By Jim Rogers, Editor, The Winnsboro News
The City of Winnsboro has received a grant award totaling $274,890 to be used to “Reconstruct streets to remove a potential threat to public safety and improve access.” The grant is funded through a U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and Texas Department of Agriculture Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). The explanation of the grant was presented to the city council by Matthew Russo, a representative of Grantworks. Russo, who was not physically present for the meeting, spoke to the council via phone and a slideshow presented by City Secretary Angie Pike.
Russo pointed out a condition of funding that requires the city to comply with Section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968. According to Russo, Section 3 of the 1968 Act requires, “To the greatest extent feasible, Grant Recipients must direct economic opportunities generated by CDBG funds to low-income and to very low-income persons.” Section 3 businesses have the information to submit a bid or proposal for the project and Section 3 workers have information about any available job opportunities related to the project.
A company may qualify as a Section 3 business if it is owned by low-income persons or is owned by Section 8-assisted housing residents, or if 75% of all labor hours for the business in a three month period are performed by Section 3 workers. To register as a Section 3 business, HUD’s website is https://portalapps.hud.gov/Sec3BusReg/BRegistry/RegisterBusiness
To qualify as a Section 3 worker, the individual’s annual income must be below the county threshold for that person’s family size and are a current or recent Youthbuild participant. One may register their information and search for opportunities at WorkInTexas.gov. Section 3 workers that reside near the project location may also qualify as Targeted Section 3 workers.
The City of Winnsboro will track all hours worked on the project based on the categories of workers.
In other action during the December 14th Council meeting:
The city council approved Mary White and Bryan Hoffman for another two year term on the Winnsboro Airport Board. Jim Hollowell thanked Ms. White for her service. Ms. White said she desired to continue her work on the board as a tribute to her father for whom the airport had been a special interest. Mr. Hoffman stated that he wanted to remain on the board and see progress for the airport master plan.
Ms. Shavon Duffey was appointed a new member to the Main Street Board. Ms. Duffey has been a resident of Winnsboro for 34-plus years. She holds an Associate of Science degree from Northeast Texas Community College and a Bachelor of Science degree from Texas A & M University-Commerce. She stated that she desires to add diversity to leadership for the City of Winnsboro.
Councilmen David Corning and Cory Miller, who was not present for the meeting, were appointed to the Joint Committee of the council and the Winnsboro ISD focused on a road between West Myrtle Street and Farm to Market 852 West. The road “…has been proposed to accommodate the increased traffic that has become present in relation to the new high school.” A concerned group of citizens has asked for the support of the City Council and called for the placement of two council members on the joint committee with the school district. The joint committee will do a feasibility study to call for possible construction and maintenance of a road.