FY25 Community Project Funding Requests
Project Name: Waterloo Greenway Creek Restoration and Water Quality Improvements
Proposed Recipient: City of Austin
Address of the Recipient: 301 W. Second Street Second Floor, Austin, Texas, 78701
Requested Amount: $3,000,000.00
Description of the request, including the purpose and justification for use of taxpayer funds: This project improves water quality and restores multiple segments of Waller Creek. The scope of work includes restoration and reconstruction of eroded creek banks; and improvements to end of pipe stormwater treatment devices–providing numerous environmental benefits and user connectivity. Planned improvements include stormwater retrofits for inline treatment at multiple outfall locations; end of pipe treatments, allowing the stormwater to soak in and improve water quality before entering the creek; the repair and restoration of creek bank, including revegetation of the riparian slopes and reconstruction of low, retaining walls to stabilize the slopes. This Waterloo Greenway project will use nature-based solutions and green infrastructure to create a thriving ecosystem and resilient landscape to further manage stormwater flows. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because these improvements will enhance water quality in lower Waller Creek, which is currently listed in the 2024 Texas Integrated Report for impaired waterways 303(d) (Category 5) under the federal Clean Water Act and Waller Creek has been on the list of impaired waterways for over 20 years.
Project Name: McNeil Drive Drainage Improvements
Proposed Recipient: Travis County
Address of the Recipient: 700 Lavaca Street, Austin, Texas, 78701
Requested Amount: $2,000,000.00
Description of the request, including the purpose and justification for use of taxpayer funds: This project prevents flooding of McNeil Drive and the surrounding subdivision caused by storm events. The scope of this work includes pond and channel improvements to relieve McNeil Drive between Howard Lane and Ashton Wood Drive from flooding during hazardous events. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because these improvements will address the safety issues associated with water overtopping the road and prevent local flooding.
Project Name: Northern Walnut Creek Trail - Oak Brook extension
Proposed Recipient: City of Austin
Address of the Recipient: 301 W. Second Street Second Floor, Austin, Texas, 78701
Requested Amount: $4,000,000.00
Description of the request, including the purpose and justification for use of taxpayer funds: The funding would be used on extending the existing Northern Walnut Creek trail from Oak Brook Circle by approximately half a mile across Walnut Creek connecting to the Girl Scouts of Central Texas property on Park 35 Circle. The project would be an important extension of the larger Northern Walnut Creek urban trail system and would enable further connection of the trail east. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because this is a trail identified in the 2023 Urban Trails Plan and is the next piece in building out the “Big Loop” trail system.
Project Name: Redline Trail from Gracy Farms to Existing Walnut Creek Trail
Proposed Recipient: City of Austin
Address of the Recipient: 301 West Second Street Second Floor, Austin, Texas, 78701
Requested Amount: $3,000,000.00
Description of the request, including the purpose and justification for use of taxpayer funds: The funding would be used on construction of a North urban trail project, which leverages the existing connection to the Walnut Creek Trail to provide additional connectivity to Gracy Farms Lane, which is a boulevard that has both existing sidewalks and bike lanes in each direction. In addition to providing access to the Gracy Farms area, this connection is needed as part of the broader trail system to the Q2 stadium. The project provides the opportunity to separate cyclist movement out of vehicular traffic and leverage the existing grade separated crossing at Mopac. The project fits in with “The Big Loop” trail system that will fill gaps between existing trails to provide Austin with a 30-mile loop providing our community with a safe, all ages and abilities connection to jobs, education, amenities, and services. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because this 30-mile loop will serve a broad number of users, connecting them to parks and open space as well as to home, school, work and other daily destinations via protected pathways, both alongside existing roadways and within parkland. When complete, the Loop will not only serve a recreational function, but a significant regional transportation one as well.
Project Name: Advanced Manufacturing, Health Science, and Biomedical Science Career and Technical Education at Austin ISD
Proposed Recipient: Austin Independent School District
Address of the Recipient: 4000 S. I-H 35 Frontage Rd., Austin, Texas, 78704
Requested Amount: $1,378,065.00
Description of the request, including the purpose and justification for use of taxpayer funds: The funding would be used to acquire and install health sciences, biomedical sciences, and advanced manufacturing training equipment at Austin ISD high schools. Anatomage (virtual anatomy and physiology) tables will enhance course offerings at ten high schools. Additionally, Akins Early College High School’s Advanced Manufacturing program will receive robotic trainers and updated lab equipment including 3D printers and Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines. The equipment will allow Austin ISD students to receive a new industry standard certificate (FANUC operator) in advanced manufacturing, and supplement skills for two certifications in health science and biomedical science, and one certification in advanced manufacturing. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it supports the regional economy and enhances the ability of Central Texas’ largest school district (and the state’s 8th largest district) to prepare and retain local talent in high demand, high wage industries.
Project Name: SAFE Rathgeber Village Safety and Security Infrastructure Upgrade
Proposed Recipient: Travis County
Address of the Recipient: 700 Lavaca Street, Austin, Texas, 78701
Requested Amount: $2,000,000.00
Description of the request, including the purpose and justification for use of taxpayer funds: This project would allow the repurposing of buildings at Rathgeber Village (RV), run by The SAFE Alliance (SAFE), a Central Texas nonprofit committed to helping anyone who has experienced violence and abuse, funding urgently needed improvements to safety and security measures suitable for the multipurpose use of this site. The site will continue to house older youth transitioning out of foster care as well as a temporary, 10-unit community shelter for domestic violence survivors with a lower risk of lethality; additional space for Eloise House, SAFE’s forensic exam clinic; and a building rented to Integral Care to serve youth dealing with mental health crises. Fewer children are being removed and placed in the child welfare system in Texas, and for those that are, it is the State’s preference that they be placed in family foster homes. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because SAFE has reduced the number of youth living at RV and will be using the rest of the campus to provide shelter and support to youth and adults who have been impacted by domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, and/or sex trafficking.
