Texas Border Business
Texas Border Business
Leaders from Edinburg, Texas, led by Mayor Omar Ochoa, traveled to Washington, D.C., last week at the invitation of Congresswoman Monica de la Cruz, who hosted the South Texas delegation as part of her second STX Days event focused on connecting local communities with federal resources and programs.
According to event materials, the purpose of STX Days is to connect Texas to Washington and ensure communities have access to “resources, programs, and new opportunities to thrive.” The gathering brought together community leaders and local officials from across the congressional district to receive updates on federal initiatives and available funding.
The Edinburg delegation included Mayor Omar Ochoa, Councilmember Gerry Lozano, Councilmember Daniel Diaz, and Raudel Garza, executive director of the Edinburg Economic Development Corporation. They joined other South Texas officials in meetings with federal agencies and congressional staff organized by Monica de la Cruz’s office.
Representatives from the City of Pharr also attended, including Carlos Sanchez, president and chief executive officer of the Greater Pharr Chamber of Commerce, and Victoria Brewster, director of external relations for the City of Pharr.
Officials met with Kailee Buller, chief of staff to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, who provided updates on the agency’s work in South Texas to combat New World Screwworm and address Mexico’s compliance with 1944 Water Treaty deliveries. The group also received information on transportation priorities from Leslie Becera, principal deputy assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of Transportation, regarding efforts led by Secretary Sean Duffy to improve national infrastructure.
Doug Disrud, staff director for the House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development, shared information on transportation and housing community project funding for the upcoming year. Ronnie Kurtz, assistant secretary for Community Planning and Development at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, outlined available grant programs intended to expand affordable housing and support community development across the district.
Event materials from the office of Congresswoman De la Cruz state that nearly $46 million has been secured for communities in the district since the current member of Congress took office, and that bringing investments back to Texas communities has been a top priority.
Additional participants included City of Alamo officials City Manager Bobby Salinas, Economic Development Corporation Director Isauro Treviño, Mayor J.R. Garza, Mayor Pro Tem A.J. Garcia, and City Commissioner Roel Moreno Jr.; representatives from the City of George West and Live Oak, including Kitley Wasicek, Shirley Holm, Punky Kerr, Brooke Katz, and Kylie Smith; and a delegation from the City of Seguin that included City Manager Steve Parker, Mayor Donna Dodgen, and Elaine Bennett, chief executive officer of the Guadalupe Regional Medical Foundation.
See the gallery below for more images of the STX Days
City of Alamo: City Manager Bobby Salinas, EDC Director Isauro Treviño, Mayor J.R. Garza, Mayor Pro Tem A.J. Garcia, and City Commissioner Roel Moreno Jr. Courtesy image 
City of Palmhurst Mayor Fred del Barrio. Courtesy image 
City of Seguin. Courtesy image 
City of George West and Live Oak. Courtesy image
