County awarded EDA grant for move out of downtown

Milam County got some big news on Friday that will help to fund the move of county offices to the old hospital building.

The U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding $19.3 million in CARES Act Recovery Assistance grants to help the state of Texas prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus.

Milam County will receive a $3.77 million EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to revitalize the vacant hospital complex in downtown Cameron for commercial use and as an additional COVID-19 testing and medical care site. The project, to be matched with $943,182 in local investment, is expected to create 55 jobs, retain 39 jobs, and generate $4.6 million in private investment.

"EDA is committed to helping communities across the nation implement strategies to mitigate economic hardships brought on by the coronavirus pandemic," said Dennis Alvord, Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development. 'These EDA investments will accelerate business growth and workforce diversification in Texas communities through investments in critical infrastructure as well as directly support regional efforts to test, treat, and vaccinate against coronavirus."

Check our website and The Cameron Herald next week for more information on the grant and the next steps the county will take.