Texas Border Business
Brownsville, Texas — The Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation (BCIC) is opening applications for its Quality of Life Grants for Fiscal Year 2026, inviting nonprofits, public agencies, and eligible community partners to bring forward projects that make daily life in Brownsville better, more active, and more connected.
Eligible activities include community infrastructure and beautification, recreational and sports facilities, health and wellness initiatives, safety and accessibility, environmental sustainability, destination amenities that support tourism, technology and innovation, and education and skill development. Projects must be in Brownsville, open to the public, shovel-ready, and aligned with BCIC’s mission and statutory eligibility.
Residents have seen this momentum firsthand in recent weeks, including the new Glady’s Porter Zoo Soaring Eagle Zipline, the high ropes experience at Camp Rio, and the Brownsville Historical Association’s Simon Celaya Railroad Gallery, all opened in 2025. These are the kinds of experiences the program aims to multiply across the city.
“Brownsville families deserve places and programs that make everyday life richer. Just in 2024 and 2025, BCIC invested over $14 million across 50 projects, turning local sales tax into parks, cultural spaces, and recreation areas people can use. The results are visible across the city, and this next round will build on that momentum,” said Cori Peña, President and CEO of BCIC.
Applications are evaluated on community impact, budget and leverage, project details and readiness, strategic alignment with BCIC’s 2025 to 2029 Strategic Plan, and organizational capacity; bonus points are available for environmental sustainability. Proposals must reach a minimum score of seventy points, excluding bonuses, for Board consideration.
“Brownsville’s momentum grows when public wellness and economic growth move together. Quality of Life Grants turn that belief into everyday places you can feel under your feet, where sales tax dollars come back as trails to walk, rooms to learn, fields to play, and parks to celebrate. When neighbors turn ideas into public assets, blocks get stronger, small businesses see more customers, and Brownsville becomes an even more attractive home for families and talent,” said Dr. Rose M. Z. Gowen, BCIC Board Chair.
BCIC’s FY 2026 Quality of Life Grants fund up to eighty percent of eligible project costs. Applicants can apply online at brownsvillecic.com/qualityoflifegrants. Before submitting, organizations are encouraged to discuss plans with BCIC staff. For program questions, contact Eric Quintero, Community Development Manager, at 956-551-5920 or equintero@brownsvillecic.com
