Hidalgo County Commissioners Court Approves $445,000 for Adult Education Program
Hidalgo County, Commissioners Court, PossAble Dream, Adult Education, UTRGV, Chess, Edinburg, Cultural Arts District, Down Syndrome, Grants
Arnoldo Mata
Edinburg TX – The Hidalgo County Commissioners Court on Oct. 27, 2026, approved a $445,000 contribution to The PossAble Dream Adult High School, recognized a UTRGV chess grandmaster who defeated the reigning world chess champion, and honored the City of Edinburg for receiving a state cultural arts district designation.
County Judge Richard F. Cortez presided. Commissioner David L. Fuentes of Precinct 1 was absent. Present were Commissioner Eduardo “Eddie” Cantu of Precinct 2, Commissioner Everardo Villarreal of Precinct 3, and Commissioner Ellie Torres of Precinct 4.
County Contributes $445,000 to Adult Education Program
The court approved a $445,000 contribution to The PossAble Dream Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit adult high school based at 3000 N. Cage Blvd. in Pharr that serves adult learners between the ages of 18 and 50 who are balancing education with work and family responsibilities.
The program provides a free high school diploma alongside industry certifications in fields including Emergency Medical Technician, Patient Care Technician, Certified Nursing Assistant, HVAC, digital and web design, commercial truck driving, computer applications, structural welding and child care.
Dr. King, representing the organization, told commissioners the program graduated 216 students in its first year. Enrollment is approaching 700 this year, with a base goal of 1,000 graduates and a target of 1,200.
“Possible Dream started a little over a year ago,” Dr. King said. “Last year we had 216 graduates. This year enrollment is already almost at 700.”
Dr. King called on the county and other large employers to serve as model employers by referring employees to the program. “All you need to do is refer them to Possible Dream. It’s free,” he said. “We have morning, afternoon, night classes. We flex if they have a flex schedule.”
County Judge Cortez praised the initiative as an investment in human capital.
“In trying to create human capital, we have found that we have a lot of people that are close to reaching that milestone to get them to the path of really a good job,” Cortez said. “This is a barrier that’s going to be reduced by you.”
UTRGV Chess Grandmaster Honored
The court approved a proclamation honoring Gleb Dudin, a senior at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley majoring in psychology, after he defeated reigning world chess champion Gukesh Dumaraju at the 2026 Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on Sept. 27.
The Chess Olympiad, held every two years, is considered the most prestigious event in international chess. Prior to his loss to Dudin, Dumaraju had won seven games and drawn three without a defeat in the tournament.
Dudin, a grandmaster — the highest title attainable in chess — became the leader of the UTRGV chess team in 2025. He also won the 2026 Texas Collegiate Individual Chess Championship and has qualified for the 2027 World Chess Cup, which features the top 224 players in the world.
In 2025, the UTRGV chess team won all four major collegiate championships: the Pan American Intercollegiate Team Championship, the Southwest Collegiate Team Championship, the Presidents Cup (as co-champions), and the Texas Collegiate Superfinals. The team was also named Chess College of the Year by both the United States Chess Federation and the Texas Chess Association. No team in history had previously won all four championships in the same year.
“The years I’ve been here gave me a lot, and this success wouldn’t be possible without UTRGV,” Dudin told commissioners. “I want to thank the people of RGV, all our community, for love and support for chess.”
Edinburg Recognized as Cultural Arts District
The court approved a proclamation recognizing the City of Edinburg after the Texas Commission on the Arts officially designated its downtown area as a cultural arts district in September 2026. Edinburg joins 61 Texas cities to hold the designation, which identifies tourism zones that leverage arts and heritage to stimulate economic development and attract visitors.
Edinburg Mayor Omar Ochoa credited city library and cultural arts staff members Leti Leha and Mata El Castillo for leading the effort.
“Without you and your efforts, we would not have received this designation,” Ochoa said, addressing Leha directly. “She has worked on cultural arts improvement in the city of Edinburg literally for decades.”
Ochoa noted several developments underway in the downtown cultural arts district, including the completion of Las Almas Food Hall and the announced relocation of Five by Five Brewing to the area.
Down Syndrome Awareness Month
The court also approved a proclamation declaring October 2026 as Down Syndrome Awareness Month in Hidalgo County. The proclamation recognized the Rio Grande Valley Down Syndrome Association and its co-founder and program manager, Nelly Salazar.
“Your support means so much to our community,” Salazar told commissioners. “It helps us bring awareness, promote inclusion, and remind everyone that individuals with Down syndrome have unique abilities, wonderful talents, and so much to contribute to our community.”
Also recognized was Ludi Garza, owner of Ludi Sparkle Cupcakes and daughter of Hidalgo County Community Service Agency Operations Manager Mari Garza.
Grants and Other Action
The court accepted a $644,969.76 Operation Lone Star grant for the Sheriff’s Office and approved grants totaling $273,027.43 for two juvenile specialty courts: $145,983.81 for the Hidalgo County Juvenile Drug Court and $128,043.62 for the Hidalgo County Lifelines Girls Juvenile Mental Health Court, both through the Office of the Governor’s Criminal Justice Division.
Constable Precinct 1 received a $140,000 Operation Lone Star grant and appointed Edgar Acevedo as deputy constable. Constable Precinct 2 accepted a $91,000 Operation Lone Star grant. Constable Precinct 4 accepted a $152,380 Operation Stone Garden grant.
The court also approved the county’s FY 2027 holiday schedule and set purchasing deadlines for end-of-year requisitions: Nov. 13 for major purchases and Nov. 20 for minor purchases.
The next Commissioners Court meeting is scheduled for Nov. 10, 2026, at 10 a.m., preceded by a Drainage District session at 9:30 a.m.