Proclamation to Honor Bruce Spitzengel and Grantworks

Floor Speech

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Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor Mr. Bruce Spitzengel and GrantWorks:

Whereas, 48 years ago, Mr. Bruce Spitzengel started working as a city planner for Texas City and a year later became the assistant planning director for Pasadena, Texas; these positions led to the founding of a company in 1979 that would eventually become GrantWorks, benefiting State, county, and city governments with services to facilitate resilient infrastructure facilities, economic development, and single- family and multifamily affordable housing; and

Whereas, GrantWorks provides the knowledge of both State and Federal programs to address the primary needs of local governmental localities to serve their constituents with facilities and housing components to create a more resilient future for their communities; and

Whereas, Mr. Spitzengel and his lovely bride, Jody, utilized the principles learned through years of experience to expand vital services not offered by other companies assisting more than 450 cities and counties across the State and recognizing the need to expand services to address disaster recovery assistance beginning with Hurricane Rita and continuing with Hurricanes Dolly, Ike, and Harvey, as well as other Federally declared disasters to this day; and

Whereas, GrantWorks' record of service continues by assisting with the acquisition and management of financial awards for resilient infrastructure, having managed over $8 billion of assistance for local government and provided administration services for over 5,000 single- family units for low- and moderate-income houses; and

Whereas, recognizing the needs of others, Bruce and the GrantWorks' culture of service to those they serve, the company matched 100 percent employee contribution for many years supporting food pantries, and has assisted thousands of households with relief for medical debt; and

Whereas, GrantWorks created an ongoing scholarship program in recognition of a valued employee in her name, Betty Collier, upon her passing, to the Texas Municipal Clerks Association, a professional organization dedicated to serving the demands of excellence in Texas' local government; and

Whereas, since Hurricane Harvey made landfall in Rockport, Texas, on August 25 of 2017, GrantWorks contributed an executive staff member to assist the county for over 1 year with emergency management support at no cost; and

Whereas, GrantWorks to this day ranks number one in serving more Texas cities and counties with the widest range of program offerings than any other company in Texas.

Now, therefore, I, Randy Weber, Representative of Texas' 14th District, do hereby proclaim an official recognition of Bruce Spitzengel and GrantWorks, Incorporated, for tremendous work serving the needs of Texas families and local government.

Proclamation to Honor Steve Mataro, Servant Builders, and DSW Homes

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Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I also rise to honor Steve Mataro:

Whereas, just over 35 years ago, Mr. Mataro founded Servant Builders as a recovery mission geared toward helping young men with addiction learn a trade in construction while rebuilding relationships with families and communities; and

Whereas, Servant Builders provided job training and placement assistance for over 200 men, enabling a better future for their entire families; and

Whereas, Mr. Mataro utilized the same principles learned through Servant Builders in launching DSW Homes in southeast Texas in 2009 to assist rebuilding homes following Hurricane Rita, often providing job training and assistance to the very men whose homes were being rebuilt; and

Whereas, lessons learned via Servant Builders are displayed in often accommodating low-income and elderly homeowners, driving clients to construction appointments, and even temporarily paying their rents; and

Whereas, now operating in four states and the U.S. Virgin Islands, DSW Homes currently completes an average of 1,000 homes annually in disaster-hit regions with a record of 15 days from demolition to completion for a total of 12,000 homes; and

Whereas, since Hurricane Harvey made landfall in Rockport, Texas, on August 25, 2017, DSW Homes has rebuilt homes for over 3,000 families throughout five recovery zones.

Now, therefore, I, Randy Weber, as the Representative of Texas' 14th District, and Michael Cloud, Representative of Texas' 27th District, on June 7 of 2023, do hereby proclaim an official recognition of Steve Mataro for tremendous work with Servant Builders and DSW Homes.

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