Tag Archives: Mission EDC

Meade is New Pharr City Manager

Alex Meade, third from left, at a recent Pharr City Commission meeting where he was named the new city manager.

At a recent city commission meeting, Pharr Mayor Pro-Tem Bobby Carillo introduced Alex Meade as Pharr’s new city manager. Meade recently served as the first CEO for Mission Economic Development Corporation, helping attract projects totaling more than $300 million. Meade also established the Center for Education and Economic Development (CEED) in Mission. “Alex Meade has a history of success of helping communities across South Texas expand their capacity for growth to…

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Silva Heads Mission EDC

Mission EDC Board, left to right, Vice President Richard Hernandez, President S. David Deanda, Catherine Garcia, Mission EDC CEO Daniel Silva, Mayor Armando O’Caña, Mario Garza and Secretary Pete Jaramillo

Daniel Silva is the new chief executive officer of the Mission Economic Development Corporation. Silva’s primary responsibilities are creating jobs and economic opportunity in Mission. Silva’s 14 years of economic development experience includes that of Mission EDC’s chief operating officer for seven years. He holds a bachelor’s in Business Administration in Computer Information Systems as well as a master’s in Public Administration. Both degrees are from the UT-Pan American (UTRGV). “I appreciate…

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Pressing for a Healthy Diet

Maribeny Jenis Otero’s fight against cancer led her to develop healthy products she markets at B.veggie. (Courtesy)

Maribeny Jenis Otero took a setback in her life and turned it into an opportunity to help others improve their health. Jenis is a cancer survivor and overcoming the disease meant changing her diet with an emphasis on plant-based nutrition. It would also lead her to create healthy juices she used to boost her health. When family and friends got a taste of her homemade beverages, they encouraged her to…

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Small Businesses Score $50K from Mission EDC

The Mission Economic Development Corporation’s small business development program, Ruby Red Ventures, named three new winners of its small business funding competition. A local all-natural, cold-pressed juice producer, a maker of pre-packaged Mexican stews and meals, and manufacturer of gourmet grilling sauces are all recent winners of $50,000 in funding from Mission EDC. Mr. Pepe, El Cazos Guisos and B. Veggie took the top three spots, respectively, in the latest round of the…

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Mission Partnership Promotes STEM Careers

Mission junior high students who participated in the recent SEAD Academy (photo Mission EDC)

Mission junior high students recently received a taste of innovation and technology thanks to a partnership between SEAD (Science, Engineering, Art and Design) Academy, Mission Economic Development Corporation, and Texas A&M University Department of Engineering Technology and Industrial Distribution. Together, the collaborators participated in the National Science Foundation’s Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers program. After holding the first Smart Home Competition in June 2017 in Bryan, Texas, SEAD Academy…

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Mission Internship Produces Results

Mission EDC CEED

The Mission EDC’s first group of interns did exactly what they were meant to do over the last year at the CEED Building: gain experience, grow skills and get ready to transition into the professional world. The students, stationed at different work areas around the Mission EDC based on their skill set and worked on cyber security issues. They also worked in facility management, marketing, social media management, event production,…

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Mission EDC Teams Up for Educator Training

computer science professional development

More than 100 teachers and counselors in Mission will receive computer science professional development this summer thanks to a local partnership. Mission EDC, Code/Interactive and the Mission Consolidated Independent School District are joining forces with Google to offer the training to 100 teachers and 20 counselors in elementary and junior high schools. One teacher from every grade level in Mission CISD’s 14 elementary and four middle schools will receive training.…

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Facade initiative revitalize Downtown Mission

Mission Economic Development Corporation’s Downtown Facade Improvement Program

Dozens of dilapidated downtown buildings are now renovated thanks to the Mission Economic Development Corporation’s Downtown Facade Improvement Program. In partnership with locally-owned small businesses, Mission EDC has funded the refurbishment of more than 40 Conway Avenue storefronts in the past five years. Renovated storefronts include those of photo studios, barbershops, insurance agencies, boot stores and pastry shops. Still on a successful run, the program recently awarded its 41st matching grant to a small business…

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Mission Employment Reaches Record High

With the latest number released by the Texas Workforce Commission. Mission has reached a new milestone. Figures released for Feb. 2018 show the city has 34,433 people employed, thanks in part to the 900 jobs added to the local economy last year. This is the highest number of people in employment in Mission since TWC began keeping figures for cities in 2005. Mission’s 6.0 percent unemployment rate for February was a…

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A Mission to Promote New Business

Cultura Agency owner Art Alcantar is one of the entrepreneurs who launched a business with the help of the Mission EDC. (VBR)

Art Alcantar spent years away from his native Rio Grande Valley building a multimedia career that specializes in digital and social media marketing. In recent years, when he looked around the Valley for a facility to that could meet the needs of his technology-driven business, Alcantar found the ideal landing spot in Mission. The 55,000-square-foot Mission Economic Development Corp. facility has all of the high-end technological amenities that Alcantar’s business…

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