FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PRESS CONTACT:
August 11, 2014 Brenda Lopez 956.544.83
PRESS RELEASE: Congressman Vela Announces $700K Grant for Community Development Corporation of Brownsville
Funds are provided by the U.S. Department of Labor Youth Build Program
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Filemon Vela (D-Brownsville) announced a $700K U.S. Department of Labor grant for the Community Development Corporation of Brownsville (CDCB). The funds will help support CDCB’s YouthBuild program, which is a youth and community development initiative that works to mitigate the socio-economic issues many low-income communities face: housing, education, employment, and leadership development.
“The Community Development Corporation of Brownsville (CDCB) is very excited about this new YouthBuild Award for our community. CDCB has been operating the YouthBuild program since 1993 and has helped to educate and train hundreds of youth of our community, helping them earn their GED as well as the national recognized NCCER Construction Certificate. CDCB/YouthBuild students have built over 100 homes for low-income families in our community. CDCB/YouthBuild students built the first LEED Certified home south of San Antonio. This new award will allow us to keep meeting our mission to educate and build Brownsville’s future leaders,” said CDCB President Nick Mitchell-Bennett.
CDCB’s YouthBuild program has been nationally recognized as one of the top three YouthBuild programs, and due to its success, has won eight Housing and Urban Development Grants. The program is meant to serve youth between the ages of 16 and 24 years of age.
“YouthBuild, through the CDCB, is an excellent program that addresses hurdles low-income communities must overcome,” said U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela. “The program provides at-risk youth with the tools and resources to become economically independent, earn an education, and gain marketable skills and certifications, while working to provide their community with affordable housing. This program is a true win-win, and keeps our community moving forward.”
For more information on U.S. Rep. Vela, visit vela.house.gov. Learn more about U.S. Rep. Vela by liking his Facebook page or by following him on Twitter.
U.S. Representative Filemon Vela, D-Brownsville, represents the 34th District of Texas, which is anchored in Cameron County and runs nearly 300 miles north to Gonzales County. Vela is on the House Committee on Agriculture, the House Committee on Homeland Security, and is the Co-Chair of the Border Caucus.
