Texas Border Business
Rio-South Texas Education & Community Development (RSTEF) has awarded VIDA $200,000 for the purpose of postsecondary education and workforce development.
VIDA requested RSTEF funds to recruit, train, and prepare 100 participants for career success in the health science and information technology as prescribed in the RSTEF program parameters for two-year institutions target career clusters. VIDA’s financial request to RSTEF will be matched by $300,000 from their annual fundraising from various sources such as U.S. Department of Labor Nursing Expansion Grant, Texas Mutual’s General Learning Grant, Texas Talent Connection Grant, Development Corporation of McAllen Inc., and Greater Brownsville Incentive Corporation (GBIC).
VIDA was designed as a workforce training model to offer socioeconomic benefits for unemployed, underemployed, and under-skilled individuals pursuing higher education degrees or industry-based credentials to secure family sustaining wage employment. VIDA focuses on enhancing career pathways in industries of healthcare, STEM, and skilled trades.
VIDA serves the RGV’s most vulnerable population, facing prominent barriers and challenges to professional success such as but not limited to poverty, family responsibilities, low skill, English as a second language, lack of career guidance, and a poor or nonexistent support system for higher education attainment.
VIDA seeks to promote economic mobility and break intergenerational cycles of poverty through higher education attainment. The proposal seeks to enroll 100 participants from low-income backgrounds to pursue a college degree or certification in health science and information technology. VIDA participants are unemployed, underemployed, and under-skilled individuals. VIDA seeks to maintain a 90% retention rate, an 85% completion rate, and an 80% job placement. VIDA will provide career counseling and exploration, academic advisement, skills assessment, college education access, wraparound support services, and job placement.
Rio-South Texas Education & Community Development (RSTEF) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit focused on Postsecondary Education and Workforce Development. RSTEF serves a seven-county region comprised of Willacy, Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, Zapata, Jim Hogg, and Webb counties. The nonprofit provides financial support to 501(c)3 nonprofits whose programs result in increased skilled employment and educational obtainment for area residents. RSTEF’s goal is to help our region’s residents attain vocational trade certifications and/or degrees for in-demand professions thereby improving the economic conditions and quality of life for the region.
Since 2019, RSTEF has awarded $9.4 million dollars to programs across Rio South Texas Region. That $9.4 million has been leveraged up to $18.8 million by matching funds. So far 26 programs have been awarded at institutions such as UTRGV, Texas A&M, Texas A&M International, Laredo College, South Texas College, TSTC, Texas Southmost College, Valley Grande Institute, and Imaginarium of South Texas.
This year RSTEF was able to award $2.9 million to 13 initiatives that will advance postsecondary education and workforce development in the region having an impact of $5.8 million in the Rio South Texas Region.
RSTEF Board of Directors includes Mr. Keith Partridge, Mr. James Moore, Mr. Jimmy Notzon, Dr. Miguel Nevarez, Dr. Kelly Nassour, Dr. Joel Solis, Mr. Walter Reyna, Mr. David Oliveira, and Mr. Frank Almaraz.
RSTEF’s funding cycle opens July 1st and closes August 31st. To inquire about RSTEF and funding support contact info@riosouthtexasecdf.org. Follow us on Facebook at Rio South Texas ECDF.
