Texas Border Business
Texas Border Business
The Hidalgo County Head Start Program, Inc. has received a grant totaling $36,357,958 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for Fiscal Year 2025, continuing its longstanding partnership with the federal Head Start program to support early childhood education in South Texas.
According to a press release from Congressman Vicente Gonzalez, the award was announced to ensure the continued delivery of comprehensive early learning, health, and family support services to 3,060 children in the region. This funding will help sustain one of the largest Head Start programs in Texas, serving low-income families across Hidalgo County.
Since 1965, the Head Start Program, housed within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at HHS, has promoted school readiness for children aged three to five from low-income households. The program emphasizes the enhancement of cognitive, social, and emotional development, while also fostering strong familial relationships. It remains one of the country’s most effective tools in breaking the cycle of poverty.
“Head Start is crucial for setting our children, regardless of their background, on the path to success,” said Congressman Gonzalez. “Early childhood education programs like Head Start provide the foundation to achieve their potential in school and in life. Thank you to Hidalgo County Head Start for their tremendous work in helping our future. I am committed to protecting this vital program so that South Texas children can continue to benefit and thrive.”
The funding was awarded as part of HHS’s regular grant continuation process, in which longstanding Head Start grantees apply annually for renewed support. These grants are not congressional earmarks or competitive allocations, but rather part of a structured, scheduled funding system to maintain services at qualifying institutions.
While Congressman Gonzalez did not secure the grant directly, he has publicly advocated for the preservation of early childhood education funding. He has actively opposed proposed federal budget cuts to Head Start and similar programs. In recent statements, he emphasized the importance of these services as “lifelines” for working families.
For over four decades, Hidalgo County Head Start Program, Inc. has delivered child development services designed to advance the economic and social well-being of children and families in South Texas. The continued federal support reflects both the program’s compliance with national standards and its critical role in the local community.
The $36.3 million grant ensures that thousands of children across the region will continue to benefit from access to safe learning environments, nutritious meals, health screenings, and a strong foundation for lifelong learning.
