This EDA investment supports the city of south padre island, along with the SPI historical foundation, with constructing the historical museum of south padre island to support the local tourism…

The Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA) awarded a $1,875,000 project grant under the Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) program to the City of South Padre Island, Texas on July 5, 2022. The grant funds will support renovating an existing 5,000 square foot visitor center into a cultural, heritage and maritime museum to attract new visitors and support the local tourism industry. The museum will develop a work-and-learn model allowing University of Texas Rio Grande Valley students hands-on experience as professional historians and curators. As a regional attraction, the museum is expected to increase tourism and day visitors, supporting job creation to help the region's tourism sector recover from impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The EAA program assists regions facing adverse economic changes with technical assistance and funding for public works and infrastructure projects to support economic resilience.

This EDA investment supports the city of south padre island, along with the SPI historical foundation, with constructing the historical museum of south padre island to support the local tourism industry by attracting new visitors to the city and its businesses in texas. The project work consists of repurposing and renovating the existing 5,000 square foot visitor center for use as a cultural, heritage and maritime museum. The center will develop a work-and learn model that will allow university of texas RIO grande valley students hands on learning as professional historians and curators and offering degrees in public heritage, multidisciplinary studies, and other related disciplines. This project also falls in line with the economic development policies identified in the south padre island comprehensive master plan. As a cultural attraction that caters to residents, business owners and visitors encompassing youths, adults and senior citizens, this project spurs on the main industry of south padre island's local economy-tourism. As regional attraction, the museum will result in increased tourism and day visitors, which will support the creation of jobs to help the region respond to damage to the travel, tourism, and outdoor recreation sectors from the coronavirus pandemic and boost the economic resilience of areas dependent on those industries.