Farmers Branch reports more than a dozen active grants; DART reimbursement approved

Addison Holmes, the city—s grant coordinator, told the City Council at its Oct. 21 study session that staff is managing a large portfolio of federal, state and local grants and working to keep projects compliant and on budget.

Holmes said the city is in the process of closing out the Venue 1842 Economic Development Administration grant but that federal agency communications have been delayed by a federal shutdown. She said the city—s DART interlocal agreement reimbursement request was approved for "a little over $1,600,000," and that reimbursements for the TDEM-Cooks Creek project appear likely to be approved by FEMA but are delayed while TDEM processes them.

The presentation listed multiple active projects and their status, including:

- Texas Department of Transportation grants: West Side Art Trail (contract recently awarded), Valley View pedestrian crossing (final design), Denton Drive Trail expansion (charges to be drawn in construction phase).

- ARPA-funded projects: the Justice Center, Branch Connection and Hoya projects are in final expenditure phases to meet deadlines.

- Event funding: invoices for last year—s pickleball event have been submitted under the Texas Event Trust Fund program and are under verification.

- Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority grants: FY24 catalytic-converter grant is in closeout; FY25 reporting and a task-force grant for equipment purchases and interagency work with Carrollton PD are underway.

- Other awards and programs: a state/local cybersecurity grant is closing out; a Blue Cross Blue Shield National Fitness Campaign project is ready to proceed pending council budget actions; a Dallas County housing-replacement program (ARPA pass-through) is moving ahead with a contract to Builders of Hope; a Texas State Library and Archives Commission grant will fund reader-accessibility work; and a Best Friends Animal Welfare partnership will support the shelter—s fostering program.

Holmes also said the city received notice it had been awarded a COPS hiring grant for three police positions and that rifle-resistant body-armor procurement is underway. She stated an aggregate figure for current projects as "a little over $338,000,000." Holmes described that number as the total she had for the projects discussed.

Councilmembers asked questions about traffic-signal locations tied to a potential TxDOT signal grant and praised staff work. Councilman Neal proposed regular, at-least-quarterly grant briefings so council and the public can track progress; Holmes said staff would provide the requested reporting.

Looking ahead, Holmes said the city has one grant that has been awarded conditionally through the North Central Texas Council of Governments for a regional solid-waste/disaster-debris planning effort (pending COG executive board approval) and that TxDOT has initiated site assessments for a traffic-signal technology upgrade grant.

Holmes concluded by offering to answer follow-up questions and to provide additional documentation and timelines to council. The council did not take formal action on any of the grants during the study session.