VIDA awarded $3 million to develop professional pathways to nursing

WESLACO, TEXAS - Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement is one of 25 organizations nationwide and the only one in Texas to be awarded a U.S. Department of Labor’s $3 Million Nursing Expansion Grant.The grant will be used to develop professional pathways to nursing.On July 27, a check presentation ceremony was held by VIDA at the Knapp Medical Conference Center in Weslaco. In addition to VIDA leaders the event was attended by stakeholders and partners involved in the initiative. “This event served as a platform to highlight the positive impact we have collectively made in our community through our collaboration and shared vision of providing our Rio Grande Valley with a highly skilled and highly educated workforce,” VIDA President and CEO Felida Villarreal told the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service.The audio story below features the analysis and observations of Villarreal, Ana Garcia, the South Texas district director for U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez, state Sens. Juan Hinojosa and Morgan LaMantia, Julian Alvarez, a senior vice president for Lone Star National Bank, and Edward Serna, executive director of the Texas Workforce Commission. Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.