The City was awarded a Community Development Block Grant, administered through the State Office of Rural Community Affairs, in the amount of $250,000, in August, 2007. The program provides for approximately $2.7 million in grants, half to be allocated in 2007 and half in 2008. The City will match the grant with $25,000-$30,000 of City funds.

Seventeen grant applications were received and the City of Goliad’s application was ranked third in the scoring, which is done by representatives of entities in the Golden Crescent Region. Four applications were funded in this cycle.

The City’s grant will be used to replace the aging sewer line serving the east side of Goliad and remodel the City’s primary sewer lift station near the wastewater treatment plant. This aging infrastructure had caused serious overflow and infiltration and inflow problems for the plant. The City has been under an ultimatum from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to address these infrastructure needs or face fines for non-compliance.

This problem is particularly prevalent in periods of heavy rain when flooding and drainage overflow tax the existing system and overrun it so stormwater and some wastewater flow into the San Antonio River.

Anticipated date of the project will be early in 2008

Contact

City Administrator (361) 645-3454 Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

City Receives funds from White Family Trust Approximately July 2006, the City received approximately $95,984, from the trust of the Gale White Family. This is a family that has many of its members buried in Oak Hill Cemetery and Mr. White was apparently concerned and wanted to ensure that maintenance for the cemetery was always performed.

The portion of the funds the City received is restricted in use to the care and maintenance of that cemetery. The funds are invested with the hope that the annual earnings, currently about $5,000 per year, will be sufficient to do so. This will assist the cemetery Board of Directors who, up to now, depended upon donations/fundraisers, etc., to have sufficient monies to care for the cemetery.

The use of the principal is restricted, but the earnings can be used for the maintenance and care.

Contact

City Administrator (361) 645-3454 Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Trust Provides Pedestrian Signs for Downtown Businesses

A restricted gift from the Goliad Heritage & Cultural Association in July 2007 is providing pedestrian signage for the businesses in the downtown district. The Goliad Heritage & Cultural Association (501©3 created in the 1980’s) graciously and enthusiastically requested that their donation provide all the funding for this project.

The WESTPHALS ~ Sign Writers out of Ingram, Texas have been contracted to design, manufacture and install pedestrian-type hanging signs in the downtown historic district of Goliad. The sign measures 48”X16” and is double faced. It is made out of ¾” MDO sign board with vinyl lettering matching the font most used by the business. All signs are coated with UV absorber for color protection.

As of Monday, October 1, nine signs have been manufactured and hung under awnings to identify business entrances.

Contact

Erika Bochat (bo SHAY), Main Street Program Manager (361) 645-3454 Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm