Tag Archives: SBA

Region 6 Small Business Advocate Rhett Davis of the SBA’s Office of Advocacy host two local small business regulatory forums March 28. The forums are held in an effort to further the goals of presidential executive orders on regulatory reform. The goal of the visit is to hear directly from small business owners about federal regulations that concern them. This is an opportunity for small businesses to educate the Office of Advocacy through first-hand…

Emerging Leaders Launches in South Texas

February 25, 2019

VBR

Business Advice Featured News Comments

South Texas small businesses are now eligible for the SBA’s 2019 Emerging Leaders Initiative. The program provides “no cost” intensive entrepreneurship education as well as training to those who want to elevate their businesses to the next level. As an offering from the Lower Rio Grande Valley District Office, the course includes nearly 100 hours of classroom time. Participants also have opportunities to work with experienced coaches and mentors. Additionally, small business owners and…

Mentoring: the Missing Link to Small Business Growth and Survival

February 11, 2019

Kathleen McShane

Business Advice Featured News Comments

As a former small business owner and entrepreneur, I know first-hand the support, resources and access to networks and financing that entrepreneurs need. While there are many businesses that experience success, the fact remains that only half of all small businesses survive more than five years (source: SBA Office of Advocacy); and about 10-12 percent of all employee-based firms close each year. There is growing evidence, however, that connecting a business…

Five Reasons You Need a Business Plan

January 30, 2019

Allen Gutierrez

Business Advice Featured Comments

If you are starting a small business, there is no shortage of advice on the steps you should take: registering your business name, getting a Tax ID, deciding on a business structure and applying for the needed permits and licenses. While these are all very important steps to take, a business plan will be central to how you start, grow and develop your business. Here are five reasons why you…

UTRGV SBDC Offers Multiple Services

January 16, 2019

VBR

Business Advice Featured News Comments

The Small Business Administration estimates about 627,000 new businesses open every year. It might be a hobby to earn extra income, or a long-standing idea you finally want to act on. Whatever the motivation, there are resources available for people who want to launch a business in 2019. One of the organizations aspiring business owners can turn to is the Small Business Development Center housed at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Center…

SBA Administrator Visits RGV

January 1, 2019

George Cox

Events Government Comments

Linda McMahon and her husband took a small regional business and built it into a multinational powerhouse brand known as WWE. For non-wrestling fans, that stands for World Wrestling Entertainment, a media and entertainment company primarily known for professional wrestling. Active in WWE from 1980 to 2009, serving as president and CEO, McMahon left the company to mount two unsuccessful runs for the U.S. Senate in her home state of…

SBA Names New Regional Administrator

December 13, 2018

VBR

e-Brief Features Government News Comments

The U.S. Small Business Administration has appointed Justin Crossie as the regional administrator for SBA’s Region VI, which includes the Lower Rio Grande Valley District. Crossie now leads 10 district office directors, serving more than 3.8 million small businesses. Offices under his direction are in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. Crossie will lead the delivery of SBA’s financial, entrepreneurial development, government contracting and international export initiatives. He will also head…

RGV Celebrates Veterans Small Business Week

November 8, 2018

VBR

Business Advice e-Brief Features Events News Comments

This week is the U.S. Small Business Administration’s National Veterans Small Business Week, highlighting the different facets of the veteran business community. Locally, the Lower Rio Grande Valley office of SBA is in the middle of the celebration, offering events, many of which take place in the next days. This year’s theme, “Our #VetBiz Community,” showcases the various facets of the veteran business community, ranging from the prospective or existing veteran…

Knowledge Gained at Business to Botana Expo

September 25, 2018

Stefania Trimboli

Business Advice Events Featured News Comments

From the moment people walked into the Brownsville Event Center for the Business to Botana Expo on Sept. 19, they were surrounded by the sights and smells this event was showcasing. There was no shortage of food booths with everything ranging from Taco Palenque to Bara Exotic Food to Vita Zumo. Free to the public, this popular event drew crowds of all ages. Babies in strollers ate pieces of fruit…

Hurricane Preparedness Tips For Business

June 21, 2018

Linda McMahon

Business Advice e-Brief Features Featured News Comments

For this blog about Hurricane Season preparedness, we thought it would make sense to get some business continuity tips from a real expert — a business owner who survived multiple disasters. Three Brothers Bakery, a 69-year-old business owned by Janice and Robert Jucker, suffered losses of around $1 million after Hurricane Harvey devastated Houston last August. In 2008, the destruction caused by Hurricane Ike forced the couple to close the…