Hidalgo County Commissioner Eduardo Cantu had modest expectations when he set out to bring a hike-and-bike trail to Pharr and San Juan. It was early 2015 and Cantu was well aware of the health and fitness improvements made in Brownsville, McAllen and Harlingen as those cities have constructed and opened miles of outdoor trails. The same has occurred in Mission and San Benito as hike-and-bike trails have flourished across the…
Annually, the Harlingen Economic Development Corporation sponsors two Kauffman FastTrac courses. The next session begins Feb. 2 via Zoom for this accelerated business course, led by the UTRGV Entrepreneurship & Commercialization Center. The Harlingen EDC’s sponsorship gives up to 10 Harlingen-based entrepreneurs the opportunity to take this exclusive course at no cost. The course is at a value of more than $700 per participant. Course offerings are typically in the spring…
A leading tech-enabled business services company, TaskUs, will be opening a new location in 2021 in Harlingen, bringing with it hundreds of jobs. The San Antonio-based company delivers CX, AI operations and content security to companies. “We are very excited for TaskUs to finally land and join our business community in Harlingen,” said Mayor Chris Boswell. “TaskUs’s award-winning, people-first culture, and their great employee perks and benefits are groundbreaking. We…
Texas State Technical College hosts its Virtual Job Fair Oct. 29 for students and alumni. TSTC’s Director of Planning and Special Events Hannah Luce says that despite not having a physical location, the job fair will work much as it traditionally would have. “Those attending will still be able to visit with attending employers and network just as if it were an in-person event,” she said. “One of the differences…
Magic Valley Electric Cooperative recently gave $20,000 to the TSTC Foundation for scholarships in Texas State Technical College’s Electrical Lineworker Technology program. The funds will benefit deserving students who one day hope to become part of the lineworker industry. “The funding will enable us to help TSTC in its work to prepare students for the workforce now and in the future,” said TSTC Senior Field Development Officer Richard Mesquias. “This…
Harlingen is extending its most popular hike-and-bike trail from the Arroyo Colorado to Dixieland Park as the city works to expand its trails master plan. The 1.6-mile extension along the banks of the Arroyo Colorado will be the first trail addition in five years. It will take the trail from its current end adjacent to Boggus Ford along Expressway 77/83 and wind it near the Tony Butler Golf Course. It…
The HELP for Small Business initiative continues to take applications until Sept. 30. The program began in late spring with the City of Harlingen and the Harlingen EDC recognizing the need for help as the COVID-19 pandemic took a toll on the business community. That prompted the Harlingen EDC board of directors to set aside $1,000,000 to fund HELP for Small Business. The program had successfully assisted many small businesses.…
The Catholic Diocese of Brownsville is launching Census Sundays in an effort to bolster census participation in areas that are still undercounted. In addition to announcements to parishioners, certain area churches will host drive-through events every weekend through Sept. 27. “A vital part of the mission of the Church is to care for the people of God – all people – Catholic or not,” states a release from the Diocese.…
Hometown pharmacies in Mercedes mean featuring orange-and-white themes and a community’s love for high school football. At Mid-Valley Pharmacy, a Mercedes Tiger football helmet sits up high on a main counter. Around the corner at Coach’s Pharmacy on Texas Avenue, the pharmacist is a former football coach. He also wears something orange to work every day. The down-home connections are especially pertinent these days. Customers throughout the Mid-Valley depend on…
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…