Congressman Ruben Hinojosa Announces $22.9 Million in Federal Grants Awarded to UTRGV and Hidalgo County Program

Press Release

Congressman Rubén Hinojosa announced $22,931,778.00 was awarded through federal grants to the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) and Hidalgo County Head Start Program by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

"The grants awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offer funding that will provide an array of services including child care, health care, and medical training to the UTRGV and the Hidalgo County Head Start Program," said U.S. Rep. Hinojosa. "The Early Head Start Program will combine the efforts of UTRGV and Pharr-San Juan, Alamo ISD to better serve the community. Under the direction of Executive Director Teresa Flores, the Hidalgo County Head Start Program has consistently provided crucial educational and nutritional services to nearly 4,000 children each year. Head Start programs throughout our country are making a difference in the lives of millions of children daily. These federal grants provide the necessary funding to maintain and support these and other important services. I am proud to have worked hard in Congress as a senior member of the House Education & the Workforce Committee with jurisdiction over Head Start and federal funds for training programs. We must continue our efforts to protect these vital services from budget cuts and perennial threats to kill them outright."

Here is a breakdown of the four individual HHS grant awards:

Hidalgo County:

· $12,894,651.00 -- Hidalgo County Head Start Program

Awarded under the name of the University of Texas-Pan American, now UTRGV:

· $9,239,815.00 - Early Head Start-Child Partnerships with PSJA schools

· $497,320.00 - Nurse Education-Training

· $299,992.00 - Mental Health & Substance Abuse Service

Total amount of HHS grants:

· $22,931,778.00

Source