Economic Development

Congressman Hinojosa is dedicated to increasing and expanding businesses in his district and in finding new markets for South Texas products, not only in the United States, but also overseas. Working with the Department of Commerce, the Small Business Administration, the Department of Agriculture and other federal agencies, Congressman Hinojosa is helping to strengthen the economy in the 15th Congressional district.

To promote regional economic development, Congressman Hinojosa encouraged the communities of Elsa, Edcouch, La Villa, and Monte Alto to create the Delta Region Revitalization Project. To jumpstart the project, he obtained a $150,000 Planning EDA Grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce to create a long-term regional strategic plan. With a subsequent EDA grant of $3.5 million for the project, the new Delta Mercado farmer was completed and is open for business. Similar economic development projects are being developed in Bee, Refugio and Kleberg County.

Congressman Hinojosa has introduced H.R. 3252 to allow the North American Development Bank to expand the scope of projects eligible for funding. Currently the bank can only fund environmental projects. H.R. 3252 would allow the bank to also fund economic development and infrastructure projects along the U.S.-Mexico border.

As a member of the Congressional Manufacturing Caucus, Congressman Hinojosa has worked diligently to find ways to preserve and increase manufacturing jobs and exports from the 15th Congressional district and the United States to improve small businesses. Hinojosa is able to continue to work to build partnerships with local support organizations and cities to successfully grow exports from the Valley into not only Mexican markets, but also into Europe and Asia. Congressman Hinojosa believes that this type of regional coordination is what will make or break small communities throughout his district as they try to achieve the same degree of economic progress seen in the larger cities. To support small business, Hinojosa has defended the SBA’s 7(a) program and several other programs at the SEC to ensure that small businesses have a chance to compete.