June 4, 2021
U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $4.8 Million in Cares Act Recovery Assistance to Support Workforce Development and Training in Texas
The U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Gina M. Raimondo, announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding $4.8 million in CARES Act Recovery Assistance grants to help the state of Texas prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus.
“President Biden is dedicated to creating new opportunities to get Americans back to work following the pandemic,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo. “These EDA investments will support new workforce development programs in Texas, including an automotive technology workforce training facility and professional development courses in entrepreneurship, training Americans for well-paying, quality jobs.”
“The Economic Development Administration is committed to helping communities across the nation implement strategies to mitigate economic hardships brought on by the coronavirus pandemic,” said Dennis Alvord, Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development. “These EDA investments will provide the infrastructure needed to create workforce training programs in Texas to build a stronger, more resilient regional economy.”
“I thank the Economic Development Administration for investing in and boosting our workforce training efforts across our great state,” said Governor Greg Abbott. “Even during challenging times, Texas has remained a premier economic destination in our nation, thanks to our business-friendly climate and skilled workforce. Working together, we can ensure that Texans are prepared for these good-paying jobs and more as we unleash the full might of our state's economy.”
“While Texans persevere as COVID-19 wreaks havoc on our state, we must take steps to ensure that our communities are equipped to weather the storm,” said Senator John Cornyn. “I applaud this announcement and will continue to do everything I can to make economic growth across Texas a high priority.”
“As our workforce recovers from the pandemic, the McAllen Center for Urban Ecology will be a major player in sustainable development and drive job growth in South Texas,” said Congressman Gonzalez (TX-15). “I am proud to lend federal support to such a forward thinking project that will spur our economy and create good paying jobs.”
“I applaud the Biden Administration for making investments that will help businesses make it to the other side of the COVID-19 pandemic and create hundreds of jobs in our North Texas community,” said Congressman Marc Veasey (TX-33). “Through its grant to On the Road Lending’s smart car automotive technology workforce training facility, EDA investments will support our state’s economic need by creating opportunities for hard-working Texans in the city of Irving. That’s what good government does.”
The EDA investments are:
- On the Road Lending, Irving, Texas, will receive a $3 million EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to create a smart car automotive technology workforce training facility to offer paid apprenticeships and prepare workers for well-paying, quality jobs. The project, to be matched with $750,000 in local funds, is expected to create 275 jobs.
- The city of McAllen, Texas, will receive an $1.8 million EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to construct an education and training center at the Center for Urban Ecology, which will offer programs in entrepreneurship, small business recovery and resiliency, and workforce development. The project, to be matched with $1 million in local funds, is expected to create 700 jobs and generate $35 million in private investment.
This project is funded under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (Public Law 116-136 PDF), which provided EDA with $1.5 billion for economic assistance programs to help communities prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus. EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance, which is being administered under the authority of the bureau’s flexible Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) (PDF) program, provides a wide-range of financial assistance to eligible communities and regions as they respond to and recover from the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.
ETCOG/ETEDD and Grant Writing USA will present a two-day grant writing workshop in Tyler, TX, August 27-28, 2026. This training is for grant seekers from all disciplines. Attend this class to learn how to write winning government grant proposals and find the available grant funding. Beginning and experienced grant writers from city, county, state agencies, K-12, colleges & universities and nonprofits are encouraged to attend. Registration is $525 and includes everything you need: Grant Writing USA Workbook Two days of expert instruction Lifetime access to Grant Writing USA Alumni Resource Center Grant Writing USA is offering ETCOG members a $50 discount. Please use the discount code "less50" at the time of registration. When: August 27 - 28 | 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Where: 1421 S Beckham Ave, Tyler, TX 75701 For event details visit: https://grantstraining.com/ty0826
ETCOG will hold a Public Hearing on Thursday, August 6, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. during its Executive Committee meeting at 3800 Stone Road, Kilgore, Texas. The purpose of the hearing is to gather public input on the Texas Community Development Block Grant ( TxCDBG ) Program Regional Project Priority Types for the East Texas region. As part of the standard TxCDBG process, each Council of Governments region in Texas is encouraged to identify the project types that best reflect regional needs and priorities. During the hearing, ETCOG’s Executive Committee will receive comments from local officials, stakeholders, and members of the public regarding which eligible project categories should be prioritized for East Texas. These priorities may include needs such as water and sewer infrastructure, street improvements, housing, and other eligible community development activities. Regional project priority types play an important role in the TxCDBG application process. The priorities adopted by ETCOG will be submitted to the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA), which administers the TxCDBG program, for use in the upcoming funding cycle. Regional priorities account for a portion of the scoring used to evaluate grant applications. ETCOG encourages anyone with an interest in community development needs across East Texas to attend the hearing and provide input during the public comment period.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development launched a new Rural Development Eligibility Lookup Tool, which has been integrated into Rural Development’s Eligibility site. This site now directs users to an eligibility mapping tool for the following programs: Community Facilities Electric OneRD Guarantee Rural Business and Cooperative Services Water and Environmental Programs The Rural Development Eligibility Lookup Tool enables user flexibility in determining programmatic eligibility based on their location across multiple programs simultaneously. USDA Income and Property Eligibility Site: https://eligibility.sc.egov.usda.gov/eligibility/welcomeAction.do USDA Rural Development Eligibility Lookup Tool (direct link): https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/3c2f6c9581bb4f06a4ab68df8f34b0be This consolidated view of eligibility represents a significant modernization in how Rural Development assesses and communicates program eligibility. By centralizing eligibility checks, utilizing current geospatial technology and adhering to modern data governance standards, the tool significantly reduces staff workload and improves engagement with rural communities. This initiative supports Rural Development’s mission to provide efficient, transparent and accessible services while ensuring compliance with federal requirements and maintaining consistency with existing eligibility data sources.
