Israel Vega is a nurse practitioner who dabbles in renovating classic Chevys and is a founding member of a Rio Grande Valley-based semi-pro soccer team. Since January, you can add co-owner of a Los Fresnos coffee shop to his portfolio. PJ’s Coffee is a shop he co-owns with his business partner and fellow Los Fresnos native, Adam Abrego. They wanted to create a sense-of-community kind of place where people could gather…
The Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation, in partnership with the Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation and the UTRGV Entrepreneurship and Commercialization Center, is now accepting applications for the Startup Texas Accelerator Fall 2025 cohort. The accelerator helps early-stage startups refine their business models, access funding opportunities and build the connections necessary for growth in Brownsville. The program focuses on entrepreneurs in high-impact sectors such as cybersecurity, digital health, e-commerce, automation, environmental technology…
The International Museum of Art & Science will host its premier black-tie fundraiser, the 46th annual Collage Gala, on Sept. 6. IMAS will honor John Sharp, retiring chancellor of the Texas A&M University System, in recognition of his leadership and impact on education and public service throughout the Rio Grande Valley. “The Rio Grande Valley is a place we’re proud to call home, and IMAS represents the heart of what…
Solis Mammography, the nation’s largest independent provider of specialized breast health services, is now operating out of Valley Regional Medical Center, expanding screening and diagnostic breast imaging services to Brownsville and the lower Rio Grande Valley region. Patients in the Brownsville and lower Rio Grande Valley communities may now experience the latest in innovative technology, including the integration of AI software with 3D mammography for greater accuracy and earlier-stage cancer detection.…
Texas’ civilian labor force achieved another new record high of 15,850,100 after adding 10,800 people over the month and marking 60 of 62 months of growth. Over the year, Texas’ civilian labor force has added 237,800 people. Texas added 198,300 jobs over the year for an annual nonfarm growth rate of 1.4 percent, outpacing the national growth rate by 0.3 percentage points. The state had 14,329,200 total nonfarm jobs after…
The City of McAllen held a ribbon cutting ceremony on July 16 for Camp McAllen, a first-of-its-kind public campground offering residents and visitors immersive outdoor experiences, right in the heart of the city. Located at 8701 N. 23rd Street, just north of Frontera Road, the 20-acre site includes fishing docks, kayak launches, an archery range, walking and biking trails, and group camping spaces. Mayor Javier Villalobos, city commissioners and city…
The Weslaco Area Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center hosts Lemonade Day Weslaco at the Isaac D. Rodriguez Park Weslaco (1200 E 6th St, Weslaco, TX) on July 19. From 5:30 to 8 p.m., the community’s young entrepreneurs will be selling lemonade via lemonade stands. The event also includes a selection of food vendors, entertainment and activities. Last year, Lemonade Day Weslaco earned participants over $10,000, all of which they…
Representing Region One ESC GEAR UP and La Joya ISD’s Palmview High School, Maria Del Rosario Gazca, mother of sophomore Rosvelt Ortiz, was named GEAR UP Family Leader of the Year by the National Council for Community and Education Partnerships. According to the organization, the GEAR UP Family Leader of the Year is passionate and committed to the GEAR UP movement and the goal of ensuring that college access and…
At the Port of Brownsville, the Texas Shrimp Association has a reason to celebrate when both Texas and federal waters in the Gulf of Mexico officially open for the shrimp season on July 15. After years of facing a flood of cheap, foreign shrimp imports, Texas shrimpers recently received support from state lawmakers. During the 89th legislative session, lawmakers passed Senate Bill 823 requiring food service suppliers, wholesalers and distributors…
The Governor’s Small Business Summit will make its way to Pharr on Aug. 7 to help Texas small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs reach new heights. The summit connects attendees with the resources and information needed to start, strengthen and grow a business. The event offers a variety of sessions bringing together local, state and federal resource partners to provide key insights on critical business topics. The day also provides…