Life looked good for Angela Saenz of Mercedes. She had earned the title of licensed vocational nurse and had a job in the field. “Going to college was something that was always embedded in me by my parents because they didn’t get to go to college,” Saenz said. She realized the value of having parents who instilled in her the importance of education. Saenz also understood how fortunate she was…
Restorations are underway at two large vacant buildings in Harlingen and the company behind those efforts sees new opportunities ahead for both facilities. BH Properties, a Los Angeles-based company, focuses on purchasing and turning around buildings like the former Dillard’s at Valle Vista Mall and a warehouse formerly belonging to Valley Baptist Medical Center. The latter facility at 4405 Glasscock Avenue, just west of Ed Carey Drive, has been vacant…
From Edinburg to Alamo to Brownsville – from charter schools to convenience stores to restaurants and medical centers – the Rio Grande Valley’s development temperature is much warmer than recent temperatures. Our region is heating up, and it looks and feels so good! Construction crews are working daylight to dark building, renovating and expanding. The building for a better tomorrow across our Valley is happening. Here at VBR, we thrive…
Esmeralda Villarreal spent 15 years in Brownsville’s hospitality business, watching and taking note of how her city attracted business travelers from far and wide. “I was mesmerized by how we were visited by so many travelers,” she said. Villarreal recalls that many were tied to the maquiladora industry or related investors in the border economy. Villarreal’s career goal during that time was to become a general manager at one of…
The Edinburg Chamber of Commerce will host 53rd annual Fiesta Edinburg Feb. 24-26 at H-E-B Park in Edinburg. The family-oriented festival provides an opportunity for friends and family to celebrate Edinburg as the home of the county seat with live entertainment, food, vendors and the Heart of America Carnival. Fiesta Edinburg averages more than 10,000 people in attendance each year. Fiesta expects to draw an even larger crowd in 2022…
Businesses in McAllen now have an additional funding opportunity to rebuild and develop new opportunities. The McAllen Small Business Support Fund has a total of $4 million to assist small businesses within City of McAllen limits. The McAllen Small Business Support Fund will help McAllen businesses adopt safer operating procedures and weather periods of closure. It will also mitigate financial hardship resulting from the COVID-19 public health emergency. The funds will…
The Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care has reaffirmed South Texas College’s Respiratory Therapy Program accreditation for the next 10 years. Following a thorough review, CoARC determined that Respiratory Therapy met all national established accreditation standards. It commended the program for its continuous quality in education. The reaffirmation was essential for the college so it can continue awarding its Respiratory Therapy Associate of Applied Science degree. Accreditation by CoARC provides assurance…
McAllen ISD is one of eight school districts that are finalists for H-E-B’s 20th annual Excellence in Education Awards program. It is also one of five public school boards H-E-B is recognizing to highlight the importance of strong leadership at the board level. McAllen ISD is one of five districts in the Large School Districts category; three other districts make up the Small School Districts category. Four early childhood education…
It is an all-too-common example of Catch-22. A person decides the only way to get out of a low-paying job is to get certification or a degree. In order to pay for school, the person needs a job. However, to keep the job, the person has to be able to work. School schedules can make that quite difficult. Sebastian Mendoza almost found himself stuck in such a Catch-22. He enrolled…
Hidalgo County will hold a Webcast Auction of general merchandise, fleet, heavy equipment and court awarded vehicles Jan. 25. The public may view Items in person at Palmer Pavilion and the San Carlos Community Resource Center Jan. 24, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (closed noon to 1 p.m.). AMT Auctions will auction all items “as is” with all sales final. Bidding begins Jan. 24 at 10 a.m. until the…