COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS
Rio-South Texas Education & Community Development Foundation (RSTEF) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit focused on Postsecondary Education and Workforce Development. RSTEF serves a seven-county region comprised of Willacy, Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, Zapata, Jim Hogg, and Webb counties.
Since 2019, the Foundation has awarded $7.5 million to community partners over a period of five years. A total impact of over $15 million to Rio South Texas via 17 different initiatives to ensure residents acquire skills and knowledge and have access to economic opportunities to enable them to pursue meaningful careers and live prosperous lives in Rio South Texas.
TSTC Biomedical Equipment Technology Program
In 2021, RSTEF partnered with TSTC Harlingen via TSTC Foundation for its Biomedical Program. At the time biomedical equipment technicians were projected to earn $18-$25 per hour and the field was projected to have a growth rate of 17% for the region. TSTC’s Biomedical Equipment Technology (BET) program was created to fill the gap between medical equipment vendors and hospital staff. Biomedical technicians are responsible for keeping equipment at hospitals and clinics working properly. Technicians repair, calibrate, and install new and in-service equipment.
TSTC Technical Training Program
In 2022, RSTEF partnered with TSTC Harlingen via TSTC Foundation to enhance technical training in the areas of Mechatronics and Welding. RSTEF support resulted in the purchase of equipment to keep up with the latest technology and innovation brought on by Industry 4.0. These programs offer great earning potential for students with Mechatronic technicians capable of earning $31.82 per hour and welder $19.23 per hour.
TSTC Goal Line Assistance Program
Beginning in 2021, RSTEF has funded the TSTC Goal Line Assistance Program via three of the Foundation funding cycles. The TSTC program is intended to improve student retention. The TSTC Goal Line Assistance program is an emergency assistance program for Rio-South Texas students who are nearing graduation. Students receiving assistance must be lacking their last three semesters of study, be in academic good standing, and have an urgent need for assistance beyond their approved financial aid package. Funds may be used for campus housing, childcare, tuition, books, and fees.
TSTC Endowment Scholarship Fund
In 2025, RSTEF partnered with TSTC for the creation of an endowment fund. The RSTEF Endowed Scholarship Fund for TSTC Harlingen Students will be open to all students, but students in the Biomedical Technology, Plumbing and Pipefitting Technology, Wind Energy Technology, Automotive Technology, Diesel and Electrical Lineworker will be prioritized. These high-demand programs are being supported by current capital improvement projects including the matching Harlingen EDC funds.
Laredo College Get to the Finish Line
RSTEF partnered with Laredo College for its Get to the Finish Line program. This program was intended to assist individuals who were unable to complete their associate’s degree due to financial hardship. Those who are less than 12 semester credit hours from a degree will benefit from this program. Funding enabled Laredo College to serve an expected 120 students. Over the past few years, it has become frequent for students to not complete courses due to the financial hardship associated with gaps in federal financial aid regulations.
Laredo College Start 2 Finish
RSTEF partnered with Laredo College, through its Laredo Community College Education Foundation, for its Start 2 Finish program. The project is intended to assist individuals that are seeking Integrated Education Training programs and deemed basic skills deficient. Funding will enable Laredo College to serve 84 students and purchase equipment for health training programs.
STC Industrial Automation and Robotics Lab Program
RSTEF partnered with South Texas College for its Industrial Automation and Robotics Lab Program. The expansion of the Advanced Robotics Industrial Automation program aimed to help meet the growing demand of technology and to advance the objectives of the program by allowing for FANUC certification and establishing a fully integrated Industry 4.0 training center. The goal was to have 600 students obtain certification in 12 months.
STC Postsecondary Career Pathways
RSTEF partnered with South Texas College for its Postsecondary Career Pathways in Healthcare, Information Technology, and Manufacturing program. The objective of the program was to assist 72 individuals without a high school diploma or GED matriculate in a program that would co-enroll them in a GED program and one of six technical training programs leading to industry-recognized certifications and college credit conversion resulting in employment or transitioning into a college certification program.
STC Valley Promise
RSTEF partnered with South Texas College, through the South Texas College Education Foundation, for its STC Promise Program, or Valley Promise. Through this partnership, STC aims to assist 200 students via “last-dollar” scholarships to cover financial gaps not provided through federal or State financial aid. The program will focus on careers such as education, engineering, math, and nursing.
