Rio Grande Guardian
Adrian Gonzalez
- Title
- Adrian Gonzalez
- Runtime
- 3:16
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Weslaco Mayor Adrian Gonzalez was delighted Gov. Greg Abbott came to the Mid-Valley Airport on Sept. 25 to share the news about the State Legislature's recent investments in Weslaco. Twenty-six million dollars was awarded to Weslaco this past legislative session. In an interview with the Rio Grande Guardian, Mayor Gonzalez said an investment in Weslaco is an investment in the whole region. He said that the Rio Grande Valley is growing as a whole and Weslaco, being in the center, is benefitting from this. Mayor Gonzalez said his priority is making sure Weslaco has the infrastructure in place so it can capitalize on the interest being shown by companies wishing to relocate to the Valley.
- Title
- Dr. Ada Cuellar, MD
- Runtime
- 7:48
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Dr. Ada Cuellar, a medical doctor from Weslaco, has announced her candidacy for Texas Congressional District 15. The Rio Grande Guardian caught up with Cuellar recently to ask about the campaign. The four questions posed to the candidate were: Tell us about your upbringing and background? Why are you running? What is your platform? What are you hearing from voters?
- Title
- William Steele
- Runtime
- 7:16
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- William Steele, founder and CEO of Supply Pay has settled on the corporation's new home. He has chosen Weslaco, which is where he and his wife live and where his wife has a restaurant. The company's HQ is in the UT-Rio Grande Valley's Center for Innovation and Commercialization in Weslaco. The cities of McAllen and Brownsville were courting Supply Pay but Steele chose Weslaco. Supply Pay is a brand new FinTech company that does invoice factoring for farmers in Latin America. Supply Pay has staff working in the United States, Mexico, and Brazil. The Rio Grande Guardian International News Service caught up with Steele recently at the Center for Innovation and Commercialization. He gave an update on the company's recent successes.
- Title
- McAllen Entertainment District
- Runtime
- 14:48
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- McAllen City Manager Isaac Tawil invited the landlords of premises in the city's entertainment district to city hall for a frank exchange of views. Landlords were surprised that the electricity of their tenants, who run the bars and clubs along 17th Street, was recently switched off upon the instructions of City officials. The move followed an incident in which a female McAllen police officer was assaulted on 17th Street. City officials said the tenants of the bars and clubs had violated the City's health and safety regulations. The meeting was held at city hall. One landlord, Aziz Showery, gave a lively speech. He questioned why it took many weeks for City of McAllen officials to reach him when he is such a well-known businessman in the city. This video contains Showery's presentation, along with the opening comments of Mayor Javier Villalobos and Tawil.
- Title
- McAllen businessman Jesus Gonzalez
- Runtime
- 2:58
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Businessman Jesus Gonzalez came to the Rio Grande Valley from Monterrey a couple of decades ago. He is the owner of an office leasing business, the NIU Urban Living furniture store in McAllen, and the Mercado District in McAllen. He is also co-founder of the Empresarios Group. Gonzalez recently gave the RGG Business Journal a brief interview on the state of the economy in the upper Rio Grande Valley. He said because of all the growth happening in the region, the opportunities for local entrepreneurs is plentiful. He said budding entrepreneurs do not have to be that original. In fact, he said, they could simply copy what is successful in bigger markets and do very well.
- Title
- James C. Harrington
- Runtime
- 27:18
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- James C. Harrington, founder of the Texas Civil Rights Project, spoke about his new book at an event held at the España restaurant in McAllen recently. He spoke mostly about his new book, "The Texas Civil Rights Project: How We Built a Social Justice Movement." The event was hosted by the Cine El Rey Theater Foundation. Here are Harrington's remarks in full.
- Title
- Carlos Samaniego
- Runtime
- 3:07
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Carlos Samaniego, a welding instructor at Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD, has spoken about his district's famed Countdown to Zero project. Under the project, PSJA staff go door-to-door to round up students that have dropped out of the school during the summer. The aim is to get the students to come back to school to earn their high school diploma and an industry recognized certificate. Samaniego says he knows the project is good because he benefited himself. He said when he was in school he dropped out, only to be enticed back to PSJA by his teachers. That changed his career trajectory, he said.
- Title
- Dr. Alejandro Elias
- Runtime
- 5:58
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Dr. Alejandro Elias, superintendent of Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD, has spoken about his district's famed Countdown to Zero project. Under the project, PSJA staff go door-to-door to round up students that have dropped out of the school during the summer. The aim is to get the students to come back to school to earn their high school diploma and an industry recognized certificate. Dr. Elias said this year's project has been very successful.
