Funds will be used for housing, water and sewer needs

Washington, DC ({July 19, 2006) – Congressman Rubén Hinojosa (TX-15) today announced that the Office of Rural Community Affairs (ORCA) has awarded the cities of Austwell, Bayside, Combes, Moulton, Sinton, and Smithville with grants for community development activities that benefit primarily low- to moderate-income persons.

The city of Austwell received $300,000 to install water lines, 12 hydrants, and 66 reconnections; the city of Bayside received $300,000 to drill a new well, install electrical controls, additional reverse osmosis filtration unit and four-inch transmission lines; the city of Combes received $435,061 to provide first-time water service to eight households and to build a neighborhood community center; the city of Moulton received $250,000 to improve wastewater capacity and manage water system pressure deficiencies; the city of Sinton received $300,000 to manage its collapsed sewer trunk line problem; the city of Smithville received $250,000 to install six-inch and eight-inch PVC water lines, booster pump with building, four fire hydrants, 22 reconnections, and a hydropneumatic system.

“Developing our communities’ infrastructure is essential to improving the lives of our residents,” said Congressman Hinojosa.  “The distribution of these funds is a step in the right direction to ensuring the progress of these cities.”
 
The funds are made possible from appropriations for the Community Development Block Grant Program of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).  This program is administered for the state of Texas by ORCA through the Texas Community Development Program.