Corpus Christi Mayor Paulette Guajardo traveled to Washington, D.C., this week to push for federal funding tied to major water infrastructure projects across the Coastal Bend, including the city’s proposed Inner Harbor desalination plant.
Guajardo said city leaders met with staff from the Bureau of Reclamation after the federal agency recently announced new funding opportunities for seawater desalination projects.
“Today was a very important meeting here in Washington D.C. because we had the opportunity to meet with staff from the Bureau of Reclamation,” Guajardo said. “This is critical for the City of Corpus Christi.”
According to the mayor, the meeting focused on the city’s eligibility for federal funding connected to the Inner Harbor desalination project.
“It was a very positive meeting where we were able to discuss the city’s eligibility,” Guajardo said. “The City of Corpus Christi’s Inner Harbor project was officially deemed eligible for completing the feasibility study.”
The trip comes as Corpus Christi continues to work to secure long-term water supplies amid ongoing drought concerns across South Texas. City leaders have said federal funding could help reduce costs connected to future water projects and lessen financial impacts on ratepayers.
Guajardo said additional meetings are planned for Thursday with several federal offices, including Congressman Michael Cloud and the Office of Management and Budget.
“We’re going to continue advocating for increased funding to offset ratepayer impacts,” Guajardo said. “Our desalination project is very well known here in D.C.”
The mayor said city officials plan to continue pushing for a stronger federal partnership as Corpus Christi moves forward with future water supply projects.