The Brownsville Herald reports that the City of Edinburg, Texas hired a lobbyist in a one-year contract for $10,000 a month to assist in project funding.

The lobbyist will help the city navigate the fast-paced nature of the nation’s capital where deadlines for grant applications seemingly close right after they open, said Edinburg mayor Richard Garcia. By hiring the lobbyist, the city joins other governmental entities in Washington that are fighting for a piece of the federal pie.

“If we’re going to compete,” the mayor said, “we’ve got to play the game.”