The first new refinery to be built in the United States in 50 years is coming to the Rio Grande Valley at the Port of Brownsville and local officials say it will make the region a hub for energy logistics and growth. America First Refining with the financial backing of India-based Reliance Industries will construct the facility on the southside of port’s shipping channel. It will take up to seven…
Nathan Burkhart in his six-year tenure at the Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation was on the ground floor of the beginnings of the space industry coming to his hometown. He served as the vice president of entrepreneurship and innovation at BCIC and became familiar with the leadership of SpaceX and its Starbase on Boca Chica Beach. It was during his BCIC tenure that he also met business owners and executives from…
Celebrating 90 years of progress in 2026, the Port of Brownsville has transformed a bold vision into an economic powerhouse, securing billions in private investment and anchoring one of the fastest-growing manufacturing and logistics hubs in Texas. Established by voters in 1928 and officially opened in 1936, the port reshaped the southernmost tip of Texas from an agriculture-based economy into a global trade gateway. The construction of the Brownsville Ship…
The Brownsville South Padre Island International Airport opened a new 90,000-square-foot terminal in early 2021 amidst much fanfare in promoting the city’s transformation of its air traveler experience. Left behind was a 1970s-era 30,000-square-foot terminal whose outdated appearance was a striking contrast to the sleeker and more modern terminals found at airports in Harlingen and McAllen. All of that is in the past because the stylish terminal of today in…
The Brownsville Chamber of Commerce and Texas Regional Bank invite you to celebrate in the spirit of Charro Days on Feb. 24 with their 2026 Charro Days Mixer. This is the perfect kick-off to the week-long festivities happening in Brownsville so get your Charro’s costumes ready and be sure to warm up your voice for the annual grito contest. The event includes food, Mexican snacks, and music and performances throughout…
The Brownsville Public Utilities Board is accepting applications through March 9 for ten $2,000 Project SHARE Scholarships that will go to graduating high school seniors whose households have a BPUB utility account for water, wastewater or electric service. To be eligible for the Project SHARE Scholarship, applicants must have a BPUB account at their primary residence for at least one year prior to the application deadline. Applicants must be graduating…
It was more the opportunity to restore a historic building than starting a business that was the initial inspiration for Hector Zavala when he saw a 1860s-era building in Downtown Brownsville. Zavala was in his mid-20s at the time when spotting an old botica building on the corner of 11th and Washington streets. The over 160-year-old pharmacy building that also housed doctors’ offices and a clinic had been left vacant…
The City of Brownsville made a $3 million-plus decision 10 years ago that it was going to invest in and revitalize its Market Square. It is the historic heart of Brownsville with its origins going back to the early 1850s when it opened as an open-air market. In the years that followed it would house city offices and later become a hub for its bus system. Market Square looked worn…
RSVPs are now open for the third annual RGV Startup Week, taking place April 24 through May 1. What began just two years ago has grown exponentially into one of the Rio Grande Valley’s largest entrepreneurship gatherings, drawing regional, state and national attention to the innovation happening locally. RGV Startup Week 2026 will once again bring together entrepreneurs, students, small business owners, investors and ecosystem partners from across the Valley…
The Brownsville Chamber of Commerce presents The Business of Texas: A Fiscal Futures Briefing on Feb. 3 with Acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock. This luncheon will provide an in-depth look at Texas’ fiscal outlook, revenue trends, and economic priorities, with a focus on how statewide financial decisions impact businesses, communities and economic growth across the region. Attendees will gain valuable insights into the current and future financial landscape of Texas…