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WESLACO, Texas - The Economic Development Corporation of Weslaco has won a prestigious 2023 Workforce Excellence Award.

The award comes from the Texas Economic Development Council. It was presented to Weslaco leaders during TEDC\u2019s 2023 Mid-Year Conference in Allen, Texas.

Weslaco won in the population category ranging from 40,001 to 100,000.\xa0

Carlton Schwab, president and CEO of TEDC said his group created the Workforce Excellence Award to recognize the \u201cexceptional contributions\u201d of Texas communities that have implemented \u201csuccessful workforce initiatives."

Schwab said: \u201cOur TEDC\u2019s Workforce Excellence Award is one of the ways in which our organization honors the outstanding work done by our communities and regions, their leaders, and their economic development professionals in the area of workforce development.\u201d\xa0

Steven M. Valdez, executive director of EDCW, said the award recognizes the EDCW for developing a strong partnership and collaboration with South Texas College, along with the successful implementation of its Job Training Program.

Valdez said the program offers a variety of skill development training for currently employed workers within the jurisdictional boundaries of the City of Weslaco.

\u201cThis award is a validation for the work that is being done in our local community through the intergovernmental relationship between the EDCW, the City of Weslaco, and South Texas College,\u201d Valdez said.

The Economic Development Corporation of Weslaco recently hosted a reception to tell the community about the TEDC award. At the reception, April Casta\xf1eda, director of business development for EDCW, gave an exclusive interview to the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service. The Guardian sought this interview because Valdez had praised Casta\xf1eda for coming up with the idea of applying for the award. He said there was a lot of paperwork to submit to TEDC.

Here is an audio interview with Casta\xf1eda.

To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.