City receives grant for roadway improvements downtown

Downtown Cameron and the Cameron Industrial Park will soon be getting some major improvements thanks to a grant awarded to the City of Cameron this week. 

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration announced on Tuesday that the city was awarded a $560,000 grant to make roadway improvements in downtown Cameron and the Cameron Industrial Park to support business retention, expansion, and attraction. 

“It is an exciting day,” Cameron Industrial Foundation Executive Director Ginger Watkins said. “We received news that the City of Cameron was awarded a grant from the US Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration.”

Watkins said the grant touches two strategic economic development areas of the city – supporting our industrial employers and growing youth sports tourism. Both areas are strategic in that they have the potential to retain and grow jobs.  

The grant is an 80/20 match, meaning that the US Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration will provide 80 percent of the funds needed for the two project areas, and city sources will provide 20 percent. The 20 percent will come in part from City Street department funds already allocated for basic chip seal in the Industrial Park and part of the 20 percent will come from the Cameron Economic Development Corporation.  

“We very much appreciate the support of the Central Texas Council of Governments and the Regional EDA office in pulling the grant together and providing essential feedback,” Watkins said.

Originally, the City applied for this grant under the CARES Act. Ultimately, the grant was funded under the EDA’s traditional grants structure.

“It is exciting when collaboration and hard work of volunteers bear fruit,” Cameron Mayor Bill Harris said. “This grant is the direct result of months of work and collaboration by the City and the Cameron Economic Development Corporation - they worked creatively and collaboratively to make big things happen - $560,000 is big!”

Harris said the grant will allow the city to make essential improvements to two areas in the city, the Cameron Industrial Park and a safety project on Adams Avenue at Highway 36.  

The Industrial Park road improvements support businesses that provide hundreds of jobs to the citizens of Cameron and Milam County. 

“The city works diligently to allocate its limited funds to road maintenance each year,” Harris said. “The roads in the Industrial Park are a unique challenge due to the high volume of truck traffic – which we love. We want to support the continued success of our industrial employers and this grant will enable the city to make improvements beyond the scope of the typical city budget. We are very excited to be able to support these industries and jobs with this grant.”  

The EDA grant, to be matched with $140,000 in local funds, is expected to create 25 jobs, retain 284 jobs, and generate $5 million in private investment.

 “The City of Cameron is very fortunate to receive this grant allowing much-needed street work to be done in our city,” City Manager Rhett Parker said. “This will be a boost to our 2021 street projects, allowing additional work to be done.”

Cameron Economic Development Corporation President Jim Camp said the Adams Avenue safety improvements will create turn lanes to and from Adams Avenue from the highway.  

“This not only improves the safety of the citizens who travel Adams Avenue daily but it will also improve the access to The Yards of Cameron and the commercial lots in front of The Yards known as the Cameron Business Park Phase II,” Camp said. “The Adams Avenue Safety Improvement project is a critical component in the future development of The Yards of Cameron.” 

 This project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the Central Texas Council of Governments, which EDA funds to bring together the public and private sectors to create an economic development roadmap to strengthen the regional economy, support private capital investment, and create jobs.

Jim Reed, Executive Director of Central Texas Council of Governments said they are committed to supporting our member communities. 

“We are excited about this award and the partnership we have with the City of Cameron,” Reed said.

“We are blessed and I am thankful for the volunteers who serve on the City Council and economic development corporation,” Harris said. “These people are working for the betterment of their home, Cameron.  This grant award is a great example of the heart of these volunteers and their contribution to the city.”

The Cameron Economic Development Corporation is a seven-member board appointed by the Cameron City Council.  Their task is to guide long-term and short-term projects, which positively impact the economic well-being of Cameron.