Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Finance Grants topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Bandera staff outlines $11.5M in grant activity and upcoming Transportation Alternatives opportunity
Summary
City staff presented a grants overview, listing multiple active and potential grants (federal, state, regional) including USDA, Texas Water Development Board programs, and a Transportation Alternatives NOFO with an anticipated application window; staff cautioned use of outside consultants may require RFQ/RFP steps.
City of Bandera staff briefed the council Oct. 22 on the city’s grants portfolio and pipeline, describing multiple active grants and applications the staff said amount to roughly $11.5 million in grant-related funding. Staff identified six active grants spanning federal, state and council-of-government sources and highlighted projects including wastewater planning, park flood-infrastructure work, rural economic development phases and clean-water planning.
Staff noted current applications that the city has submitted or will submit, including a USDA new utilities grant (referenced at $50,000), a Water Utilities Assistance program application (referenced at $150,000), and a Flood Infrastructure Fund item (referenced at $1,300,000 for wastewater planning). The transcript also references a Rural Water Assistance Fund entry for 2025 cited at about $2,700,000 for power efficiency and an aggregate potential of about $4.3 million in described items; staff framed these figures as potential and in various stages of mobilization or closeout.
Staff flagged an upcoming Transportation Alternatives Program notice of funding opportunity (NOFO). The council discussed pre-application steps and a short turnaround once the NOFO is posted; staff said pre-application and application steps could be on a multi-month timeline with pre-application work beginning early in the year and the main application in the spring.
Council members asked about the role of the city-appointed engineer and whether engaging an outside consulting engineer (named in discussion) would require council approval and formal procurement steps; staff and council noted that grant requirements may trigger RFQ/RFP requirements and that the city should follow those processes when required.
Quote: “We are currently managing and… the city has $11,500,000,” staff said during the grant overview (Speaker 1).
