EDINBURG, Texas - The four counties of the Rio Grande Valley have come together to apply for what could be the biggest federal grant ever awarded to the region - $85 million.
Brief details of the $200 million Recompete Pilot Program were referenced by Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez during a press conference held by U.S. Sen. John Cornyn at the Edinburg Conference Center at Renaissance on Monday, Oct. 9.
And in a later interview with the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service, Cortez said the numerous Valley organizations that have come together to apply for the Recompete grant are hoping to secure $85 million. He said the entity taking the lead on the grant application is UT-Rio Grande Valley and specifically its associate vice president for workforce and economic development, Ron Garza.
The Guardian learned about the Valley’s application for the Recompete grant after a reporter had asked Cornyn if he could help Cortez with one of the top issues identified by the Hidalgo County Prosperity Task Force - improving public transportation in the Valley’s colonias. The task force is addressing the high level of poverty in the county.
Cornyn appeared to misunderstand the question and started to talk about immigration. The reporter pointed out that the question was not about immigration but rather infrastructure. So, Cornyn punted to Cortez.
“The Senator has said the government cannot do everything and we have to look at ourselves to do things. One of the things we're going to do here in Hidalgo County, Cameron County, Willacy County and Starr County is invest in ourselves,” Cortez said.
Cortez said the Prosperity Task Force’s studies have shown that part of the problem in getting the people of Hidalgo County, specially adult learners, educated is lack of transportation.
“We're not going to solve the problem here today,” Cortez said. “But, I can tell you that this Senator, right next to me here, is always willing to sit down with us and help us.
“He was he was approached earlier today about the Recompete grant that's coming up with the Department of Commerce. So please take a look at that and help us with that because we made an application for that grant. That would go a long way in helping us with the problem (public transportation in the Valley’s colonias) that you just mentioned.”
Cornyn responded: “We're happy to help, Judge.”
The Department of Commerce first announced details of the Recompete Pilot Program in June. A press release from the Department stated:
“The Recompete Pilot Program will invest $200 million toward projects that spur economic activity in geographically diverse and persistently distressed communities across the country. Specifically, this program targets areas where prime-age (25-54 years) employment significantly trails the national average. The program aims to close this gap through by utilizing EDA’s place-based approach and delivering large, highly flexible grants based on community-driven strategies to address unique workforce and economic development needs of individual communities or regions.”
EDA stands for Economic Development Administration.
“A core part of President Biden’s economic agenda, Bidenomics, is the promise that every worker and every community, no matter who they are or where they are, should have a fair shot. Recompete is all about making good on that promise,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “This new program makes long overdue investments in communities that have been overlooked or counted out, helping them to create jobs, develop long-term economic growth, and realize their full potential.”
The Cornyn press conference took place immediately following a luncheon hosted by the RGV Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. The Guardian interviewed Cortez immediately after the Cornyn press conference.
Asked what the Recompete Grant was all about, Cortez said:
“The Recompete Grant is a grant issued by the US Department of Commerce. It's a $200 million grant. It's going to probably go to only five regions in United States. It is to address the issue of under-employment, or unemployment of people between the ages of 25 to 55.
“We got together - we meaning Hidalgo County, Willacy County, Starr County and Cameron County. Along with the University of Texas RGV, South Texas College, Texas State Institute and we formed a coalition to make a grant application.
“Hopefully we're asking for $85 million, and that $85 million is going to basically create human capital through some kind of training or education.”
Cortez said that, by necessity, some of the funds will have to go towards public transportation.
“We'll be able to use some of those funds for transportation because you (the reporter) were right on target. A lot of the people that live in the other areas of the county, they only have one car. So, if that car is already with the wage earner working somewhere, then his family is without transportation. They can't get the health care (they need) or anything else.”
Cortez was asked if the Recompete funds could be used to help the Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council open up, for the first time, bus routes in the bigger colonias.
“The conditions of the grant are as yet undefined. If is going to be defined if we get to be approved. We send a budget and it is approved. But I think it was written for us because their targeted goals are the targeted goals that we have at the Prosperity Task Force.”
Editor's Note: The audio recording below features Sen. Cornyn and Judge Cortez discussing the possibility of public transportation in Valley colonias; an interview with Cortez about the Recomplete Pilot Program; and an interview with Cortez at an affordable housing project groundbreaking ceremony with Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham where he confirms that public transportation in colonias is a top priority for the Hidalgo County Prosperity Task Force.
