Congressman Henry Cuellar announced $963,000 in federal funding for the Starr County Juvenile Housing and Rehabilitation Center, according to a news release.

The funds come from an earmark the Congressman secured for Starr County in the 2024 fiscal year, the release stated.  

“Through these funds, the Starr County Juvenile Housing and Rehabilitation Center will keep our community secure and continue their important work helping affected youth,” Cuellar stated in the Thursday news release. “I am grateful to Judge Vera and Starr County Juvenile Director Dora Liza for their efforts in assisting the center.”

 The juvenile center will use the funding to help renovate the facility and upgrade security features. The center currently faces challenges with outdated and inadequate security and juvenile housing facilities, the release stated.

The funding will be used to upgrade the center’s security systems, replace the current fence with a hurricane fence, add additional exterior lights, replace the exterior drain and adding a pump to assist with flooding, upgrade and replace the plumbing system, and more, the release said.

“Through this funding, Starr County can better address current needs and potential security issues,” the release stated. “It can also work in concert with surrounding rural communities like Jim Hogg, Duval, and Zapata counties.”

The release noted that Cuellar recently secured more than $13,000,000 for local infrastructure projects in Starr County.