Weslaco had one sweet spot going for it during the slowdown and shutdown months in the spring and summer of 2020. Happiness Cupcakes never closed. The city deemed it an essential business and the cupcake shop with an outdoor patio on Texas Boulevard stayed open. The close-to-the-nest residents of Weslaco and adjacent communities found solace in the array of cupcakes, pies, cakes and breads at the shop on Texas. “It was…
Foreign trade zones were sparse in 1965 and those in existence back then had ocean and river connections. There was not a single land port-based foreign trade zone in the mid-1960s. It was 1965 when a group of McAllen business leaders got the idea of establishing a FTZ. These zones allow companies to bring goods onto U.S. soil without paying duty taxes and use parts to manufacture a product that…
Medical residency programs always bring and require what Dr. Timothy Heath calls an “intensity of experience” as young physicians make their way through real-life training. Add the rigors and challenges of dealing with the recent pandemic and coping with situations not seen in a century. The reality of it all is testing 14 physician residents under Heath’s supervision in ways no one imagined. “I’ve spoken to colleagues and I can…
Annually, the Harlingen Economic Development Corporation sponsors two Kauffman FastTrac courses. The next session begins Feb. 2 via Zoom for this accelerated business course, led by the UTRGV Entrepreneurship & Commercialization Center. The Harlingen EDC’s sponsorship gives up to 10 Harlingen-based entrepreneurs the opportunity to take this exclusive course at no cost. The course is at a value of more than $700 per participant. Course offerings are typically in the spring…
“Brunette Bombshell” from Mission-based 5×5 Brewing Co. is now available at seven Rio Grande Valley H-E-B stores. It is the brewery’s first beer to enter the retail market. The Mission EDC, in an announcement, says the release is made possible through an exclusive partnership with L&F Distributors. As the largest distributing brewery in the area, 5×5 Brewing Co. is one of a number of businesses receiving Mission EDC support over…
Mari Rodriguez accepted a job with Central Power and Light and moved to the Rio Grande Valley in 1994. She thought it would be only for a year. Her plan did not include meeting a pharmacist from San Antonio named Cecilio who had also moved to the Valley. Mari would not return to Corpus Christi, where she lived previously. Mari and Cecilio would walk down the aisle. The couple then…
Courtesy of SBA: For small businesses across America, 2020 has been one of the most challenging years in history. Small business owners have been resilient, pivoting, and adapting their business models to navigate continually changing conditions. There are potential new opportunities to take advantage of and ways to adapt to challenges you may face. Here are business trends that are likely to dominate in 2021, along with tips to position…
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is encouraging Texans to “start the new year in nature” with a First Day Hike at a Texas state park. Citizens can walk, bike or paddle their way into 2021 on a First Day Hike at 89 Texas state parks. First Day Hikes at Texas’ state parks aim to help visitors commit to their New Year’s resolutions to get healthy. Last year, 5,242 visitors…
UTRGV will invest $1.5 million to double the amount of merit-based scholarships available in Fall 2021. The additional funding comes in effort to retain top high school students from the region. The UTRGV Scholars Program currently awards 200 merit-based scholarships. Starting next fall, the program will double to have 400 merit-based scholarships available. Overall, over the course of the four-year scholarship program, UTRGV will invest a total of $8 million dollars.…
McAllen ISD is inviting staff, the community and parents to participate in the annual It’s Time Texas Community Challenge. The statewide effort instills healthy habits among Texans through friendly competition between communities. Participants earn points through a variety of easy endeavors promoting good health. McAllen ISD finished second among school districts in the entire state last year in the “Mid-size” category. The distrct’s contribution was also instrumental in the…