Category Archives: Industry

Hidalgo Receives Recognition for Health Efforts

Featured Government News Comments
Health and Human Services Chief Administrative Officer Eduardo Olivarez, Commissioners Court, and Health Department Public Health Education Coordinator Ricardo Salinas, holding the county's Gold recognition.

Hidalgo County’s Health and Human Services department has received state recognition in the form of a Gold Award. The award comes from the Texas Healthy Communities Program for efforts to reduce cardiovascular disease and stroke, as well as other chronic diseases in the county. “This award is a direct result of collaborative efforts of a workgroup coordinated by Ricardo Salinas,” said Eduardo “Eddie” Olivarez. Olivarez serves as Health and Human Services…

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Education Key to Real Estate

e-Brief Features News Q & A Real Estate Comments
Buyers agent Jessica Marroquin helped her clients find the perfect home for their family.

Last week we met Ryan Peterson and Brian Reed of the Ryan & Brian Real Estate Team in Part 1 of “Local Business Gets Real (Estate).” They have been working hard since 2006 to build their business and team. But what they feel is more important than that is building the relationships with their clients and community. They feel that education is one of the most important parts of their…

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Maddie’s Pumpkin Patch Opens

Community e-Brief Features Featured Gallery News Recreation & Tourism Comments
One of the rustic and charming photo set ups, perfect for fall photos.

With fall on the horizon, pumpkin patches are rising in popularity. One very popular attraction is Maddie’s Pumpkin Patch in McAllen, which opened on Sept. 14. Pumpkins line walking trails leading you to several picturesque photo set-ups ready for you to use. There are goats, piglets, bunnies and horses you can enjoy petting at the big red barn. Take advantage of snacks and the playground, and let the kids take…

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Brownsville Names Engineering & Public Works Director 

Featured Government Moving On Up Comments
Armando Gutierrez Jr.

Armando Gutierrez Jr. is now the Engineering & Public Works director of the City of Brownsville. Gutierrez oversees the department to implement systems, operational plans and policies to improve city services by efficiently and effectively allocating resources. The Engineering & Public Works Department aims to execute capital projects for improvements to city infrastructure. There is an emphasis on streets and drainage. Gutierrez was most recently the director of Public Works for…

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Local Business Gets Real (Estate)

e-Brief Features News Q & A Real Estate Comments
The Ryan & Brian Team at their Summer Fiesta customer appreciation event.

Real estate is one of the top five biggest investments a person makes during their lifetime. When making a decision that large, it is important to not only work with someone you trust, but to also be educated on the process.  In 2006, Ryan Peterson partnered with long-time friend Brian Reed to create The Ryan & Brian Real Estate Team. Their partnership has now expanded to a team of 13 people,…

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A New Vision of Mission

e-Brief Features Featured Government News Comments

Surveyor maps laid down the first legal representations in Hidalgo County in the late 1930s.  L. David Flores, the deputy city manager of Mission, said these basic maps were used as the legal representations for the county and its cities up until the early 1990s. Computer aided designs were already creating early versions of the first digital representations of the old maps. City governments began making use of these digital…

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SBA Funds to Expand Small Business Exporting

e-Brief Features Featured Government News Comments
STEP

The Texas Department of Agriculture is the recipient of a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration to support export growth among small businesses. The funds come through SBA’s competitive State Trade Expansion Program. “STEP is a great example of a true export development and promotion tool for preparing U.S. small businesses for international opportunities,” said District Director Angela Burton. “STEP grant awardees will offer the resources to help small businesses…

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ECO-RIO Builds Student STEAM Skills

Education Events Featured News Recreation & Tourism Comments
Danny Conner and his live reptiles are among the many educational entertainers at ECO-RIO.

The largest environmental educational event in South Texas, ECO-RIO, takes place this weekend at Fiesta De Palmas. From Sept. 21-22, students 12 and under can build STEAM skills for free. The Science-Technology-Engineering-Art-Math event also builds environmental leadership.  Since nature education takes many forms, ECO-RIO features more than 40 educational booths. Students will have opportunities to see live animal ambassadors up-close. Many educational entertainers will be on hand including Sky King Falconry, Contacto…

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New Mobile Cranes Coming to Brownsville

Featured Manufacturing/Industrial News Comments
The Port of Brownsville’s new Model 6 cranes will feature a powerful lifting curve with a maximum lifting capacity of 125 tons. (photo Port of Brownsville)

In June, the Port of Brownsville ordered two new mobile harbor cranes, soon increasing its dockside handling capacity. The seaport is experiencing higher cargo volumes across its range of services. The two new Konecranes Gottwald Model 6 mobile harbor cranes will be delivered both fully assembled and commissioned. They will be ready to begin work as early as December. The cranes will handle a wide variety of cargo, including breakbulk,…

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City of McAllen Hires Finance Director

Featured Government News Comments
Sergio Villasana Jr.

Sergio Villasana Jr. as the new director of finance for the City of McAllen. The Rio Grande Valley native has six years of experience in municipal work. His most recent service includes deputy finance director for the City of Harlingen. Villasana has a broad range of expertise in finance. This includes both serving as the assistant auditor for Cameron County and owning his own public accounting firm. “The City of…

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