Tag Archives: Harlingen

Harlingen HELP Still Available to Small Businesses

Carol and Charles Law of Chuck’s Icehouse Volleybar & Grill are recipients of HELP for Small Business. (courtesy

On July 28, the Harlingen Emergency Loan Program for Small Business committee gave approval to seven local businesses for business loans. The qualifying businesses’ approvals ranged from $7,000 to the maximum amount of $10,000. This is the fifth round of HELP for Small Business recipients. Raudel Garza, Harlingen EDC CEO, says the program will continue until the allotted $1 million funds are used, or the program is discontinued. The program began…

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Medical Residents Set the Standard

Dr. Miguel Tello, center, with the first class of physician residents of a UTRGV School of Medicine program in the Mid-Valley. (Courtesy)

Eddy Berges earned medical degrees and training in his native Dominican Republic and then in Puerto Rico.  A major goal still lay ahead and Berges pursued it by applying to several medical schools in the United States. Berges’ goal was to be accepted into a residency program. He found one in the Rio Grande Valley, and a program barely getting off the ground.  Berges and five other physician residents from…

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New Roadway Spurs New Development 

Traffic heads east toward Expressway 77/83 on Spur 54 in Harlingen.

A $7-million roadway connecting two busy parts of Expressway 77/83 in Harlingen is on schedule for completion this month. Spur 54 links southbound and westbound traffic on the expressway, running east-west behind Bass Pro Shops and in front of the Sam’s Club store in Harlingen. Construction on the 1.2 mile-long roadway began a year ago. It is already busy with traffic and leading to the development of new retail and…

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RGV Cities Run High For Healthy Actions

Three Rio Grande Valley communities rank at the top of Texas cities of their size in a statewide competition that focuses on healthy actions like doing a workout, eating notorious food and drinking ample amounts of water.  McAllen, Harlingen and Los Fresnos each finished first among all cities of their population ranges in the 2020 It’s Time Texas Community Challenge. The competition recorded an eight week-period of time this year…

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Lineworker Finds New Adventure as Instructor

TSTC lineworker

After spending 22 years with the Brownsville Public Utilities Board as a certified lineworker, Candelario Deanda is ready to climb to new heights. His new role is an Electrical Lineworker Technology instructor when Texas State Technical College introduces the program at its Harlingen campus this fall. “We are still in the process of getting everything ready,” Deanda said. “I will be an instructor for courses in obtaining the certificate, as…

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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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Containing COVID Is Key To Economic Recovery

Restaurants and retailing have been hurt badly by COVID-19 outbreak and business shutdowns. (VBR)

The Rio Grande Valley’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 crisis will be prolonged. It could take 12-to-18 months, at the minimum, said leading bankers and economic development specialists. They say the recovery from the widespread business shutdowns this spring will stretch well into 2021. Recovery will also be dependent on one key factor. “It’s all going to depend on how we contain COVID,” said David Deanda, the president of Lone…

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Harlingen Moves Forward Aiding Business

Harlingen Economic Loan Program

The Harlingen Economic Loan Program for Small Business committee convened May 13 to review and consider more than 60 loan application submissions. Applications come from businesses experiencing a more than 25 percent economic loss during the current crisis versus last year’s revenue. The committee also evaluated the required documentation, including financial information, in order to make a fair decision. In April the Harlingen EDC board set aside $1,000,000 to fund…

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It Pays to Shop Local in Harlingen

Shop Local

Shopping or dining Harlingen local businesses may pay off for some customers. The Harlingen Area Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring the “Shop Local” Lucky Draw contest the entire month of May. Each week, the Harlingen Chamber will hold a drawing and give away a $50 give card from a Harlingen business. To enter the weekly drawing, customers need to make a purchase at a participating business. Then they must write…

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Pandemic Jolts Valley Life With Changes

The month of March started like any other with businesses to run, bills to pay and jobs to fill. There was also a general awareness of a growing threat. The COVID-19, known as the coronavirus, was making its way across the oceans to the United States.  In fact, it had already arrived. By mid-March, the threat was very real. Coronavirus outbreaks hit both coasts of the United States. Texas would…

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