Category Archives: e-Brief Features

Harlingen EDC Receives State Recognition

The Harlingen Economic Development Corporation is a recipient of the Texas Economic Development Council’s 2020 Economic Excellence Recognition. The award came during TEDC’s 2021 Legislative Conference hosted virtually this week. The Economic Excellence Recognition program provides recognition to economic development organizations that meet a desired threshold of professionalism. Recipients qualify for recognition based on training taken by their governing board/council as well as the economic development director and professional staff.…

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Food & Fun Saturday at “The HUB” Market Days

(photo THE HUB Facebook)

The City of Pharr and the Greater Pharr Chamber of Commerce host “The HUB” Market Days Feb. 27 from 5-9 p.m. The free, family-friendly event features live music, on-site food vendors, local businesses and more. “The City of Pharr is proud to support our local small businesses, artisans, and craft makers through this event,” said Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez. “We invite our Pharr families to visit the market this weekend and…

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H-E-B Hosts Quest for Texas Best

Reynosa native and Nuts and Cows owner Elizabeth Davis with products she pitched in the H-E-B Quest for Texas Best competition in 2018. (Courtesy)

Every year, H-E-B goes on a quest in Texas, in search of the best Texas-made products for its store shelves. This year, submissions will come via video through April 7 at 5 p.m. H-E-B “Quest for Texas Best” is an open call for local, small food, beverage and general merchandise suppliers. The winners receive their products in H-E-B stores and $25,000. Creative submission videos to H-E-B should be two-minutes and…

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McAllen Grants Advance Business Ideas

The McAllen Chamber of Commerce is currently accepting applications for its Innovation Grant Awards. The awards’ grant funding of $50,000 annually encourages product innovation and business creation in the McAllen area. Past winners have been able to take their idea from the drawing board to the marketplace due to the grants. An applicant may request up to $10,000 to establish, expand, develop or advance a new product/service idea. The new…

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VITA Provides Free Tax Prep Services

Texas Southmost College Accounting Technology students are currently offering free tax preparation services via the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. For almost 20 years, TSC has partnered with the United Way of Southern Cameron County to offer the VITA service. Students from TSC’s Special Topics in Taxation course are now assisting individuals and families in the Rio Grande Valley. “Every year this experience proves to be a great opportunity for…

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McAllen Arbor Day Celebration Goes Virtual

Keep McAllen Beautiful Arbor Day Celebration

Keep McAllen Beautiful celebrate its 10th anniversary of the Arbor Day Celebration March 6. The event’s 5K and 10K runs, and 25-mile and 100-kilometer bike tours will be virtual this year. Participants can set their own date, place and time to get the miles in and enjoy the Rio Grande Valley spring weather. “Arbor Day is a day when we celebrate nature’s gift of trees, the tall providers of shade,…

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SBA Seeks Local Emerging Leaders

leadership

The U.S. Small Business Administration recently announced the launch of the 2021 Emerging Leaders initiative. The program is for executives of small businesses poised for growth in underserved markets. The SBA program draws on the experiences of advisors and business leaders in urban communities across the country. The comprehensive curriculum provides the tools to grow companies to the next level. It also helps them emerge as a force in the…

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Annual Event Removes Abandoned Crab Traps

(photo Texas Parks and Wildlife Department)

Each February for 19 years, countless volunteers spend 10 days on the water along the Texas coastline. They search the bays for abandoned crab traps left to foul shrimpers’ nets, snag anglers’ lines, “ghost fish” and create unsightly views. To date, they’ve hauled off more than 38,000 of these derelict traps. From Feb. 19-28, Texas coastal waters will be closed to crabbing with wire mesh crab traps to facilitate the…

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One Door Closes, Another VIDA Opens

Etta King has a better life for her and her children thanks in part to VIDA.

Life was good for Etta King when she moved to Weslaco in 2011 from Lake Tahoe, Cali. Five years later, her world turned upside down. Her husband left, creditors repossessed her car and eviction forced her to move from their home to a small apartment. With no money, she had to attend divorce court without legal representation. Her only family in the Valley consisted of her two sons and daughter.…

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Sign Up for the SPI Beach Winter Clean-Up Feb. 5

(photo Texas General Land Office Adopt-A-Beach Program)

Turning the tide again beach debris, an Adopt-A-Beach Winter Clean-Up takes place Feb. 5 on South Padre Island. Volunteer registration is open now through the duration of the cleanup. Volunteers should wear closed-toe shoes, and bring drinking water and gloves. Organizers have only been able to secure a small amount of gloves, so volunteers should bring their own set of disposable, garden or work gloves. Adopt-A-Beach will provide all necessary…

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