Rio Grande Valley communities have now been in a state of emergency over drought conditions for more than a year.

It’s a reality that’s hampered the agriculture industry and put municipal leaders on notice to improve their strategy to ensure clean drinking water for the long-term – or face a growing population without access to the resource essential for life. 

The North American Development Bank (NADBank) is there to help communities combat the water issue. The binational bank — funded by both the federal government of U.S. and Mexico — is dedicated to improving the quality of life and tackling environmental issues.

NADBank leaders visited McAllen on Thursday to share details about the new Water Resiliency Fund, a grant program open to irrigation districts across Hidalgo, Cameron, Starr and Willacy counties.