FY2026

Project name: Bruceville-Eddy Sewer System Installation

Requested amount: $3,300,000

Intended recipient: City of Bruceville-Eddy, Texas

Address of recipient: 144 Wilcox Drive, Eddy, TX 76524

Project description: This $3,300,000 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

Requested amount: $3,300,000

Intended recipient: City of Mexia, Texas

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, TX. A new 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 $4,400,000 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: Arctic Acclimatization & Sleep Optimization (ARKTOS) Research Center Phase II

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 will support the ARKTOS Research Center at Baylor University to enhance its facilities to address expanding demands from industry, government, and healthcare sectors. Our proposed state-of-the-art Environmental Simulation Chamber (ESC) will revolutionize medical training and technological advancement by replicating the dynamic conditions of emergency services, search and rescue operations, and medical transport scenarios with unprecedented accuracy. This advanced facility will serve dual purposes: (1) enhancing healthcare provider preparedness through immersive training experiences; and (2) accelerating the development and validation of innovative medical technologies in true-to-life conditions. By creating controlled yet realistic environments that mirror the challenges faced in actual emergency medical situations, this facility will bridge the critical gap between laboratory testing and real-world application

Project name: Waco Flat Creek Reuse

Requested amount: $5,000,000

Intended recipient: City of Waco, TX

Address of recipient: 300 Austin Ave., Waco, Texas 76702

Project description: This $5 million in funding would be utilized as part of the Flat Creek Reuse Project to reuse highly treated effluent and increase municipal water supply. Once completed, this project will add 7.5 million gallons per day of fully treated water for use by the City of Waco and surrounding areas in McLennan County. Specifically, the funds will be used to install a new storage tank and pumps to be located at the Waco Regional Wastewater Treatment plan, as well as new storage tanks and distribution pumps at the Waco Industrial Park. This reuse project will supply treated effluent to businesses in the Waco Industrial Park for purposes for which drinking water is currently being used – for both irrigation and industrial purposes. Effluent will be treated before it is pumped into the system for reuse. The service area for this project will cover the entire Waco Industrial Park, which is approximately 3,600 acres and is home to over 50 manufacturers and commercial businesses.

 

Project name: Nacogdoches City 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 includes 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.

 

Project name: Bosque Water Pump Station, Storage and Water Line

Requested amount: $3,000,000

Intended recipient: City of Woodway, Texas

Address of recipient: 924 Estates Drive, Woodway, TX, 76712

Project description: This $3,00,000 project will provide 1 million gallons of ground storage, a pump station with a firm capacity of 1,500 GPM and a 12-inch water transmission line. These improvements will significantly benefit the operation of the Woodway water system and relieve the areas of the city low water pressures.

 

Project name: N.B. Davidson Wastewater Treatment Plant Rehabilitation

Requested amount: $3,000,000

Intended recipient: City of Huntsville, TX

Address of recipient: 1212 Ave M, Huntsville, Texas 77340

Project description: This $3,000,000 request will be used to make necessary improvements and rehabilitation work at the City of Huntsville’s N.B. Davidson Wastewater Treatment Plant. This request will be used to install new headworks to allow for additional capacity and complete redundancy. The rehabilitation project will supply necessary increased water capacity to accommodate the population while also maintaining clean water quality standards in Lake Conroe and Elkins Lake.

 

Project name: State Highway 45 Pump Station Discharge Line

Requested amount: $1,700,000

Intended recipient: City of Pflugerville

Address of recipient: 15500 Sun Light Near Way, Pflugerville, TX 78691

Project Description: This $1,700,000 project will construct a 5.0-million-gallon-per-day (MGD) pump station and a 1.25-million-gallon (MG) ground storage tank in the northwest corner of the intersection of State Highway 130 and State Highway 45, serving the 960' Pressure Zone. The infrastructure will provide critical additional pumping capacity to accommodate rapid growth and ensure continued reliable water service to the area. This project aligns with the City of Pflugerville’s Comprehensive Plan and supports the Safety, Infrastructure, and Services pillars of the City’s Strategic Plan by delivering safe, resilient water infrastructure.

Project name: Corridor A2 Segment -- Advanced Technology Route

Requested amount: $10,000,000

Intended recipient: Williamson County, Texas

Address of recipient: 3151 SE Inner Loop, Suite B, 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: 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

Requested amount: $3,300,000

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 the 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: Mass Casualty Training Facility

Requested amount: $4,400,000

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.

 

Project name: Center for Wood Technology and Demonstration

Requested amount: $ 2,300,000

Intended recipient: Stephen F. Austin State University

Address of recipient: 1936 North Street, Nacogdoches, TX, 75961

Project description: This $2,300,000 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.