FY2025
Project name: Bruceville-Eddy Sewer System Installation
Requested amount: $7,000,000
Intended recipient: City of Bruceville-Eddy
Address of recipient: 144 Wilcox Drive, Eddy, TX 76524
Project description: This $7,000,000 request will fund the installation of a municipal sewer system for the town of Bruceville-Eddy in southern McLennan County, TX. The project will replace a multitude of aging and obsolete commercial and private septic systems (OSSFs) that have long-since out lived their lifespan. These systems endanger the local environment and drinking water resources. Addressing this issue with a new municipal system will bring new development to the city, which is located along the Interstate 35 corridor in the quickly growing Heart of Texas Region. Funds will be used for the construction of a new wastewater treatment plant and collection system that includes lift stations and customer service connection lines.
Project name: Mexia Water Tower Replacement
Intended recipient: City of Mexia, TX
Address of recipient: 101 North McKinney Street, Mexia, TX 76667
Project description: This $3,300,000 request would fund the construction of a new water tower to serve a rural city in Central Texas. This new tower would replace an existing tower that is too small and too dilapidated to serve the current population in Mexia. Anew tower will address the water supply capacity and pressure for a growing portion of the city. Due to the rural nature of some of the households serviced by this tower, the Mexia water system needs sufficient capacity to adequately serve its customers.
Project name: Deep East Texas Interoperable Communications Infrastructure
Requested amount: $4,400,000
Intended recipient: Deep East Texas Council of Governments
Address of recipient: 1405 Kurth Drive, Lufkin, TX, 75904
Project description: The requested amount of $4,000,000 would be used by the Deep East Texas Council of Governments to purchase interoperable communications equipment for use by law enforcement across Houston, Trinity, and Nacogdoches Counties. This equipment would enable law enforcement and first responders in these counties to connect to the statewide Texas Wide Area Radio Network (TxWARN), allowing for significantly improved communications during emergency situations. This request is a good use of taxpayer funds because it will facilitate interoperable communication with statewide law enforcement entities in this rural three-county region. This region is one of very few remaining in the State of Texas that is not interoperable with the TxWARN network, and the only remaining area in the Houston-area hurricane evacuation zone.
Project name: Advanced Cold-Spray Technology (ACT) Laboratory Equipment at the Point-Of-Need-Innovation (PONI) Center
Requested amount: $4,000,000
Intended recipient: Baylor University
Address of recipient: One Bear Place #97133
Project description: The requested amount of $4,000,000 would be used to establish an Advanced Cold-Spray Technology (ACT) Laboratory at the newly established PONI Center to secure the manufacturing supply chain against disruptions and provide an integrated research laboratory for the next generation of manufacturing engineers. Cold-spray technology extends the service life of equipment by repairing corroded and damaged surfaces, limiting the need to replace entire components. According to the Naval Air Systems Command, cold-spray saved the Navy $13.3 million between 2006 and 2016 by successfully repairing damaged metallic components. The requested funding would be used to purchase: a cold-spray system, a nitrogen generation system, helium recycle system, and a powder atomizer. This project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it will support the resilience of the Texas defense industrial supply chain and prepare student researchers to make substantive workforce contributions. This project will also support necessary research and innovation through collaboration with educational institutions across the region, including Texas State Technical College and McLennan Community College, as well as by commercial and public-sector partners in the defense industrial base.
Project name: Nacogdoches Storm Drainage Improvements
Requested amount: $3,564,000
Intended recipient: City of Nacogdoches, Texas
Address of recipient: 202 East Pilar Street, Nacogdoches, TX, 75921
Project description: This $3,564,000 request will enable rehabilitation of storm drainage improvements throughout the City of Nacogdoches. The streets have been identified through a thorough analysis by the City's public works department, which include flooding of property, streets, and structures, as well as erosion. Segments of storm drainage systems are dispersed across the City to areas of greatest need, and will provide resiliency for those areas and the City's overall infrastructure for frequent storm events. This project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it will allow for improved capacity for the City's aging stormwater collection infrastructure. Expanded and improved infrastructure will prevent flooding of property and roads, increase safety, and directly mitigate point sources of pollution (storm drain pipes and man-made ditches) that are in need of repair. Remediating the deficiencies in these storm water conveyance systems will help to mitigate the potential environmental impacts that would violate the Clean Water Act.
