Texas Border Business
By Roberto Hugo González
Last week, Board Chairman Tony Aguirre attended the Industrial Areas Foundation’s (IAF) annual Workforce Directors Convening. Felida Villarreal, President & CEO of the Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement (VIDA), was also in attendance. This gathering brought together leaders from VIDA, Project QUEST, Inc., Capital IDEA, Capital IDEA Houston, Project ARRIBA, NOVA Workforce Institute of Northeast Louisiana, and Arizona Career Pathways.
According to Felida, “We shared organizational updates, discussed workforce development trends, and explored our collective goals for the communities we serve. One of the highlights was visiting Houston Community College HCC Coleman College for Health Sciences, the only community college embedded in the Texas Medical Center.”
Felida noted that HCC Coleman College for Health Sciences plays a pivotal role in the Houston community due to its “strategic location within Houston’s premier medical hub, accessibly priced, high-demand health education, real-world training environments, streamlined academic pathways, and integration within a supportive and mission-driven community college system.” She also extended “a big thank you to Capital IDEA Houston for being such a gracious host.”
IAF has a strong history of cultivating Labor Market Intermediary programs—initiatives designed to move people from poverty-level jobs to living-wage careers through partnerships among employers, community colleges, civic organizations, and public agencies. Programs such as VIDA, Project QUEST, Capital IDEA, Project ARRIBA, NOVA, and Arizona Career Pathways originated through IAF’s network, though they now operate independently.
VIDA, based in Mercedes, Texas, is a community-based nonprofit 501(c)(3) agency created in 1995 through the combined efforts of Valley Interfaith and private-industry leaders. Its mission is “empowering Rio Grande Valley residents to achieve economic prosperity through market-driven training, resources, and career pathways.” Villarreal explains that VIDA’s philosophy is simple: “A well-trained, well-educated population will not only be ready for tomorrow’s jobs. Rather, they will be able to live a more prosperous, healthy, and happy life.”
VIDA focuses on job retention rather than simple job placement, helping participants transition from low-income circumstances to self-sufficiency. Graduates fill high-demand occupations that often went unfilled or required costly recruitment from outside the region. According to VIDA, this not only benefits the families and businesses directly involved but also strengthens the community by increasing tax contributions and reducing reliance on public assistance.
The organization’s complete program model provides support services, career guidance, intensive case management, and financial assistance, resulting in an over 90% persistence rate. Monthly case management helps students overcome personal, financial, and emotional barriers, while group sessions offer training in employability, financial management, study skills, and other soft skills.
Since its inception, VIDA has worked closely with the business sector, training providers, and community-based organizations to build a skilled workforce in the Rio Grande Valley. Under the leadership of Felida Villarreal, with the support and guidance of Board Chairman Tony Aguirre and the board members, VIDA continues to link unemployed and underemployed residents with high-wage careers while addressing employers’ needs for skilled workers.
