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U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $4 Million to Boost Business Development and Job Growth in Texas

Contact: Public Affairs Department, (202) 482-4085
Friday, September 28, 2012


WASHINGTON - Acting U.S. Commerce Secretary Rebecca Blank today announced six Economic Development Administration (EDA) grants totaling $4.1 million to help create new jobs in Texas.

"These $4.1 million in Economic Development Administration investments are examples of the Obama administration's commitment to help local communities create jobs and strengthen the economy," said Acting U.S. Commerce Secretary Rebecca Blank. "The six grants announced today will help Texas foster small businesses growth, boost tourism, and create local jobs."

The investments announced today include:

  • A $1.5 million EDA grant to the Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council to establish the Center for International Economic Development Opportunities in Weslaco, which will work to foster and support business and entrepreneurial initiatives for domestic and international markets.

  • A $1 million EDA grant to the city of San Benito to help build the San Benito Cultural Heritage Museum. The new museum will bring four local cultural centers under one roof, allowing for more efficient, cost-effective operations and the expansion of cultural tourism to the city and its surrounding region.

  • A $950,000 EDA grant to the city of San Augustine, to help make critical water and wastewater infrastructure improvements to facilitate business expansion and job creation in the city.

  • A $250,318 EDA grant to Northeast Texas Community College of Mount Pleasant to help purchase equipment for the college's Industrial Technology Training Center, which will allow the college to add a welding component to its curriculum to help meet growing demand in this rural area for trained welders.

  • A $250,000 EDA grant to the city of Hidalgo to help develop a strategic master plan to guild the development of the city's Viejo district to create an attractive commerce center that will be a focal point for tourism as well as a base for local business development.

  • A $247,000 EDA grant to the University of Texas at Austin to help develop a public-private partnership plan for the development of the Austin Wet-Lab Incubator. The project is a result of an EDA-funded wet lab feasibility study conducted by the University of Texas at Austin, which showed great market demand for wet-laboratory space in the Austin region.

About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov)
The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation's regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA makes investments in economically distressed communities in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.