Texas Border Business
SAN ANTONIO, Texas – John Beckham, Managing Director of the North American Development Bank (NADBank), announced that the Bank has received 21 project proposals requesting a total of $225 million in financing under the first call for projects of its Water Resiliency Fund (WRF). These proposals aim to advance critical drought-response investments across the Rio Grande Valley.
Launched November 3, 2025, the initial Texas round focused on urgent water conservation and system-efficiency improvements within irrigation districts serving Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy counties, a region facing persistent drought conditions and reduced river flows that threaten both municipal water deliveries and agriculture.
The application period closed on February 10th with 21proposals submitted by 13 irrigation districts. According to the submitted applications, only about 20% of the funding has been secured for their projects, leaving a total estimated $180 million financing gap.
Preliminary review indicates that the proposed infrastructure improvements (primarily canal lining and canal-to-pipe conversions) could conserve more than 55,000 acre-feet of water annually. To put the impact in perspective, that volume equals approximately 49.5 million gallons per day, enough to meet the drinking water needs of roughly 600,000 residents.
“The overwhelming response to our first call for projects reinforces both the urgency of the challenge ahead and our decision to focus the first call on the Rio Grande Valley,” said John Beckham, NADBank Managing Director. “By investing in infrastructure that conserves water and reduces losses, we are strengthening municipal water systems, supporting agriculture, and building long-term resistance to drought and extreme weather.”
NADBank staff are currently evaluating submitted proposals applying the WRF priority criteria. Initial results are expected in the April-May timeframe, followed by detailed technical and financial due diligence for top-ranked projects and a final funding announcement of selected projects expected to be made in late summer.
The Water Resiliency Fund represents a strategic, binational response to intensifying drought conditions across the U.S.–Mexico border region; prioritizing projects that deliver measurable water savings, strengthen water availability for communities and safeguard long-term economic stability.
Information source: North American Development Bank (NADBank)
