Weslaco’s city leadership in recent years has honed in on a consistent message amid the community’s growth across several key economic sectors. The days of local residents having to go to McAllen to shop and dine are over, they say. “We don’t have to leave Weslaco anymore,” said Steven Valdez, the executive director of the Weslaco Economic Development Corporation. “We can stay home.” A business and commerce identity independent of…
Pam Le has a story to tell of a mother who came to the United States at age 17, knowing no one and speaking only her native Vietnamese. Hoa Le is the daughter of a U.S. serviceman she never met and a Vietnamese mother who died when Hoa was only eight years old. Coming to Houston through a sponsorship program, Hoa Le went about building an American life that would…
Daniel Silva spent 19 years at the Mission Economic Development Corporation, starting as a fresh college graduate and ascending to being the organization’s chief executive officer. The climb to the top job was fulfilling, but eventually there was an aspiration for another challenge. In 2022, when the opportunity to serve more than one Rio Grande Valley community came along, Silva took it in seeking to have a bigger footprint. In…
The Governor’s Small Business Summit — Weslaco on April 4 aims to help Texas small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs reach new heights by connecting them with the resources and information needed to start, strengthen and grow a business. This event offers a variety of sessions bringing together local, state and federal resource partners to provide key insights on critical business topics. It’s also an opportunity to network with other…
The Texas Onion Fest on March 23 celebrates the development of the world famous Texas 1015 Onion which was developed in Weslaco and is also the State Vegetable of Texas. Festivities include live entertainment on two stages, the Onion Eating Contest, food, commercial booths, kiddie rides, Dancing Horses, 1015 Market, Car Show, cooking demonstrations and more. Admission is free. Free parking is available along the festival route, additional parking sites include…
When friends told Weslaco resident Melba Gutierrez about the Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement, she listened intently. At the time, financial struggles made it difficult for her to attend nursing school full time because she had to work to help with basic necessities for herself, her partner and their two daughters — a pre-teen and a teen. Gutierrez, in her early 40s and a first-generation college student, applied to…
South Texas College Mid-Valley Campus Administrator Daniel Montez is the by the Weslaco Area Chamber of Commerce Man of the Year. The honor recognizes Montez’s commitment and dedication to community service and leadership. Montez said that being honored in this way is validation that his 10 years of service to the community was always the right thing to do. “Being awarded as Man of the Year validates years of service…
Join the Weslaco Chamber of Commerce for its monthly networking lunch mob at Los Primos SAGA on Feb. 7. Meet someone new and enjoy an opportunity to support local. Free to members, $5 for non-members. RSVP online.
Celebrate the holidays on Dec. 9 with the Weslaco Lighted Christmas Parade, featuring a variety of floats and a special appearance from Santa himself. Featuring more than 100 float entries, music and fun, the parade features Christmas Movie themed floats. Route runs down Texas Boulevard from Pike Street to 6th Street. Parking spaces are available down the parade route.
The Weslaco Chamber of Commerce and RGV Theme Runs come together to host the return of the annual Santa Dash 5K on Dec. 9 with participants kicking off the Weslaco Christmas Parade at 5 p.m. Each 5K runner will receiving a five-piece Santa Suit, medal and a bib. Register online.