Project Name: Foundation Communities/Mary Lee Campus Redevelopment - Lamar Square
Proposed Recipient: City of Austin
Address of the Recipient: 301 West Second Street Second Floor, Austin, Texas, 78701
Requested Amount: $5,000,000.00
Description of the request, including the purpose and justification for use of taxpayer funds: This funding would be used to support the construction of rehabilitation and day hab spaces to serve intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) residents and clients in Phase 1 (of three phases) of the Lamar Square project, focusing on the construction of affordable housing for people with disabilities, low-income workers, and those at risk for homelessness. This six-story building will primarily be housing, and will include two floors for Mary Lee Foundation (MLF), for housing plus rehab and day hab services space that will accommodate additional clients who live in MLF’s other supportive sites. The other floors will be Foundation Communities housing under its services-enriched model (health supports, case management, 24-hour staffing), including resettlement of current residents who are living in MLF buildings that need to be demolished. This project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because Foundation Communities’ proven housing-plus-services model, in partnership with MLF, will integrate individuals with IDD into the surrounding community. Rehabilitation and therapy will continue in new buildings providing for the entire community, in addition to those social services, education, financial literacy, and health initiatives for which FC is known, and which are in short supply in the rapidly gentrifying South Lamar area.
Project Name: Sunken Garden Springs Historic Rehabilitation and Environmental Restoration Project
Proposed Recipient: City of Austin
Address of the Recipient: 301 West Second Street Second Floor, Austin, Texas, 78701
Requested Amount: $2,000,000.00
Description of the request, including the purpose and justification for use of taxpayer funds: This funding would be used for the following: 1. To establish a stable spring-fed stream channel that significantly reduces erosion risk for the spring, the pedestrian bridge, and park facilities (trails, parking, and historic structures). 2. Enhance and expand the federal endangered salamander habitat as required by the 2013 Habitat Conservation Plan specified in the City’s permit to operate Barton Springs Pool. 3. Preserve the adjacent historic structures and increase public interaction with them through interpretive signs and viewpoints. This project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it will benefit the park's more than 1.3 million annual visitors, including residents of Austin and elsewhere, as well as the federally endangered Barton Springs and Austin Blind Salamanders. Sunken Garden Springs is located within the Zilker Park National Register Historic District. The proposed improvements allow the City to preserve this historic site as outlined in the adopted 2008 Barton Springs Master Plan.
Project Name: CapMetro Scalable, Transit-Oriented Resilient Microgrid (STORM)
Proposed Recipient: Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Address of the Recipient: 2910 E 5th Street, Austin, Texas, 78702
Requested Amount: $1,600,000.00
Description of the request, including the purpose and justification for use of taxpayer funds: The funding would be used to implement a microgrid and battery energy storage system (BESS) to ensure the solar energy generated at North Ops is captured and can be efficiently utilized by CapMetro. While direct distribution of solar energy to the grid has its advantages, it is imperative to recognize that this approach deprives CapMetro of the cost-efficient benefits of using the energy directly in operations and lacks the provision for establishing a resilient backup power system, a critical component of our operational resilience. Without storage, the system will not be fully optimized. This Community Project Funding request will help further a voter-approved plan to supply sustainable and clean high-capacity bus and rail lines integrated with frequent, reliable local bus service. The project also builds on support from Capital Metro’s Board of Directors to expand the fleet to more than 200 electric buses. The Board of Directors has also approved the Capital Metro Sustainability Vision Policy Statement, which formalizes sustainability as a core value of the agency. The project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it furthers the commitment to support sustainable transit – the charging infrastructure will build resiliency of the routes and ensure clean, frequent, and accessible transportation in underserved areas of Austin.
Project Name: Austin Community Violence Intervention
Proposed Recipient: City of Austin
Address of the Recipient: 301 West Second Street Second Floor, Austin, Texas, 78701
Requested Amount: $3,450,000.00
Description of the request, including the purpose and justification for use of taxpayer funds: This funding would be used to Austin Public Health (APH) will use the requested funds to continue our Community Violence Intervention programming to individuals who are at highest risk of being impacted by community violence in crime hotspot locations. This program uses street outreach, conflict mediation, wraparound services, and community engagement to provide much needed support and services to individuals and neighborhoods promoting equity and positively impacting the community to reduce acts of violence, enhance cohesion, and actualize peace. This project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because, like other cities in the United States, Austin experienced a sharp increase in homicides since the COVID-19 pandemic, with the current homicide rate far exceeding pre-pandemic numbers. These incidents of gun violence are disproportionally impacting communities who have historically experience segregation and divestment.
Project Name: Central Texas Health Information Exchange Maternal Health Research
Proposed Recipient: Connxus
Address of the Recipient: 1401 Lavaca St. PMB 40115, Austin, Texas, 78701
Requested Amount: $1,750,000.00
Description of the request, including the purpose and justification for use of taxpayer funds: This funding would be used to support research that studies the impact of federal policies to improve access to maternal health services in health professional shortage areas by academic researchers. The funding will help build the necessary enhancements to improve the quality and completeness of data for such policy-relevant studies as well as test cutting-edge data analytic technologies like machine learning and large language models to allow the research to be optimized. This project is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because conducting rigorous population health research will provide advancements for Central Texas by identifying the needs and methods to improve the health and well-being of taxpayers while also decreasing government spending on health and social issues that otherwise might costs the state of Texas millions of dollars. This research can also be scaled as cutting-edge findings that can be utilized through the United States.