At the Deep East Texas Council of Governments (DETCOG) Board meeting in Nacogdoches last week, Executive Director Walter Diggles reported on the progress of the Hurricane Ike Housing Recovery program. He said it’s on schedule to complete over 100 reconstruction and rehabilitations by the end of 2015.

Diggles also noted that two job-creating Hurricane Ike Forgivable Loan projects have been de-obligated and now the funds will be utilized for other projects within the region. That will make nearly $1-million soon available for “shovel-ready” business start-ups or expansions that create jobs.

Also at the meeting, Jasper County Judge Mark Allen, who chairs DETCOG’s Economic Development Committee, reported his group’s recommendation on the division of over $500,000 in unused Hurricane Ike Recovery de-obligated infrastructure funds.

Those funds were re-allocated to other qualified cities and counties for infrastructure repairs and improvements within the DETCOG Region.

The next DETCOG Board Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, July 23 in Hemphill.