Staples announces $1.2 million in federal funds for downtown areas

Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples today announced the Texas Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for federal funds totaling $1.2 million to revitalize downtown areas in rural Texas. Annually, the Texas Capital Fund awards $50,000 to $150,000 in federal grants to rural Texas cities. The grants help fund public infrastructure projects aimed at creating new economic development opportunities in historic downtown areas.
“Rejuvenating a community’s downtown area helps spur business, tourism and entrepreneurship, which leads to job growth,” Commissioner Staples said. “Through the Texas Capital Fund, each of the awarded towns will realize the kinds of improvements and upgrades that add vitality and appeal to the community’s most visited areas.”
The Texas Capital Fund, federally funded through the Texas Community Development Block Grant program, provides more than $8 million in competitive awards each year to boost economic development in small Texas communities. Projects eligible for funding include land acquisition for public infrastructure; road construction and traffic signals; sidewalk and lighting improvements; and ADA compliance upgrades.
The Texas Capital Fund is administered through TDA’s Trade and Business Development division and provides funding for projects through four different programs: Infrastructure Development, Real Estate Development, Main Street Improvements and Downtown Revitalization.
The deadline for submitting applications is July 12, 2012, by 5 p.m. Applications may be downloaded from the TDA website at TexasAgriculture.gov.
For more information about the Texas Capital Fund, contact TDA’s Trade and Business Development division at finance@TexasAgriculture.gov or 1-800-TELL-TDA.