- Title
- Veronica Gonzales
- Runtime
- 5:10
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Veronica Gonzales is a board member of the Pharr EDC Foundation, a nonprofit organization that raises funds to help local students with scholarships for college. One of the foundation's top two fundraising events of the year is a golf tournament, held at the Tierra Del Sol Golf Course in Pharr. The Rio Grande Guardian interviewed Gonzales about the work of the foundation while the tournament was going on.
- Title
- Victor Perez
- Runtime
- 3:14
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Victor Perez is chairman of the Pharr EDC Foundation, a nonprofit organization that raises funds to help local students with scholarships for college. One of the foundation's top two fundraising events of the year is a golf tournament, held at the Tierra Del Sol Golf Course in Pharr. The Rio Grande Guardian interviewed Perez about the work of the foundation while the tournament was going on.
- Title
- PSJA ISD - Renovating an Historic Auditorium
- Runtime
- 32:14
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for a project to renovate their historic auditorium. Built in the early 1960s, it was known as the Oso Dome. PSJA plans to transform it into a state--of-the-art auditorium, featuring seating for nearly 1,200 guests, advanced lighting and sound, "and the amenities our award-winning performers deserve."
- Title
- Eloy Garza discusses RGV LEAD's new Innovation Hub
- Runtime
- 19:56
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Eloy Garza is a marketing lecturer at UT-Rio Grande Valley, owner of Career Bridge, a work-based learning management system, and an executive board member of RGV LEAD. RGV LEAD has been connecting education and industry for the past 30 years. In an exclusive and in-depth interview, Garza discusses RGV LEAD's new Innovation Hub. "Businesses in our region deserve practical, affordable support, and students deserve real-world experiences that prepare them for careers. The Innovation Hub delivers both,” Garza said.
- Title
- Jesus Gonzalez discusses MOMOLE USA
- Runtime
- 1:06
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Jesus Gonzalez, owner of the Mercado District in McAllen, has welcomed the arrival of his latest tenant, MOMOLE USA from Reynosa. In an interview with the Rio Grande Guardian, Gonzalez said the food is unlike anything else available at the district. And he gave a shoutout to McAllen Economic Development Corporation for landing the restaurant. The Mercado District has over 100 tenants.
- Title
- Dr. Ada Cuellar
- Runtime
- 10:52
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Dr. Ada Cuellar, MD, of Weslaco has announced her candidacy for Texas Congressional District 15. She kicked off proceedings with an event at The House of Bloom in her hometown. Cuellar, a Democrat, says she wants to bring a brighter future for the people of CD 15. She says she is ready to challenge U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz in the general election next year. This video features her remarks at the campaign kickoff event.
- Title
- PSJA ISD
- Runtime
- 32:14
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- PSJA ISD is to renovate its famous old auditorium, otherwise known as the dome. Built in the 1960s, the auditorium has remained dormant for many years. But construction is now in full swing to transform the dome into a modern, state-of-the-art auditorium featuring seating for almost 1,200 guests. This video includes highlights from a press conference held to announce the new developments. The emcee was former TV presenter Rick Diaz, a PSJA alum.
- Title
- Tania Chavez Camacho
- Runtime
- 11:53
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Tania Chavez Camacho, executive director of La Unión del Pueblo Entero, recently gave an in-depth interview to the Rio Grande Guardian about her group’s work. In the interview, Chavez expressed her concern about ICE raids in immigrant communities. The interview immediately followed a private meeting LUPE hosted with Janet Murguía, president of UnidosUS and community groups that help low-income families in the Rio Grande Valley.
- Title
- Janet Murguía
- Runtime
- 4:21
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Janet Murguía, president of UnidosUS, recently met privately with community groups that help low-income families in the Rio Grande Valley. The meeting was held at the offices of La Unión del Pueblo Entero in San Juan. After the meeting, Murguía gave an interview to the Rio Grande Guardian. She explained her concerns about federal funding cuts to Medicaid and Hispanic-Serving Institutions.
- Title
- Steve Jennings, CCDD5
- Runtime
- 9:01
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Cameron County Drainage District 5 and Cameron County leaders are working on a project to improve drainage across the city. The Rio Grande Guardian interviewed CCDD5 President Steve Jennings about the project.
- Title
- David Fuentes
- Runtime
- 5:50
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- The recent groundbreaking ceremony for a new Sam’s Club in Weslaco afforded the Rio Grande Guardian the opportunity to interview Hidalgo County Commissioner David Fuentes. In addition to discussing the near $50 million Sam’s Club investment, Fuentes discussed some of the big projects his Precinct One team is working on.
