Jefferson council authorizes application for $1M downtown revitalization grant, agrees to $50,000 match

The Jefferson City Council voted to authorize staff to submit a Phase 1 application for the Texas Community Development Block Grant (TXCDBG) downtown revitalization program. If funded, the project would bring a $1,000,000 grant to the city and requires a local match; the council agreed to pursue the competitive $50,000 match to maximize scoring.

Wesley Traylor, who attended to answer questions, told the council that a $50,000 match optimizes competitive points and that a minimum of 2% of the match must be cash. “That's a $50,000 match. Of that 50,000, a minimum of 2% must be cash,” Traylor said. The council discussed eligible activities (sidewalk and accessibility improvements, benches, trash cans, parking and park upgrades, sewer work where applicable), scoring criteria, and the need to work from the city’s strategic plan to assemble the required community needs assessment.

Staff explained that Phase 1 is due April 3 and, if invited to Phase 2, the city would hold public hearings, hire an engineer, and finalize project scope. The council also authorized procurement steps to hire a grant administrator and directed staff to publish required public notices by Feb. 24 for newspaper submission.

A motion to approve submission and commit matching funds passed by voice vote (6–0–0 recorded). The council asked staff to identify ten to fifteen community needs items for the Phase 1 application and to coordinate with JEDCO or other partners as appropriate.

What happens next: staff will prepare the Phase 1 submittal by April 3, post required notices, and — if the city scores high enough — proceed to Phase 2 with engineering and public hearings. Grant administration and engineering costs are eligible to be covered by the grant if the city is awarded funds.