UHV Center for Regional Collaboration ready to help area communities
Area community members who need resources and support to grow in new and exciting ways now have access to a University of Houston-Victoria center focused on forming partnerships to promote long-term job growth, economic prosperity and stability.
The university launched a new office in October called the UHV Center for Regional Collaboration. UHV recognized the need for regional outreach to area rural communities, center director Joe Humphreys said. The goal of the outreach is twofold: bring university resources to area communities and increase awareness about UHV in the region.
“The center’s mission is to provide leadership as a regional facilitator and connector to area rural communities,” Humphreys said. “The center’s vision is to provide a neutral environment where communities can become involved in mutually beneficial partnerships. This will help them build upon the available assets and resources of the region – not just individual communities – in order to create more opportunities for long-term job growth, economic prosperity and greater stability.”
To fulfill the mission and vision of the center, direct outreach to surrounding rural communities is vital. Connections to these communities will be made by working with local and regional citizens, economic development representatives, chamber and main street directors, bankers, school district representatives and others.
The center’s team members have been involved in several projects and initiatives, including the Victoria’s Southside Coalition, Moulton Economic Development Alliance initiative, Gonzales Economic Development special project, Victoria Young Professionals initiative and the Victoria Downtown Business initiative.
In May 2017, the center was approved for a U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration grant. The grant was a matching $1 million award for the reconstruction of part of the old Town Plaza Mall at Airline Road and Laurent Street. The grant will be used to turn part of the building into a regional office housing the center and other resource partners such as the UHV Small Business Development Center. The new center also will have a 4,500-square-foot multi-purpose room for meetings and trainings.
“We recognize that our mission and vision are not going to be overnight successes, but the rewards of our efforts will make all of the region stronger and more resilient,” Humphreys said.
For more information about the center, contact the UHV Center for Regional Collaboration at 361-485-4949 or regionalcollaboration@uhv.edu.
The University of Houston-Victoria, located in the heart of the Coastal Bend region since 1973 in Victoria, Texas, offers courses leading to more than 80 academic programs in the schools of Arts & Sciences; Business Administration; and Education, Health Professions & Human Development. UHV provides face-to-face classes at its Victoria campus, as well as an instructional site in Katy, Texas, and online classes that students can take from anywhere. UHV supports the American Association of State Colleges and Universities Opportunities for All initiative to increase awareness about state colleges and universities and the important role they have in providing a high-quality and accessible education to an increasingly diverse student population, as well as contributing to regional and state economic development.
