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Economic Development Corporation > Projects EDC ProjectsBusiness Projects:
Proposed uses include:
Comprehensive Plan/ Land Use Study – The SBEDC has approved a project to fund the completion of the City's first comprehensive Plan including a land use study. The first step will be to define the City of San Benito's aspirations and identify our goals, priorities, challenges and opportunities for the next 10 years and translate them into a series of measurable objectives. A blueprint will be created to make those ideas concrete. Throughout the process City staff and professionals in planning, engineering, architecture will be involved. The end product is the comprehensive plan. The SBEDC will fund items related to planning for streets and roads, rail spurs, water, electric utilities, gas utilities and drainage. The SBEDC recognized the importance of assisting with a plan to chart San Benito's future growth and determine the best locations for our retail corridors and industrial areas. Press Release No. 1 Tejas Equipment Rentals – The SBEDC provided funding to assist the business with developing a 4 acre tract of land and construct and 8,000 sq. ft. facility. Tejas rents construction and party equipment. Job creation is fifteen jobs. The SBEDC funded utility infrastructure for this project.
Tourism and Quality of Life ProjectsImprovements to Plaza de San Benito -
The City will prepare another EDA matching grant application, this time for construction funds. While the City already has 1.4 million dollars as part the local match for construction, there will be an additional need of approximately $2,000,000 to complete the total construction project for both facilities. Renovation of Municipal Swimming Pool - Renovations to this Olympic-sized pool included resurfacing and repairs as well as installation on new updated pumps and ungraded filtration lines. Major improvemetns werre also completed at the second youth-sized pool. Other planned improvements feature reroofing of facilities. Project budget was $200,000.
San Benito Memorial Park Cemetery - A new, more modern City Cemetery is pending completion utilizing San Benito EDC funding $250,000 in planning and construction costs to include infrastructure improvements. Located at 2500 Hwy. 345, the new facility is still in its developmental phase. The site currently includes an impressive memorial and the gravesite of Grammy Award Winner and the Internationally-known music icon Freddy Fender, who was born and raised in San Benito. With its impressive black granite monuments topped with bronze plaques engraved with the entertainer's biiography and discography, the site has become a tourist attraction in its own right.
Pending SBEDC Projects:Expansion of Turner Road - Expand Turner Road from Oscar Williams Road to Zillock Road. Cost estimate is $300,000. Reconstruction of UTEX Street - Reconstruct U-Tex Street at the San Benito Industrial Park. Cost estimate is $150,000.
The City leveraged local funds with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department grant funds to develop this project and received funds from the Heavin family to enhance the project. The combined trail and amphitheater attract visitors and residents alike. The San Benito EDC has allocated another $250,000 to acquire property to construct a parking lot and possibly other park amenities to build upon the unique quality of this specially-designed public facility.
Renovations to the San Benito Veterans War Memorial - Developmental plans for the San Benito Veterans War Memorial have been completed by Mata-Garcia-Villarreal Architects of McAllen. Construction is expected to commence this Spring, with a three-month timeline anticipated for completioin. Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors, Veterans Advisory Board members and the San Benito City Commission have given their blessing to the project which should be let for bids before the end of Marach. Upon selection of a construction firm, the project is expected to take about three months to complelte. The site is at the precise location where young sailors and soldiers boarded trains to take them to foreign conflict. The City is constructing a new Veterans War Memorial to honor our war dead and all veterans who have served in the U.S. Military. The San Benito vicinity has a rich, patriotic history of men and women who have fought for their country. Their service is recognized each Veterans Day and each Memorial Day in beautiful ceremonies at the existing Veterans Pavilion. The San Benito EDC has set aside $350,000 to demolish the old facility and construct a new, more fitting memorial for our veterans. We are working to supplement those funds with a matching amount to cover construction and related costs.  Installation of New Street Lights for Downtown - This project consists of improving street lighting on Sam Houston Blvd. and Robertson Streets in an effort to support the City’s Historic Preservation efforts and to encourage the resurgence of retail development inthe City. The San Benito EDC has allocated $215,000 toward this project. ResourcesCameron County Regional Mobility Authority –In late 2007 the SBEDC approved a project to improve The advancement of these projects improves the City's and SBEDC's ability to assist in inducing new or expanded business enterprises. The project was funded in 2008.
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Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone – The San Benito Economic Development Corporation approved a project to fund the development and creation of the City's first Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone. Tax increment financing is a tool that local governments may use to publicly finance needed structural improvements and enhanced infrastructure within a defined area of the City or County.
The City of San Benito, with use of funds from the San Benito 
Economic Development Corporation, has leveraged $1.4 million in funding for development of two (2) facilities – one for the Museums of San Benito ($700,000) to include the San Benito Historical Society, The South Texas Conjunto Hall of Fame and the Freddy Fender Museums. A second facility is planned to include a new civic center auditorium ($700,000). Also, the Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center's interior was renovated. After submitting a pre-application for planning funds to the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA), the agency invited us to submit a full application for a feasibility study, which was a $150,000 matching grant. The local match of $50,000 was provided by the Economic Development Corporation. The detailed feasibility study addressed such logistical issues as where to best construct the facilities, the use of an existing historical building to house the museums, and the cost factors associated with the construction of a new facility or the renovation of an existing historical structure.
Expansion of Heavin Amphitheater Park - Located on the beautiful Resaca de los Fresnos, Heavin Resaca Trail and Heavin Memorial Park feature a colorful and relaxing outdoor amphitheater which serves as a venue for community concerts, events and performances including the Annual Resaca Fest on the Fourthof July. 
San Benito Veterans War Memorial
mobility in the City and Cameron County through the development of certain transportation projects involving FM Road 507 and 508. 
Rio South Texas Economic Council - The San Benito Economic Development Coorporation is proud to be a part of the Formation of the Rio South Texas Economic Council. The council promotes and develops regional assets; brings together the economic development interests of the region in order to attract outside investment; 18 representatives from the region make up the council today.