The small City of Daisetta, often seen as an underdog when it comes to securing grants and amenities, has recently achieved a remarkable victory. The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) has awarded Daisetta a $4.6 million grant, fully funding the construction of an 11,000-plus square foot community center. This new facility will be situated on city-owned property adjacent to City Hall on FM 770 in downtown Daisetta.
Mayor Pro Tem Cindy Birchfield, a key advocate for the grant, shared her excitement over this accomplishment.
“The ink isn’t even dry on the contracts,” she remarked, reflecting on the rapid progress.
During the previous round of TDHCA grant funding, Daisetta was overlooked, with neighboring communities receiving the much-needed financial support. Determined not to let history repeat itself, Birchfield passionately advocated for Daisetta’s inclusion in this round of funding.
The City of Daisetta enlisted the services of Austin-based Grant Works to administer the grant application.
“We found out about this grant at the last minute. We threw together a grant application with the help of Grant Works, which takes a small percentage of the grant,” Birchfield explained.
Their collaboration proved fruitful, culminating in the grant’s approval. Birchfield expressed her joy and relief upon receiving the news, saying she was “over the moon” with the outcome.
The project will be overseen by Labiche Architectural Group as the architect and Fitz and Shipman Engineering as the engineer. The contractor for the construction will be G&G Enterprises. All of these firms are based in Beaumont, Texas, which pleases Birchfield as the money will be circulated close to home.
This new community center promises to be a hub of activity and a sign of progress for Daisetta. With more than 11,000 square feet of space, it will provide residents with a venue for various events, programs, and activities.
The new community center will feature a computer lab, multiple bathrooms (some with showers), washer and dryer, and a full-service kitchen. Birchfield anticipates the building being used extensively during community events such as the annual Mayhaw Festival and the city’s annual Christmas event. It will also be rented out to residents and businesses for private gatherings, she added. The City of Daisetta will maintain the schedule for the community center once it is built.
“It has a huge commercial kitchen and will have a generator, so it can be used to help feed the community during natural disasters. It will be a huge benefit to Daisetta-area residents,” Birchfield said.
She added that she hopes to attract interest from a local junior college to offer GED classes and a testing center, or even some dual credit or certification classes.
The bid for the project came in at $3.2 million. Birchfield is hoping to determine, with the help of TDHCA, if the remaining funds can be used for landscaping or other amenities. As for the pavilion that is already located on the property, Birchfield said it will remain in place and continue to be used for community events.
A ceremonial groundbreaking will be held on the site of the new community center, 412 Main Street (FM 770), at 10 a.m., on Friday, Aug. 16. The community is invited to attend.
Congratulations to Daisetta and a special thank you to Council for securing this great addition to the community. Can’t wait to put it to use