Press Release
U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $1 Million to Boost Industrial Development at the Port Isabel-San Benito Navigation District
Contact: EDA Public Affairs Department, (202) 482-4085
August 28, 2017
WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross today announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $1 million grant to the Port Isabel-San Benito Navigation District (PISBND) of Port Isabel, Texas, to make critical infrastructure improvements needed to support new industrial development. According to grantee estimates, the project is expected to help create or retain nearly 600 jobs.
“Ensuring that our ports are modernized to support the needs of local businesses is a key priority for the Trump administration as well as for coastal communities across the United States,” said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. “The infrastructure improvements slated for the Port Isabel-San Benito Navigation District will help businesses in the Lower Rio Grande Valley region provide further economic growth.”
A 2014 report by the Texas Department of Transportation cited that the Port provides an economic impact of more than $85.5 million for the region. The project will include roadway improvements, demolition of a hatchery, pertinent erosion control and clearing approximately 14 acres for future industrial development for tenants. This project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council. EDA helps fund the Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council 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.
About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov)
The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation's regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA makes investments in economically distressed communities in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.