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Keen council approves application for $1 million downtown revitalization grant and designates downtown area
Summary
Keen City Council voted to authorize submission of a Phase 1 application for the Texas CDBG downtown revitalization program, committing a $50,000 local match and designating a downtown district to broaden eligible projects including sidewalks, lighting and park improvements.
Keen — The Keen City Council on March 5 authorized submission of a Phase 1 application to the Texas Department of Agriculture’s CDBG Downtown Revitalization program, committing a $50,000 local match and formally designating a downtown district to expand grant-eligible projects.
Kristen Bosel, the grant administrator with Public Management contracted for the application, told council the program is a two-phase process. “This is a $1 million grant and it does require a $50,000 match,” Bosel said, explaining that designation of a downtown boundary that stretches north of City Hall to Fourth Street would increase the city’s options for sidewalks, lighting and park improvements under the low-to-moderate income (LMI) scoring criteria.
Bosel said Phase 1 is a competitive prequalification; if Keen is invited back for Phase 2 it would develop a project meeting Texas Department of Agriculture standards and, if approved, receive the $1 million award. The Phase 1 application is due April 3, and invitations to Phase 2 are expected in May–June, Bosel said.
Council members asked staff to confirm boundary details and whether certain properties use a Cleburne mailing address; Bosel and staff said the red line on the map reflected city limits and that postal routes and ZIP codes do not change tax or jurisdictional status.
City Manager Jonathan Sites framed the grant as a way to leverage external funds for projects the city has already discussed, including improved access and sidewalk connections: staff emphasized any Phase 2 project would require public hearings and engineering estimates before construction.
A council member moved approval of Resolution 2026-496 authorizing the Phase 1 application and the downtown designation; the motion passed by voice vote. Council will return with a detailed project plan, cost estimates and any required public hearings if the city is invited to Phase 2.
What’s next: Phase 1 application due April 3; if invited, the city would begin Phase 2 project development and public hearings in late spring or summer, with grant-funded work slated to begin in early 2027 if ultimately awarded.
