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Pharr grants staff: CDBG operations continue during federal shutdown; city readies $5–$6M Section 108 proposals
Summary
Pharr grants staff told the board the Community Development Block Grant program is operating during a federal government shutdown, though HUD approval of the annual action plan may be delayed; staff said the city paid off a Section 108 loan and plans two new Section 108 loan proposals for a fire station and a utilities project, each estimated at about $5–$6 million.
Pharr grants staff reported that the city’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program is continuing operations despite a current federal government shutdown, though HUD’s review and approval of the city’s annual action plan may be delayed until the shutdown ends. ‘‘We just wanna share that, for our grant, the Community Development Block Grant, we're still operating,’’ said Napoleon Coca, grants staff. He said communications with HUD’s San Antonio field office are limited to email but drawdowns and reimbursements are continuing.
Cocaine staff said the city submitted its annual action plan on time and has responded to requested corrections; approval remains under review. The consolidated annual performance and evaluation report (CAPER) for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30 is being prepared for the Dec. 31 filing deadline and will summarize accomplishments and partner service delivery, Coca said.
Staff also reported the city paid off its Section 108 loan in July and is preparing to submit two Section 108 proposals to HUD: one for a replacement fire station and one for a public utilities project. Coca described the practical borrowing capacity as ‘‘up to five times our annual allocation,’’ and said that puts those projects in the roughly $5 million to $6 million range. ‘‘So those 2 projects were identified as priorities, by internally through our team and also considered by HUD and from our leadership and, you know, through our mayor and council and everyone,’’ Coca said.
Separately, staff said they attended training in Austin to pursue an Emergency Solutions Grant aimed at helping people at risk of homelessness — for example tenants facing eviction or households behind on utilities. Coca said the city partners with Silver Ribbon Community Partners of McAllen to deliver rental-assistance services for eligible residents and noted qualifying applicants generally must have an eviction notice, be behind on payments and meet CDBG income criteria.
The board did not take any formal vote on the proposed Section 108 submissions during this meeting; Coca said staff will share more details, project locations and documentation with the board before any materials are sent to HUD.
