News

During a recent trip to seven Sustainable Communities grantees in Texas, Department of Housing and Urban Development staff were able to see new and innovative economic development strategies in action. They visited Regional Planning grantees Houston-Galveston Area Council and Heart of Texas Council of Governments near Waco, as well as Austin, which received both Regional Planning and Community Challenge grants, and other Community Challenge grantees Dallas, Fort Worth, and Garland.

On their tour, HUD staff listened to local leaders speak about infrastructure needs and existing gaps, especially water issues. They also heard and discussed strategies for achieving economic development while preserving small towns. Local leaders in both large urban areas like Houston, Austin and Dallas and small rural areas like the Heart of Texas Council of Governments were highly appreciative of HUD’s support and investment through the Sustainable Communities Initiative.

For more on Houston-Galveston Area Council’s Regional Planning grant, read a previous article.

For more on the City of Austin’s Community Challenge grant, take a look at the May Spotlight on Sustainability.