Texas Border Business
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $3 million grant to the Mission Economic Development Corporation, Mission, Texas, to make critical infrastructure improvements needed to advance economic growth in the Shary Village Industrial Park and improve the area’s resilience against future natural disasters. The EDA grant, to be matched with $750,000 in local investment, is expected to create 300 jobs and spur more than $57 million in private investment.
“Manufacturing is the heartbeat of many communities and the Trump Administration is committed to helping American communities obtain the modern infrastructure they need to encourage manufacturing growth,” said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. “This project will ensure that Mission has the water, power, and roadway infrastructure they need to support current and future manufacturers and protect its business community for future disasters.”
“The expansion of the Shary Village Industrial Park will stoke new economic growth in the Texas border region,” said Dana Gartzke, Performing the Delegated Duties of the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development. “EDA is pleased to support this locally-driven effort to encourage business expansion and attraction, promote market access for goods and services, and increase U.S. exports.”
“The economic fallout of the coronavirus outbreak has hit Texans hard, and as much as we can protect each other from its effects, we must,” said Senator John Cornyn. “I’ll continue to do everything I can to make economic recovery in Mission a high priority during this deadly pandemic.”
Mission Mayor Armando O’caña, told Texas Border Business; “It is a great day in Mission despite COVID-19 pandemic to be able to be awarded $3 million to be used for our drainage expansion. This money will be the catalyst for economic development south of US 2 Expressway. I want to thank Congressman Cuellar and Senator Cornyn for their diligent efforts and attention to this highly need for the City of Mission. The citizens of Mission also thank you for this award of federal monies. Again, this is a great spark for economic development…a beginning in moving Mission forward on the progressive route.”
“This funding is critical to strengthening our economy and expanding job growth in our South Texas border communities. Funding will develop and enhance the Shary Village Industrial Park by installing electricity, water, and roadways therefore attracting future investors and support in the area,” said Congressman Henry Cuellar. “As a senior member on the Appropriations Committee, I remain committed to ensuring that federal resources reach the local level, leading to job creation and manufacturing resilience. I’d like to thank the EDA Regional Director Jorge Ayala and the U.S. Economic Development Administration, along with Mission Economic Development Corporation, the Killam family, Mayor Armando O’caña and City Council for their efforts in increasing manufacturing growth throughout the region.”
Daniel Silva, Mission EDC Chief Executive Officer, said the inversion will coincide with the City of Mission’s upcoming explosive growth; “This grant presents us with an exciting opportunity for our city’s economic growth. Improvements will be made to the southern side of Mission and will coincide with the explosive growth that we are about to experience with our highly-anticipated Killam development. Over 300 jobs and more than $57 million of private investment are the huge cherry on top of the infrastructure improvements that will serve our community well for years to come.”
This project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council, which EDA funds to bring together the public and private sectors to create an economic development roadmap to strengthen the regional economy, support private capital investment, and create jobs.
This project is funded by the Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act of 2019 (Pub. L. 116-20), which provided EDA with $600 million in additional Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) Program funds for disaster relief and recovery for areas affected by Hurricanes Florence, Michael, and Lane, Typhoons Yutu and Mangkhut, wildfires, volcanic eruptions, and other major natural disasters occurring in calendar year 2018, and tornadoes and floods occurring in calendar year 2019, under the Robert T. Stafford Act. Please visit EDA’s Disaster Supplemental webpage for more information.
 is awarding a $3 million grant to the Mission Economic Development Corporation){kind=link}