U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Gina Raimondo, announced today that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) will award a $1.2 million grant to the Cuero Chamber of Commerce, Agriculture & Visitor’s Bureau. The grant aims to bolster tourism and business growth in Cuero, Texas.
The funding will be utilized to renovate an existing building to create a visitor’s center, an events space, and a multipurpose center to house workforce training and business support services. This initiative is part of the Biden-Harris administration’s Investing in America agenda, which seeks to provide economically distressed communities with more opportunities and resources.
According to the estimated projections by the grantee, this EDA investment, combined with a $287,500 local fund match, is expected to create and retain 105 jobs and generate $25 million in private investment. The project is seen as an important measure to empower communities with the economic tools they need to succeed, and to provide the infrastructure to support local businesses, grow jobs, and promote tourism in Cuero.
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development, Alejandra Y. Castillo, has emphasized on the EDA’s role in working closely with local communities to support place-based economic growth. This project is viewed as an essential investment in the infrastructure, facilitating both tourism and business development, leading to diversification of the local economy.
Support for the initiative is also echoed by Governor Greg Abbott and Senator John Cornyn. They both express enthusiasm for the positive impact the grant is expected to make in bolstering business and tourism in Cuero, contributing to the broader economic development in Texas.
