Pharr board recommends CDBG subrecipients, discusses flood relief and paying down Section 108 loan

The City of Pharr Community Development Council on June 1 held a public hearing on Notice of Funding Availability for the 2025 annual action plan, heard presentations from multiple nonprofit subrecipient applicants and approved staff'recommended allocations for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) public-service and related activities.

The hearing opened with no members of the public signed up to speak. After presentations by applicant organizations, the council moved to approve the staff recommendations for subrecipients and funding amounts as presented; the motion carried.

Why it matters: The council's decisions determine which local nonprofits receive limited federal CDBG dollars this program year and how the city will use CDBG flexibility to respond to a recent flood event in the South Park area. Council members also discussed plans to liquidate part of a longstanding Section 108 loan tied to the Pharr Aquatic Center to free up future borrowing capacity for larger infrastructure projects.

Presentations and requests - Make-A-Wish Rio Grande Valley: Becky Gerhardt, identified herself as CEO of Make-A-Wish Rio Grande Valley, said the chapter covers Hidalgo, Cameron, Willacy, Brooks, Kenedy and Starr counties and that the chapter has granted 1,705 wishes locally since its founding in 1997. Gerhardt said the chapter has granted 66 wishes in the current fiscal year and that seven children from Pharr were on the chapter's wait list; she asked the council to consider funding to cover full wish costs including travel, lodging or home modifications.

- Sisters Inspiring Success: Co-founders Olga Regalado and Lorena Regalado described a recently formed 501(c)(3) that provides interview clothing,…