- Title
- Texas Southmost College-Bechtel
- Runtime
- 18:33
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Texas Southmost College recently received a $50,000 check from Bechtel to train workers for the big liquefied natural gas export terminal project being undertaken at the Port of Brownsville by NextDecade. TSC held a press conference at the college’s ITEC Center just prior to the check presentation. Here is video from the press conference.
- Title
- Janet Murguía's speech at RGVHCC's 2025 Latina Leadership Conference
- Runtime
- 22:28
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Janet Murguía is president and CEO of UnidosUS, formerly National Council of La Raza. Recently, Murguía gave the keynote speech at the Rio Grande Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s 2025 Latina Leadership Conference. The event was held at Mission Event Center. In her speech, Murguía said she is concerned about the direction the country is going in. She highlighted cuts in federal funding for Medicaid, Hispanic Serving Institutions, and migrant education as examples of bad policy. She also criticized ICE raids. “We are not on the road to economic prosperity. In fact, the opposite,” she said. Here is her presentation in full.
- Title
- Hidalgo County's new OnMed Care Station
- Runtime
- 12:28
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Hidalgo County's Health & Human Services Department has joined with health organizations in the private sector to unveil the county's first OnMed Care Station. It is free for the public to use. Here is a video recording of the press conference and ribbon-cutting ceremony.
- Title
- Dr. Phillip Lyons Sam Houston State University MOV
- Runtime
- 7:19
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Dr. Phillip Lyons is dean of the College of Criminal Justice at Sam Houston State University. The Rio Grande Guardian interviewed him about a new partnership his university has entered into with South Texas College.
- Title
- Steven M. Valdez
- Runtime
- 4:55
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Weslaco is getting its first Sam's Club. It will open in late 2026. A recent groundbreaking ceremony drew dozens of VIPs from the city and across the
Rio Grande Valley. In fact, even Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock participated. After the ceremony had concluded, the Rio Grande Guardian interviewed Steven M. Valdez, executive director of the Economic Development Corporation of Weslaco.
- Title
- Pathways for Trade Symposium, Canadian Pacific Kansas City MOV
- Runtime
- 28:18
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- A keynote presentation at the recent Pathways for Trade Symposium was given by John Brooks, executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Canadian Pacific Kansas City. The symposium was hosted by Laredo Economic Development Corporation and held at Laredo Country Club. Brooks was introduced by Teclo Garcia, CEO of Mission Economic Development Corporation. Here is the presentation.
- Title
- STC & Sam Houston State University Criminal Justice Program Partnership
- Runtime
- 23:31
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- South Texas College and Sam Houston State University have announced a new Criminal Justice Program partnership. The partnership allows students a seamless transfer from STC's two-year criminal justice associate's degree program to SHSU's bachelor's degree program upon graduation and verification of credits. Here is a press conference announcing the partnership.
- Title
- Pathways for Trade Symposium: Foreign Trade & Relations
- Runtime
- 32:13
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Laredo Economic Development Corporation hosted its 2025 Pathways for Trade Symposium at the Laredo Country Club on Aug. 28. One of the panels discussed "Foreign Trade, Foreign Relations: Perspectives and Relations." The panelists were: Humberto Matinuez Cntu, president of INDEX Nacional, Enrique Moran, president of INDEX Nuevo Laredo, and Israel Morales, a member of INDEX 's national committee for Mexico-U.S. Affairs and International Agreements. The moderator was Cesar G. Hernandez, COO of MileOne. Here is the panel discussion.
- Title
- Pathways for Trade Symposium USMCA Discussion
- Runtime
- 59:00
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- An absorbing panel discussion on the renewal of USMCA took place at Laredo EDC's Pathways for Trade Symposium, which took place at the Laredo Country Club on August. 28, 2025. The panel title was "Exploring the USMCA Landscape: Key Takeaways and Opportunities." The three panelists were: Gerald Schwebel, executive vice president of International Bank of Commerce, Dan Ujczo, senior counsel for Thompson Hine, and Laurie A. Tannous, vice president of government relations and general counsel for Farrow, A. Kuele, and Nagel. The moderator was Rachel Connell, vice president of NASCO. Here is a video recording of the discussion in full.
- Title
- U.S. Rep Monica de la Cruz, Texas Congressional District 15
- Runtime
- 6:44
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- U.S. Rep. Monica de la Cruz participated in a private Prosperity Task Force meeting on Aug. 26, 2025. It was held in the boardroom of Vantage Bank in McAllen. De La Cruz listened to the concerns of members of the task force. Some of the concerns centered on federal budget cuts to programs that help the less fortunate in the Rio Grande Valley, members of the task force told the Rio Grande Guardian. Afterwards, the Guardian was granted an interview with the representative.
