Valley Grande Institute opens outreach center in Mission

MISSION, Texas - Valley Grande Institute for Academic Studies held a ribbon cutting ceremony at the Center for Education & Economic Development in Mission on Nov. 28. The Weslaco-based educational institution has opened an outreach center in the CEED building. VGI has been able to draw down $240,000 through the help of two different hospitals, Mission Regional and Valley Baptist. Each hospital received $120,000 to pay for the education of 40 VGI students. They will be trained at the respective hospitals, with the students learning while they are earning $14 per hour. Once they have completed the program they will be able to earn $18 per hour.The arrival of VGI at the CEED building means Mission Economic Development Corporation has been able to place four educational institutions in the building this year. The others are UT-Rio Grande Valley, Wayland Baptist University, and Texas Women's University. And, there is the promise of South Texas College to come, probably in the new year.Other groups that office in the CEED building include Teach For America, RGV First, and COSTEP.Among the speakers at the ribbon cutting ceremony were Aaron S. Demerson, president and CEO of Texas Economic Development Corporation, former Texas Workforce Commissioner Julian Alvarez, and Greater Mission Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Brenda Enriquez.“Providing access to education is vital for our workforce and our quality of life. We are super excited to welcome Valley Grande Institute to Mission,” Enriquez told the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service.Here are some of the remarks VGI President & CEO Anabell Cardona made from the podium.Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.