Public hearing held on HUD CDBG needs assessment; Nuestra Clinica del Valle requests $5,000 to serve uninsured patients

The Palmview City Council opened a public hearing to solicit input for the urban county Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) needs assessment for fiscal year 2026.

City staff described prior CDBG projects (street repairs in named neighborhoods) and told the public the city is preparing a preliminary work plan that will identify candidate projects. Staff noted the city is newly eligible for certain city‑wide activities under the urban county program, including possible fire equipment, and clarified that some small pockets (certain streets) may still have differing eligibility.

Lucy Torres, CEO of Nuestra Clinica del Valle, addressed the council and asked the city to consider a $5,000 allocation from the CDBG funding to support a projected 35 to 50 uninsured patients in the Palmview area. Torres said the clinic provides medical, dental, behavioral, pharmacy and lab services and served approximately 25,000 patients last year across 11 clinics in Hidalgo County; she said the Palmview area clinic serves roughly 1,600 people from Palmview and nearby communities.

Torres provided a written letter to staff and answered council questions about the request. Council members said they would review the letter and consider the request when preparing the draft work plan; a final plan and any allocation would be considered in a future meeting and formal adoption process.

No appropriation or formal CDBG allocation was adopted at the hearing; the hearing was closed and the matter will move to the staff work‑plan stage.