Alton applies for USDA grant to create first digital library in RGV
ALTON – City officials hope that their first library will not have books.
The City of Alton applied for $1.5 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development grant to create a digital library where users view information on computers and tablets, such as iPads.
“This is definitely treading on new ground,” said Steve Peña, assistant city manager. “It’s very innovative; it’s thinking outside the box.”
Peña noted that the digital library would be the first of its kind in the Rio Grande Valley. The library would be housed in the city’s Incubation Center, a mostly empty warehouse that sits across the street from City Hall.
Alton is collaborating with the University of Texas-Pan American, and the Sharyland, Mission and La Joya school districts on the project. Peña said that along with local residents, the digital library would provide resources to teachers and area school districts.
UTPA has provided guidance throughout the application process and could provide literary and faculty resources if the project is funded, Peña said.
The digital library also would have an interpretive area for UTPA’s Community Historical Archeological Project with Schools (CHAPS), said John Milford, a lecturer in UTPA’s public administration program and a liaison for CHAPS. The center would include exhibits about South Texas history.
CHAPS works with area schools to teach children in kindergarten through 12th grades about South Texas history and archeology.
Alton and UTPA officials will form more definite plans for the digital library once they find out if they have received funding from USDA.
The city’s pre-application for the USDA money has been approved. Now city officials must submit a more in-depth application that will include architectural plans for the space. Alton will use the same architect who is designing the city’s new fire station, Peña said.
The $1.5 million could be part grant and part loan or a full loan. If received, the Alton City Commission will vote to decide if the city should take on more debt, Peña said.
The Incubation Center, a large warehouse, houses only the offices of the Rio Grande Valley Empowerment Zone, which provides loan funding and other community development services to the area. The Empowerment Zone also is in the grant application process with the hopes of adding another tenant to the building – a Healthy Food Center.
The center would teach people to turn their at-home food businesses into a legitimate source of income with a focus on cooking healthful foods.
If both entities receive their grants, the healthy food center could provide refreshments to patrons of the digital library, Peña said.
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Gail Burkhardt covers Mission, western Hidalgo County, Starr County and general assignments for The Monitor. She can be reached at (956) 683-4462.
