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SOUTH TEXAS
LCC
New refinery to meet demand
Training workforce for refinery
Raven Petroleum exec discusses $500M project By Rye Druzin SA N A NT ONI O E XPRE SS-NEWS
A Mexican energy market starved for fuel supplies is the driving force behind America’s first new crude oil refinery in nearly 40 years, managing
Moore
director Christopher Moore says in an exclusive interview with the San Antonio Express-News. Three years after Mexico
began opening up its energy markets to competition and international investment, Raven Petroleum’s Moore says the country has only two days of fuel supplies in its pipelines and is trucking jet fuel to vacation destination Cancun. Bloomberg reported in June that Mexico was struggling to import enough gasoline and diesel, and fuel shortages in the northern Mexican state of Chihuahua had led to scuffles
between Mexican law enforcement and protesters. “It signals that there is going to be an existing and continuing constrained market with an increasing demand because if they cannot get fuel in their cars, buses, trains, planes, how do they expect to promote industrial growth or development?” Moore said. That is why Houston native Moore, 54, is leading the $500 Moore continues on A13
USDA
FUNDING OPERATIONS USDA meeting addresses farm, ranch programs S P ECIAL T O T HE T I ME S
Congressman Henry Cuellar hosted a meeting recently in Zapata with area ranchers and farmers, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Texas Farm Service Agency (FSA) and the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service to discuss programs and funding for farm and ranching operations. “I decided to organize this meeting as a result of meetings between my Washington, D.C., legislative staff and officials and constituents in Zapata County last month,” said Congressman Cuellar. “My office met with county leaders, and one topic of concern was the lack of an FSA office in Zapata. I am glad that this meeting helped answer a lot of the questions that ranchers and farmers may have. I thank Judith Canales, FSA State Executive Director, and representatives from USDA FSA, Texas A&M Cuellar continues on A13
Courtesy photo
The Office of Congressman Henry Cuellar hosts an informational with Zapata framers and ranchers, and representatives from the USDA Texas Farm Service Agency and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service on Tuesday at the Zapata County Pavilion. Pictured from left to right are Arnulfo Lerma, USDA Farm Loan Manager; Judith Canales, USDA State Executive Director; Outreach Coordinator Francis Atwell; Rene Reyna, USDA Farm Service Agency Regional Director for Zapata and Starr County; and Benancio Cano Jr., USDA District Director.
By Judith Rayo LAREDO MORNING TIME S
LCC is partnering with the Laredo Development Foundation and the tri-county coalition strategic partners to provide a South Texas refinery with the the workforce trainings it will require for its operations. The $500 million oil refinery, announced by Raven Petroleum on Monday, is set to open in late 2018 near Hebbronville, near the corners of Webb, Duval and Jim Hogg counties. Raven is building the refinery to help alleviate the Rodriguez current infrastructure constraints impacting the Mexican petroleum supply market. Rodney Rodriguez, Laredo Community College economic development center director, said Wed<FZ,1,1,12>nesday the college is planning to partner with Laredo and United independent school districts to identify students interested in the oil and gas and refinery industries. “We will train these students so they are ready when Raven begins the project,” he said. Rodriguez said LCC is also partnering with the Texas Workforce Commission to identify any possible funding to help support an influx of people looking for jobs. Olivia Varela, executive director for the Laredo Development Foundation, said about 1,500 initial jobs will be generated during the plant’s construction phase, eventually settling on 300-400 permanent jobs. Officials in Webb, Duval and Jobs continues on A13
TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
$300K awarded to Zapata for infrastructure ZA PATA T I ME S
Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller recently announced the Texas Department of Agriculture has awarded $304,922 to Zapata County for critically needed infrastructure improvements. These federal funds are administered through TDA’s Texas
Community Development Block Grant (TxCDBG) program to support vibrant communities, suitable living conditions and expand economic opportunities in rural Texas. In all, TDA awarded more than $42 million in TxCDBG grant awards this year to communities throughout Texas. “Rural communities work
hard every day to provide a great place for people to live, work and raise their families,” Commissioner Miller said. “Yet, some smaller Texas communities can’t financially support the kind of large public works projects that will improve and strengthen their local quality of life. “That’s where the Texas De-
partment of Agriculture helps by making sure that rural Texas communities have equal access to federal funding available for these kinds of improvements. Together, the Texas Department of Agriculture and rural communities across the state are ensuring all Texans have a safe place to live.” • Zapata County: Awarded
$304,922 for street improvements Eligible applicants who are non-entitlement cities under 50,000 in population and nonentitlement counties that have a non-metropolitan population under 200,000 and are not eligible for direct CDBG funding from the U.S. Department of Grant continues on A13