Laredo, TX—Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) announced $550,000 in federal funds have been allocated to South Texas Development Council (STDC). These funds, awarded through Economic Development Administration’s CARES Act Recovery Assistance grants, will allow STDC to administer Revolving Loan Funds to small businesses responding to COVID-19 across Webb, Zapata, and Starr Counties.

“The unprecedented coronavirus pandemic has inflicted a staggering toll on hard-working Texans and their small businesses. We must do whatever is necessary to get American small businesses and workers back on their feet,” said Congressman Cuellar. “These investments come at a crucial time to help our economy rebound and provide hard-working Texans with new opportunities. As a senior Appropriator, I am committing to funding programs that protect the economic well-being of workers and small businesses.

“I would like to thank Executive Director of STDC Robert Mendiola and the rest of his staff for their work to expand economic opportunity in our community.”

As a senior Member of the Appropriations Committee, Congressman Cuellar helped secure $1.5 billion in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act for the Economic Development Administration and their work to provide a wide-range of financial assistance to eligible communities and regions as they respond to and recover from the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. 

The South Texas Development Council (STDC) serves local governments in Webb, Jim Hogg, Starr, and Zapata by providing planning and technical assistance and development of the region’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS), which is an economic road map that works to strengthen the local economy. STDC will allocate Revolving Loan Funds to the private sector to promote economic development and thereby, increase employment opportunities in the region.