Edinburg Mayor Ramiro Garza called it a need for the Rio Grande Valley to do a better job of telling its story. “Our area is talked about a lot by so many other people but ourselves,” Garza said in a recent media interview. “I think it’s time we come together as one region and talk about all our region has to offer.” Garza was a leading force along with other…
Texas Governor Greg Abbott recently highlighted the Port of Brownsville as a key component of Texas’ booming energy industry and as a critical asset to the Lone Star State’s economic success. The news came during an economic roundtable discussion with industry leaders and key stakeholders at the port March 30. “Ports are the gateway to the might of the Texas economy and the Port of Brownsville is vital infrastructure for…
Texas Southmost College is the recipient of $100,000 from the Texas Workforce Commission to host a summer youth camp, STEM Superheroes. The free, virtual three-track camp is for Valley students in grades 9-12 and will begin this month. “The purpose of these camps is to promote high-skill, high-demand jobs in STEM fields,” said TSC Dean of STEM and Career Technology Education Murad Abusalim. “Each student will have the chance to…
The Texas Association of Community Colleges, in collaboration with Amazon Web Services Inc., is launching a statewide initiative to enable access to cloud computing education courses and certifications for students in community colleges. It aims to train, reskill and certify 50,000 Texans, over the next three years, to qualify for cloud computing jobs in their local communities. This statewide program is part of the Texas Reskilling & Upskilling through Education…
Texas law now lets customers and businesses safely partake in alcohol-to-go options. Temporary waivers to provide relief to businesses have been updated and made permanent due to recent action by Gov. Greg Abbott and the Texas legislature. The change comes as part of House Bill 1024. The bill was recently approved by the legislature on April 28 and signed into law by Gov. Abbott on May 12. The law, which…
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…
Texas wineries and distilleries are facing a crisis. As Texas continues to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, tasting rooms at hundreds of wineries and distilleries remain closed. This limits consumer access, negatively affects sales, impacts jobs and reduces tax revenue for local and state governments. Gov. Greg Abbott’s Executive Order closing bars had the consequence of forcing Texas winery and distillery tasting rooms to close. Industry leaders recently announced the launch…
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.…
At a recent city commission meeting, Pharr Mayor Pro-Tem Bobby Carillo introduced Alex Meade as Pharr’s new city manager. Meade recently served as the first CEO for Mission Economic Development Corporation, helping attract projects totaling more than $300 million. Meade also established the Center for Education and Economic Development (CEED) in Mission. “Alex Meade has a history of success of helping communities across South Texas expand their capacity for growth to…
South Texas College held a grand opening and building dedication ceremony for its highly anticipated Regional Center for Public Safety Excellence Sept. 18. Helping the college open the facility was Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, delivering the keynote address to a gathering of local, state and federal law enforcement professionals. The new Regional Center intends to make STC the first border community college in the nation to establish integrative training along the…