Congressman Gonzalez Announces $400,000 in Coronavirus Aid for the Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council

WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) announced a $400,000 grant award for the Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council through the CARES Act. This funding comes as part of the Economic Development Administration's (EDA) greater $7.2 million investment of CARES Act Recovery Assistance grants to 18 EDA Economic Development District organizations across Texas to update economic development plans and fortify programs to assist communities in responding to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council Corporation in Weslaco, Texas, will receive a $400,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by providing technical assistance to local governments for obtaining funding resources to assist with job retention and job creation.

"Spurring our local economies and getting businesses back on their feet during this pandemic is one of my biggest priorities," said Congressman Gonzalez. "This federal investment by the EDA and CARES Act is meant to provide hardworking Americans and their families an opportunity to build back better and plan for the future. I will not rest until we ensure that those in our community are taken care of."

These entities, all EDA-designated Economic Development Districts (EDD), are some of the more than 850 existing, high-performing EDA EDD, University Center, Tribal, and Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) grant recipients invited to apply for supplemental funding under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

The CARES Act provides the EDA with $1.5 billion for economic development assistance programs to help communities prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus pandemic.