Working on Wellness Environments
Working on Wellness Environments (WOW-E) is a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension multidisciplinary community development program

T-Mobile Hometown Grant

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In a unique partnership focused on bringing vital connections to rural America, Smart Growth America is helping T-Mobile give one small community a prize package worth $3 million as well as millions in smaller grants for hundreds of other rural and small-town communities to reinvest in their downtowns, improve their quality of life, become more resilient, and improve their connections.

With a track record of providing scores of smaller towns a roadmap for achieving economic vibrancy over the years, Smart Growth Amerca will be helping the winner of the $3 million Hometown Tech over develop and implement a plan to enrich the town’s development – such as a place-based economic development plan, the restoration of a neglected downtown square, infrastructure improvements in a historic neighborhood, or investments in a community center.

Anyone can enter the contest at T-MobileHometownTechover.com before it closes on Friday, May 7, 2021. Just upload a photo or video of your town and tell T-Mobile what makes it special.

In addition to the big prize, T-Mobile will also be giving away $25 million to small communities over the next five years through hundreds of smaller Hometown Grants for all types of catalytic projects. If you are a local leader of almost any kind, nominate your town for a Hometown Grant here. The current round of applications is open from April to June, with winning towns announced in July.

Please let us know if you have any questions!

Early Childhood Educator Training Program – May 22, 2021

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The Working on Wellness Environments Program and Texas A&M Agrilife Extension are offering an Early Childcare online conference May 22nd from 9am to 12pm on Zoom. This special event will focus on Obesity Prevention Standards and Strategies: Overview of New Texas Minimum Standards and How to Meet (and Exceed!).

The cost to register is free (sponsored by WOW-E) but spot availability is prioritized to ECE’s located in Starr, Webb, Maverick, Zapata, and Hudspeth counties. The conference will review the updated Texas ECE standards for nutrition and physical activity and discuss best practices for implementing policies to support these standards. The mini-conference will be held on May 22nd, 2021 from 9am-12pm CT via Microsoft Teams. Clock hours will be available for attendees.

Registration link: https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/Childhood

Staff Highlight – Victorino Cantu

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Victorino Cantu is a Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Associate working with the CDC-funded Working on Wellness Environments (WOW-E) program in Starr County. A local asset to the program, Victorino primarily works on the ground, helping local groups create healthy changes in communities along the Texas-Mexico border.

Over the past two years, Victorino has been involved in several projects. He coordinates a Farm to School grant at RT Barrera Elementary in Roma, TX, and assisted the school in securing an NRCS GREEN grant to purchase a pollinator garden and a high tunnel to expand farm production. Victorino is supporting local groups in expanding school garden and orchard efforts to other schools by facilitating the creation of operations manuals and meeting with other schools already excelling in Farm to School efforts.

Victorino has also helped facilitate a downtown walkability and connectivity project. His engagement with the local community has included communication, coordination, and showing a “behind the scenes” look at the infrared sensors being used to collect walking movement in downtown Rio Grande City.

Victorino’s passion for creating healthy lifestyles and access to healthy places exudes through his work. Victorino is looking forward to continuing Policy, System, and Environmental change work and continuing with rural communities and healthy changes.

AARP Community Challenge

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Are you looking to improve your community’s pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure?

We have an opportunity for funding that you may be interested in! AARP announced a call for projects for the Community Challenge grant program. This program is part of the nationwide AARP Livable Communities initiative that helps communities become great places to live for residents of all ages.

The program is intended to help communities make immediate improvements and jump-start long-term progress in support of residents of all ages. Applications are accepted for projects to improve public spaces, housing, transportation, civic engagement, coronavirus recovery, diversity and inclusion, and more.

The application period is open until April 14, 2021. The Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Working on Wellness Environments team is able to provide pre-application assistance to community leaders if needed, in the following ways:

  • Walking through program criteria and guidelines
  • Identifying possible projects in the community
  • Assisting with basic planning steps and providing a broad cost estimate

*If chosen to move on to step 2 of the application process, we can help you identify relevant resources and contacts fo technical assistance.


Please contact Anna Stehling – Working on Wellness Environments Program Coordinator, via email at astehling5511@tamu.edu if you have any questions. If you want additional information and wish to schedule a zoom call to discuss the program’s opportunities, you can visit the calendly link below to select a meeting time.


https://calendly.com/astehling5511/aarp-community-challenge-grant

aarp.org/CommunityChallenge