STC Promise Programs
In 2025, RSTEF partnered with South Texas College, investing in STC Promise Programs. South Texas College will use RSTEF funds to remove barriers that prevent students from accessing, persisting, and completing their academic pathways by providing financial assistance, personalized support, coaching & mentoring, and wrap-around services. The South Texas College (STC) Promise Programs holistically address the unique educational needs and challenges of students in Hidalgo and Starr counties. The Valley Promise Program is focused on recent high school graduates. The Adult Promise Program is focused on adults with some college hours, but no industry-based credential or degree (Stop-Outs).
UTRGV Endowment: UTRGV Rio-South Texas Education and Community Development Foundation Endowed Scholarship
RSTEF partnered with UTRGV on a multi-year commitment to UTRGV to establish the Rio-South Texas Education and Community Development Foundation Endowed Scholarship. This endowment assists graduate students to pursue their professional degrees. Graduate students have limited recourse other than student loans. This program is intended to offset the financial burden on the students and get more local talent to obtain professional degrees. The program has assisted over 150 students since its inception.
TAMIU Endowment Professorship in Computer Engineering
RSTEF partnered with Texas A&M International University for its Professorship in Computer Engineering Endowment. An endowed professorship is critical for recruiting and retaining the most talented professors. Professorships are not institutionally funded because legislative funds are restricted to tuition and regular operating expenses. If a professor leaves the institution, the endowment is then used to recruit another senior, outstanding member to the faculty. The endowed professorship in Computer Engineering is intended to increase the national visibility of this program and allow the University to recruit from among the most gifted and talented in the field.
TAMIU Endowment Computer Engineering Scholarships
RSTEF partnered with Texas A&M International University for its Computer Engineering Scholarship Endowment. The endowment was intended to lay a stronger foundation for TAMIU students from Webb, Zapata, and Jim Hogg Counties and the greater South Texas Region. Workforce Board regional reports reflect an annual need for Information Security Engineers, Industrial Engineers, Engineers in Information Technology, and Engineers in STEM. Increasing the region’s “high-value” degrees translates into a long-term investment in human capital that attracts new business and improvements in the quality of life for the community and individual(s). School of Engineering graduates will be able to secure employment in a wide range of settings, including business enterprises, manufacturing plants, state and local government agencies, healthcare services, and service organizations, among others.
TAMIU Endowment Closer Than Ever Scholarship
RSTEF partnered with Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) on the Closer Than Ever Scholarship Endowment. Through this endowment, TAMIU is able to secure funding for a proven scholarship program to assist recovered former students who wish to complete their degrees. The program will focus on the career pathways of education, business, math, nursing and health science. TAMIU expects to assist 25 students a year with this endowment.
TAMU HEC Endowment
RSTEF partnered with the TAMU Higher Education Center McAllen. The TAMU center was able to secure RSTEF funding for the Construction Science Endowment. This endowment is expected to encourage local students into the professional field of construction science, a STEM program which relates to engineering and engineering-related fields. The program is expected to assist between 20 and 25 students annually.
TSC CTE Pipeline Scholarship Program
In 2025, RSTEF partnered with Texas Southmost College for the TSC CTE Pipeline Scholarship Program. This would assist regional students to matriculate to TSC into a certification program. This program is projected to assist dual-credit high school graduate students in enrolling and completing their certification at TSC. The program would focus on target career clusters, which are high-demand areas as designated by Rio South Texas Region workforce boards.
TSC Graduation Pathway Scholarship Program
In 2025, RSTEF partnered with Texas Southmost College for the TSC Graduation Pathway Scholarship Program. The program is to benefit enrolled students who must overcome financial challenges to complete their program of study. Matching funds will be provided via local economic development corporations. This program would benefit 250 students. The program would focus on target career clusters, which are high-demand areas as designated by Rio South Texas Region workforce boards.
WFS LRGV Project BUILD
RSTEF partnered with Workforce Solutions on Project Building & Upskilling through Industry Level Development (BUILD). Project BUILD sought to address the manufacturing and construction skills gap by providing entry-level career pathway certifications/credentials (forklift, OSHA 10, OSHA 30, blueprint reading, First Aid CPR/AED, cost estimate, etc.) that will lead to improving skill sets (marketability), increase responsibility and opportunities for upward mobility for a minimum of 50 individuals and a maximum of 90 individuals. Workforce Solution collaborated with industry partner Rio Grande Valley Chapter Associated General Contractors (RGVCAGC), which provided the funding match.
