Category Archives: Industry

Port of Brownsville Breaks Ground On 118-Acre Business Park

e-Brief Features Manufacturing/Industrial News Comments
Brownsville Navigation District officials break ground June 22, 2023 on the site of the port's future 118-acre business park. Pictured are Commissioner Sergio Tito Lopez, Commissioner John Reed, Chairman Esteban Guerra and Secretary John Wood with Port Director and CEO Eduardo A. Campirano.

The Port of Brownsville, held a groundbreaking ceremony on June 22 for its latest economic development project, a 118-acre shovel-ready business park. This new industrial project leverages the port’s logistical advantages to support manufacturing companies and industry clusters with a base of operations that combines access to efficient multimodal transportation and robust storage capabilities. This development will provide a dynamic ecosystem for companies to collaborate, innovate and flourish. “The business…

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South Texas Chess Federation Selects McAllen For Championship

e-Brief Features Featured News Recreation & Tourism Comments
chess

The McAllen Chamber of Commerce recently announced the South Texas Chess Federation has selected McAllen as its host city for the 2024 Pan American Intercollegiate Team Chess Championship. Organizers expect the January 2024 tournament to draw more than 400 visitors to the McAllen Convention Center, potentially generating an economic impact of over $315,000. Throughout the year, the McAllen Chamber’s Tourism Department ‘Convention & Visitors Bureau’ diligently facilitates conferences that attract…

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TCMA Recognizes McAllen City Administrators

Featured Government News Comments
McAllen City Manager Roel “Roy” Rodriguez and Assistant City Manager Joe Vera. (Courtesy)

The Texas City Managers Association recently recognized two City of McAllen administrators, City Manager Roel “Roy” Rodriguez and Assistant City Manager Joe Vera, as recipients of two 2023 TCMA Professional Awards at the TCMA Annual Conference Awards Luncheon in Allen, Texas. Rodriguez is the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognizes city management professionals who have made significant contributions to the field of local government management for more than…

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UTRGV School of Medicine Receives Final Accreditation

Education Featured Healthcare News Comments
UTRGV School of Medicine Commencement 2023 (UTRGV archival photo)

The UTRGV School of Medicine recently completed the final stage of accreditation required by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education. UTRGV President Guy Bailey said this significant milestone, while expected, is also important for the Rio Grande Valley. Moving forward, the school can now increase the number of students it is able to admit each year. Being able to develop and train more future doctors will also allow the School of…

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McAllen Office of Communications Wins Statewide Awards

e-Brief Features Government News Comments

The Texas Association of Municipal Information Officers announced the 2023 winners of its state-wide TAMI Awards Competition during a ceremony at the annual conference recently in Arlington. The City of McAllen Office of Communications earned a total of four awards for its video production work and photography series. This year, 547 entries from 70 different municipalities submitted entries for the competition. “Being recognized by a state organization for the great…

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UTRGV Launches AgDiscovery Program

Agriculture e-Brief Features Education News Comments
Cristina Villalobos, professor in the UTRGV School Of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, speaks with students during the AgDiscovery Program opening ceremony. (photo Paul Chouy, UTRGV)

UTRGV held a special event June 11 to kick off its new AgDiscovery Program, in which 12 area high school students will engage in hands-on learning workshops, behind-the-scenes tours, laboratory and field exercises, and a variety of character- and team-building activities. The event was the beginning of the free summer outreach program, introducing students to the potential of careers in plant and soil sciences, food inspection and distribution, natural resources and…

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Reaching A Greater Goal With VIDA

e-Brief Features Education Featured Healthcare News Non-Profit Comments
Victoria Rivera

In fourth grade, Victoria Rivera moved in with her grandparents. Despite financial struggles, they provided their granddaughter with a home, stability and love.  In 2017, Rivera graduated from Brownsville Early College High School. She took advantage of the opportunity to take college courses while in high school, graduating with a high-school diploma and dual-enrollment credit from The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.  Unlike many high-school graduates today, Rivera did…

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Pharr Appoints Juan F. Gonzalez as Chief of Police

Featured Government News Comments

The City of Pharr recently appointed Juan F. Gonzalez as chief of police for the Pharr Police Department. Since Sept. 2022, Gonzalez has served as the acting chief of police. Gonzalez has served the Pharr Police Department for over 16 years starting as a patrol officer in 2007. Since then, Gonzalez has worked in the Criminal Investigations Division, SWAT team, the South Texas Auto Theft Task Force, and has served as…

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SBA Accepting Small Business Lending Company License Applications

Featured Government News Comments
loan, grant money ,funding

A window is now open by the U.S. Small Business Administration for new applications for Small Business Lending Company licenses for the first time in over 40 years. New applicants may apply between between now and July 31. SBA approves Small Business Lending Company Licenses for selected non-depository lenders to increase responsible small business lending. An SBLC license allows the lending organization to utilize government guarantees when underwriting small business…

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Mission EDC to Host Inaugural ‘Tesla Takeover’

Community Events e-Brief Features News Transportation & Travel Comments
2023 Tesla Takeover

The Mission Economic Development Corporation will host 2023 Tesla Takeover, the Rio Grande Valley’s first Tesla car show and tech expo, on July 1. The day marks the 20th anniversary of the company’s founding. The event will also mark the first time that Tesla drivers gather for a festival-style car show in South Texas. The Takeover takes place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Center for Education and…

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