We are thrilled to share that the Valley Baptist Legacy Foundation (VBLF) has awarded Connect Humanity a two-year, $395,400 grant to support our work to close the digital divide in South Texas.

The award provides critical support for the ongoing efforts of the Rio Grande Valley Broadband Coalition to bring affordable, reliable internet access to all families and businesses across a region that continues to experience some of the lowest connectivity rates in the United States.

At a time where more than 80% of jobs are posted online and 92% of jobs require digital skills, fewer than half of households in the RGV have fixed broadband. This lack of connectivity exacerbates the existing inequalities prevalent in the persistent poverty areas of Cameron, Hidalgo, Willacy, and Starr Counties.

VBLF’s support for the RGV Broadband Coalition will help accelerate the region’s digitalization journey and ensure residents can access the full social, health, and economic benefits hi-speed broadband internet can deliver.

Health, wealth, and workforce

From working with the Texas Broadband Development Office on broadband infrastructure expansion to creating programs to build digital workforce skills, digitalizing small businesses, and expanding access to telehealth, the coalition takes a holistic approach to breaking down the region’s persistent barriers to economic opportunity and health equity.

South Texas currently suffers some of the worst health outcomes in the country and the highest cost of care. That’s why one of the coalition’s main focus areas is digitalization to support healthcare technology and the expansion of access to telehealth services. Early successes include the City of Pharr, a coalition member that has created a public health department to leverage its new municipal fiber broadband network to expand access to healthcare services for city residents and surrounding colonia communities.

VBLF— which has long supported efforts to improve the health of the Rio Grande Valley — sees connectivity as a critical foundation to support its mission. Judy Quisenberry, VBLF’s Executive Director, said: 

“Access to the internet is critical to development across a range of social and economic areas and was recognized by the Centers for Disease Control as a “super social determinant of health”. We’re proud to support the coalition’s diverse network of partners to ensure that the opportunities promised by the digital revolution become reality for everyone in the Rio Grande Valley”.

A diverse network of local partners

With more federal and state funds available for broadband infrastructure than ever before, it is vital to have a strong local coalition preparing a plan to ensure these funds are awarded to the region and used effectively to secure a better future for families and businesses in South Texas.

VBLF was an early member and supporter helping to establish the RGV Broadband Coalition and this continued support will enable the coalition to complete and begin implementing its regional plan this year, while developing locally-driven solutions that can be replicated across the region.

Jordana Barton-Garcia, who leads the RGV Broadband Coalition for Connect Humanity, said: 

“This award from the Valley Baptist Legacy Foundation gives us the momentum we need to break through the barriers holding us back. We’re not only building infrastructure, but creating a new foundation for better health, more economic opportunities, and shared prosperity in the Rio Grande Valley. That foundation will channel the power of our people and their creativity and perseverance. We’re hugely grateful to the Legacy Foundation for their engaged philanthropy that will propel us forward on this journey.”