The small businesses in SBA’s Lower Rio Grande Valley District are the backbone of our economy and the heartbeat of our communities. The impact of the pandemic has been tough on many of our small businesses. And still, small business owners continue to demonstrate their resilience and commitment to meet the moment before them. As the world changed, almost overnight, small business owners pivoted just as quickly to offer new…
Small Business Saturday 2020 is on Nov. 28, marking the 11th annual Small Business Saturday. Last year, shoppers came together in full force to support their local communities. Small Business Saturday hit a record high with an estimated $19.6 billion in reported spending. This year surviving COVID-19 has become the sole mission of many small businesses. Despite the challenges, I have learned that local small businesses are resourceful and resilient.…
Small businesses are a critical part of the economy in Alamo, and the Alamo EDC works closely with those businesses to ensure their success. The EDC helps to cultivate an economically-healthy environment while also encouraging businesses to succeed while supporting the creation of jobs. The Alamo EDC assists and supports businesses through two main programs, the Revolving Loan Program and the Micro-Loan Program. The Revolving Loan Program offers small businesses with a low-interest…
Pro-business. Pro-business autonomy. Pro-personal freedom. You cannot support one without the others. VBR is and always has been a pro-business advocate for our Rio Grande Valley businesses and families. Current mandated mask orders on businesses in both Hidalgo and Cameron counties are government overstep. These are dangerous precedents, and we cannot and will not support them. Hidalgo and Cameron county officials are stepping on the rights of business owners ……
The Pharr Economic Development Corporation is helping businesses recover from the COVID-19 crisis. Earlier this month, the members of the Pharr EDC board of directors approved the Pharr CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Support). Similar to the federal financial relief program, Pharr CARES provides financial relief in the form of working capital. The forgivable grants between $2,500 and $5,000 are for businesses who have been negatively impacted by the…
The rush to apply for and receive emergency federal funds during the COVID-19 crisis didn’t reach everyone. The result of the first come/first serve component of the Small Business Administration-affiliated loans is many American businesses left out of the funding loop. In Harlingen, city leaders and the economic development corporation are doing something about it. The EDC put aside $1 million in funding in establishing Harlingen’s Emergency Loan Program, HELP.…
The Harlingen Economic Loan Program for Small Business committee convened May 13 to review and consider more than 60 loan application submissions. Applications come from businesses experiencing a more than 25 percent economic loss during the current crisis versus last year’s revenue. The committee also evaluated the required documentation, including financial information, in order to make a fair decision. In April the Harlingen EDC board set aside $1,000,000 to fund…
American Express is teaming up with Main Street America to give 10 small business owners $10,000 each to help their businesses innovate in this evolving retail landscape. The American Express Future of Shopping Small Grant Program celebrates small businesses across the country. The program supports small businesses that demonstrate new approaches to traditional business strategies. It also looks to help those looking to try out creative techniques, while also helping…
Boots to Business Reboot is coming to Brownsville Feb. 13, helping veterans via training to pursue business ownership. The two-step training program provides participants with a direction to small business ownership using character, discipline and skills. The training provides an overview of business ownership as a career vocation, and an outline and knowledge on the components of a business plan. Boots to Business Reboot also incorporates a practical exercise in opportunity…
More than a third of small businesses currently outsource at least some of their operations. And even more plan on exploring this option. Outsourcing describes when a business obtains a product or service from an outside provider, rather than handling it in-house. As a small business, outsourcing allows you to get more done and trust important tasks and processes to professionals, without having to actually grow your full-time team in a…