July 10, 2018 | Rockport Pilot
The Rebuild Texas Fund (RTF) distributed more than $1.2 million in grants in June to a range of organizations, and has distributed more than $4.1 million to the Rockport-Fulton area to help with rebuilding efforts after Hurricane Harvey.
The Coastal Bend Disaster Recovery Group (CBDRG) received $485,753 to purchase, deliver and install 11 manufactured homes to replace ones destroyed by Hurricane Harvey. Five of the 11 homes will be delivered in Aransas County.
“We are grateful for the RTF’s dedication and passion for rebuilding and revitalizing communities, including our own Coastal Bend counties impacted by Hurricane Harvey,” said CBDRG Executive Director Warren Phipps. “Through this general grant, we will be able to provide homes to families residing in Aransas, Nueces, Refugio, and San Patricio counties.”
Rio Texas United Methodist Church and CBDRG case managers worked together to identify the families who will receive the homes. The grant will also be used for demolition and debris removal, site preparation, hauling and delivery of the manufactured homes, installation of the homes, and additional items such as utility restoration, permits, and inspections.
The Coastal Bend Food Bank will stock kitchens with groceries and cookware as needed.
The expected move in date for families is early September.
“We are excited to give the CBDRG this grant to continue our collective mission of helping communities rebuild after Hurricane Harvey,” said RTF Director Neeraj Aggerwal. “We know rebuilding requires strong, creative partners from business, government, non-profit and philanthropy working together. We are excited to see how the CBDRG’s project positively impacts the community.”
Other RTF grants benefiting the area include:
- University of Texas Medical Branch ($280,000) – for telepsychiatry and telepsychology programming to serve students in the Aransas County Independent School District (ACISD).
- Coastal Bend Center for Independent Living ($215,415) – to assist displaced individuals with disabilities access to affordable and accessible rental housing.
- ACISD Education Foundation ($179,658) – on behalf of Rising Shining Stars of Aransas County (RSSAC) to provide every student in the ACISD with essential uniform school clothing for the 2018-2019 school year.
- Aransas County ($46,970) – to purchase a replacement canopy for Tiger Field.
About Rebuild Texas Fund
The RTF was launched just days after Hurricane Harvey. It is a collaborative project of the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation and the OneStar Foundation. It is committed to the recovery of those areas in Texas hit hard by Hurricane Harvey, with a specific focus on smaller communities and six program areas of housing, education and childcare, health, small business, workplace and transportation, and community and economic development.
About the Coastal Bend Disaster Recovery Group
The CBDRG is a volunteer based coalition created to address the unmet needs of Coastal Bend area residents affected by disaster. CBDRG is a State/FEMA recognized long-term recovery organization, and is registered with the State of Texas as a non-profit 501(c) 3 corporation as authorized by the IRS. Established in 2015, CBDRG was formed to continuously coordinate long-term disaster recovery within the 11-county Coastal Bend region Aransas, Bee, Brooks, Duval, Jim Wells, Kenedy, Kleberg, Live Oak, Nueces, San Patricio, and Refugio counties) for current and future disasters.