Riakos Adams

Council Member for the City of Killeen in Bell County, Texas

Council Member Riakos L. Adams is a dedicated public servant and community advocate who brings decades of leadership and civic engagement to the Killeen City Council. A retired U.S. Army officer with 22 years of service, Council Member Adams has long championed initiatives that uplift communities and promote civic responsibility both locally and nationally. His commitment to service began in his youth in Washington, D.C., where he organized city-wide volunteer efforts that earned national recognition and an invitation from President George H.W. Bush to help plan the National Young Leaders Conference.

Since November 2019, Council Member Adams has served as President and CEO of Killeen Volunteers, Inc., spearheading community outreach and engagement across Central Texas. He currently serves as the Chair of the USA Central Roundtable and as Deputy Assistant State Director for the Texas Knights of Pythagoras, where he also leads the Presidential Volunteer Service Award Program. In his role on the Killeen City Council, Council Member Adams advocates for public safety, youth mentorship, veteran services, and educational equity. He is deeply involved in local governance and community well-being through his work with the Bell County Child Welfare Board, the KISD Educational Foundation Board, and as a founding chair of the Killeen Alphas Education Foundation. His contributions to health, education, and child protection policy are further demonstrated by his past leadership of the KISD School Health Advisory Council and participation in task forces addressing human trafficking and child welfare.

Council Member Adams holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of the District of Columbia, an M.A. in Business Management and Organizational Security from Webster University, and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Human Services from the University of Arizona Global Campus. A multilingual leader and graduate of the Defense Language Institute (Spanish), he also completed training at the Command and General Staff College. A life member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., the Military Police Regimental Association, the VFW, and Disabled American Veterans, Council Member Adams embodies a lifelong dedication to public service, integrity, and community leadership.

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Which characteristics is your community looking for in funding opportunities?

Disaster declaration
A Presidential Disaster Declaration unlocks a suite of federal programs that assist local governments with disaster recovery. This is a good filter for communities included in recent Disaster Declarations related to flooding.
Nature-based solutions
The program has a strong focus on providing assistance to promote a healthy ecosystem as a critical defense against flooding impacts. Eligible activities may include floodplain restoration, environmental stewardship, projects that use natural features to mitigate erosion, and living shorelines.
Encourages public-private partnerships
The program encourages or requires collaboration between government entities and stakeholders, including the private sector, to fund, develop, or implement projects.
Offers rolling deadlines
The program accepts applications on an ongoing basis with no fixed deadline.

Is your project in the planning, design, or construction phase?

Planning
The gathering of data and information regarding the extent and impacts of flooding. Eligible activities may include data acquisition, risk assessment, and environmental analysis.
Design & scoping
Covers pre-construction activities, such as defining project scope, developing technical designs, and securing funding to prepare for implementation.
Construction & implementation
Involves carrying out flood resilience projects, including building infrastructure and deploying solutions to reduce flood risks.

Are you looking for grants, loans, or technical assistance for your project?

Funding (grants)
A monetary award that does not need to be repaid. Many federal grants are reimbursable, meaning recipients must cover project costs upfront and then request reimbursement from the government.
Financing (loans)
A government-issued loan that must be repaid. These loans typically provide funding upfront, helping communities cover project costs before repayment begins.
Technical assistance
Assistance from the government in the form of services — such as project planning, engineering and design support, data analysis, training, capacity building, or collaboration through a cooperative agreement — instead of direct funding.

Some programs provide extra support for specific project types or communities. Do any of these apply to your project?

Small or rural communities
Programs that set aside funding, offer loan forgiveness, or adjust cost share requirements for communities with smaller populations.
Small or low-cost projects
Programs that offer reduced requirements for smaller projects, such as waived cost-sharing or exemptions from benefit-cost analysis.
Regional or watershed focus
Programs that support projects that take a watershed management approach or address flooding at a regional scale, requiring coordination beyond a single town or community.
Tribal communities
Programs that dedicate resources or adjust cost share requirements specifically for tribal governments or organizations.
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