Category Archives: Industry

Harlingen Launches Small Business Loan Program

e-Brief Features Featured Government News Comments

The City of Harlingen and the Harlingen Economic Development Corporation have established the Harlingen’s Emergency Loan Program (HELP) for Small Business with $1,000,000. The HEDC will provide the emergency loans at zero interest to qualified businesses. Repayment of the loans will then start a year after fund disbursement. “Our business community is so interconnected and when businesses are hurting, it impacts others as well,” says HEDC President Mickey Boland. “The decision…

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Mentoring and Accountability Make All the Difference

Featured News Non-Profit Comments
Erika Elizondo

Single mom Erika Elizondo was working as a front-desk receptionist less than two years ago at a resort on South Padre Island. She was earning $9.30 an hour when a friend told her about Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement.  “I was always interested in the medical field to help relieve people’s suffering,” Elizondo said. “I chose Emergency Medical Science because of the fast pace, I love the adrenaline rush.”  There…

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“Member Bingo” Supports Edinburg Restaurants

Community Food & Entertainment News Comments
Member Bingo

The Edinburg Chamber of Commerce is encouraging social distancing in a creative way by launching its Member Bingo. The bingo-style game encourages citizens to patronize participating restaurants, as local businesses take a hit from COVID-19. Each square on the bingo card features a different Edinburg Chamber member. Players must order to-go from any of these members, spend a minimum of $10 and save their receipts. Once the “BINGO” is complete,…

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Medical School Dean Predicts Early-May Peak in RGV

Community Featured Healthcare News Comments
ohn Krouse at the Innovation, Transformation and Disruption panel in January. (UTRGV School of Medicine photo)

The dean of the UTRGV School of Medicine believes strict stay-at-home orders will likely lead to the coronavirus spread peaking in early May in the Rio Grande Valley.  Dr. John Krouse said models he is seeing suggest the Valley is coming up to its COVID-19 peak time. “The latest models I’m seeing coming out of the state are looking at a peak, perhaps in early May,” Krouse said during a…

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Changing Generations, Changing Lives

e-Brief Features News Non-Profit Comments
Jacob Zuniga and his family

Jacob Zuniga lives in McAllen. He was working part-time at H-E-B, knowing he had to graduate from college to reach his goal of becoming a radiology technician. Yet, he was unable to attend school full time because he also needed to provide for his family. His path to graduation had countless stumbling blocks. Zuniga knew about Valley Initiative for Development because his mom is a VIDA graduate who became a…

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50-Cent Wings Now at Wing Barn

Featured Food & Entertainment Comments
Wing Barn's offers chicken wings coated with one of 18 sauces created by the owners. (VBR)

The Local Rio Grande Valley’s own Wing Barn restaurant is now offering all wings for 50 cents each until things are back to ‘normal’. This includes both bone-in and boneless. The local family restaurant most recently received accolades from Big 7 Travel one of the “Top 25 Best Places for Chicken Wings in Texas” and is also featured in the April 2020 edition of VBR. “We know things are changing and…

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Customs Revises Traffic Hours At Anzalduas Bridge 

Featured News Transportation & Travel Comments
The Anzalduas Bridge (photo U.S. Customs and Border Protection)

A McAllen/Mission-area bridge is reducing hours of operations for southbound traffic as traffic volume from Mexico has declined with restrictions imposed during the coronavirus crisis.  Beginning Monday, April 6, the Anzalduas Bridge will see hours reduced for incoming traffic from Mexico. Northbound traffic on Anzalduas will operate from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hours of operation for southbound traffic will remain unchanged and be open for traffic from 6 a.m.…

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Traffic Volumes Dropping

Community e-Brief Features Featured Government News Comments

Social distance practices and shelter in place directives from county judges appear to be having the effect intended. At least one Rio Grande Valley city reports significant declines in vehicular traffic. The City of McAllen reports a nearly 70 percent drop in normal vehicular traffic at two of its busiest intersections. Those locations are 2nd Street and Nolana Avenue and Ware Road and Nolana. Both intersections as of March 28…

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Local Webinar Addresses SBA Disaster Loans

Business Advice e-Brief Features Government News Comments

The Edinburg Chamber of Commerce joins the SBA’s Lower Rio Grande Valley District Office to provide a webinar about the SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program April 3 at 10 a.m. This webinar will address and inform small businesses with an interest in applying for the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan. The program covers vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue due to…

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Wing Barn Gains Recognition Amid Growth

Food & Entertainment News Comments
Bobby Saenz and Daniel Pompa are the owners of the fast-growing Wing Barn restaurants in the Valley.

Down-home Rio Grande Valley cooking is gaining statewide accolades for the Brownsville-based Wing Barn. The growing regional restaurant chain was recently named one of the “Top 25 Best Places for Chicken Wings in Texas” by Big 7 Travel. The widely-read and well-sourced social media site offers recommendations on the best destinations, hotels and restaurants around the country and world for travelers to visit and enjoy. The accolade comes at a…

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