FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 27, 2026
Austin, TX — Yesterday, Governor Greg Abbott announced that the City of Corpus Christi has been awarded two Defense Economic Adjustment Grant (DEAAG) program awards. The first, totaling $2.074 million, goes to the Naval Air Station Corpus Christi (NASCC) to design and construct wastewater lines, replacing 2,180 linear feet of aging wastewater collection pipes and 7 manholes. The second award, totaling $990,000, goes to the Corpus Christi Army Depot (CCAD) to purchase and install four atmospheric water generation (AWG) units that will supplement water use in high-demand production areas.
Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, Vice Chair of the Senate Finance Committee, said, “DEAAG is a very important program for our military communities. These grants fund critical infrastructure projects that improve the readiness and resilience of our installations, increase their military value, and help further their mission.” He added, “The Texas Legislature continues to fund this program in the state budget because our military installations are not only necessary for our national defense and security, but they also generate billions of dollars for the Texas economy and support thousands of jobs in the Coastal Bend.”
The City of Corpus Christi applied for these grants and included letters of support from Senator Hinojosa for both projects. The NASCC project is Phase 3 of a long-term effort to modernize the installation’s wastewater system, following earlier phases that replaced lift stations and wastewater lines. The $2.074 million DEAAG grant will be matched by the U.S. Navy, with the City of Corpus Christi contributing an additional $497,917.50 in project management and grant administrative services, bringing the total project investment to $4.65 million.
The CCAD grant will fund the purchase and installation of four AWG units, which generate non-potable water from the atmosphere for use in industrial processes. This is Phase Two of CCAD’s broader water resiliency strategy, building on Phase One investments from a previous DEAAG award that replaced deteriorated condensate return stations — saving approximately $290,000 in water supply, wastewater treatment, chemicals, heating, and softener salt costs. The new AWG units will offset municipal water use in areas where daily demand ranges between 2,400 and 12,000 gallons, strengthening CCAD’s resilience to drought and infrastructure disruptions. The $990,000 DEAAG grant will be matched by CCAD, with the City of Corpus Christi contributing $59,400 for project management and administrative services, for a total project investment of $2 million.
Senator Hinojosa expressed appreciation to Governor Abbott, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, and the Texas Military Preparedness Commission for their continued support of the DEAAG program. He also recognized Corpus Christi Mayor Paulette Guajardo, the City Council, the Corpus Christi Army Depot, and the Naval Air Station Corpus Christi staff for their collaboration in securing these grants.
“These investments will strengthen two of the most important military installations in our state and in our region,” said Senator Hinojosa. “Keeping our installations modern, resilient, and mission-ready is not just a matter of military preparedness — it is an investment in the future of the Coastal Bend and the thousands of families whose livelihoods depend on these bases.”
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