By Dawn Burleigh

The Orange Leader

 

Rebuild Texas Fund  has awarded its final grantee round and released its 2-Year Report. The Progress Report provides a look at the resiliency of communities and the impact local organizations are having on residents’ daily lives throughout the Texas Gulf Coast. 

Since its founding in August 2017, the Rebuild Texas Fund has awarded over $100 million across 212 community projects impacting over 1.1 million individuals across all major program areas: housing, education, workforce, small business, health and community/economic development.

Specifically, the Rebuild Texas Fund has made a significant commitment to our region with over $13M awarded and 39 community projects to-date. This includes:

• Repairs or rebuilding of 20 community and school facilities which includes Buckner Children and Family Services and projects in six school districts
• Essential preparedness equipment funded through 13 projects and serving in 12 counties
• More than 5,300 individuals served so far with mental health training or services

This month, the Rebuild Texas Fund distributed its final round of grants and will continue to work alongside these communities through 2020 to complete all funded projects. 

Region 1 was comprised of Chambers, Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Newton, Orange, Polk, Sabine, San Jacinto, Tyler and Walker Counties. Of the five regions served by Rebuild Texas Fund, Region 1 received the second largest portion of the funds at 13-percent. Of the $12,983,492 awarded, provided funding for 39 projects in the area. Of those projects, 13 have been completed. 

According to the report, more than 40 organizations funded by Rebuild Texas Fund are at work rebuilding homes and schools, providing critical mental health services and training, and supporting job training that leads to placement in the region’s construction jobs.

Region 1 also received an additional $33.9 million supporting 52 multi-region projects.

Active projects in the Orange County area and what they were awarded are, include:

• Little Cypress – Mauriceville Consolidated ISD for Education and Child Care $500,559
• Little Cypress – Mauriceville Consolidated ISD for Education and Child Care $300,000
• Nehemiah’s Vision for Housing $828,195
• Orange County* for Community and Economic Development $87,364
• Orangefield ISD for Education and Child Care $155,000
• Vidor ISD for Education and Child Care $1,000,000
• West Orange Cove Consolidated ISD for Education and Child Care $578,565

 

Completed projects in the Orange County area and what they were awarded and the impact, include:

• Greater Orange Area Chamber of Commerce for Community and Economic Development $25,000 bringing in 33,320 visitors
• iConnect Outreach for Housing $75,000 for 10 homes repaired, 48 individuals served, 3,962 volunteer hours and 111 volunteers.
• iConnect Outreach for Housing $500,000 for 42 homes repaired, 120 individuals served, 30,855 volunteer hours and 839 volunteers.
• Orange County* for Community and Economic Development $41,070 for one county served
• Vidor ISD for Education and Child Care $40,800 for two schools and 627 students served.

For completed Multi Region projects with an impact in Region One:

• Boys and Girls Clubs in Texas
• Communities in Schools
• Disaster Service Corporation
• DonorsChoose.org
• Good360
• Houston Arts Alliance*
• KaBOOM!
• Learning Undefeated
• Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota
• Marine Toys for Tots Foundation
• Mission on Wheels
• North Channel Assistance Ministries*
• Operation Blessing
• PeopleFund
• Save the Children
• SouthEast Texas Regional Advisory Council*
• Texas A&M University*
• Texas Association of Regional Councils
• Texas Center for Child and Family Studies
• Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation
• Trinity Episcopal Church*

 

* Preparedness projects

Harvey impacted 41 counties in Texas, over 300 miles of coastline while 80-percent of Orange County was affected. Of those 80-percent, 49-percent were back in their homes again by the two-year anniversary of the storm.

Orange County was the third hardest hit in Texas from Tropical Storm Harvey which poured historic rain on the area causing most of the county to flood.

The report can be found HERE.