The Texas Biomedical Institute will receive a $2.5 million grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration for the construction of a multi-species veterinary care facility and in support of the institute’s research, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced Tuesday.
The grant award is part of a $6.3 million investment by the EDA into the state of Texas to support business growth and workforce development in areas affected by hurricanes Ian and Fiona, wildfires, flooding and other natural disasters occurring in 2021 and 2022.
Two million of that will go to Angelo State University to construct a commercial aviation training facility and $1.8 million will go to the city of Hidalgo for roadway and water infrastructure improvements to support business growth at an industrial park.
This funding comes from the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2023, which provided EDA with $483 million in additional economic adjustment assistance program funds for disaster relief and recovery.
The Texas Biomed project is made possible by regional planning efforts led by the Alamo Area Council of Governments (AACOG), the EDA said in the statement. The EDA funds AACOG, which is tasked with strengthening the regional economy, supporting private capital investment and creating jobs.
The project will be matched with $625,000 in local funds and is expected to create 445 jobs and generate $700 million in private investment, according to grantee estimates, the EDA said.
“Building a strong and resilient workforce is a crucial component of President Biden’s Investing In America agenda, and this investment in Texas will do just that,” Raimondo said. “We know the financial and emotional impact that natural disasters have on communities all over America.
Gov. Greg Abbott thanked the EDA for the grants, stating they will help create hundreds of job opportunities for Texans looking to advance in the biomedical research, commercial aviation and infrastructure fields. U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) said he applauded this announcement and added that access to good infrastructure is critical for the continued economic development of Texas.
The grant supports Texas Biomed’s strategic plan to double the size of its faculty and modernize its campus, said Texas Biomed President and CEO Larry Schlesinger. The nonprofit institute will use the funds towards its new, approximately $50 million Animal Care Complex now under construction, which aims to competitively position Texas Biomed as a national resource for the U.S. biomedical and biodefense industry, he said.
“We are appreciative of this EDA investment, which not only supports our growth, but also will strengthen the overall STEM workforce,” Schlesinger said. “Texas Biomed is a significant driver of high-skilled jobs, and this grant will help expand our regional biomedical economy.”
