Austin's Puerto Rican community received a big honor Thursday.

The Institute of Puerto Rican Culture named Austin's Puerto Rican Folkloric Dance and Cultural Center as the fifth affiliated cultural center on the U.S. mainland.

"This a very important thing because there are only three others that exist in the United States and so we basically have become the official ambassadors of Puerto Rico here in the state of Texas for the Institute of Puerto Rican culture,” Founding Director Ana Maria Maynard said.

The dance and cultural center was founded in 1977. It offers ongoing performance and educational programs for children and adults, and a professional-level performing company.