Brownwood Pursuing $1M Downtown Revitalization Grant

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The Brownwood City Council has adopted a resolution to submit an application for a Texas Community Development Block Grant program grant of up to $1 million to fund downtown revitalization efforts, including sidewalk, lighting, and street improvements. The city previously scored 78.25 out of 90 points on the grant application, which is about 10 points higher than the last round, but it's uncertain if that will be enough to receive the grant this year.

Why it matters

Securing this grant would allow Brownwood to make significant investments in its downtown area, which could help revitalize the local economy and improve the overall appearance and walkability of the city's central business district. However, increased competition for the limited grant funds means Brownwood will need to score highly on the application to be selected.

The details

The Texas Department of Agriculture opened a new round of Downtown Revitalization Program grant applications in January 2026. Brownwood's City Council has authorized the submission of an application, which is due on April 3. The maximum grant request is $1 million, and the city would need to provide a $50,000 match to be most competitive. If awarded, the city plans to use the funds for sidewalk, lighting, and street improvements in the downtown area.

• In January 2026, the Texas Department of Agriculture opened a new round of Downtown Revitalization Program grant applications.
• The Community Application for the grant is due on April 3, 2026.
• The City of Brownwood expects to know by early May 2026 if it scored high enough to move forward to the second phase of the application process.

What’s next

If Brownwood scores high enough on the initial Community Application, the city will then be invited to submit a Project Application that will identify the specific downtown improvement projects and budgets the grant funds will be used for.