South Padre Island will celebrate Memorial Day weekend with a fireworks display on May 24. The fireworks show continues to be the traditional kick off for the summer season. “We are excited to welcome everyone for a much needed long weekend on the Island,” said Ed Caum, executive director for the convention and visitors bureau. “There’s no better way to show our appreciation than with a rousing fireworks display in…
Texas Southmost College is ensuring the safety of its students, faculty and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic, including its youngest population. Since mid-March Texas Southmost College’s Raul J. Guerra Early Childhood Center followed the college’s lead in extending spring break and then closing. The center serves more than 50 children between the ages of two weeks to 6 years old. “These have been trying times,” said the center’s manager Marisela…
On May 16, the Port of Brownsville will observe its 84th anniversary. Opened in 1936, the port signified a new hope for economic prosperity in the Rio Grande Valley region. The port was the vision of an Italian immigrant Louis Cobolini. The 17-mile long Brownsville ship channel has since welcomed foreign travelers and businesses to its shores. In the port’s early years, agricultural exports brought citrus fruits from local groves and…
The International Museum of Art & Science’s Night at the Brew-seum is going virtual with Brew-seum@Home June 6. In the virtual experience, ticket holders may pick up their Brew-seum@Home beer kit ahead of time for the live program. “While the tradition has continued now for 12 years, the International Museum of Art & Science is pivoting the format this year to do our part in the effort to shelter at…
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…
Update: As of May 20, 2020, the Causeway Run and Fitness Walk has been cancelled for this year. Port Isabel’s sixth annual Causeway Run and Fitness Walk has a new date. Runners and walkers alike can look forward to Aug. 22 to cross the 2.6-mile Queen Isabella Causeway on foot. The annual event was originally scheduled for June 6, yet was postponed by the Port Isabel Chamber of Commerce due…
A tree, just like a business, comes to life starting out in a disadvantage. A tree, in its infancy and though its beginning stages, fights for air, water and sunlight with other trees that have started out much earlier. These older trees seem to have experience as the sole advantage over the new tree. Chances are the new tree will not make it in woods for long. It has no…
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…
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…
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…