Category Archives: News

Welding Works International Inc. is the Port of Brownsville 2019 Chairman’s Award honoree. The award recognizes the company’s 20-plus years of “setting a high standard in safety training and providing ongoing contributions to the well-being of the Rio Grande Valley community.” Brownsville Navigation District Chairman John Reed presented the award to Welding Works President Alfredo de la Fuente at the Customer Appreciation Luncheon Dec. 3. More than 200 guests were…

Living a Better VIDA

December 12, 2019

Chris Ardis

e-Brief Features Featured News Non-Profit Comments

Anna Martinez may not have imagined what coming home would mean for her and her 8-year-old daughter. Born and raised in Weslaco, Martinez and her family moved to Houston when she was in fourth grade. The years that followed were difficult. When Martinez became a teen parent, depression and anger sent her on a downward spiral. Then Martinez’s parents separated, adding to her pain. Three years ago, Martinez decided to…

More Than 1,400 Officers Trained at RCPSE

December 11, 2019

VBR

Education Featured Government News Comments

More than 1,400 law enforcement officers have trained at South Texas College’s Regional Center for Public Safety Excellence since January. The numbers come from RCPSE interim Chief Administrator Sgt. Jose Moroles, who spoke recently at STC’s President’s Advisory Council Committee. STC is the first border community college in the nation to establish integrative training for local, state and federal professionals in law enforcement. This also includes those in public safety,…

Qualfon Continues Growth in Harlingen

December 7, 2019

VBR

e-Brief Features News Technology Comments

Qualfon Data Services LLC is already producing more than $8 million annually into the local economy in wages and now, it is expanding its footprint in Harlingen. According to the Harlingen Economic Development Corporation, the business providing contact center services, integrated marketing solutions, big data analytics, and back-office processing is receiving a $200,000 job creation grant from the EDC. This comes after Qualfon extended their lease on a 40,000-square-foot office…

Project Please To Grow Special Ed Leaders

December 6, 2019

VBR

Education Featured News Comments

Faculty in the UTRGV College of Education and P-16 Integration have been awarded a $1.2 million grant for Project PLEASE, a collaborative initiative to help grow leaders in special education administration. “Project PLEASE is a personnel training grant that will give scholarships and stipends to 14 vetted candidates to complete their doctorate in education in special education administration,” said Hsuying Ward. Ward is an associate professor of Human Development and…

10 Small Business Functions to Outsource

December 5, 2019

Anita Campbell

Business Advice e-Brief Features News Comments

More than a third of small businesses currently outsource at least some of their operations. And even more plan on exploring this option. Outsourcing describes when a business obtains a product or service from an outside provider, rather than handling it in-house. As a small business, outsourcing allows you to get more done and trust important tasks and processes to professionals, without having to actually grow your full-time team in a…

STC Announces BSN Program

December 5, 2019

VBR

e-Brief Features Education Healthcare News Comments

South Texas College is starting a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program, according to officials at a special event Nov. 25. Among those in attendance were the inaugural cohort of student nurses clad in green scrubs. Dr. Christie Candelaria serves as program chair of both the Associate Degree Nursing Program and the new BSN program. “I would treat this just like having a family,” Candelaria said about the start…

Bobby Calvillo Named Board Chair

December 4, 2019

VBR

Community Featured Moving On Up News Comments

Robert “Bobby” Calvillo is the board chairman of the Weslaco Area Chamber of Commerce for the 2019-2020 fiscal year. He began his service on the Weslaco Chamber board in 2015. For the last 23 years, Calvillo has served as executive director of Affordable Homes of South Texas Inc. AHSTI is one of the largest non-profit housing producers in the country. It serves as a subdivision developer, builder and mortgage company…

Project SHARE Scholarships Now Available

December 3, 2019

VBR

Education Featured Giving Back News Comments

The Brownsville Public Utilities Board is awarding ten 10 scholarships of $1,000 each to graduating high school seniors through its Project SHARE Scholarship program. All majors qualify for the BPUB Project SHARE Scholarship. To qualify for the BPUB Project SHARE Scholarship, applicants must: Be a graduating high school senior Lve in a household with a minimum of one year of utility service with BPUB at the application deadline date Plan…

McAllen: Que FRIO!

December 1, 2019