Category Archives: Manufacturing/Industrial

STC and Hidalgo ISD Receive TWC Grants

STC, Hidalgo ISD and TWC representatives come together for a check presentation benefiting students in manufacturing and healthcare.

South Texas College, Hidalgo Independent School District and Texas Workforce Commission united for a check presentation benefiting student workforce training for careers in manufacturing and healthcare March 28. The grant provides both equipment and instruction for students in manufacturing and pharmacy technology career fields. More than $166,000 came from TWC in the form of the High Demand Job Training Grant and the Jobs and Education for Texans Grant. In partnership with TWC and…

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Port Sets Records, Eyes Future

Brownsville Navigation District Board Chairman John Reed

The Port of Brownsville once again posted a record year for 2018, moving 11.3 million tons of cargo with operating revenues of more than $24.2 million. That translates into a 6.6-percent increase in cargo along with a 25-percent bump in rail movements. Revenues were also up 2.5 percent over the previous year, according to figures released during the State of the Port event in March. “The Port of Brownsville made…

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Maquilas Remain Critical to Border Economy

Keith Patridge, president and chief executive officer of the McAllen Economic Development Corporation, discusses the maquiladora program and its continued growth along the U.S.-Mexico border. (VBR)

The U.S.-Mexico border region is a hotbed of global competition that began with the creation of the maquiladora program in 1964. In the past 40-plus years, the twin-plant concept has certainly pumped enormous amounts of money. It has also led to the creation of thousands of jobs benefiting both countries, and there is no sign it will slow down. Established by Mexico as the Border Industrialization Program, a maquiladora is…

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Manufacturer Unique in Valley

Texas Thread owner Kavanaugh Francis operates a manufacturing business that is unique in the Rio Grande Valley. (VBR)

A nondescript metal building with a faded sign along an industrial/commercial stretch of Wilson Road in Harlingen houses Texas Thread, a manufacturing enterprise that is unique in the Rio Grande Valley. “We are the only thread maker in the Valley,” owner Kavanaugh Francis said. “Actually, we are the only one west of the Mississippi because most of our competitors are in the east in states like the Carolinas. And, being…

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Grants Awarded to Local ISDs for Job Training

Donna ISD, Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD, Raymondville ISD are all recent recipients of Jobs and Education for Texas grants fro the Texas Workforce Commission. The schools will use the grants to purchase and install equipment necessary to train 779 students for careers in high-demand occupations. These include welding fabrication and emergency medical services. Grant totals include $271,472 to Raymondville ISD, $208,383 to Donna ISD and $280,630 to Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD. The grants will benefit students in the Workforce Solutions Lower Rio Grande…

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TWC Awards STC more than $1.3 million

Ruth Hughs, chair of Texas Workforce Commission, signs three grants totaling more than $1.3 million to South Texas College. (photo STC)

On Jan. 11, South Texas College had a “million-dollar morning” with three Texas Workforce Commission grants totaling more than $1.3 million. The award includes a $249,096 Job and Education for Texas grant, as well as $655,153 to STC’s Healthcare and Social Assistance Consortium. The consortium will create and upgrade 1,167 jobs. Additionally, a $409,890 grant goes to the college’s Manufacturing Consortium to create and upgrade 205 jobs. Guest speakers in…

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Port of Brownsville Recognizes West Plains

CEO of West Plains LLC Amit Bhandari (third from right) accepts the 2018 Chairman's Award with company representatives.

West Plains LLC is the recipient of the Port of Brownsville’s 2018 Chairman’s Award. The award recognizes both the company’s investments and rehabilitation efforts of the port’s iconic grain elevator. Presentation of the award came Dec. 4 at the port’s annual customer appreciation luncheon. More than 200 guests were witness to the award presentation by Brownsville Navigation District Chairman John Reed. Among those in attendance were local, regional and state public…

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McAllen Awards STC $259K Job Training Grant

The Economic Development Corporation of McAllen presents South Texas College with a job-training grant to provide customized training related to advanced manufacturing within the city’s boundaries.

McAllen’s advanced manufacturing sector has received a boost thanks to a $259,440 job-training grant to South Texas College. Funds from the McAllen Development Corporation grant will provide customized training, as well as equipment, salaries and supplies. All aspects will come from STC’s Institute for Advanced Manufacturing. “We need to put in place training opportunities and high-quality training so that we have the most competitive and best prepared workforce in the country which will attract companies to…

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Training grant to benefit local small businesses

Weslaco EDC Check Presentation

Custom training for local small businesses is the focus of a Weslaco EDC grant. The $100,000 grant will fund South Texas College in providing training in retail, manufacturing and logistics through Sept. 30, 2019. A ceremonial check presentation took place Nov 1 for the partnership to increase both high skill and high wage jobs in the Mid-Valley region. “Workforce training is one of the biggest negotiators in today’s economic projects,”…

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Port of Brownsville Trade Facilitated with Grant

Port of Brownsville

The Port of Brownsville is the recipient of a $1.5 million Rider 45 grant from the Texas Department of Transportation. The grant will enhance the port’s intermodal connectivity, further facilitating domestic and international trade in the Rio Grande Valley. The funds will aid in constructing the South Port Connector Project. The port connector road will span two miles and connect Ostos Road at the port with Highway 4. The Port of…

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