Texas Border Business
VAMOS Receives $47.5k from Rio-South Texas Education & Community Development Foundation (RSTEF)
Rio-South Texas Education & Community Development (RSTEF) has awarded VAMOS $47,500 for the purpose of postsecondary education and workforce development.
VAMOS secured RSTEF funding to enhance its scholarship program, providing renewal scholarships for current students. This initiative is mainly focused on supporting first-generation students from low-income backgrounds and helping to provide equitable opportunities for these students. Funds will be matched on a one-to-one basis with proceeds from the organization’s annual golf tournament.
The students VAMOS serves, typically come from first-generation and low-income households, where financial constraints often compel them to prioritize immediate income over long-term educational goals. As a result, many students enter the workforce immediately after high school, often in low-wage, unskilled jobs, perpetuating the cycle of poverty. These students face limited career prospects, contributing to higher rates of unemployment and underemployment in the RGV. This also impacts the overall economic development of the region as businesses struggle to find skilled workers and the local economy stagnates, unable to achieve its full potential.
With these funds, VAMOS will assist 19 college juniors and seniors complete their education at four-year institutions with a focus on Healthcare, Education, Business, IT, and other in-demand professions.
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.