Project name: Ground Storage Tank Rehabilitation and System Pressure Improvements
Requested amount: $1,150,000
Intended recipient: City of Woodway, Texas
Address of recipient: 924 Estates Drive, Woodway, TX, 76712
Project description: This $1,150,000 request would fund the rehabilitation of two of the City of Woodway's ground storage tanks. The tanks have not been resurfaced in many years, and the Texas Council for Environmental Quality indicated to the City that the exterior is in need of rehabilitation. This project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it will restore an existing water storage system and ensure that the City of Woodway is able to provide a clean and reliable supply of drinking water to its growing population.
Project name: Corridor A2 Segment -- Advanced Technology Route
Intended recipient: Williamson County, Texas
Address of recipient: 710 S. Main Street, Ste. 101, Georgetown, TX, 78626
Project description: This $10,000,000 request would be used to construct a roadway to include the addition of a connecting road from FM 973 to State Highway 95. The Corridor A2 Project would extend an existing transportation corridor that is critical for access to high-tech facilities and shipment of high-tech components through Williamson County. This work will greatly expand the roadway capacity in that area. The project will increase mobility and connectivity for residents to jobs in the nearby industrial site, schools, and retail areas. This project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it will provide a critical route for residents to access jobs at the nearby economically significant commercial and industrial facilities, including the RCR Freight Facility and the City of Hutto Industrial Mega Site. This project is shovel ready, and is part of a state and regional effort to increase transportation capacity surrounding the new advanced technology industrial site.
Project name: Waco Regional Airport Air Traffic Control Tower Study and Design
Intended recipient: City of Waco, Texas
Address of recipient: 300 Austin Avenue, Waco, TX, 76702
Project description: This $5,000,000 request would enable Waco Regional Airport to complete a site selection study, environmental assessment, and preliminary design to begin the process of upgrading the existing Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) at Waco Regional Airport (ACT). The Waco ATCT is approximately 76 years old, making it one of the oldest ATCT operated by the Federal Aviation Administration. The existing tower has little to no insulation, deficient sanitary facilities, contains significant asbestos building materials, does not have fire-rated walls, and lacks accessibility. Completing preliminary assessments, site selection, and design will enable the City to build a new tower to accommodate regional growth. This project is a good use of taxpayer funds because it will support continued growth and facilitate increased air service to the quickly growing Central Texas region. The airport operates a Level 7 air traffic control facility, upgraded from a Level 5, and boasts an estimated 93,000 aircraft operations annually.
Project name: Future I-69/U.S. 59 Feasibility Study and Environmental Clearance
Requested amount: $5,000,000
Intended recipient: City of Nacogdoches, Texas
Address of recipient: 202 East Pilar Street, Texas, 75961
Project description: The requested amount of $5,000,000 would be used to complete a feasibility study and environmental clearance to begin work on the remaining gap for U.S. Route 59 between Nacogdoches and Lufkin, Texas. This section of highway will become part of the Interstate 69 corridor. The project will begin bringing the roadway to Interstate standards, allowing it to be designated as part of the Interstate 69 corridor. This project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because this project will enhance mobility, safety, and cargo transport for the remaining gap along the future Interstate 69 corridor.
Project name: Old McGregor and Ritchie Road Improvement Project
Intended recipient: City of Woodway, Texas
Address of recipient: 924 Estates Drive, Woodway, TX, 76712
Project description: This $3,300,000 request would allow for resurfacing and improvement of the existing Old McGregor Road and Ritchie Road in an increasingly high-traffic portion of McLennan County. This project would fund utility reallocations, construction of new roadways, drainage, signage, and striping. The area has recently become a focus for economic development, including single family homes and apartment complexes, small retail stores, larger mixed-use developments and office buildings, and some industrial areas. Residents depend upon an adequate road system to access other parts of the region. In recent years, increasing traffic demand on McGregor and Ritchie Road has resulted in accelerated wear and tear. With the fulfillment of this reconstruction project, these adjoining roads will be an essential part of the regional transportation system. This project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it would rehabilitate a necessary thoroughfare for a growing part of McLennan County. This roadway rehabilitation will enable safer and more accessible travel in a mixed-use residential and commercial area. The City of Woodway has done the preparation to ensure that this project is shovel ready and can be completed within the project period.
