Author Archives: VBR

Awarding Shoppers on the Island

Sisters Interiors is one of the many businesses holiday shoppers can shop and have a chance to win a $500 shopping spree from the SPI Chamber. (photo Sisters Interiors)

The South Padre Island Chamber of Commerce is encouraging holiday shoppers to hit up some of the Island’s businesses. In turn, shoppers can win a $500 shopping spree. People can shop any business on South Padre Island until Dec. 18 to enter to win. To be entered, original receipts must be brought to any of the following chamber member businesses: Cactus Flower, Paragraphs, S.O.S. Services, Ship Shape, Sisters Interiors; SPI…

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Upcoming 3,400-Acre Development Seeks Public Input

(photo Killam Development)

Killam Development is in plans to develop approximately 3,400 acres in Mission and McAllen into a large master planned development. As part of the planning, Killam will seek input from the public and community stakeholders on what they want to see in the development. Killam Development is working with Able City and Dover Kohl, a group of professional architects, designers, land planners and artists. The group will use their expertise…

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Port Recognizes Welding Works International

Ralph Cowen, Brownsville Navigation District Secretary; John Wood, Brownsville Navigation District commissioner; Sergio Tito Lopez, Brownsville Navigation District vice chairman; Mary Treviño, Welding Works International Inc. executive administrator; Alfredo de la Fuente, Welding Works International, Inc. president; Christina de la Fuente, Welding Works International Inc. manager; John Reed, Brownsville Navigation District chairman; and Esteban Guerra, Brownsville Navigation District commissioner.

Welding Works International Inc. is the Port of Brownsville 2019 Chairman’s Award honoree. The award recognizes the company’s 20-plus years of “setting a high standard in safety training and providing ongoing contributions to the well-being of the Rio Grande Valley community.” Brownsville Navigation District Chairman John Reed presented the award to Welding Works President Alfredo de la Fuente at the Customer Appreciation Luncheon Dec. 3. More than 200 guests were…

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More Than 1,400 Officers Trained at RCPSE

RCPSE interim Chief Administrator Sgt. Jose Moroles addresses law enforcement at STC’s President’s Advisory Council Committee luncheon Nov. 19. (photo STC)

More than 1,400 law enforcement officers have trained at South Texas College’s Regional Center for Public Safety Excellence since January. The numbers come from RCPSE interim Chief Administrator Sgt. Jose Moroles, who spoke recently at STC’s President’s Advisory Council Committee. STC is the first border community college in the nation to establish integrative training for local, state and federal professionals in law enforcement. This also includes those in public safety,…

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Qualfon Continues Growth in Harlingen

Qualfon Data Services

Qualfon Data Services LLC is already producing more than $8 million annually into the local economy in wages and now, it is expanding its footprint in Harlingen. According to the Harlingen Economic Development Corporation, the business providing contact center services, integrated marketing solutions, big data analytics, and back-office processing is receiving a $200,000 job creation grant from the EDC. This comes after Qualfon extended their lease on a 40,000-square-foot office…

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Project Please To Grow Special Ed Leaders

Project PLEASE

Faculty in the UTRGV College of Education and P-16 Integration have been awarded a $1.2 million grant for Project PLEASE, a collaborative initiative to help grow leaders in special education administration. “Project PLEASE is a personnel training grant that will give scholarships and stipends to 14 vetted candidates to complete their doctorate in education in special education administration,” said Hsuying Ward. Ward is an associate professor of Human Development and…

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STC Announces BSN Program

The inaugural cohort of STC's new RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing students. (photo STC)

South Texas College is starting a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program, according to officials at a special event Nov. 25. Among those in attendance were the inaugural cohort of student nurses clad in green scrubs. Dr. Christie Candelaria serves as program chair of both the Associate Degree Nursing Program and the new BSN program. “I would treat this just like having a family,” Candelaria said about the start…

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Bobby Calvillo Named Board Chair

Robert “Bobby” Calvillo

Robert “Bobby” Calvillo is the board chairman of the Weslaco Area Chamber of Commerce for the 2019-2020 fiscal year. He began his service on the Weslaco Chamber board in 2015. For the last 23 years, Calvillo has served as executive director of Affordable Homes of South Texas Inc. AHSTI is one of the largest non-profit housing producers in the country. It serves as a subdivision developer, builder and mortgage company…

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Project SHARE Scholarships Now Available

scholarship

The Brownsville Public Utilities Board is awarding ten 10 scholarships of $1,000 each to graduating high school seniors through its Project SHARE Scholarship program. All majors qualify for the BPUB Project SHARE Scholarship. To qualify for the BPUB Project SHARE Scholarship, applicants must: Be a graduating high school senior Lve in a household with a minimum of one year of utility service with BPUB at the application deadline date Plan…

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McAllen to Host 2020 National Farmworker Conference

National Farmworker Conference

The City of McAllen and MAFO leaders will host the National Farmworker Conference on April 26-29, 2020 in McAllen. More than 400 delegates from around the state and nation will to convene in McAllen for the conference. “MAFO is a national partnership of farmworker and rural organizations and we are grateful for the partnership with the City of McAllen and excited about the opportunity to host our conference in McAllen,”…

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