City of Port Isabel Visitor & Events Center and Emergency Operations Center Groundbreaking Ceremony
Mayor Joe E. Vega and the Port Isabel City Commission cordially invite the public to attend the groundbreaking ceremony for the long anticipated new City of Port Isabel Visitor & Events Center and Emergency Operations Center. The event will be held Saturday, July 21, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. at the future site of the events center located at 309 Railroad Avenue across from the Port Isabel Historical Museum (Champion Building).
The City of Port Isabel was successful in obtaining a low interest loan from the USDA Rural Development in the amount of $4,000,000 allowing for the new building of a visitor & event center and the emergency operations center. The Port Isabel City Commission contracted ERO Architects for design, Fulcrum Consulting Services for engineering and Colair, Inc. as the general contractor.
The Port Isabel Economic Development Corporation invested approximately $1,500,000 toward the building of this new facility. The Port Isabel Visitor and Events Center consist of 19,000 square feet and will accommodate approximately 800 in a theatre setting and up to 600 in a luncheon setting.
City Manager Edward Meza stated “We thank the Port Isabel Economic Development Corporation for their partnership and support of this project as well as USDA for their loan to the City. We invite everyone to the groundbreaking event. The center will add to the economic development of the City, especially in the historical, arts and cultural district”.
Port Isabel Mayor Joe E. Vega had these comments, “I would like to thank the USDA for providing the loan opportunity to build the new event center and EOC (Emergency Operations Center) for our great city of Port Isabel. Not only will the Center serve as a shelter during emergency situations, but it will also serve as a place to gather to celebrate family festivities such as birthday parties, weddings and quincenarias. This new event center will also allow for more economic opportunities by bringing trade shows, conferences and cultural arts programs to the area thus improving the quality of life for our citizens. This new project brings lots of excitement and a new chapter in our community. I have received an overwhelming show of support from our citizens expressing that Port Isabel is moving in the right direction.”