WFS LRGV LEAD
In conjunction with local partners, Workforce Solutions was able to secure RSTEF funding for its LEAD Internship Initiative. This program is a collaboration between UTRGV and WFS to provide paid internship opportunities for 23 students. The program is designed to bridge the gap between employers and students by engaging them in meaningful paid work experience and identifying potential future employees possessing the skills to excel within their organizations.
VGI Apprenticeship
RSTEF partnered with Valley Grande Institute providing funding for its Regional Healthcare Apprenticeship Expansion Initiative. The purpose of the funding is to increase training capacity via the purchase of equipment. This will allow 60 more students to enroll in VGI LVN and Patient Care Technician programs helping meet the regional needs for medical personnel.
VIDA Career Pathways & Supportive Services
In 2025, VIDA requested RSTEF funds to recruit, train, and prepare 100 participants for career success in the health science and information technology as prescribed in the RSTEF program parameters for two-year institutions target career clusters. VIDA’s financial request to RSTEF will be matched by their annual fundraising from various sources such as U.S. Department of Labor Nursing Expansion Grant, Texas Mutual’s General Learning Grant, Texas Talent Connection Grant, Development Corporation of McAllen Inc., and Greater Brownsville Incentive Corporation (GBIC).
CCEI Medical Careers Training & Apprenticeship
In 2025, CCEI received funding for its initiative Medical Careers Training & Apprenticeship. Funds will be used to provide training for unemployed and underemployed adults who wish to enter the medical profession and the expansion of CCEI’s current nurse assistant apprenticeship program. CCEI is a nonprofit career school, licensed by the Texas Workforce Commission, committed to providing debt-free career training in high-demand careers and job placement to the citizens of Cameron County. Participants will be upskilled in phlebotomy, patient care technician, sterile processing technician, non-certified technician (x-ray), and bridge to LVN. CCEI will recruit a total of 80 participants. CCEI will match funds dollar for dollar to carry out the program of work.
Region One ESC PACE Program
In 2025, Region One ESC secured RSTEF funding. Region One ESC will use the RSTEF funds to upskill 25 individuals through the Preparing and Certifying Educators (PACE) program. Matching funds will be sourced from participating public and charter school districts. The PACE program is designed to address the critical shortage of qualified secondary educators in STEM fields. This initiative focuses on developing the educator workforce, specifically targeting Secondary Teacher Alternative Certification in STEM, including 7-12 Math and 1-12 Science. The program will upskill unemployed and underemployed individuals, particularly in rural areas, to meet the growing demand for STEM educators.
Teach for America RGV
In 2025, Teach for America RGV secured RSTEF funding. TFA-RGV will use the RSTEF funds to upskill 40 participants through their teacher training pathway. RSTEF funds will be matched via contributions from other sources. Funds will be used for participant recruitment, selection, placement, and development. TFA RGV seeks to address the shortage of education professionals in the RGV. TFA RGV will upskill individuals with postsecondary degrees, providing the crucial training and apprenticeship-like experiences required to ensure a highly skilled educator workforce to meet the high demand of our local labor market.
Texas A&M Nursing RGV
In 2025, the Texas A&M Foundation secured funding from RSTEF to support the Texas A&M College of Nursing program at the Higher Education Center in McAllen, TX. Funds will support nursing faculty and students in the Rio Grande Valley at the McAllen Campus. This will be done through recruitment support, professional development funds, enrichment, and mentoring funds, and through special projects at that campus. The program is expected to have 15 faculty members and reach a student enrollment of 192 students in five years of operation. During this time, it projects 264 total graduates.
Imaginarium of South Texas HAP
In 2025, the Imaginarium of South Texas received a RSTEF funding award for its Homework Assistance Program (HAP). The IHAP is expected to increase the number of college students graduating with a degree in math education by giving them the opportunity to attain experience and practice in tutoring and educating elementary school students in the science and math fields. RSTEF funds will provide five tutors with scholarships. The remaining balance will be used for the administration of the program. The Imaginarium of South Texas will provide a dollar-for-dollar match from other sources to carry out the program. In collaboration with Laredo College and Texas Workforce Solutions of South Texas, the Imaginarium will execute the IHAP.