Tag Archives: COVID-19

City of McAllen Urges Businesses to Stay Open

In a July 21 release, the City of McAllen encourages business owners to review and abide by Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s orders regarding businesses in Texas. “Those orders do not require businesses to close nor are businesses or their customers required to adhere to particular hours, other than those contained in Governor Abbott’s orders,” reads the statement. The statement comes following Order 20-011 effective today, from Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez.…

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Valley Businesses Regroup, Adjust To Life

Dien Nguyen says business is returning to his nail salon in San Juan. (VBR)

Adam Shidler stayed busy in the two weeks his Weslaco business was closed. Government-mandated shutdowns due to COVID-19 kept his downtown coffee shop temporarily shuttered. Shidler used the time to do maintenance and upkeep at Weslaco’s Daily Grind. Working in his shop, customers would see him inside and knock on windows and wave hellos. Weslaco’s Daily Grind’s customers missed their coffee shop – and the feelings were mutual.  “Our friends…

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Building a Culture of Health in the RGV

Hidalgo-County residents take advantage of the Hidalgo County Precinct 2 Hike-and-Bike Trail in San Juan.

We have all been deluged with local, state, national and international statistics about COVID-19 in recent months. The term “underlying conditions” is often cited in describing those who have become critically ill or who have passed away. There has been more limited information about the actions individuals and communities can take to improve the chances of fighting COVID-19 and other deadly viruses and diseases. Eddie Olivarez, the chief administrator for…

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Project COVID Care Helps Elderly & Disabled

Johnny Llanes and Drea Labanzat make a delivery to a resident in need. (Courtesy)

Violet Metz became concerned in March as grocery store lines grew and local governments issued shelter-in-place orders. “At my age, security is such a huge concern,” said Metz, 81, a McAllen resident. “If I really need something, will I be able to get it?” It was an extraordinary period of time in March going into April as the COVID-19 pandemic set in. The general panic being felt in the community-at-large…

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Pharr Reaches Out During Pandemic

Pharr has remained busy during COVID-19 era. (Courtesy)

The City of Pharr set up an emergency business loan program similar to other cities – and then did one better in reaching out to its community. The city established the Pharr COVID Recovery Center at its events center to handle all sort of inquiries related to the pandemic outbreak. Among those questions is how local businesses can apply for funds from the Pharr CARES Small Business Loan Program. It…

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Back to Work: TWC Provides Acceptable Reasons for Refusal

The Texas Workforce Commission recently took action to provide guidance on eligibility for unemployment insurance benefits due to refusal to suitable work. Evaluations of each UI benefits case is currently on an individual basis. However, because of COVID-19, the following are reasons benefits would continue if an individual refuses work. Reason for refusal: People 65 years or older and/or people with medical issues. These include heart disease, diabetes, cancer or a…

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Pharr EDC Launches Grant Program for Businesses

Pharr EDC

The Pharr Economic Development Corporation is helping businesses recover from the COVID-19 crisis. Earlier this month, the members of the Pharr EDC board of directors approved the Pharr CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Support). Similar to the federal financial relief program, Pharr CARES provides financial relief in the form of working capital. The forgivable grants between $2,500 and $5,000 are for businesses who have been negatively impacted by the…

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Harlingen Loans Support Local Businesses

Small businesses in Harlingen can seek emergency loans through an EDC program to help during the COVID-19 crisis.

The rush to apply for and receive emergency federal funds during the COVID-19 crisis didn’t reach everyone. The result of the first come/first serve component of the Small Business Administration-affiliated loans is many American businesses left out of the funding loop. In Harlingen, city leaders and the economic development corporation are doing something about it. The EDC put aside $1 million in funding in establishing Harlingen’s Emergency Loan Program, HELP.…

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Lone Star Steps Up To Help

Restaurants like this one in Brownsville are the type of businesses that applied for SBA emergency loans. (VBR)

Lone Star National Bank President David Deanda knew he and his staff had the challenge of a banking lifetime before them.  The outbreak of COVID-19 had brought the South Texas economy to a sudden and shocking halt. Small businesses in the Rio Grande Valley were soon desperate for help. The federal government offered two lifelines. One was the Paycheck Protection Program. The other was the Economic Injury Disaster program.  Both…

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Solidarity & Unity Needed to Contain COVID

Nurses and medical staff at Rio Grande Regional Hospital receive free meals from area businesses as a way of saying thanks for their work. (Courtesy)

Yolanda Carrillo and her staff of chaplains at hospitals in the Rio Grande Valley have seen heartache and felt its pain in recent months.  The outbreak of COVID-19 has consequently separated the sick from their loved ones with the denial of hospital visitations. Hospital chaplains have stepped in best they can. They are waving hellos and also making signs of prayer through windows looking into intensive care units.  The Valley…

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