Press Release
September 26, 2023

U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $6.7 Million to Increase Access to Health Care and Support Business Growth in Texas

Contact: EDA Public Affairs Department, [email protected]

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is investing $6.7 million in the state of Texas to support construction of a community-based dental clinic and to make infrastructure improvements needed to support business growth.

The EDA investments announced today are:

  • The Multi-Assistance Center at Morgan’s Wonderland in San Antonio will receive a $3.4 million EDA grant to support construction of an expanded community-based dental clinic, increasing access to healthcare and related employment opportunities. The project, to be matched with $864,750 in local funds, is expected to create 28 new jobs, retain 28 existing jobs, and generate $47.5 million in private investment, according to grantee estimates.
  • The city of Roma will receive a $1.7 million EDA grant for water and roadway infrastructure improvements to support a new industrial park and local business growth opportunities. The project, to be matched with $500,000 in local funds, is expected to create 172 new jobs, retain 50 existing jobs, and generate $14.8 million in private investment, according to grantee estimates.
  • The city of Hidalgo, Texas, will receive a $1.6 million EDA grant for water and roadway infrastructure improvements to support development of two new industrial parks. The project, to be matched with $400,000 in local funds, is expected to create 340 new jobs, retain 33 existing jobs, and generate $34 million in private investment, according to grantee estimates.

“President Biden is committed to ensuring all communities have the resources needed to grow and thrive,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “These EDA investments will create new economic opportunities and hundreds of new jobs for citizens in San Antonio, Roma and Hidalgo, making the regional economies more resilient.”

“The Economic Development Administration works hand-in-hand with local communities to support place-based economic development,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. “These investments will expand a community-based dental clinic in San Antonio and create the foundation to attract new industrial businesses to Roma and Hidalgo, strengthening their regional economies.”

“I thank the Economic Development Administration for their investment in critical infrastructure improvements and the expansion of a community-based dental clinic in South Texas,” said Governor Greg Abbott. “These grants will help create hundreds of good-paying jobs, improve healthcare outcomes, and spur many new business opportunities for hardworking Texans in San Antonio, Roma, and Hidalgo.”

“As South Texas continues to grow, so too does our demand for proper industrial facilities. The $1.7 million EDA grant will help provide the City of Roma with a new logistics and industrial park that will bring good-paying jobs and contribute significantly to the local economy,” said Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28). “Thank you to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo, EDA Regional Director Jorge Ayala, Roma Mayor Jaime Escobar, Jr., and Roma Economic Development President Joel Hinojosa, Jr., for working with me to bring the Las Americas Roma Logistics & Industrial Park to fruition.”

“I’ve been a proud advocate of the dental clinic in the MAC at Morgan’s Wonderland in San Antonio, right in the heart of my district. My team and I wrote a strong letter of support for this grant, and we deeply appreciate how the Biden Administration keeps delivering for everyday Texans. Hundreds of thousands of people in Bexar County have a family member with a disability. Too often, they lack quality dental care, which can lead to serious health problems. Morgan’s Wonderland ensures that all people – with and without disabilities – get a good quality of life in San Antonio,” said Congressman Greg Casar (TX-35). “My office will keep delivering federal dollars to make sure San Antonio’s working families get what they need.”

The Hidalgo project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the Lower Rio Grance Valley Development Council (LRGVDC). EDA funds LRGVDC to bring together the public and private sectors to create an economic development roadmap to strengthen the regional economy, support private capital investment and create jobs.

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 invests in communities and supports regional collaboration in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.