Austin American-Statesman: San Marcos receives $7.7 million in disaster funds for 2015 floods

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced it is awarding San Marcos an additional $7.7 million for disaster recovery from the 2015 floods.

The department's Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery Program doles out money for communities in the most impacted areas with significant unmet recovery needs.

San Marcos was one of several local and state governments to receive the funding announced Thursday, along with the state of Texas, which received $15 million. The $7.7 million grant is in addition to a $25.08 million allocation announced in February 2016.

The grants come with many requirements, central of which is an "action plan" detailing how the funds will be spent. The department approved the city of San Marcos' action plan in November 2016, which came together after several public meetings.

That plan divvied up the funding into the following categories: $7.5 million for housing, $12.5 million for infrastructure, $3.7 million for planning and $1,254,000 for administrative costs.

On Monday, the city launched a housing program to begin repairing and rebuilding flood-damaged homes. The deadline for qualified residents to apply is June 28.

City spokesman Trey Hatt was unsure on Thursday whether the additional $7.7 million allocation would spur a new planning process or if it would be incorporated into the existing action plan.

U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, in a statement Thursday applauded the new grants .

"I am hopeful that together we will avoid future flood damage and address a wide range of local needs that will strengthen San Marcos," Doggett said.