The Economic Development Department
was created by the Commissioners Court in March 1995 for the acquisition
of grant funds to develop and administer—from concept to
completion—programs and projects that address needs within the County.
The Department serves at the will of the Webb County Commissioners
Court. Its mission is to plan, execute, and administer a wide range of
projects from federal and state entities. The efforts of the
Department provide revenues in the form of grants that benefit
significant segments of the county populace while placing no unnecessary
financial burden on county taxpayers. In collaboration with the
County Judge, Commissioners, the Board of Judges, and other county
departments, the Economic Development Department has and continues to
procure funds for a wide range of county needs.
At present, the Economic Development
Department administers 11 projects in the areas of Community Services,
Housing and Homeownership, Infrastructure, and Economic Development.
Current projects represent approximately $5,000,000.00 in funds from
various state and federal agencies. Since it was established
thirteen years ago, the Department has acquired over $135,000,000.00 in
grants.
Other Webb County Departments also depend on Economic Development for
grant writing and acquisition of funds. We
have obtained grants to fund a Victim Liaison for
victims of domestic violence within the Domestic
Violence Unit of the District Attorney’s Office and
Indigent Defense monies from the Texas State
Attorney General’s Office for the Public Defender’s
Office. Most recently, the Department
successfully submitted an application to the Office
of Rural Community Affairs (ORCA) for the drilling
of 4 water wells in the communities of Oilton,
Bruni, Mirando, and HWY 359 colonias.
Through the
Economic Development Department, Webb County
partners with community non-profits to bring social,
health and educational services to County residents
who otherwise would not have access to them.
Such a current program pairs the County with the
Texas A & M Colonias Program in providing nutrition,
cooking, health & diet planning for colonia
residents living along HWY 359.
Projects in the
planning stage, some with prospective funding
already identified, include the development of four
properties in the Villa Antigua area for
historical/heritage tourism, and master plans for
the development and rehabilitation of the County’s
major recreational assets. A grant is
currently in preparation for an additional water
well in Mirando City.
The staff at Economic Development, a team of experienced professionals,
continues to diligently solicit and leverage grant funds to help
educate, provide strategic planning, improve infrastructure, expand
community development, nurture a safe environment, and provide needed
services to Webb County residents. The Department continues to draw
expertise from last experience, serve the present and plan for the
future benefit of Webb County and its people.