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from left: Lucio Cabello, Councilman, City of Cotulla; Tim Hogsett, Recreation Grants, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department; Juan Garcia, Councilman, City of Cotulla; Paco Valentin, USDA Rural Development State Director; Lytle Arche, Mayor Pro Temp; Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28); Tracy King, Texas State Representative

Congressman Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, joined City of Cotulla Mayor Jose Javier Garcia and the State Director of the United States Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development Program Paco Valentin, to re-open the A.B. Alexander Convention Center in Cotulla.

“I would like to acknowledge and thank the efforts put forth by the USDA’s State Director Paco Valentin, the City of Cotulla and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for making the restoration of the A.B. Alexander Convention Center a reality,” said Congressman Cuellar. “These improvements will create a social and educational foundation for the community and its residents.”

The A.B. Alexander Convention Center was originally built thirty years ago and was later named after Ben Alexander, philanthropist, veteran and lifelong agriculture aficionado. USDA, under the Rural Development Program, awarded the City of Cotulla a $1,056,000 loan along with a $40,000 grant to make improvements to the convention center. The City of Cotulla contributed $200,000 for the project and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department contributed $417,000 for a Nature Center to be located within the building.

 “On behalf of the City of Cotulla I would like to extend our utmost gratitude to USDA Rural Development State Director Paco Valentin and Congressman Henry Cuellar for securing the funding that made the renovation of this establishment possible,” said Mayor Jose Garcia of Cotulla. “The new and improved A.B. Alexander Convention Center will provide the community of Cotulla with amenities that will provide both social, economical, and educational benefits."

The building was gutted and completely renovated – installing new flooring, furnishing and air conditioning.  The building is now within ADA compliance and will host city events, festivals, games, concerts and more.

“We are pleased the City of Cotulla has utilized Rural Development funds for this project, which will benefit the entire community on many levels,” said Paco Valentin, Rural Development State Director. “The new civic center will provide rural residents with a centralized and modern location to host community events, and will provide the growing area with an updated resource for educational and cultural activities.”