The Rio Grande Valley with its estimated population surging above 1.4 million is reflecting its new urban realities via Valley Metro. The regional bus system is adding transportation hubs and new routes with each passing year. Later this month, Valley Metro will open a new hub in Edinburg between City Hall and the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. The new hub will come off a year where Valley Metro…
Texas Plating & Polishing Solutions recently received a $25,000 New Investment Incentive from the Harlingen EDC. The funds will help cover moving costs to TPPS’s new facility in the Harlingen Industrial Park. TPPS provides chrome, polish and nickel for the plastic injection mold industry. The company services customers both in the United States and in Mexico. It creates molds for automotive, appliance and medical companies. Owner and President Jose J.…
It was quite an experience for Pedro Casillas and more than 40 of his peers as they helped save lives in a mock two-vehicle accident. It was part of Texas State Technical College Emergency Medical Services program‘s recent Extrication Day. “This was a great opportunity to practice what I’ve learned in the classroom,” said Casillas. “It was exciting to be able to showcase our skills to the local first responders who…
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…
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…
What eyesore? Those days behind us. Building ownership, Harlingen officials and regional business leaders gathered Nov. 6 for the official Baxter Lofts grand opening and ribbon cutting. To top things off, all units are also currently under lease at the Downtown Harlingen high rise residential property. “It’s another great day in the City of Harlingen,” proclaimed Mayor Chris Boswell. After decades of being uninhabited, private funds (not tax money) brought…
For the first time, TSTC’s Architectural Design and Engineering Graphics Technology will expand its offerings with evening classes beginning Spring 2020. Department Chair Samuel Pizano says the change comes at a time when students are seeking flexibility. Evening and online courses are growing in popularity. In fact, the program has already seen its first registrants for evening classes. “We’ve recently seen a lot more interest in our program from students…
On Sept. 24, the Department of Labor published final rules that will increase the minimum salary required to be exempt from overtime. Employers have until Jan. 1 to comply. The DOL estimates this will impact approximately 1.2 million workers. Will your employees or clients be affected by this change? And if yes, do you know what you need to do to prepare and how to comply? During this session, discussion…
Behind every successful woman is a tribe of other successful women who have her back. ~Author Unknown Things were quite different for Edna Posada in the early years as a business owner. With a degree in computer programming but a passion for fashion and makeup, she opened her first business, a Merle Norman store in McAllen, in 1989. Over the next five years, she opened another in Harlingen, went through a…
When it’s time for a renovation, some paint freshening or your house has suffered damage due to a storm or hurricane, most people feel an uneasiness about what to do next. Who do you choose to do the work on the largest, most valuable possession you own? Can you trust them? Will they do good work and complete the project on time and within budget? These are all valid questions…