Waco, TX – Governor Greg Abbott announced that more than $26 million in grant funding will be awarded for infrastructure projects in Texas military communities through the Texas Military Preparedness Commission’s Defense Economic Adjustment Assistance Grant (DEAAG) program.
Governor Abbott noted that Texas is home to more than 1.7 million veterans and active-duty, reserve personnel, and their families. He said the funds will support upgrades to military facilities, including the state’s 15 major installations, improving water access, equipment resiliency, and overall safety.
The grants will fund infrastructure and other initiatives to protect military installations and jobs in communities that could be affected by future Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) decisions. Since 2015, the DEAAG program has awarded over $172 million to support Texas military communities.
For fiscal year 2026-2027, the following entities will receive DEAAG reimbursements:
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Ark-Tex Council of Governments: $5 million for Red River Army Depot to meet U.S. Military Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) requirements
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Bell County: $4.5 million for Fort Hood to develop an Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) system
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City of El Paso: $4 million for Fort Bliss to increase water production capacity at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Desalination Plant
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Val Verde County: $5 million for Laughlin Air Force Base to modernize the airfield lighting system to FAA standards
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City of Corpus Christi: $2.074 million for Corpus Christi Naval Air Station to replace aging domestic wastewater collection pipes
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City of Corpus Christi: $990,000 for Corpus Christi Army Depot to install four Atmospheric Water Generation (AWG) units
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City of San Antonio: $5 million for JBSA-Fort Sam Houston to renovate the South Beach facility in partnership with the City of San Antonio, Bexar County, the State of Texas, and the Defense Health Agency (DHA)
Officials said the grants are part of ongoing efforts to strengthen military communities and ensure Texas installations remain capable of supporting current and future missions.
