Category Archives: News

Will This Be On the Test?

More than likely, you or one of your classmates asked this question in just about every class you took from middle school to high school to college to graduate school and beyond. You might have even asked the question during your company’s training sessions. I’ve used the question in many other situations. It is a great clarifying question. It is a way to get to what is essential in any…

Read More

Harlingen Port Sees Growth

An average of 25 barges carrying various commodities visit the Port of Harlingen every month. (Courtesy)

The stretch of the Arroyo Colorado that winds from Harlingen to the Laguna Madre is well known as a recreational hotspot in Cameron County. From Arroyo City to the bay, the banks are lined with residences, many with private boat docks, and the Adolph Thomae Jr. County Park boasts a busy public boat ramp. But there is a different kind of marine traffic that navigates this section of the arroyo,…

Read More

Resaca Walls Protect Property

A retaining wall under construction along a resaca in the Brownsville area. (VBR)

Although the city of San Benito bills itself as the Resaca City due to the waterway that meanders through the town, there are other parts of Cameron County that boast the historic channels cut into the landscape by the Rio Grande over the centuries, among them the Brownsville, Rancho Viejo, Los Fresnos and Bayview areas. A resaca is an old river channel created by floods that carved out the Rio…

Read More

GoodPitch Nurtures Public Speaking

GoodPitch logo

The McAllen Chamber of Commerce hosts its GoodPitch Competition Dec. 6, nurturing public speaking skills in the entrepreneurial and business community in McAllen. According to the chamber, the competition is “a great occasion to polish and/or prepare a speech to a potential business opportunity.” During the competition, participants give “elevator pitches,” simulating the real-world process of promoting, selling or soliciting buy-into an idea, product, service or request. The best elevator speech…

Read More

Weslaco Chamber Names Board Chair

Luis Reyes

Luis Reyes is the new Weslaco Chamber of Commerce board chair for the 2018-2019 fiscal year. Reyes is the communications manager for Magic Valley Electrical Cooperative, a role in which he has served since 2011. “The chance to serve our members and the Weslaco business community is a task I’m excited and eager to take on,” said Reyes. “Weslaco is the epicenter of so much growth and economic development, it’s important…

Read More

Brownsville Grant Aims at 501(c)3 Organizations

BCIC

The Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation is accepting applications for its Partnership Grant.  The grant is awarded to 501(c)3 organizations with projects that will significantly impact the city’s sales tax revenues. This includes events, activities and campaigns taking place from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2019. The Partnership Grants is the replacement for the Promotion & Community Events Grant. This grant provided supplemental funding for marketing expenditures towards community events, campaigns or…

Read More

Brownsville Luncheon Celebrates Leadership

Incoming Brownsville Chamber of Commerce Board Chairwoman Monica Garza welcomed an energetic crowd Oct. 18 to the Brownsville Events Center for the annual Leadership Luncheon. The event honors outgoing chamber board officers and incoming board officers. Brownsville Mayor Tony Martinez also spoke to the crowd on leadership. “A leader is well prepared, relentless in pursuit and emotionally stable (takes the drama out of decisions), while also possessing good character and…

Read More

Free Financial Workshops Grow Small Businesses

Free financial education, which includes both small business and personal finance, starts Oct. 19 in Edinburg with PeopleFund’s “Financial Education Friday.” The series of free classes take also takes place Oct. 26 and Nov. 16. Held under BBVA Compass Center’s Pilot Program, the series is held at PeopleFund offices in Edinburg, Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth and Houston. The Edinburg office is located at 300 S. Closner Blvd. Ste. 1. Session topics and…

Read More

Edinburg Seeks Executive Director

edinburg hiring

The Edinburg Chamber of Commerce and Edinburg Convention & Visitor’s Bureau is currently accepting applications for an executive director. The executive director is a key representative for business owners and employers in Edinburg. The position focuses on membership, tourism and advocacy, as well as quality of life. The executive director is responsible for the overall operations of the organization, being responsible to the board of directors for a full range of…

Read More

Containerships Made in Brownsville

Keppel AmFELS president Simon Lee, left, shakes hands with George Pasha, IV, president of The Pasha Group, during the cutting of the first steel plates for the M/V George III, one of two containerships the Brownsville-based company will build.

Construction of the first of two containerships is underway at the Port of Brownsville. On Sept. 25, Keppel AmFELS cut the first steel plates for the M/V George III, one of two ‘Ohana Class vessels the Brownsville-based company is building for the Pasha Hawaii fleet. This fleet provides service to the Hawaii/Mainland trade lane. Once built, the new 774-foot U.S. Jones Act vessels will carry 2,525 TEUs, with a sailing speed…

Read More