AUSTIN — Agriculture Commissioner Susan Combs announced the Texas Department of Agriculture provided a $150,000 Texas Capital Fund award to the South Texas city of Kenedy in support of economic development and downtown revitalization.

With the help of public infrastructure development and improvement activities, including building new sidewalks, lighting installation and the construction of ADA ramps and handrails, the project will revitalize the downtown area. In addition to 20 new lights, the city will build 11 ADA ramps, handrails and 1,500 linear feet of sidewalks to provide safe, easy access to downtown businesses and properties. This award and project will address the HUD national objective of aiding in the elimination of blight conditions in Kenedy’s designated downtown area.

"This will undoubtedly give a boost to Kenedy and brighten the area," Combs said. "It’s an example of good business and great partnerships at work for rural Texas."

The Texas Capital Fund, a part of the federal Community Development Block Grant program, provided the award. About $10.5 million in competitive awards are provided by the Texas Capital Fund each year to boost the economic development of small Texas cities and counties. Administered in cooperation with the Office of Rural Community Affairs, the program is housed under TDA’s Rural Economic Development Division.

The Kenedy grant was awarded as part of the fund’s Downtown Revitalization Program, which provides grants to non-Main Street cities for the purpose of renovating or constructing sidewalks, lighting, drainage and other infrastructure elements in the city’s downtown area.

"The Texas Capital Fund is a great tool to continue our work to help close the economic gap between urban and rural Texas," Combs said.

The Texas Capital Fund provides funding for infrastructure, real estate, main street and downtown development. Infrastructure Development Program awards may be used for projects that include water and sewer lines, road improvements, fiber optic lines and railroad spurs. Real Estate Development Program awards may be used to acquire, construct or rehabilitate buildings. Both of these programs support companies that commit to job creation for low- to moderate-income individuals. The Main Street Improvement Program provides awards to communities designated by the Texas Historical Commission as Main Street cities for rehabilitating downtown areas.

For more information about the Texas Capital Fund, contact the Texas Department of Agriculture, Rural Economic Development Division, P.O. Box 12847, Austin, Texas 78711, or call the toll-free Rural Assistance line at (877) 428-7848.