Category Archives: e-Brief Features

Texas Rural Communities has awarded Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement a $5,000 grant to fund participants living in rural communities from Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr and Willacy counties. “We are immensely thankful to Texas Rural Communities for selecting VIDA as one of their grant recipients and recognizing the importance of enhancing higher education opportunities for student success,” said VIDA Deputy Executive Director Felida Villarreal. “Through this collaboration, VIDA will continue…

PlainsCapital Hires Harlingen-Based Executives

February 24, 2022

Ricardo D. Cavazos, VBR content editor

e-Brief Features Finance/Banking News Comments

PlainsCapital Bank has added two executives to its Harlingen banking group in bolstering commercial loan and business development services for a growing market. Charles Hervey is the banking group’s senior vice president, commercial loan officer, and Scott Allex serves as vice president, business development officer. The hires mark an expansion of PlainsCapital operations in the Harlingen market. The bank company’s regional leadership cited the experience of the two executives in…

Hidalgo County Pledges $2 Million to STC Nursing

February 18, 2022

VBR

e-Brief Features Education Government Healthcare News Comments

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…

Pharr EDC Accepting Scholarship Applications

February 17, 2022

VBR

Community e-Brief Features Education Featured News Comments

The Pharr EDC Foundation is now accepting applications from 2021-2022 graduating seniors for its Foundation Scholarship. The scholarships benefits students in Pharr who are enrolling in a qualifying post-secondary institution. Deadline to apply is 5 p.m. March 14. The scholarship offering is in partnership with the Pharr Economic Development Corporation and the City of Pharr. “We are excited to open the Pharr EDC Foundation Scholarship to our Pharr community for…

Donate Much-Needed Blood Feb. 21 in Harlingen

February 17, 2022

VBR

Community Events e-Brief Features News Comments

Loaves and Fishes in Harlingen is hosting a blood drive on Feb. 21 to help alleviate a critical blood shortage. According to organizers, Vitalant currently has less than a four-day supply of most blood types available. It has even less when it comes to typo O blood with less than a two-day supply. Blood donations are being distributed to hospital patients faster than donors are giving, therefore help is needed…

State & RGV Economies Outpacing National Trends

February 10, 2022

Ricardo D. Cavazos, VBR content editor

Community e-Brief Features Featured News Comments

The Texas economy has regained its jobs lost from COVID-19-related challenges and the Rio Grande Valley has largely done the same. Roberto Coronado, a senior economist with the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, made that assessment recently at the RGV Partnership Economic Outlook Luncheon in Harlingen. Joining Coronado were a roster of speakers that gave insights on banking, retailing, housing and other key economic indicators heading into the remainder of…

Workforce Wednesday Job Fair Takes Place Feb. 9

February 3, 2022

VBR

Community Community Events e-Brief Features Featured News Comments

The City of Harlingen, Harlingen EDC, and Workforce Solutions Cameron host the fourth Workforce Wednesday Job Fair Feb. 9. The event takes place from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., at Casa de Amistad, 1204 Fair Park Blvd., Harlingen. The job fair series began in August 2021, hosting dozens of employers giving job seekers an opportunity to connect to thousands of job openings across the region. “These events are placing people…

Mercedes RN Stayed The Course With VIDA

February 3, 2022

Chris Ardis

Community e-Brief Features Featured News Comments

Life looked good for Angela Saenz of Mercedes. She had earned the title of licensed vocational nurse and had a job in the field. “Going to college was something that was always embedded in me by my parents because they didn’t get to go to college,” Saenz said. She realized the value of having parents who instilled in her the importance of education. Saenz also understood how fortunate she was…

STC Respiratory Therapy Program Re-Accredited

January 27, 2022

VBR

e-Brief Features Education Healthcare News Comments

The Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care has reaffirmed South Texas College’s Respiratory Therapy Program accreditation for the next 10 years. Following a thorough review, CoARC determined that Respiratory Therapy met all national established accreditation standards. It commended the program for its continuous quality in education. The reaffirmation was essential for the college so it can continue awarding its Respiratory Therapy Associate of Applied Science degree. Accreditation by CoARC provides assurance…

UTRGV Kauffman FastTrac Coming to Harlingen