Region One, UTRGV receive over $62 million grant

EDINBURG, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Congressman Vicente Gonzalez announced over $62 million in federal funding for Region One Education Service Center and The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.

The funds will be distributed over seven years from the U.S. Department of Education's GEAR UP program.

UTRGV will receive $28,772,800 and Region One ESC will receive $33,818,400.

"The main goal with GEAR UP is to follow a cohort of students, we start at 7th grade and follow them into their first year of college," said Melissa Lopez, Executive Administrator at Region One ESC. "Our goal is for them to graduate from high school, college and career ready. What we do during that time is expose them to the different opportunities available to them."