Polk County grants office outlines 73 active projects; court accepts $413,472 THC supplemental grant for courthouse restoration

At the April 28 Commissioner’s Court meeting, the county’s grants and contracts coordinator summarized the office’s role and recent successes in securing outside funding across multiple county programs.

The coordinator described infrastructure investments (water supply and sewer projects, roadwork using GLO, ARPA and TxDOT funds), partnerships to expand fiber into underserved areas, and workforce investments including a CDL training facility in partnership with Lamar State College Port Arthur and a planned smart warehouse training center. The report noted targeted law‑enforcement and court grants (body armor, plate readers, metal‑detector and x‑ray equipment, evidence management, mental health officers grants) and continued funding for election improvements and cybersecurity work.

The coordinator told the court it expects to manage about 73 grant projects countywide this year and cautioned that grant funding typically carries continuing local costs such as maintenance or salary obligations once grants expire. “We understand that grants are simply not free money,” the coordinator said, and urged commissioners to consider long‑term commitments when accepting awards.

Separately, the court approved acceptance of a third supplemental grant from the Texas Historical Commission in the amount of $413,472 to help cover increased courthouse restoration costs; the THC award will reimburse approximately 33% of current project costs and 47% of identified supplemental costs per materials included in the packet. The judge was authorized to execute required amendment documents.

The court’s approvals allow staff to proceed with grant execution, GLO change orders and associated accounting entries; the grants office will return with implementation and reporting timelines as required by each funding source.