Cameron County approves $22,346 for Memorial Hall connectivity upgrades and pledges $50,000 match to foundation challenge grant

The board approved a payment of $22,346 to ACS for recreation center network updates and equipment, funded from ACT funds, to upgrade connectivity at Memorial Hall — work the chair described as necessary to provide full public Wi‑Fi access, conferencing systems, shared workspace equipment and a private telehealth space.

The chair asked the board to submit a letter committing $50,000 as the county match to a foundation challenge grant for the recreation center. A commissioner said county staff and other board members have been reaching out to additional funders to help match the grant so the county would not necessarily provide the entire match. The motion for the payment and the match commitment was made during the meeting and moved forward by the board as recorded during the session.

Board discussion placed the connectivity payment and match in the context of a larger revitalization of Memorial Hall and noted the PBDA (state broadband/facilities funding referenced during discussion) funding for multi‑facility work required the county to reconfigure how certain components would be funded. The meeting record does not list specific outside funders or a final timeline for the foundation match; commissioners said additional outreach and fundraising are in progress.