Highlight: EDA Invests $2.5 Million to Make Wastewater Infrastructure Improvements Needed to Protect Businesses and Support Economic Growth in Marble Falls, Texas

On September 3, EDA announced a $2.5 million grant at an event in the city of Marble Falls, Texas, to fund the engineering and design of a new flood-resistant wastewater treatment plant that will increase the city’s capacity to protect businesses from flooding and encourage additional business development. The EDA grant, to be matched with $625,000 in local investment, is expected to retain 750 jobs.

At the event, Joel Frushone, EDA’s Director of External Affairs and Communications, was joined by Congressman Roger Williams (TX-25), Burnet County Judge James Oakley, Marble Falls Mayor John Packer, and Texas Association of Regional Councils Executive Director Ginny Lewis Ford.

“As a community, you identified a tremendous need to build a new flood resistant waste-water treatment plant, that increases the city’s capacity to protect businesses from flooding and creates future economic development,” said Mr. Frushone.

In October 2018, floods caused major disruptions to Marble Fall’s economy. Specifically, the project is designed with a wastewater capacity of 1.5 million gallons per day. This investment will mitigate flooding issues, sustain businesses, and save jobs in the region.

The Capital Area Council of Governments (CAPCOG) Economic Development District assisted the city in identifying the project’s eligibility for grant funding by compiling demographic data to support the project and helping to draft the project’s narrative.

“I thank our partners at the EDA for providing this grant to the community of Marble Falls,” Governor Greg Abbott stated in the project press release. “The treatment plant built with these funds will stimulate the local economy and better protect local businesses from potential flooding.”

During the event, EDA also announced that CAPCOG will receive CARES Act funding to aid with COVID-19 recovery and resiliency projects. CAPCOG will use the funding to strengthen resiliency planning efforts and assist local governments in funding additional recovery projects.