Harlingen is extending its most popular hike-and-bike trail from the Arroyo Colorado to Dixieland Park as the city works to expand its trails master plan. The 1.6-mile extension along the banks of the Arroyo Colorado will be the first trail addition in five years. It will take the trail from its current end adjacent to Boggus Ford along Expressway 77/83 and wind it near the Tony Butler Golf Course. It…
When Bardo Rubio completed his commitment to the U.S. Army, he enlisted in the Army Reserve. He knew he would need to do more than work one weekend a month to achieve his life goals. During the summer of 2018, shortly after he returned from active duty, Rubio encountered two Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement employees promoting the agency’s services at South Texas College. Rubio, who wanted to go…
Veronica Gonzales now heads up the Edinburg Chamber of Commerce as president of the board for 2020-2021. Gonzales is the vice president for Governmental and Community Relations at the University of Texas – Rio Grande Valley. “As the incoming President of the Board, I look forward to continuing my work with the chamber to advance commerce and quality of life to Edinburg,” said Gonzales. Gonzales first joined the board in…
Certain businesses in Rio Grande Valley counties are now at higher occupancy levels with the region joining much of the state which were already benefiting from Order GA-30 from Gov. Greg Abbott Sept. 17. The Valley was one of three areas of Texas not allowed to move forward then due to COVID-19 patient caseloads. Abbott’s relaxed occupancy standards in September allow many sectors of the community to open to 75…
The U.S. Navy’s USS Ticonderoga and USS Charles F. Adams are now at International Shipbreaking LLC at the Port of Brownsville for stripping and recycling. Both ships are scheduled to be completely demilitarized by 2021. The USS Ticonderoga was built at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Miss., and then delivered to the Navy in 1982. Her service includes providing naval gunfire support off the coast of Lebanon on her maiden voyage…
The Weslaco Area Chamber of Commerce is now accepting nominations for the 2020 Weslaco Chamber Awards Program. Each year the chamber recognizes and celebrates the achievements of member companies through a series of awards programs. New categories this year include Ambassador of the Year, Rising Star, Unsung Hero and Educator of the Year. This is in addition to the Lifetime Achievement Award, Man or Woman of the Year, and Business…
The Mission Economic Development Corporation recently received a $3 million grant to aid in the improvement of the city’s infrastructure. These improvements will protect the city against future natural disasters and strengthen areas that will house manufacturing operations. The grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration will fund critical infrastructure improvements to support the growth of Mission’s Shary Village Industrial Park and surrounding areas. In addition, a…
How’s business? Is it any of my business? It absolutely is. As you know, for these 11-plus years, VBR has been and will continue to be a Rio Grande Valley pro-business advocate. All Texas businesses should be open! It is way past time for state and local restrictions keeping businesses closed and otherwise restricted from doing business at full capacity. Employers have bills to pay. Employees need paychecks for their…
The Rio Grande Valley is one of the nation’s top destinations for those who enjoy watching, learning and photographing flora and fauna. The region is the home of the World Birding Center, a turtle center and a bird festival that attracts hundreds of people from all over the United States. People even come from as far as England and Australia to the festival. The Valley also has several state and…
Jason Hess took a tour of a nursery by a resaca in Bayview in 2017 and discovered a paradise. It was River’s End Nursery back when Hess first saw it. He works in the healthcare field, with a hobby and passion for growing fruit trees, so the tour was of special interest to him. Hess was in awe of the splendor at River’s End. Ed and Kathy Pechacek took a…