Category Archives: e-Brief Features

Harlingen School District Dedicates New Academy

e-Brief Features Education News Comments
Harlingen School Superintendent Art Cavazos speaks during the dedication of the district’s new Media Arts and Communications Academy. (VBR)

“Creative incubator” gives hands-on experiences Although the Harlingen school district’s the new Media Arts and Communications Academy opened with the start of the school year, officials introduced it to the community at a ceremony this week. HCISD Superintendent Art Cavazos said the academy serves as “a creative incubator to inspire students” who are considering a future in the field. The academy teaches classes in television, radio and graphics arts production.…

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Magic Valley Celebrates 80 Years

e-Brief Features Events Featured News Comments

Magic Valley Electric Cooperative celebrated 80 years in South Texas during festivities at its headquarters in Mercedes. Founded in 1937 by a group of Rio Grande Valley farmers and ranchers to bring electricity to rural South Texas, one year after the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 was enacted during the administration of President Franklin Roosevelt. It provided federal loans for the installation of electrical distribution systems to serve isolated rural…

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Harlingen Farmers Market Expands in New Location

Agriculture e-Brief Features Food & Entertainment News Retail Comments
Workers put the finishing touches on a shade structure at the new location for the Harlingen Farmers Market.

Market reopens in two days Workers are racing to complete a shade structure before Saturday’s reopening of the Harlingen Farmers Market at its new location at First Street and Tyler Avenue next to City Hall. “We will have shade for 20 vendors,” market manager Kate McSwain said. “We have 32 vendors lined up right now. That’s a big increase over last year. I’m very excited.” The market will be open…

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Online Tool Sizes Up Local Competition

Business Advice e-Brief Features News Comments
SizeUp logo

McAllen Chamber tool helps small businesses from Laredo to Kingsville Many small businesses cannot afford consultants or market research to help them keep up with the competition or identify potential customers. But the McAllen Chamber of Commerce offers access to a free online tool that can help. SizeUp McAllen allows business owners to do their own local market research through its extensive database that includes revenue comparisons, consumer demographics, labor…

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Six Ways to Prepare for a Successful Holiday Season

Business Advice e-Brief Features News Comments
Holiday Season, holiday marketing

Guess what people are doing right now? They’re starting their holiday shopping. They may not be decking the halls yet, but 17 percent of shoppers surveyed by the National Retail Federation said they start researching holiday purchases before September, while eight percent reported making purchases before the start of autumn. That holiday mentality holds steady in September before rocketing up in October and November. Customers are looking ahead, and your small business needs to…

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Values Create Strong Cultures

Business Advice e-Brief Features Comments
values graphic

Reinforcement of values means success When evaluating the organizational culture of a business, it is important for owners to ask themselves two vital questions. Am I living and leading the values and expectations I wish for my employees to emulate? Am I communicating these values and expectations clearly throughout the chain of command? Regardless if the business is brand new or well established, it is essential to develop and maintain an organizational system that nurtures the purpose and values of the company and, by de facto, its leadership. Successful business owners do not take their organizational cultures for granted or underestimate how much these shared values impact long-term success. Instead, astute owners clarify…

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Try a Simple Approach to Goal-Setting

Business Advice e-Brief Features News Comments
goal_setting

Simple steps lead to clarity For some of us, goal-setting seems to be a mystery, but it doesn’t have to be. There is a simple approach that can keep you on track for setting and achieving your goals. Most people tend to think that goal-setting needs to be a massive, time-consuming venture that requires deep philosophical discussions: what are my priorities; what do I want in life; what is important…

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Leadership: Crafting a Resilience Mindset 

Business Advice e-Brief Features Comments
resilience graphic

“It is within our power to be unconquerable.” Seneca (4 B.C. – 65 A.D.). When Roman philosopher Seneca spoke these words, he was referring neither to our bodies nor our positions in life. He was referring to the power of our minds. Stoicism was a way of life for Seneca, and he taught it to all who would listen. Stoicism is the practical everyday philosophy of virtue and self-discipline introduced by the…

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Building Leadership Skills in Your Community 

Business Advice e-Brief Features Comments
leadership graphic

More than likely, you have several shelves full of books about leadership and management. Maybe you’ve attended a four-hour seminar on some aspect of leadership. You’ve listened to motivational speakers. If that has worked for you, great. If not, consider going in a new direction with a community leadership program. I believe that leadership happens in the doing, not the reading. I compare it to riding a bike or sex. You can read all the books you want…

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A Case For Combined MSAs

e-Brief Features News Comments
MSA retail graph

Creating economic clout The Rio Grande Valley, often referred to as Rio South Texas, offers many choices for both global business location and generous economic development incentives. With a dynamic young labor force, great weather, low cost of living and plenty of recreational activities year round, the Rio South Texas region is an ideal location for companies looking to expand or relocate. For several decades, business leaders across the Rio…

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