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Eagle Pass Main Street outlines downtown lighting, business incubator and grant wins
Summary
City staff updated the Main Street Advisory Board on 2024 projects including a Union Pacific-funded lighting pilot, a business incubator renovation supported by a $3.5 million EDA grant and a $50,000 USDA equipment award, plus other grants, events and a proposed wayfinding program.
The Eagle Pass Main Street Advisory Board heard an update on downtown projects and grant-funded programs at a special meeting, including a pilot streets-lighting project, the renovation of the Riskin building into a business incubator and several recent grants that funded the work.
City staff summarized why the topics matter: the lighting pilot is intended to increase evening activity and perceived public safety downtown, the renovated Riskin building will house short-term office leases, a rentable commercial "ghost" kitchen and a business incubator, and multiple grants have provided seed funding for those efforts. Senayla Rodriguez, assistant city secretary, gave the presentation.
Rodriguez said the downtown lighting pilot covered the 300–400 block and helped “enhance the area's evening ambiance, encouraging both locals and visitors to enjoy the heart of the city after dark.” She attributed the initial phase to a $20,000 grant from Union Pacific and said organizers would seek additional funding to expand the lights.
The board was briefed on the renovation of the Riskin building, described as a restored historic property that will include ground-floor startup/restaurant spaces and upstairs incubator offices for businesses less than three years old. Rodriguez said the project relied on three grant awards: an Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant that she described as $3,500,000 for the building renovation, a USDA award of $50,000 for incubator equipment, and additional USDA/EDA support that enabled a revolving loan fund linked to the incubator’s services. She said the incubator will offer mentorship, short-term leases (one to three years) and an hourly-rental commercial kitchen with a to-go window.
Rodriguez also told the board the Simons Foundation awarded a $10,000 grant used to buy telescopes and run an art-and-science program tied to the eclipse; the program drew 299 entries. She said the Main Street office received recognition from the International Economic Development Council with a silver award for its use of federal funds in the Riskin building submission.
Staff reviewed outreach and training the program completed in 2024, including participation in Main Street America training in New York and a Texas Main Street retreat in San Angelo. Rodriguez encouraged board members to help identify grants, noting the program will vet opportunities for match requirements and feasibility.
The presentation also previewed a wayfinding initiative drawn from the city’s adopted Downtown Master Plan (2022) that would add signage and district markers across downtown (for example, government, arts and nightlife zones). Rodriguez asked board members to consider design input and to form committees for specific tasks such as grants, wayfinding or community cleanups.
No formal board action was taken on the presentation items; staff described the segment as informational and invited members to volunteer for committees or forward grant leads.
Ending: Staff said it will follow up with additional details on grant opportunities, the incubator membership launch and timeline dependencies, and will bring any recommendations back to the board at a future meeting.
