Category Archives: Community

Elsa EDC Fuels Small Business Growth

Community e-Brief Features Featured News Comments
Elsa Economic Development Corporation

The Elsa Economic Development Corporation is looking to support local entrepreneurs with the launch of the Lift Elsa Incentive Program. The small business loan initiative will boost cash flow and provide affordable capital for businesses in Elsa. In partnership with LiftFund, the program offers zero-percent interest loans to eligible businesses. Through this initiative, the Elsa EDC is buying down the interest on loans up to $50,000. They are eliminating interest…

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Libraries Evolve To Serve Communities

Community News Comments
Frank Rivas, the children’s librarian at the Mercedes library, assists during a recent Families Place Libraries event.

The local library as cornerstones for books in the classic sense and e-books in the digital age are reinventing themselves to remain vibrant forces in their communities. McAllen boasts the largest single-floor library in the country, the McAllen Main Library. Here, events are plentiful throughout the year and include art shows and digital literacy courses. This month, the library is hosting AARP tax volunteers to help local residents file their…

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Suarez Takes On Dual Role In McAllen

Community News Comments
Elizabeth Suarez, far right, has actively led the McAllen Chamber of Commerce since late 2023 in celebrating new business openings such as the new Panera Bread. (Courtesy)

Elizabeth Suarez’s deep years of experience in city government and community affairs made her the ideal and perhaps only candidate for a newly formed leadership position in the city of McAllen. In mid-January, Suarez became the president and chief executive officer of the McAllen Economic Development Corporation. It’s the same title she was holding in leading the McAllen Chamber of Commerce. To put two vital legacy organizations under one leader…

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Winter Texan Fiesta Takes Place March 7

Community Events e-Brief Features News Comments
Winter Texan Fiesta

The Greater Mission Chamber of Commerce invites Winter Texans and the local community to the Winter Texan Fiesta on March 7 at Leo Peña Placita Park in Mission. The free annual event acknowledges the invaluable contributions that Winter Texans make to the local economy, culture and community. The Winter Texan Fiesta features live music, local vendors and an atmosphere that captures the unique spirit of Mission. In addition, the first…

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Fiesta Edinburg Begins Feb. 27

Community Events e-Brief Features Featured News Comments
Fiesta Edinburg

The 56th annual Fiesta Edinburg is coming up from February 27 to March 2 at the Bert Ogden Arena, expecting to draw in thousands of attendees to Edinburg. This year’s star-studded musical lineup kicks off on Friday with Corrido artist Edgardo Nuñez, T3R Elemento, and Nivel. On Saturday, five-time Grammy Award winner La Mafia takes the stage as well as Latin Grammy Award-winning artist and former lead singer of Grupo…

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Pharr EDC Foundation Scholarship Now Open

Community e-Brief Features Education News Comments
Pharr EDC Foundation Scholarship

The Pharr EDC Foundation, in partnership with the Pharr Economic Development Corporation and the City of Pharr, is currently accepting applications from eligible students for the 2024-2025 Pharr EDC Foundation Scholarship. Applications are available online with a submission deadline of March 14 by 5 p.m. “The Pharr EDC Foundation is dedicated to investing in the future of our students by providing financial assistance for higher education,” said Victor Perez, president…

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STC Earns Designation for Online Excellence

e-Brief Features Education News Comments
South Texas College has earned an “Exemplary Program” designation by Quality Matters indicating the highest level of achievement for all its online courses.

More than five years in the making, South Texas College Digital Learning has become the only online program in the state of Texas to earn an “Exemplary Program” designation indicating the highest level of achievement for all its online courses. The designation awarded by Quality Matters, an international leader for quality assurance in online and digital environments, came about through a college-wide effort where STC met rigorous standards of online…

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Grant Sparks Smart Learning

Education News Comments
Fourth-grade students begin their journey with animation in the SmartLab at St. John’s Episcopal School in McAllen. (Photo Courtesy of St. John’s Episcopal School)

It was the second week in January and the first day for second graders at St. John’s Episcopal School in McAllen to visit the school’s new SmartLab. A second grader, Lily, said she wasn’t sure she wanted to return after the first half hour of instruction.  “It’s kind of confusing,” she said. “This is your left, but it’s not the robot’s left.”  Lily’s SmartLab partner for the day, Juliet, saw…

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Artist Finds Fit In Brownsville

Arts Featured News Retail Comments
Students at Annebrije Pottery Studio in Brownsville create a range of different products that are available for purchase.

Annelise Rosas’ growing-up years in Monterrey and Austin left a yearning for another city of her youth. Brownsville is the place where Rosas feels the most comfortable. The Rio Grande Valley’s largest city is the best fit for the interchange of languages she speaks. In Monterrey, Rosas was seen as an American and a bit of an outcast despite being the daughter of Mexican-born parents. The view of her in…

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Weslaco Reaches $1 Billion Milestone

Community News Comments
The Eatery in downtown Weslaco offers outdoor dining among the growing number of restaurant/dining out options in the city. (Courtesy)

One of Steve Valdez’s primary goals in leading the Weslaco Economic Development Corporation was to make it “a data-driven organization.” Valdez took the EDC’s helm in 2021. In the years since, Weslaco has continued its steady and sure growth in reaching higher levels of growth. The data Valdez speaks of shows the recording of some new high-water marks in 2024. Weslaco generated over $1 billion in taxable sales for the…

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