Author Archives: VBR

Food Bank RGV is the recipient of a $75,000 grant from the Morgan Stanley Foundation to expand food choices. This approach offers families, children and rural communities in Cameron and Willacy counties increased choice among available foods at Food Bank RGV’s partner agencies and program sites. The increase in choices provides healthy options and ensuring access to foods aligned with preferences and dietary requirements. Now in its second year, this…

Monarch Fest Returns April 1

March 23, 2023

VBR

Community Events e-Brief Features News Comments

Each spring, monarch butterflies migrate north during March and April. On April 1, Quinta Mazatlan will host the seventh annual Monarch Fest presented by H-E-B with live music, dance, vendors, arts and crafts, migration path, scout/youth projects and more. The festival takes place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. with the Mayors Bug Parade at 11 a.m. in the park. Leading the street parade are the famous McHi Drumline &…

Pharr EDC Announces New Small Business Grant

March 23, 2023

VBR

Business Advice Community e-Brief Features News Comments

The Pharr Economic Development Corporation has launched its new Pharr EDC II Small Business Grant. The program offers small and emerging for-profit businesses grant assistance to establish or expand into the City of Pharr to support long-term success. The Pharr EDC will host workshops in English and Spanish on March 29 at Pharr One (1121 E. Nolana Loop) to inform local businesses about the grant opportunities. The English workshop will…

McAllen Public Library Hosts Community Family Health Fair

March 22, 2023

VBR

Community Events Featured News Comments

McAllen Public Library hosts its second annual Community Family Health Fair on March 25 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Main Library, located at 4001 N. 23rd Street. Attendees are invited to take advantage of free health screenings, such as blood pressure checks, BMI testing, diabetes screening and hearing screening. Easter Seals will also provide children’s developmental screenings. Additionally, families and young children can enjoy inflatable slides, a…

SBA Announces Local Small Business Week Awardees

March 20, 2023

VBR

Community Education Featured News Comments

SBA’s Lower Rio Grande Valley District recently announced the 2023 District Small Business Week awardees for five small business categories. Taking top spot as Small Business Person of the Year is Arely Lugo of Beautiful Beginnings Child Care Learning Center LLC. Lugo, a single mother of four from Brownsville, worked her way up to become the director of a local childcare learning center. Despite her success in childcare, Lugo opened…

STC To Train The Insurance Industry Future

March 19, 2023

VBR

Education Featured News Comments

With the demand for insurance agents rising across the region, state and nation, South Texas College has partnered with SafeGuard Insurance Agency, to offer a first-of-its-kind course that will prepare students to enter the insurance industry. STC Dean for Continuing, Professional and Workforce Education Olivia de la Rosa said introducing the Property and Casualty Insurance License Preparation Course is a new venture for the college, one that she said will…

Project Nurtures ‘Next-Gen Farmers’

March 18, 2023

VBR

Community Featured News Comments

School children from the Mission school district have become empowered agents of change against food insecurity. They are currently harvesting crops they grew with the support of a partnership between the City of Mission Rotary Club and three departments at UTRGV. During the 2021-2022 school year, 80 students grew lettuce, oranges, papayas and zucchini in gardens at 14 elementary schools and two high schools. Leading the initiative in the Mission…

IMAS Hosts World Water Day Celebration

March 16, 2023

VBR

Community Events e-Brief Features News Comments

McAllen Public Utility and International Museum of Art & Science invite the community to celebrate World Water Day at the museum on March 19. The annual event is a collaborative effort between both organizations to honor World Water Day, which takes place internationally on March 22. Admission is free to the public courtesy of McAllen Public Utility. From 1-5 p.m., visitors will be able to make a hummingbird feeder, take…

UTRGV Receives Grant For Railway Transportation Safety

March 15, 2023

VBR

Education Featured Government News Comments

The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded UTRGV’s University Transportation Center for Railway Safety a $10 million grant to focus on promoting safety in railway transportation systems. Constantine Tarawneh – senior associate dean of the UTRGV College of Engineering and Computer Science, director of the UTCRS, and principal investigator of the grant – said the funding comes at a critical time for rail transportation, especially in light of recent railway…

VIDA Receives Grant To Serve 250 Latinas

March 14, 2023

VBR

Community Featured News Comments

Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement is the recent recipient of The Meadows Foundation grant to continue enhancing employment opportunities and promoting workforce development among Latinas in the RGV. This grant project provides VIDA the opportunity to lead a continuation of the successful outcomes and deliverables the program has been serving. VIDA will provide an additional 250 Latinas with student support services to pursue degrees and credentials in high demand…