Economics focus of colonia conference

McALLEN - Community action groups hope business can help colonias on the Texas-Mexico border in a way government has never been able.

Today, Hispanic community groups from across the country are set to gather in McAllen at the Border Community and Economic Development Summit to try to find a way to help the region's poorest residents

"It's a chance to talk about how we can get resources to the colonias along the border," said Shaydi DeJesus, a spokesman for the National Association of Latino Community Asset Builders.

There are more than 400,000 Texas residents that live in about 2,294 colonias along the Texas-Mexico border.

Colonias are small unincorporated communities that often lack basic resources such as sewage and potable water.

The conference is expected to bring leaders from mortgage company Fannie Mae, Citibank and non-profit groups to find out how to get more economic resources into colonia communities, such as access to jobs and banking.