Congressman Gonzalez Announces $175 Million for Local Colleges, Universities, and Students in the Rio Grande Valley
WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) announced more than $175 million in emergency funding for colleges, universities, and students in the Rio Grande Valley under the American Rescue Plan. The funding will help local institutions cope with the severe financial fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic and continue serving their students safely. At least half of the funding each institution receives will be distributed in the form of emergency cash assistance grants to students who are facing hunger, homelessness and other hardship.
The American Rescue Plan provides $36 billion for nearly 3,500 public and private, nonprofit colleges and universities nationwide.
"Our college educators and students have been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the American Rescue Plan will get them back on track," said Congressman Gonzalez. "The American Rescue Plan is a historic investment in our local colleges and universities to provide these institutions and struggling students with much needed relief. I am proud that we were able to deliver this critical support for institutions of higher education and I am hyper focused on defeating the pandemic and building back a better economy for Texans."
"We are grateful for another round of HEERF allocation because these funds have truly benefited our students and have allowed them to continue their education without disruption during the pandemic. We appreciate Congressman Gonzalez's support in helping UTRGV obtain these funds." – President Guy Bailey, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV).
"In the middle of these extraordinary challenges for students attending South Texas College, it is heartening to know that there are also opportunities available that will enable them to continue their education no matter what comes their way. Today, support has finally arrived that will assist them through the impacts from this pandemic on both their lives and their educational journeys. STC has always put the quality of life for our students and their families at the forefront of everything we do, and utilizing the funds from the American Rescue Plan will only further characterize our commitment to transforming our communities." – Dr. David Charles Plummer, Interim President at South Texas College.
The colleges and universities in the Rio Grande Valley receiving funding under the American Rescue Plan are:
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley: $101,411,829
South Texas College: $73,866,947
Students should contact their institutions for more information about how they can apply for an emergency grant.
The American Rescue Plan also includes nearly $3 billion in additional funding – which will be distributed at a later date – for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), other Minority-Serving Institutions, and other under-resourced institutions.
To read more about emergency education funding under the American Rescue Plan, click here.