DEL RIO SECURES $1.05M FOR SMALL BUSINESS & PUBLIC SAFETY

More than $1 million will go toward small-business financing and public safety, with additional body-camera funding also approved.

What You Need to Know

• Del Rio City Council approved acceptance of $1,049,078.39 in two major grant awards during its Sept. 22 meeting.
• $500,000 comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for the City’s Rural Business Development Grant program and revolving loan fund for local small businesses.
• $549,078.39 comes through the Texas Governor’s Public Safety Office for the FY2027 Operation Lone Star Grant Program.

Del Rio Council Accepts More Than $1 Million in Grant Funding

DEL RIO, Texas — The City of Del Rio accepted more than $1.04 million in grant funding Tuesday night, with money headed toward small-business development and public safety programs.

During its Sept. 22 meeting, City Council approved ordinances accepting a $500,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Business Development Grant and a $549,078.39 Operation Lone Star grant through the Office of the Texas Governor’s Public Safety Office.

Together, the two awards total $1,049,078.39. Council also approved separate funding through the state’s Body-Worn Camera Grant Program.

$500,000 for local business lending

The USDA award will support Del Rio’s revolving loan fund, which is designed to provide financing opportunities to qualifying small businesses.

The city originally sought the full $500,000 available under the program earlier this year. City staff has described the program as a low-interest lending program rather than direct grants to individual businesses. USDA ultimately makes the final decision on qualifying loan applications.

Assistant to the City Manager and Grant Writer Michael Garcia told council that Economic Development Director Orestes Hubbard and Main Street Manager Jorge Garza conducted outreach to area business owners while the grant application was being developed.

Approximately 13 businesses provided letters of support describing local needs, including job creation and retention.

Garcia said those letters played an important role in the application.

“That was one of the biggest factors of why this application was very competitive.”

Applications will move through the City’s loan review process and City Council before being forwarded to USDA for final approval. City staff also said the Economic Development Department can assist businesses with the application process, including Spanish-speaking applicants.

More than $549,000 for Operation Lone Star

Council separately accepted $549,078.39 for Fiscal Year 2027 under the Operation Lone Star Grant Program.

The funding is administered through the Texas Governor’s Public Safety Office and can be used for eligible border-related law-enforcement activities, equipment and training.

The grant prompted discussion during the meeting about what role Del Rio police officers perform under the program.

Del Rio Police Department Capt. Hubert Smith told council officers do not simply stop people based on suspected immigration status. Instead, officers respond to calls for service and act based on what they encounter.

Smith said if officers discover someone is unlawfully in the country, they contact U.S. Border Patrol. He also said Del Rio officers respond to the port of entry for matters including outstanding warrants.

City staff said other eligible activities under the program can relate to drug smuggling, criminal organizations, human trafficking and other border-related criminal activity.

Earlier in the meeting, a resident questioned the City’s reliance on Operation Lone Star funding and argued local officers should remain focused on community policing responsibilities. That concern led council members to ask police staff for clarification on how the grant is used.