Project name: Angelina County Airport Runway Extension
Requested amount: $5,594,000
Intended recipient: Angelina County Airport
Address of recipient: 800 Airport Boulevard, Burke, TX, 75941
Project description: This $5,594,000 request would be used to complete phase two of the planned runway extension at the Angelina County Airport. These funds would provide for an environmental study, construction of the 1,600-foot runway extension, repainting and restriping, and the construction of a parallel taxiway for the extended runway. This project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it will enable the airport to accommodate larger aircraft and therefore enhance economic development opportunities in Lufkin, Angelina County, and the deep east Texas region. Additionally, this airport is one of two transportation hubs for FEMA hurricane relief supplies to be delivered to the Texas Gulf Coast.
Project name: Veterans Memorial Highway Restoration and Improvement
Requested amount: $14,000,000
Intended recipient: City of Huntsville, Texas
Address of recipient: 1220 11th Street, Huntsville, TX, 77340
Project description: This $14,000,000 request would allow the City to widen the historic Veterans Parkway between FM 1374 and IH-45 to address congested traffic conditions and provide safer travel for the public. This project scope includes the rehabilitation and improvement of vital public works along this roadway, including but not limited to the installation of storm sewer system infrastructure, concrete removal, driveways, sidewalks, pavement markings, utility relocation, embankment, earthwork, and right-of-way acquisition. This project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it will greatly improve accessibility and enhance safety along an important throughfare in an area of persistent need in Huntsville, Texas. Further, the expansion and restoration of the Veterans Memorial Parkway will bring economic development opportunities to this portion of the City.
Project name: Center for Wood Technology and Demonstration
Requested amount: $ 3,123,000
Intended recipient: Stephen F. Austin State University
Address of recipient: 1936 North Street, Nacogdoches, TX, 75961
Project description: This $3,123,000 request would fund construction of a facility and the procurement of lab equipment and simulators for the new Center for Wood Technology and Demonstration at Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA). Funding will be used to significantly rehabilitate and equip a former poultry processing plant into a functional research and training facility. This Center will prioritize training students at the trade school and undergraduate level in emerging bioenergy and wood product technology and emerging industries. This project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it will support the demand for a skilled workforce in the forest products industry and drive innovation in sustainable production and use of wood products and bioenergy. SFA is leading economic development strategy and has numerous regional partners working toward the transformation of the rural Deep East Texas region into an innovation hub for bioenergy generation and the manufacture of forest products and by-products.
Project name: Speegleville Road Bridge over the Middle Bosque River Bridge Replacement Project
Requested amount: $5,000,000
Intended recipient: City of Waco, TX
Address of recipient: 300 Austin Avenue, Waco, TX, 76701
Project description: This $5,000,000 request would be used to replace the functionally obsolete two-lane bridge on Speegleville Road with a four-lane bridge including shoulders and sidewalks. The project will include roadway alignment to accommodate bridge widening. This project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because traffic is significantly increased on the bridge as a result of the nearby River Valley Intermediate School transitioning to River Valley Middle School, and subsequently increasing the student population to 1,300. Many of the River Valley students walk or bike to school, as there is no bus service to the adjacent community.
Project name: Energetic Material Training Facility
Intended recipient: Sam Houston State University
Address of recipient: 1806 Avenue J, Huntsville, TX, 77341
Project description: The $4,400,000 request will expand the leadership position of existing forensics research and training programs at Sam Houston State University by constructing a facility to conduct highly realistic trainings, utilizing human cadavers, for a variety of mass catastrophic disaster and recovery scenarios (fires, explosions, earthquakes, plane crashes, etc.). The project will dramatically expand the scope and impact of training efforts currently provided by SHSU and create a central training and workforce development platform to serve local, regional, state and national law enforcement, emergency and medical task forces, mass fatality response and search and rescue teams. This project would be constructed on land that Sam Houston State University already owns. Planning has been completed, and upon receipt of funds the University could begin construction. This project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it will be used to construct a first-of-its-kind training facility for law enforcement officials to improve mass disaster preparedness and planning for tactical operations and response teams.
