The Greater Brownsville Incentives Corportation Hosts 4th Annual Home to Texas Program

February 12, 2024

Commissioner At-Large "A" Tino Villarreal (left), GBIC's Workforce Director Karla De La Riva, MBA (right), and Senior Program Coordinator at UT Austin Dustin Harris (center), presenting a Certificate of Completion to UT student Ethan Maciel for successfully completing the Home to Texas Program in Summer 2023.

Empowering economic growth and connecting students with valuable internship opportunities

The Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation (GBIC), in partnership with the City of Brownsville, announces the 4th annual hosting of the Home to Texas™ Program, in collaboration with TXWORKS. This initiative aims to encourage employers to apply for the program, providing them with the opportunity to leverage student talents while receiving incentives from the state, up to $2500 per intern from TXWORKS.

The Home to Texas™ Program, now in its fourth year, is designed to connect first-year students with internship and research opportunities in their hometown communities, fostering local talent and promoting economic growth. By participating in this program, employers gain access to skilled students while contributing to the development of the local workforce.

"We are proud to celebrate the 4th year of our partnership with the City of Brownsville and the Home to Texas Program. This collaboration has proven to be instrumental in connecting students with valuable opportunities in our community," said Bret Gardella, Executive Director & CEO at the Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation.

Employers interested in participating in the Home to Texas™ Program are encouraged to apply before the extended deadline of February 20, 2024, at noon. Employers can access talented students through this program and receive financial incentives to support their internship initiatives.

"We invite employers to join us in this exciting opportunity to invest in our community's future by providing valuable internship experiences to local students," encouraged Karla De La Riva, Workforce & Business Development Director at the Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation.

"We are pleased to support and participate in the Home to TexasT" Program and TXWORKS initiative, which play a vital role in providing valuable opportunities for our community's youth," remarked City Manager Helen Ramirez, AICP. " This collaboration exemplifies the Mayor and City Commission's commitment and focus on new youth programs that will be announced soon."

For further details regarding participation in the Home to Texas™ Program and the acquisition of incentives from TXWORKS, please contact Karla De La Riva at kdelariva@greaterbrownsville.com or call 956-479-3813.

For media inquiries or additional information, contact Alexa J. Perez, Director of Marketing & Communications, at aperez@greaterbrownsville.com or call 956-443-2663

About Home to Texas Program
Home to Texas™ is a scholarship-funded summer program designed to bridge the gap between first-year students and internship and research opportunities in their hometown communities. Initiated by IC2 Institute and School of Undergraduate Studies in response to the emigration of talent from small and rural Texas communities, the program aims to encourage undergraduate participants to return to their hometowns after their first year at UT Austin for a full-time summer internship.