker County approves application for HUD EDI grant to build emergency animal shelter in Precinct 4

Walker County Commissioners on May 5 approved submitting an Economic Development Initiative grant application to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for an emergency animal shelter and multiuse facility to be built in Precinct 4.

The county’s grants presenter said the EDI award would require no local match and would support a facility behind the way station near the arena that would serve as both an emergency animal shelter and a livestock shelter during disasters. The project includes classroom space with an AgriLife (Texas A&M AgriLife) component for teaching, and organizers said the facility could also host community events and 4-H activities.

County staff said the county will submit the application to Representative Luttrell’s office for one of 15 slots the member’s office is allocating; the applicant pool in that office was reported to be larger than available slots. The presenter said she has prepared the application and was awaiting a small number of community support letters, including from AgriLife, New Waverly, and New Waverly ISD.

Commissioners asked about site location and partners; staff and presenters said the site would be in Precinct 4 behind the way station and that AgriLife would be the state lead for animal sheltering in emergencies. The court voted to authorize submission of the application.

County staff and presenters said if the county moves forward immediately they will coordinate with Luttrell’s office to meet the May 23 deadline for that congressional office’s submissions and will deliver the required community support letters as they are received.

The motion to authorize submission carried on a voice/hand vote; commissioners did not state a specific appropriation at the meeting.