Category Archives: Government

SBA Revises Small Business Size Standards

SBA logo

The U.S. Small Business Administration issued four final rules to modify revenues-based small business size standards in 16 North American Industrial Classification System sectors that will increase small business eligibility for SBA’s federal contracting and loan programs for approximately 59,000 additional firms. The final rules are part of the second five-year review of size standards, as required under the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010. As part of the review process, the…

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Lizcano Appointed to State Commission

Mario Lizcano (photo Paco Leal Photography)

Mario Lizcano of Pharr has been appointed to the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement by Governor Greg Abbott. As a regulatory State agency, TCOLE establishes and enforces standards to ensure that the people of Texas are served by highly trained and ethical law enforcement, corrections and telecommunications personnel. “I’m truly and humbly honored to have been appointed by Governor Abbott to this amazing board,” said Lizcano. “I’m supportive of all…

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SBA Funds Boots to Business Training

The U.S. Small Business Administration invites eligible non-profit organizations, state and local government agencies, private sector firms, and institutions of higher learning to submit proposals to provide synchronous online entrepreneurship training to transitioning service members, veterans and military spouses. The entrepreneurship training shall be a continuation of the training participants receive as part of SBA’s Boots to Business training program. The awarded organization will develop and maintain a curriculum about entrepreneurship for…

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Early Childhood Services Website Launches For Texas Parents

early childhood

The Texas Workforce Commission is launching the Early Childhood Texas website, a streamlined resource for Texas parents to access information about available early childhood services available through various Texas agencies. The new website serves as a one-stop-shop to connect Texas parents with access to a variety of free or low cost services and resources available through different state agencies and different programs. “In the past, I have spent hours researching for…

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Texas Game Wardens Accepting Applications For Paid Summer Internships 

Two Game Wardens on river patrol on the Rio Grande. (photo TPWD)

Texas Game Wardens are currently accepting applications for summer internships across the state. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department encourages college students of all backgrounds and fields of study to apply for these 12 available openings. “This is a great opportunity for individuals who are curious about conservation law enforcement and interested in a higher level of community engagement,” said Lt. Rachel Kellner, Texas Game Warden program coordinator. “We provide college…

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Edinburg’s Growth Brings Excitement, Challenges

The H-E-B Park in Edinburg is a soccer-specific stadium that serves as the home for the Rio Grande Valley FC Toros.

Ramiro Garza’s calling cards in his successful mayoral run were advocating for a code of ethics and pledging to rid City Hall of conflicts of interest. Once in office in late 2021, Garza faced another challenge as freshly released U.S. Census figures showed Edinburg grew faster than any other city in the Rio Grande Valley. The city’s population in 2020 showed a 39 percent growth over the 2010 count. At…

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Hidalgo County Pledges $2 Million to STC Nursing

(photo STC)

Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez and the Hidalgo County Commissioners Court have pledged $2 million to fund salaries for South Texas Colleges Nursing and Allied Health nursing instructors. The funding is an effort to increase enrollment while also doubling the number of nurses graduating from STC. Cortez and others gathered Feb. 14 at STC’s Nursing and Allied Health Campus to celebrate the funding. Joining Cortez for the check signing were…

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City of McAllen Hires Engineering Director

Eduardo Mendoza

The City of McAllen has hired Eduardo Mendoza as its new director of Engineering. The Rio Grande Valley resident has more than 20 years of experience in engineering, construction management, policy development, budgeting, fiscal management and operational management. He recently served as the interim director of Engineering for the City of McAllen. Before that, he led the department as the deputy director since 2015, managing and completing major projects. These…

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Annual Event Approaches To Remove Abandoned Crab Traps

(photo Texas Parks and Wildlife Department)

This month marks 20 years for the Texas Abandoned Crab Trap Removal Program, taking place Feb. 18-27. Texas coastal waters will close to crabbing with wire mesh crab traps to facilitate the annual volunteer crab trap cleanup. Any traps left in bays — including traps tied to docks — will be assumed abandoned and considered “litter” under state law. This allows volunteers to legally remove any crab traps they find.…

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Nominations for District Small Business Week Awards Open

National Small Business Week Awards

As part of National Small Business Week, the U.S. Small Business Administration takes the opportunity to highlight the impact of outstanding entrepreneurs, small business owners, and community members from all 50 states and U.S. territories. The nomination deadline for the national awards has closed however, District Office Award nominations are still open. Deadline for submission is 5 p.m. Feb. 18. For nomination and to receive one of the following local…

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