BCIC Offers Funding for Downtown Development
The Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation is seeking for start-ups and existing businesses for its “Business Improvement & Growth (BIG)” Program. These entities should be looking to relocate or expand in Brownsville’s Historic Downtown. Through the BIG Program, businesses and property owners can receive financial assistance for exterior and interior capital improvements. This includes signage improvements. They can also receive rent subsidy assistance for projects intended to create jobs and increase…
From Our Contributors
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Maquilas Remain Critical to Border EconomyBy George Cox, VBR Managing Editor
Separate Personal and Business FinancesBy Marco Carbajo
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Be Prepared with SolutionsBy Arnoldo Mata
Motivate Employees by ExampleBy JC Cruz
LATEST ISSUE
March 19
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Building Your Online Presence Small business owners may attend a digital media workshop on how they can optimize their online presence and reputation. Attendees will also learn how manage their brand through proactive engagement and enhance their marketing strategy through digital media. Additional topics include connecting with customers, reviewing “online score-card” and more. The session is led by digital media… https://buff.ly/2TSCSrl
Leadership Brownsville Membership Mixer Expand your leadership impact on community issues. Grab a cup of freshly roasted coffee and learn why you should join Leadership Brownsville Class 35 this August. Open to the community https://buff.ly/2TiSuQy
McAllen Medical Center, part of the South Texas Health System, is the first hospital in Hidalgo County designated as a Level II Trauma Center. Patients who come to the Level II Trauma Center are less likely to transfer to another facility for further care. The designation by the Texas Department of State Health Services was… https://buff.ly/2JoiUR0
I&E Network – “The Journey of Salsa El Gallo – A Food Manufacturer” The food industry seems to be growing in the Rio Grande Valley. Many startups have been popping throughout the region. It is easy to start a food business, but difficult to scale it. Juan Lopez, owner of Las Delicias Distributors LLC, will present on how he started a salsa business, the challenges he faced and… https://buff.ly/2TWmO7H
If you want to grow your business, you probably need to hire employees to help you. Becoming an employer and expanding your staff entails many responsibilities, one of which is seeing to payroll taxes. Unfortunately, there are many myths about these taxes. Here is the reality: 1. Myth: Transforming employees into independent contractors to save… https://buff.ly/2TUVdUu
Walk into La Real Michoacana on north Texas Boulevard in Weslaco and you’re met by splashy colors of yellow and orange and vibrant reds with big photos of ice cream cones and paletas. It’s a happy vibe at a business geared to families and fun get-togethers as customers revel in what general manager Hilario Lozano… https://buff.ly/2O5rbYK
Thanks to funding provided by two significant grants awarded by Texas Workforce Commission, getting ahead is now easier than ever for continuing education students at South Texas College. Thanks to two grants, Continuing, Professional, and Workforce Education at STC will begin assisting students with low literacy skills who either lack a high school diploma or… https://buff.ly/2Ck6XGl
The U.S.-Mexico border region is a hotbed of global competition that began with the creation of the maquiladora program in 1964. In the past 40-plus years, the twin-plant concept has certainly pumped enormous amounts of money. It has also led to the creation of thousands of jobs benefiting both countries, and there is no sign… https://buff.ly/2JbzQKI
The 3B’s: Beatles, Brahms and Beethoven Maestro Peter Dabrowski and the Valley Symphony Orchestra announce their season finale, "The 3B’s: Beatles, Brahms and Beethoven." The evening includes a a mix of classical pillars and orchestral arrangements of pop favorites. Attendees will hear Beatles' classics such as "A Hard Day’s Night," "Michelle" and "Yesterday." The evening also features a major chorale featuring more… https://buff.ly/2u3gIE3
Lunch & Learn: Leading in Customer Service Current research on customer service indicates that employees who exhibit the leadership skills closely associated with effective customer service tend to stay in their organizations longer and are more committed to the work. Training employees on how to effectively listen to customers, quickly and effectively deal with concerns, and properly communicate with important information to customers… https://buff.ly/2u3fQ2f
Henry Camargo dispenses with any high-tech gadgetry when it comes to making boots. After five decades of stitching, sewing, hammering and stretching leathers to make boots for celebrities and common folk alike, Camargo said he’ll stick to the time-tested basics of the craft. "I’m old school," Camargo said at his Mercedes shop Camargo's Western Boots… https://buff.ly/2J8z4hx
Women Owned Small Business Program At this workshop, learn about the Woman Owned Small Business and the Economically Disadvantaged Woman Owned Small Business programs, the benefits of being an Women-Owned Small Business certified firm, and if you qualify for the WOSB or EDWOSB program. In addition, participants will learn about the WOSB’s application process. If a woman owns or controls your… https://buff.ly/2tTVrgd
It’s time for the 80th edition of the Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show, as the iconic event continues to showcase its connections to area communities. “Ask anyone who has grown up in Mercedes and the Rio Grande Valley, and they will name the Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show & Rodeo as one of the best-known… https://buff.ly/2UvulI1
The McAllen Chamber of Commerce is now accepting nominations for the McAllen Top 5 Small Business Awards. Winning nominees receive recognition from the chamber as the best of the best businesses in McAllen. In order to compete, a business must complete a Top 5 Small Business Awards application, as well as provide documentation supporting their… https://buff.ly/2VNk2iJ
As a business owner, establishing a distinct separation between your personal finances and your business finances is pivotal for protecting your own assets and credit. This above all things should be a top priority for managing money the right way. An incorporated business is treated as a separate legal entity and it must be treated… https://buff.ly/2CcJ9nz
South Texas College President Shirley Reed has received the 2018 Pioneer Award from the Community College Baccalaureate Association. Reed recently accepted the award in New York City. The honor recognizes an individual who has shown great leadership, as well as go above and beyond to provide financial support and resources for a higher education institution. The… https://buff.ly/2ESTSFD