Bryan staff present draft 2025–29 consolidated plan, outline $919,611 in HUD funding

City staff presented a draft 2025–29 consolidated plan and the 2025 annual action plan for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME funding at a Bryan City Council workshop, describing program priorities, outreach results and a proposed funding breakdown.

The plan, staff said, will steer federal funding targeted to low‑to‑moderate‑income residents through 2029. "We were allocated about $919,611 from HUD," Community Development staff member Iresha Jackson told the council, adding, "We plan on using 20% of that for administration, 15 for our public service agencies." Jackson also said a public hearing will be held tomorrow at 6 p.m. in the basement of the building and that a 30‑day comment period will follow.

The nut graf: the consolidated plan is the city’s federal funding roadmap. Jackson said it compiles community input and secondary data to set priorities — chiefly safe and affordable housing, job opportunities and skills training, financial education and improved access to health and human services — and it is the basis for the city’s HUD applications and allocations.

Staff summarized outreach and findings. They reported about 265 total responses to surveys and consultations; 194 responses came from the community needs assessment, about 25 people attended public meetings and 12 attended a medical needs focus group. In the community survey, 73% of respondents said there are not enough affordable housing options, 66% listed job creation and employment as a top economic development need, 63% said skills training, and 60% cited small business support. About 40% said they had difficulty affording a down payment.

Jackson outlined proposed program changes and recommended awards. The city increased its minor repair assistance cap to $25,000 and said HOME program down‑payment assistance now may reach roughly $25,000 per household under a recent HOME final rule. Staff proposed a new economic development micro‑grant program that would offer grants of up to $25,000 to small businesses or micro‑enterprises, to be developed and launched in year one of the consolidated plan rather than implemented immediately.

Staff listed proposed public‑service awards and estimates of unduplicated clients: Project Hope with Bryan ISD (requested $40,000; recommended $25,000; est. 500 unduplicated clients), Kinship Together / BCS Together (requested $40,000; recommended $25,000; est. 200), Prenatal Clinic (requested $35,000; recommended $40,000; est. 300) and Catholic Charities Financial Stability Program (recommended $40,000; est. 300). Jackson said HOME funds allocated to the city were $347,844.42; 10% of HOME would go to administration, 15% to the community housing development organization (CHDO), and the remainder to housing programs, with $72,000 earmarked for down‑payment assistance.

Next steps and scheduling were stated: a public hearing tomorrow, a 30‑day comment period, a city return on July 8 for final review and approval, and a planned HUD submission by Aug. 16. Jackson said the new program year would begin Oct. 1, 2025.

Discussion at the workshop ranged from clarifying HUD income limits to how programs will be structured and which organizations will administer proposed economic development assistance. Staff said the economic development grant’s eligibility criteria and administrative partner will be developed during the first year of the consolidated plan. There was no vote or formal council action on the plan at the workshop; staff sought council guidance and public input before formal approval.

Community members and councilors can comment during the 30‑day period and at the public hearing. Staff said they will incorporate public feedback before returning for final council consideration on July 8.