The City invites all Brownsville residents, community groups, and local businesses to join in this collective effort and be part of shaping “ONE Cleaner City. ONE Stronger Community. ONE Brighter Tomorrow.”
BROWNSVILLE, TX (August 7, 2025) – Brownsville City leaders unveil a new community initiative aimed at improving residential and business properties’ safety and visual appeal. The Brownsville Residents Improving Grounds, Homes, and Tomorrow (B.R.I.G.H.T.) initiative is designed to create a more beautiful Brownsville, a cleaner Brownsville, and engage the community to help enhance the livability of neighborhoods across the City.
B.R.I.G.H.T. brings together City employees, City business partners, local schools, hospitals, various industries, and community organizations in a unified effort to beautify Brownsville through neighborhood clean-ups, public art installations, and revitalization projects. The initiative seeks to inspire civic engagement and volunteerism, reinforcing a strong sense of community and ownership.
“B.R.I.G.H.T. is more than just a beautification campaign, it’s a catalyst for economic development, tourism, and quality of life,” said Mayor John Cowen, Jr., City of Brownsville. “A cleaner, more vibrant Brownsville attracts investment, welcomes visitors, and strengthens the pride we all feel in calling this City home. I encourage every resident and business to get involved. Together, we can build a stronger, brighter future for our community.”
With a growing population nearing 200,000 and spanning nearly 150 square miles, Brownsville will thrive on active partnerships and community involvement. The collaborations will help create and sustain a vibrant, enjoyable and welcoming City. B.R.I.G.H.T. is also encouraging collaborative efforts between the City and community partnerships to care for and improve public spaces across our community.
“B.R.I.G.H.T. offers community-wide action plans that will help us address issues including illegal dumping, illegal tire disposal, and debris buildup in commercial and vacant properties,” said Helen Ramirez, ICMA-CM, AICP. “The actions plans are important as they will help our community improve walkability, safety, and our current on-going infrastructure projects across the City. B.R.I.G.H.T. is a proactive and comprehensive community approach to tackling these challenges as One City.”
Phase 1 of the B.R.I.G.H.T. initiative will mobilize volunteers starting this Fall for neighborhood clean-up events, graffiti abatement, public bus stop painting, and placement of additional trash receptacles throughout public areas. Subsequent phases will roll out community art projects, signage improvements, sustainability plans, and community-led ownership efforts through 2026.
The City of Brownsville is calling on all residents, schools, civic organizations, and local businesses to take part in this movement. Everyone has a role to play in making Brownsville brighter, safer, and more beautiful. If you are interested in registering to support the BRIGHT initiative, you can submit your application at B.R.I.G.H.T. Initiative | Brownsville, TX. And the City encourages all community members to report debris on roadways, overgrown grass on properties, or any other citizen concern by calling the City’s Support Center at (956) 546-HELP(4357).