Check out three Hays County government updates, including the opening of a new park preserve, the filing of grant applications for over $400,000 in emergency response equipment and training, and a major funding increase for a social services organization.

1. Hays County opens 175-acre park preserve: Hays County officials and parks department staff celebrated the opening of Karst Canyon Preserve on March 27. The 175-acre preserve features a stretch of Dry Cypress Creek, the Wimberley Bat Cave and a habitat for the endangered golden-cheeked warbler.

2. Hays County applies for over $400K in emergency response grants: Hays County could gain up to approximately $411,000 in state funding to support emergency and incident response through six grant applications, following approval March 10 from the Hays County Commissioners Court.

3. Hays County approves one-time 400% funding increase to social services organization: Southside Community Center is getting a $100,000 boost to support housing security in Hays County, following approval from Hays County Commissioners Court on March 24.

Food is an essential item that fuels the body and brings people together. Vendors selling a variety of produce, grains and dairy products attend farmers markets across the San Marcos, Buda and Kyle region.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, helps residents in eligible low-income households buy food, according to the Texas Health and Human Services. Those utilizing the SNAP program may use their benefits to purchase products at select farmers’ markets across the state.

The gist: When shopping at a participating farmers’ market, SNAP beneficiaries should first locate the main information booth.

Shoppers will swipe the SNAP Lone Star Card and be provided with currency to be used at the market on eligible items, according to Texas Farmers Markets.

The impact: SNAP is essential to providing nutritional support to working families with low-paying jobs, low-income adults 60 years and older and those with disabilities living on fixed incomes, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, or CBPP.

⚡️ ERCOT, developers detail plans to manage data center growth amid legislative scrutiny

The Texas power grid is undergoing “generational” growth, experts said during the Electric Reliability Council of Texas’ annual summit March 31 in Round Rock. Much of that growth is due to data centers—an industry under scrutiny from state lawmakers as some Texas communities push back against proposed data center developments. Read here.

📰 Texas tentatively approves 3 new dispensaries for medical cannabis program

Three medical cannabis businesses have been conditionally approved to participate in the Texas Compassionate Use Program, state officials announced April 1. Read more.

🎒 Over 270K Texans applied for education savings accounts. Here’s who state officials say are expected to receive them.

Funding for Texas’ $1 billion education savings account program is expected to dry up before it reaches all low-income applicants, the state comptroller’s office announced April 2. Read now.