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City of Cooper Seeks Grant Suggestions

Voting finished for the City of Cooper and Cooper ISD on May 5, 2018.
Cindy Roller
/
Cooper Review

“What does this town need?” that is the question on the minds of local officials.

The Delta County Economic Development Corporation recently announced that the City of Cooper is eligible for a Texas Department of Agriculture Community Block Grant for $350,000.00 with a five percent match.

“This money can be used on something we don’t presently have,” stated Diane Stegall, DCEDC chairwoman. “It can be a structure… The city has asked for our help in making suggestions for this grant.”

City of Cooper Mayor Scotty Stegall would like to compile a list of suggestions before the application deadline coming this September.

“It can be something public oriented,” he added. “It must serve the public in some way but cannot be an existing structure.”

He said it is in the preliminary planning stages. The City is working with Resource Management for assistance in the criteria – as in helping public health, public safety, renewable energy.

“We would like it to benefit the whole community,” said Mayor Scotty Stegall. Other communities are opting to apply with suggestions like a community storm shelter or new equipment for the volunteer fire department. Resource Management recently assisted the City of Point in getting a project funded to establish a new multiuse facility housing a community storm shelter/library/community center.

The grant will fund the construction of a new non-existing community facility (with “new” being the focus) or renovate an existing building for a new use.

These grants are aimed at low to moderate income communities and this is a new program to which not all the scoring criteria have been released. If selected the funds would be awarded in January.