Author Archives: VBR

The U.S. Small Business Administration is now offering two new educational modules. Ascent is a digital platform comprised of targeted education modules, called Journeys, that gives small business owners 24/7 access to critical information backed by research and addresses the unique needs of women entrepreneurs. Partnerships Journey: This module explores the value of business partnerships, why they matter, and how they drive business growth and has four components, including the value of business partnerships,…

Pharr Mayor Receives Education Champion Award

April 22, 2022

VBR

Community Featured News Comments

Pharr Mayor Dr. Ambrosio Hernandez is the recent recipient of the Education Champion Award from Teach For America – Rio Grande Valley. Ambrosio was honored for his impact on education at the organization’s annual Honor Roll Gala held on April 8 at Quinta Mazatlan. Hernandez was selected for his response to the pandemic by accelerating the city’s plans to roll out an affordable broadband network throughout the city. The measure…

Keep McAllen Beautiful Begins Paint McAllen Beautiful

April 21, 2022

VBR

Community e-Brief Features News Comments

Keep McAllen Beautiful is kicking off its annual Paint McAllen Beautiful project. Qualifying program applicants include residents of McAllen who own a home, are of low income, 60 years of age or older, or of any age with a permanent disability. Keep McAllen Beautiful is able to fund paint and supplies for the project through grant funding. Qualifying applicants will have their home painted free of charge. “Keep McAllen Beautiful…

TSC Offers New Psychology Program

April 21, 2022

VBR

e-Brief Features Education Featured News Comments

Fall 2022 will introduce a collection of new degrees at Texas Southmost College, and one of those will be an Associate of Arts in Psychology. TSC Dean of Humanities Brian McCormack said TSC has seen a rise in student demand for psychology-related classes. He added there has always been a shortage of mental health professionals but the need has recently increased. “There is a rising tide of interest in psychology,…

HARP Still Open to Qualifying Pharr Residents

April 20, 2022

VBR

Community Featured News Comments

The City of Pharr is working with the Texas General Land Office to remind residents that funding is still available for the Homeowners Assistance and Reimbursement Programs. HARP opened one year ago to help local residents impacted by the 2018-2019 flooding from storms that affected the Rio Grande Valley. “This funding is important to help those affected by flooding in our community,” said Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez. “If you had to…

BCIC Accepting Pitch Summit Applications

April 19, 2022

VBR

Community e-Brief Features Featured News Comments

The Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation’s third annual StartUp Texas Pitch Summit is now open and accepting applications. The event will be the first ever in-person version since the program began in March of 2020. The Startup Texas Pitch Summit is a live event where early-stage companies pitch their product/service to industry experts, venture capitalists, and high profile journalists. This spring, the winning pitch will not only receive $25,000 in startup…

TSC Launches Agriculture and Agribusiness Programs

April 17, 2022

VBR

Agriculture Education Featured News Comments

Job opportunities in the agriculture sector are increasing in Texas, and with no other two-year agriculture program in the Rio Grande Valley, Texas Southmost College is filling the need with its new Agriculture and Agribusiness programs beginning fall 2022. “Whenever we consider creating a new program, we look into the demand, the job opportunities in that particular field and after extensive research, we found that there are diverse opportunities in…

McAllen Celebrates World Heritage Day

April 15, 2022

VBR

Community Events Featured News Comments

The City of McAllen Planning Department celebrates World Heritage Day April 18 with a free virtual session featuring local speakers who will be presenting on various topics highlighting the importance of and economic impact of preserving historic landmarks in McAllen. The session takes place from 9-10 a.m. and is open to the public. The International Day for Monuments and Sites, also known as World Heritage Day, is an international observance…

SBA Names Wycoco Local Small Business Person of the Year

April 14, 2022

VBR

Moving On Up News Q & A Comments

Christopher De La Cruz Wycoco of WYCOTAX LLC is SBA’s Lower Rio Grande Valley District’s Small Business Person of the Year. District Director Angela Burton made the announcement last week, along with the awardees for nine other small business categories. Wycoco, born and raised in the Philippines, came to the United States in 2010 to work in the healthcare industry. Within five years, Wycoco’s journey led him from nursing to…

TABC, TRA Promote Safe Alcohol Delivery, To-Go Sales

April 14, 2022

VBR

e-Brief Features Food & Entertainment News Comments

The Texas Restaurant Association and Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission have launched a new effort to promote TABC’s certification course on alcohol delivery safety. The Texas Responsible Alcohol Delivery Course shares with delivery drivers and foodservice establishment operators the necessary information to safely conduct alcohol-to-go deliveries. The TRA has added the course to its catalog of training resources available for members across the state. The course is for persons who deliver…