Transportation &
Economic Development

CAPCOG assists cities and counties in applying for Economic Development Administration (EDA), Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) funds.

It works on various aspects of the grant application process depending on a community’s needs to include identifying grant opportunities, assisting with grant writing, coordinated site visits, and researching and organizing data to support applications. CAPCOG is TDA certified to administer Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) programs funded under Texas Department of Agriculture. CDBG programs have the objective to develop viable communities by providing decent housing and suitable living environments and expanding economic opportunities principally for persons of low- to moderate-income.

CAPCOG also provides technical assistance for local governments seeking EDA Public Works Program grants that strive to increase regional economic opportunities. The grant program supplies funds to communities to revitalize, expand or upgrade their physical infrastructure to attract new industry; encourage business expansion; diversify local economies; and generate or retain long-term, private-sector jobs. It also can be used for acquisition or development of land and infrastructure investments needed to establish or expand industrial or commercial enterprises. Local governments can find other grant opportunities involving transportation and economic development infrastructure through the following state and federal institutions.

TDA Grants

Some TDA grant programs have revolving funding cycles and some of the programs seek applications all year round. Those can be viewed on the TDA’s website; however, the TDA is currently seeking applications for the following programs.

View all TDA grant programs.

2023 Downtown Revitalization Program (CDM) 

Purpose: The Downtown Revitalization program objective is to provide infrastructure improvements to address the conditions that contribute to the deterioration in an area designated as slum or blighted in the applicant community’s downtown or main street area.

Eligibility: Applicants must be an incorporated municipality and not designated as an official Texas Historical Commission Main Street City. The city is responsible for the administration and success of the project throughout the term of the contract. All proposed infrastructure improvements to be funded by the TxCDBG Program must be located on public property within the designated downtown district. Typically, a downtown district will meet 2 or more of the following:

1) The city’s historic area of commerce
2) May be the area around the courthouse or city square;
3) Commercial area for the community
4) Buildings of historical significance, but not primarily residential
5) Must be areas included in or contiguous to the economic center of the community; and
6) The retail area for the community that does not include single-family dwellings.

Application Deadline: May 3, 2023 
Maximum Grant Amount: $250,000 
Get more information from the Downtown Revitalization Application Guide.
Apply at https://tda-go.intelligrants.com/.
Go to the TDA grant’s webpage.

2023 Main Street Revitalization Program

Purpose: The Downtown Revitalization program objective is to provide infrastructure improvements to address the conditions that contribute to the deterioration in an area designated as slum or blighted in the applicant community’s downtown or main street area.

Eligibility: Applicants must be an incorporated municipality with a designation as an official Texas Historical Commission Main Street City before applying to TxCDBG and must remain a participating city for the duration of the award/contract. The city is responsible for the administration and success of the project throughout the term of the contract. All proposed infrastructure improvements to be funded by the TxCDBG Program must be located on public property within the designated Main Street area.

Application Deadline: May 3, 2023 
Maximum Grant Amount: $500,000 
Get more information from the Downtown Revitalization Application Guide.
Apply at https://tda-go.intelligrants.com/.
Go to the TDA grant’s webpage.

2023 Colonia Fund – Construction Program (CFC) 

Purpose: The Colonia Fund – Construction program provides eligible applicants with grants to fund water and wastewater improvements, housing rehabilitation for low- to moderate-income households, and similar basic needs for Colonia residents. The term “Colonia” means any identifiable unincorporated community that is determined to be a Colonia based on objective criteria, including lack of potable water supply, lack of adequate sewage systems, and lack of decent, safe, and sanitary housing; and was in existence as a Colonia before the date of the enactment of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (November 28, 1990). The Colonia must be located with 150 miles of the Texas-Mexico border to be eligible for CFC funding.

View the  150-mile geography for Colonia eligibility within TxCDBG program.

Maximum Grant Amount: $1,000,000
Application Deadline:  May 3, 2023
Get more information from the 2023 Colonia Fund Application Guide.
Apply at https://tda-go.intelligrants.com/.
Go the TDA grant’s webpage.

For any questions on any of these funding opportunities please contact Karina Trevino.

EDA Grants

FY23 Disaster Supplemental

Purpose: This funding will help communities devise and implement long-term economic recovery strategies to recover and become resilient to future disasters through a variety of construction and non-construction projects.  EDA expects every project it funds to be resilient to future disruptions, to the greatest extent possible, including the impacts of climate change.  Applicants should demonstrate that they have sufficiently accounted for current and future weather- and climate-related risks, such as wildfires, droughts, extreme heat and cold, inland and coastal flooding, and the high-impact winds produced by weather events such as tornadoes and hurricanes.

Eligibility: Tribal nations, non-profit organizations, colleges and universities, district organizations of an Economic Development District (EDD), and state and local government subdivisions engaged in economic or infrastructure activities that have impacted by Hurricanes Ian and Fiona, wildfires, flooding, and all Presidentially-declared major natural disasters throughout the United States occurring in 2021 and 2022.The February 11 through February 21, 2021 storm is a qualifying event.

Application Deadline: There are no submission deadlines. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the publication of a new Disaster Supplemental NOFO, cancellation of this Disaster Supplemental NOFO or all available funds have been expended.

Award Ceiling: $30 million
Award Floor: $0
Get more information at the EDA’s website.
Apply using the EDGE Portal.

