A letter endorsing the project by Neal and County Judge Richard Borchard also was given to Texas Transportation commissioners. Funding is available through the Statewide Transportation Enhancement Program, which allows funds to be used for transportation projects such as renovating courthouses, historic preservation or archaeological research. Tough competition Transportation Commissioners will choose the projects that will receive funding at their Jan. 27 meeting, Dillard said. But there's a lot of competition for the funding. We don't have enough money to do all the projects selected.
Competition is very stiff.
If a project doesn't get chosen, it doesn't mean it wasn't a good project. We're expecting to have another call for projects in 2001 and people who don't get funding in January can resubmit their proposal,'' he said. But local officials are optimistic about getting funding this time around. Corpus Christi Assistant City Manager Tom Utter said the city submitted the application in hopes of being able to use the old courthouse again. It would bring about the restoration of the old courthouse, which has been idle since 1976,'' he said.