After a decade of planning the City of Port Isabel kicked off the Port Isabel Visitor and Events Center and Emergency Operation Center construction phase on Saturday, July 21, 2012. Dozens gathered including community members, elected officials and dignitaries as the first shovels ceremoniously turned site soil over. Remarks were offered by City Manager Edward P. Meza, Commissioner Maria de Jesus “MJ” Garza, Mayor Joe E. Vega, Manuel Hinojosa (ERO Architects) and a USDA Rural Development State Director representative.
Mayor Joe E. Vega and Commissioners Garza and Torres are joined by City Manager Edward P. Meza, EDC Board Members, representatives of the USDA Rural Development State Director and Community Center Committee Members in a groundbreaking ceremony of the City of Port Isabel Visitor & Events Center and Emergency Operations Center.
PROGRAM: Welcome Address- Edward P. Meza, City Manager
Invocation- Commissioner Maria de Jesus “MJ” Garza
Color Guard Presentation & Pledge of Allegiance- U.S. Coast Guard Color Guard
Speakers- Mayor Joe. E. Vega, USDA Rural Development State Director representatives, Manuel Hinojosa (ERO Architects)
Groundbreaking- Mayor Joe E. Vega, City Commissioners, EDC Board Members, Community Center Committee Members
Benediction- George Paterson, City Chaplain
Closing- Edward P. Meza, City Manager.
SPECIAL THANKS Mayor Joe E. Vega, Commissioner Juan Jose “JJ” Zamora, Commissioner Maria de Jesus “MJ” Garza, Commissioner Martin C. Cantu, Commissioner Guillermo “Memo” Torres, City Manager Edward P. Meza City Secretary Susie Alcocer, Grant Consultant / Project Manager Mario Gonzales-Davis, EDC Administrator Janie Villarreal, Building Inspector Larry R. Ellis, Finance Director Alonzo Echavarria-Garza, Public Works Director Baldemar Alaniz, Public Works Department, Valerie Bates Marketing Director, George Paterson City Chaplain. Port Isabel Economic Development Corporation: Scott Friedman, Chairman; Guillermo “Memo” Torres, Vice-Chairman; Inocente Zurita, Secretary; Robin S. Ochoa Treasurer; Juan Jose “JJ” Zamora, Board Member; Maria de Jesus “MJ” Garza, Board Member; Larry R. Ellis, Board Member. Port Isabel Community Center Committee: Alta Monroe, Scott Friedman, Betty Wells, Robert Horton, Glenda Stafford, City Manager Edward P. Meza, Commissioner Guilllermo “Memo” Torres. USDA Rural Development State Director Paco Valentin, USDA Rural Development Area Director Roel Gomez Fulcrum Consulting Services George Lazaro, ERO Architects Manuel Hinojosa, Ero Architects John L. Milner, Colair, Inc. Ron Lindsay.