FY23 Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance Programs – Reopening in October

Purpose: EDA’s public works program helps distressed communities revitalize, expand, and upgrade their physical infrastructure. The program enables communities to attract new industry; encourage business expansion; diversify local economies; and generate or retain long-term, private-sector jobs and investment through the acquisition or development of land and infrastructure improvements needed for the successful establishment or expansion of industrial or commercial enterprises.

Eligibility: Eligible applicants for EDA financial assistance under the public works and EAA programs include a(n):

• District organization of an EDA-designated economic development district
• Indian Tribe or a consortium of Indian Tribes
• State, county, city, or other political subdivision of a State, including a special purpose unit of a state or local government engaged in economic or infrastructure development activities, or a consortium of political subdivisions
• Institution of higher education or a consortium of institutions of higher education
• Public or private non-profit organization or association acting in cooperation with officials of a political subdivision of a State.

Individuals and for-profit entities are not eligible for funding under this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO).

Application Deadline: This funding is currently closed but is anticipated to reopen in October during the new fiscal year.
There are no application submission deadlines. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the publication of a new PWEAA NOFO, cancellation of this PWEAA NOFO, or all available funds have been expended.

Award Ceiling: $30 million
Award Floor: $100,000
Get more information at the EDA’s website.
Apply using the EDGE Portal.

Older EDA Grants

EDA American Rescue Plan Act Funding Opportunities

The EDA has $3 billion to distribute nationwide as part of the American Rescue Plan Act to help spur economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The EDA released six funding notices for programs funded through the act on July 22, 2021. They are:

• Economic Adjustment Assistance
• Travel, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation
• Indigenous Communities
• Build Back Better Regional Challenge
• Statewide Planning, Research and Networks
• Good Jobs Challenge

Get more information about each program on the EDA’s website.

CAPCOG is encouraging local jurisdictions to apply for the Economic Adjustment Assistance and the Travel, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation programs. It can provide technical assistance, project development and application coordination to any of the jurisdictions in the 10-county region seeking the programs’ funds. EDA also recommends that jurisdictions applying for funding review their Economic Development District’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDs).

Get the Capital Area CEDS.

Economic Adjustment Assistance

The Economic Adjustment Assistance program allocates $500 million to communities, with $200 million committed to coal communities. The program is geared to helping communities plan, build, innovate, and to get people back to work through construction or non-construction projects designed to meet local needs. A wide range of technical, planning, workforce development, entrepreneurship, and public works and infrastructure projects are eligible for funding under this program.
Application deadline: The EDA and CAPCOG recommend applications as soon as possible but no later than March 15, 2022.
Read more about the program.

Travel, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation

The Travel, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation program, allocates $240 million in competitive grants to accelerating the recovery of communities that rely on those industry sectors. It provides funds to invest in infrastructure, workforce or other projects to support the recovery of the industry and economic resilience of the community in the future. State, local governments and nonprofits that work in cooperation with local governments qualify to apply for the program.
Application deadline: The EDA and CAPCOG recommend applications as soon as possible but no later than January 31, 2022.
Read more about the program.

CAPCOG will release more information about the Recuse Plan funding when it becomes available. 

Webinar Series

The CAPCOG Community and Economic Development Division started a webinar series with  its first webinars taking place at 11 a.m. July 8 and 15 on Microsoft Teams. The final webinar was held August 5. The webinars prepare communities for applying for EDA’s American Rescue Plan Act funding.

View the recorded webinars below.

EDA American Rescue Plan Act Funding Webinars – Applying for EDA Grants

Watch the webinar.

This first webinar — held July 8, 2021 — addressed the application process for EDA grants. It discussed application forms and documents that would-be applicants should prepare for construction and non-construction projects as well as a grants.gov overview. Robert Peche, EDA’s Economic Development Representative of South and West Texas with the Austin Regional Office, led the webinar.

EDA American Rescue Plan Act Funding Webinars – Successful Applications

Watch the webinar.

This second webinar — held July 15, 2021 — in the series featured Giddings EDC Director, Tonya Britton, who discussed best practices and tips for submitting a successful EDA grant application. Giddings received $1.8 million for a broadband, water, and road improvement project as part of EDA’s CARES Act funding opportunity. Britton is a 20-year veteran in the field of economic development and has served as the Giddings Economic Development Corporation Executive Director since June 2014. 

EDA American Rescue Plan Act Funding Webinars – Know the NOFOs

Watch the webinars.

This third webinar — held Aug. 5, 2021 — provided an overview of the EDA’s American Rescue Plan Act notices of funding opportunities. The webinar was led by Robert Peche, EDA’s Economic Development Representative of South and West Texas with the Austin Regional Office.

TxDOT Grants

TxDOT announces grants throughout the year.  Its programs often fall into the following categories: Program Contacts, Public Transportation, Financial Management, Routine Airport Maintenance, Traffic Safety, and the County Transportation Infrastructure Fund.

View TxDOT grant opportunities.

Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside (TA) Program

TxDOT administers TA funds for locally sponsored bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure projects in communities of less than 200,000. In large urbanized areas with populations over 200,000, TA funds are distributed directly to Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO) to administer according to their needs. MPOs and TxDOT are responsible for selecting projects independent of one another.

Learn how to apply to the Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside (TA) Program.