December 2023

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Thirteen years ago, as I prepared to leave this welcoming, kind group of people, I found myself saying I’d be back one day, if only to experience some holiday magic. The thought of seeing a new year in with this new group of friends, sharing in something they have such passion for, just seemed right in some small way. I spent a good few years doing just that, and it wasn’t simply a sight to behold, but it also made me proud to be in a community within a state so in tune with the importance of cultural traditions. The future looks brighter when we can come together and celebrate our uniqueness. It’s something Louisiana and her people do so well – especially when those people are lighting the way for us all. You can follow the group on the Laissez les Bon Temps Brûler Facebook page. by Charlotte Smith AMCorp International Smith is a Senior Communications Consultant for AMCorp and is the Editor of the Louisiana Municipal Review. Contact: charlotte@teamamcorp.com or call 225.650.3281. LMA Proud Co-Host of 2024 SGR Conference Local government leaders have never faced more challenges than they do right now. Whether it’s caused by too much turmoil or too few resources, the task of delivering excellent customer service, building a great team, and accomplishing any forward progress towards a common goal is becoming an increasingly complicated challenge. Rediscover and reinvigorate the reason why you chose to respond to this noble calling by making plans now to join us in Dallas from January 25 - 26 for SGR’s Servant Leadership Conference! For more information, visit www.slcgovernmentresource. com, and click on Events. Page 18 LMR | DECEMBER <strong>2023</strong>
REFUSE TO SURRENDER How an Underdog City Applied for a $10 Million Federal Grant Louisiana’s villages and small towns struggle with infrastructure issues. There is money available, but sometimes applying requires a Herculean effort. Our neighbors in Texas have found a way to take down Goliath and put together a $10 million dollar application for federal funding. The story below lays out the blueprint for how Killeen, Texas, did it, and how you can do it, too. Across the southeast, from Texas to Virginia, cities and towns overflow with ideas, hopes, needs, and dreams. Unfortunately, most find themselves wrestling with the realities of fragile infrastructure, an affordable housing crisis, population fluctuations, and little capacity to access the pots of federal funding at the end of the rainbow that can help bring needed relief to communities. Even preparing to apply for a federal grant may seem daunting at best, impossible at worst. While the promise of federal aid exists at historic levels, for those who have never applied for a federal grant, where do you start? What does it take to apply for these large funding pots and make the promise of a better community a reality? Let us look deep in the heart of Texas – Killeen to be exact. With a population of a little over 160,000 residents, this city sits about seventy miles north of Austin and adjacent to Fort Cavazos (formerly Fort Hood) military base, which is the primary driver of the city’s economy. For 10 years, Killeen has seen rapid population increases driven by the presence of military families. This steady growth over the last decade and disinvestment in North Killeen has led to a lack of sufficient resources to support neighborhood revitalization. The city had the opportunity to apply for a $10 million “Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing (PRO Housing)” grant. If awarded, this grant will fund the implementation of a 10-year comprehensive housing strategy to address local housing needs by increasing affordable, energy-efficient housing through owner-occupied rehabilitation, rental housing development/ preservation fund, anti-displacement strategies, equitable access, and blight mitigation and demolition. Start with identifying partners. Separated by only a few miles, the City of Killeen and Fort Cavazos recognized that while maintaining separate housing portfolios, their interdependence made a more compelling case for federal grant assistance to bolster their underserved community. In a letter of support for the grant, US Army Colonel Lakicia R. Stokes wrote, “Installation leadership recognizes the value of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) strategic goals of supporting underserved communities, ensuring access to, and increasing production of affordable housing, promoting homeownership, and advancing sustainable communities. As a priority geography, we stand ready to partner with the City of Killeen and HUD to advance these strategic goals so that Soldiers, Veterans, and their Families have access to quality, affordable housing meeting their needs in the City of Killeen, Bell County, and the Central Texas Region.” Partnerships with mutually beneficial outcomes are key. Just like Killeen found a formidable ally in Fort Cavazos, many cities and towns should identify similar community-based organizations (CBOs) and entities to join forces with to improve outcomes when applying for federal grants. Look for technical assistance. Killeen is the story of the underdog. It is the tale of a small city facing a rising housing crisis and lacking the resources, institutional knowledge, or capacity to address the issues alone. Tiffanie McNair, Executive LMR | DECEMBER <strong>2023</strong> Page 19
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December 2023

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