PRESS RELEASE

Media Contact: Yuri Gonzalez
Phone: (956) 310-2139
Email: [email protected]

City of Pharr Awarded $4.8 Million to Expand Broadband Workforce in South Texas and Launch Pharr Connect U

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2025

Pharr, Texas – The City of Pharr is proud to announce it has been awarded $4,367,136 through the Building the Texas Broadband Workforce Grant Program, a highly competitive, statewide initiative designed to grow the skilled workforce needed to connect Texas communities to high-speed internet. With a $500,000 local match, the total project investment reaches $4,867,136, positioning Pharr and the Rio Grande Valley as leaders in broadband workforce development.

Using this funding, the City of Pharr will launch Pharr Connect U, a tuition-free city-led broadband workforce development program for students dedicated to preparing local individuals for high-demand careers in fiber broadband and digital infrastructure.

The grant is part of Texas’ historic broadband investments, which include more than $5 billion in federal funding and $1.5 billion allocated by the Texas Legislature through the 2023 Broadband Infrastructure Fund. The Texas Broadband Development Office (BDO) launched the Building the Texas Broadband Workforce Grant Program, a $25 million initiative funded by the Broadband Infrastructure Fund (BIF), to create tuition-free fiber optic training programs for skilled broadband technicians, focusing on hands-on skills, apprenticeships, and job placements to meet the state’s growing demand for broadband deployment. Organizations apply to develop or expand these programs, ensuring Texans get the necessary credentials for fiber installation and maintenance.

Building on its legacy of innovation, the City of Pharr has long laid the groundwork for broadband advancement through its city-owned Pharr Connect fiber broadband internet service. That success helped spark broader regional momentum for expanding digital access and infrastructure.

“This grant creates a direct pathway to opportunity for our residents while strengthening the region’s digital infrastructure,” said Jose Peña, IT Director for the City of Pharr. “Broadband connectivity is about more than internet access. It is about jobs, economic growth, and upward mobility for our families.”

This transformative effort is made possible through strong partnerships and matching contributions, including $250,000 from Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. and $250,000 from the Valley Baptist Legacy Foundation, together forming the required $500,000 local match.

In partnership with the PossAble Dream Foundation, Intercultural Development Research Association (IDRA), Connect Humanity – RGV Broadband Coalition, and regional workforce partners, including Workforce Solutions Cameron and Workforce Solutions Lower Rio Grande, the City of Pharr will launch Pharr Connect U, a tuition-free, comprehensive broadband workforce development program. In addition, the City will collaborate with multiple broadband employers to offer paid internship placements for students completing the certification course, strengthening the connection between training and real-world experience. The initiative will prepare local residents for high-demand careers as Fiber Optic Technicians using the Fiber Broadband Association’s OpTIC Path™ curriculum.

“The Rio Grande Valley Broadband Coalition is proud to work alongside the City of Pharr and our coalition partners to build a homegrown broadband workforce,” said Jordana Barton-Garcia, Director, Rio Grande Valley Broadband Coalition, Connect Humanity. She continued, “This initiative will train the next generation of broadband technicians and connect them to paid internships and high-wage jobs with industry partners. It’s a perfect example of why this coalition was created — to harness technology to unlock the talents of our people and strengthen the economy of our region.”

Training will include classroom instruction, hands-on labs, paid internships, and direct job placement with local broadband employers. Courses will be taught by employees from the City of Pharr IT Department at a fully equipped training facility in Pharr, and supported by wraparound services, job placement assistance, and targeted recruitment focused on underserved populations. Over the grant period, the program will prepare 240 trainees for industry-recognized certifications and strengthen the region’s broadband workforce pipeline.

“The City of Pharr continues to lead broadband connectivity efforts in the Rio Grande Valley,” said Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez, M.D. “This investment allows us to expand career pathways in a critical sector while empowering residents with skills for the jobs of the future. It ensures our region remains at the forefront of innovation, infrastructure, and opportunity.”

Pharr Connect U’s long-term goal is to retain talent in South Texas while supporting broadband expansion that impacts healthcare, education, business, and government services. As Texas continues to prioritize digital access, this initiative will help meet statewide workforce needs while improving economic opportunity across South Texas.

“The PossAble Dream Foundation is excited to be part of this initiative that is aligned with the mission of increasing the education and skill levels of the adult population of this region,” said Dr. Daniel P. King, Board President.

The City of Pharr thanks its partners, organizations, and community leaders whose collaboration made this grant possible and will create lasting benefits for residents throughout the Rio Grande Valley.

With this investment, Pharr and its partners are building a more connected and equitable future, one fiber line, one job, and one community at a time.

For more information or to learn more about the grant program, visit: https://comptroller.texas.gov/programs/broadband/funding/workforce/