The handshake, lunch meetings and traveling where necessary to meet promising prospects are all part of what makes economic development successful. In 2020, some of those elements have been put to the side. It has been a challenge to deal with for economic development professionals. The same is so for the business world they connect with daily. The trips to a company’s headquarters have been replaced with Zoom calls. Longer…
McAllen Mayor Jim Darling recently made a suggestion in advocating for fully reopening international bridges. The border, he said, could have a temporary move to the U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint near Falfurrias. Darling made the suggestion somewhat in jest and out of frustration that he and other Rio Grande Valley leaders have been unable to open the crossings to non-essential travel. “It didn’t go over too well with some folks,”…
Twenty-seven-year-old Nick Rhodes, the president of Esperanza Homes, moved to the Rio Grande Valley six years ago. Two years later, he applied for Leadership McAllen Class 36 and was selected. Throughout the course of the year, Rhodes and his Leadership-McAllen classmates learned about the multi-faceted city from both a historical and present-day perspective while also learning about each other. “Many in our group, some single and some married with no…
Jim Darling first came to McAllen and the Rio Grande Valley in 1977. The freshly minted graduate of the Baylor Law School who was looking for something new. “I saw the palm trees and felt the warm weather, and thought, ‘I think I want to stay here,’” said Darling, a native of Rochester, NY. Stay Darling did, serving 28 years as McAllen’s city attorney. Many of those years, he was…
The International Museum of Art & Science presents a community Holiday Market Dec. 5. The event helps kick off this year’s annual Christmas Tree Forest. The festive artist and artisan market takes place from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. near the west entrance and Welcome Pavilion. The community is invited to support these local artists and artisans and then visit the Christmas Tree Forest and museum exhibitions. In addition to…
This year, the McAllen Holiday Parade will honor local essential workers and organizers are asking the public to nominate their favorite frontline hero to be parade grand marshals. Entry deadline is Nov. 30 at 11:59 p.m. “This year has been a difficult year for everyone,” said McAllen Mayor Jim Darling. “As we learned to navigate through the challenges of wearing a mask, curbside delivery, Zoom meetings and Google classrooms, others…
McAllen residents are being encouraged to show off their holiday spirit and decorating skills with Keep McAllen Beautiful’s Holiday Home Lights Contest. The best three homes will win cash and prizes. The Holiday Home Lights contest encourages residents to help beautify and illuminate the McAllen landscape by lighting up their McAllen home. Those who would like to compete need to register by 11:59 p.m. Dec. 15. The Keep McAllen Beautiful…
The McAllen Classic Car Cruise Night on Nov. 14 gives a nod to the past of cruising the streets of McAllen. Vehicles participating in the parade will meet at the McAllen Chamber of Commerce for final registration and staging. Starting at 4 p.m., all cars will line up by category and travel north on Main Street with a stop at the Old Church parking lot for judging. Judging will be…
The City of McAllen is reimagining Christmas in McAllen this year with the South Pole Illuminated Drive and Theatre Experience. The McAllen Convention Center District will transform into a one-mile drive-thru holiday show of millions of lights and sound. “It has been a year of cancelled events, but one thing was for sure: the City of McAllen was not going to cancel Christmas,” said Mayor Jim Darling. “I am so happy…
Join the McAllen Chamber of Commerce Nov. 10 for its Virtual Power Network via Zoom. This is a chamber members’ only event. Power Network has become a crowd favorite and a great way to connect while still maintaining social distancing. The event provides an opportunity to promote business, make contacts and have fun while taking advantage of this marketing tool.