Category Archives: Community

McAllen Recognized for Balance in Work Environments

Community e-Brief Features News Comments
Work Environments

A recent study by commercial real estate blog CommercialCafe.com ranks McAllen eighth in the top 10 Texas cities for mixing work from office (WFO) and work from home (WFH). Furthermore, McAllen’s top four statistics for WFO rankings are top three in the state of Texas. To determine which Texas cities best meet the needs of households managing various work styles, CommercialCafe.com created a ranking system that evaluated each city’s capacity…

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Culinary Icon Choi Headlines UTRGV Speakers Series

Community Events e-Brief Features News Comments
Roy Choi

Roy Choi, the culinary trailblazer of the modern food truck movement, will serve as the inaugural speaker for the 2024-2025 season of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley’s Distinguished Speaker Series. DSS, a free event, takes place Nov. 12 at 7:30 p.m. at the UTRGV Performing Arts Center (EPAC) in Edinburg. Choi, a Seoul native raised in Los Angeles, will share his journey and insights into how he transformed…

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Businesswoman Builds Brands & Learning

Education News Professional Services Comments
Susan Valverde formerly worked for the McAllen Economic Development Corporation and is now the brand president for Sylvan Center. (Courtesy)

Susan Valverde’s background was in business and going to trade shows to attract jobs to McAllen. Working in business development, Valverde was on the staff of the McAllen Economic Development Corporation. It was a six-year stint that ran from 1997 to 2002. She began to understand that bringing in jobs to her community was dependent on having a better trained and educated workforce. That fact became even more apparent in…

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McAllen Lauded In Top Business Listing

Community Government News Comments
McAllen Mayor Javier Villalobos says his city’s pro-business policies are benefitting small businesses in the community. (Courtesy)

McAllen’s inclusion on a national top-20 list for small businesses reaffirms the city’s long-standing support for entrepreneurship and development. McAllen Mayor Javier Villalobos made that assessment after learning of CoworkingCafe listing his city as the ninth best place for small businesses among 136 southern U.S. cities surveyed. Coworking Café is a listing service for flex workplace solutions in supporting remote workers, freelancers and employees from all fields seeking user-friendly platforms.…

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UTRGV Opens Center for Human Genetics Building

e-Brief Features Education Healthcare News Comments

The UTRGV School of Medicine has opened of its new, state-of-the-art Center for Human Genetics, headquartered on the Brownsville Campus. The new facility is dedicated to cutting-edge research that addresses major public health concerns in the Rio Grande Valley, including diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, liver cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and depression. The 17,246-square-foot facility, funded by a Valley Baptist Legacy Foundation grant and support from the UT System Permanent University Fund, will…

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Texas Master Naturalist Program Begins Pollinators for Texas

Community e-Brief Features News Comments
Pollinators for Texas 

The Texas Master Naturalist program is teaming up with H-E-B for a new Pollinators for Texas initiative. As part of this new partnership, H-E-B is providing $50,000 to the TMN program to fund the initiative. TMN chapters across the state will have the opportunity to apply for project awards of up to $3,000 each to support large-scale community-based projects that enhance native pollinator populations and their habitats. “We are proud to partner…

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IMAS Launches Adults-Only After-Hours Program

Arts Community Events e-Brief Features Featured News Comments
IMAS After Dark

The International Museum of Art & Science is launching its new IMAS After Dark with “Fright Night” on Oct. 31, providing a new way for adults to take in the museum. With themed evening events throughout the year, the series provides an exclusive opportunity for adults (21+) to explore the museum’s art and science exhibits in a lively atmosphere. Each night features complimentary beverages, interactive activities and social experiences that…

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Utility Conference to Connect Local Professionals

Community Events e-Brief Features News Comments
Rio Grande Valley Utility Conference

The McAllen Public Utility will host the first-ever Rio Grande Valley Utility Conference at the McAllen Convention Center from Nov. 6-8, bringing together utility professionals, industry leaders and exhibitors from across the region. Attendees will have the opportunity to connect with key stakeholders, engage with industry experts, and explore the latest in utility technology and solutions. The conference, while open to the general public, focuses mainly to individuals in the…

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Local Nurse Receives Career Stepping Stone with VIDA

e-Brief Features Education Featured News Non-Profit Comments
Yvette Garcia

While in the Vocational Nursing Program at Texas State Technical College in Harlingen, Yvette Garcia attended an informational session conducted by the Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement. Little did she know that day how much this session would impact her life. Founded nearly 30 years ago through a collaboration between Valley Interfaith and business leaders from across the Rio Grande Valley, VIDA has remained true to its original mission.…

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McAllen Reschedules City Manager Public Reception

Community Government News Comments
Isaac Tawil

Originally planned for Aug. 26, the City of McAllen will host a public welcome reception for its new City Manager Isaac Tawil on Oct. 17 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. The location has also changed from McAllen City Hall to the McAllen Chamber of Commerce at 1200 Ash Ave. Those wishing to attend the event are asked to RSVP to Anabel Aranda at the chamber via membership@mcallenchamber.com or 956-682-2871. Tawil has more…

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