Irineo Capetillo knows what it’s like to navigate through the birth, emergence and subsequent struggles of a business that even in success, needs assistance if it hopes to see further growth. Going into 2019, Capetillo knew his Kapal Industries had outgrown its Donna facility. He also needed a second facility to expand his cabinet making and countertops manufacturing operations. The early search for a second facility in the Rio Grande…
South Texas College’s seventh annual Binational Innovation Conference (INNO) took place Nov. 1. This year’s conference brought together those from industry, education and economic development. Each brought pertinent information with a focus on both innovation and the impact of students on the future workforce. “A New Era of Manufacturing in South Texas and Northern Mexico” centered primarily on the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. The proposed agreement looks to modernize the 24-year-old…
For generations, manufacturing has played a critical role in Texas’s diverse economy. Texas is home to approximately 17,500 manufacturing firms, with 80 of those being in Hidalgo County, said Mike Willis, treasurer of the South Texas Manufacturers Association. National Manufacturing Month is in October. Today, Oct. 4, the first Friday in October, is actually National Manufacturing Day. “Celebrating Manufacturing Month gets more people involved in economic development, it increases awareness and promotes…
Although the Rio Grande Valley is not as much of a manufacturing region as some other places in the state and the country, a local company continues to be a leader in the construction industry. It’s Innovative Block of South Texas. The La Feria business opened its doors in 2006 and is a major supplier of construction and solid blocks, as well as patio and walkway pavers. In addition, the company also…
A partnership between the Weslaco Economic Development Corp. and South Texas College is leading to better trained workforces for warehousing, distribution and manufacturing companies in both the Mid-Valley and surrounding areas. A $100,000 STC grant is one component of the EDC’s partnership with the college and its Institution for Advanced Manufacturing. The training provided by the grant is initially focusing on occupational health and safety. The first round of training…
South Texas College, Hidalgo Independent School District and Texas Workforce Commission united for a check presentation benefiting student workforce training for careers in manufacturing and healthcare March 28. The grant provides both equipment and instruction for students in manufacturing and pharmacy technology career fields. More than $166,000 came from TWC in the form of the High Demand Job Training Grant and the Jobs and Education for Texans Grant. In partnership with TWC and…
The Rio South Texas Economic Council now has an office in Berlin, Germany. The new location is part of an effort by RSTEC to attract European manufacturing companies to the Rio Grande Valley. With this location in the geographic, economic and political heart of Europe, the office will provide RSTEC members an opportunity to leverage a local European resource for their business recruitment efforts. It will also provide companies interested in…
Custom training for local small businesses is the focus of a Weslaco EDC grant. The $100,000 grant will fund South Texas College in providing training in retail, manufacturing and logistics through Sept. 30, 2019. A ceremonial check presentation took place Nov 1 for the partnership to increase both high skill and high wage jobs in the Mid-Valley region. “Workforce training is one of the biggest negotiators in today’s economic projects,”…