The Rockport Center for the Arts announced Thursday that it had received a $5 million grant from a federal government agency to build a new building after their old building was destroyed in Hurricane Harvey.
“This is a major step in the recovery and future development for the City of Rockport,” Mayor Patrick Rios said.
Rios, Congressman Michael Cloud, and other leaders spoke at event announcing the grant.
“Part of rebuilding the tourist economy here in Rockport is the arts, and what draws people to here and gets the economy going,” Rep. Cloud said.
The Center for the Arts moved to a building in the downtown-area following the hurricane. Center leaders say the building is much too small for all of the artwork and programs offered there. The grant from the Economic Development Administration will allow for the building of a 12,000 square foot building right next to where the center is currently located.
City leaders hope when the center opens, estimated to be in late 2021, it will be a big draw for tourists.
“What this will do, this will be able to bring us more people visiting the community which will produce more revenue for the city which will give us the opportunity to help everyone out,” Mayor Rios said.
City leaders hope to break ground on the new Center for the Arts by the end of the summer.