- Title
- Dr. Rashmi Chandran, CEO & President AltaCair Foundation
- Runtime
- 6:23
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Dr. Rashmi Chandran is President & CEO of AltaCair Foundation. She participated in a private Prosperity Task Force meeting with U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz. Afterwards she gave an interview to the Rio Grande Guardian about the meeting.
- Title
- Felida Villarreal, President & CEO VIDA
- Runtime
- 4:29
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Felida Villarreal is president and CEO of VIDA. She participated in a private Prosperity Task Force meeting with U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz. Afterwards she gave an interview to the Rio Grande Guardian about the meeting.
- Title
- Felipe Salinas, Member Bread for the World
- Runtime
- 5:39
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Felipe Salinas is a member of Bread for the World. He participated in a private Prosperity Task Force meeting with U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz. Afterwards he gave an interview to the Rio Grande Guardian about the meeting.
- Title
- Gary Gibbs, Exec Dir Texas Commission on the Arts
- Runtime
- 2:26
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Gary Gibbs is executive director of the Texas Commission on the Arts. This week he has led a delegation from Austin on a fact-finding tour of Brownsville. The aim is to have Brownsville officially designated as a city of historical and cultural significance. Here is an interview the Rio Grande Guardian secured with Gibbs during his visit.
- Title
- Angie Gonzalez, Site Coordinator, The PossAble Dream Adult High School Pharr
- Runtime
- 7:33
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Angie Gonzalez is site coordinator for The PossAble Dream Adult High School in Pharr. The school, located on the site of the old Pharr Events Center, caters for students aged 18 to 50 who want to go back to school to earn their high school diploma and, if they wish, a trade certification. The Rio Grande Guardian interviewed Gonzalez on the first day of the new school year.
- Title
- Ana D. Gonzalez, Executive Director | Teach for America RGV MOV
- Runtime
- 36:48
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- An interview with Ana D. Gonzalez, executive director of Teach for America - Rio Grande Valley, about the new school year.
- Title
- Guillermo Rico-Leal
- Runtime
- 24:41
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Guillermo Rico-Leal is director of business development and marketing for the Port of Brownsville Texas. Rico-Leal recently gave a detailed overview of current and planned activity at the port. He gave his report at a recent RioPlex meeting at South Texas College’s Mid Valley Campus in Weslaco. Among the topics covered were the liquefied natural gas export terminals being built at the port, the deepening of the ship channel, improving the added value of raw materials that pass through the port, construction of a new industrial park, and importance of ship breaking and ship building at the port.
- Title
- Robert Lozano
- Runtime
- 34:16
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Robert Lozano is chairman of Hidalgo County Regional Mobility Authority. He was appointed to this position by Gov. Greg Abbott. At a recent HCRMA board meeting, Lozano explained how the group did not get its legislative agenda passed in the regular session. The RMA wanted to expand its overweight corridors but this was met with hostility by legislators in general. The Texas Department of Public Safety was opposed and had a lot of sway, Lozano said. It was also felt that the corridors were being used by "bad actors" in Mexico that were involved in fuel theft. Lozano spoke in depth about the issue at the board meeting.
- Title
- William Dietrich
- Runtime
- 50:36
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- William Dietrich is port director and CEO of the Port of Brownsville. Dietrich recently gave a detailed overview of current and planned activity at the port. He gave his report to the South Texas Manufacturers Association. Among the topics discussed were the liquefied natural gas export terminals being built at the port, the deepening of the ship channel, improving the added value of raw materials that pass through the port, construction of a new industrial park, and importance of ship breaking and ship building at the port.
- Title
- RioPlex announces its first Ambassadors
- Runtime
- 1:02:15
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- RioPlex, the nonprofit group that is marketing the Rio Grande Valley and Northern Tamaulipas around the world, held a press conference at South Texas College's Mid Valley Campus in Weslaco on Aug. 21, 2025. The purpose of the press conference was to announce the group's first 15 "Ambassadors." They will help spread the word about RioPlex. Here is a video recording of all the speeches given at the event.
- Title
- Buenas Tardes Luncheon
- Runtime
- 41:02
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- The Greater Mission Chamber of Commerce held the latest in its Buenas Tardes Luncheon series on Aug. 13, 2025. It centered on a panel discussion titled, “The State of Current Business.” There were six panelists: Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez; Rick Carrera, director of economic development for the Council for South Texas Economic Progress; Joe Quiroga, president of Texas National Bank; Juan Francisco Ochoa, Jr., CEO of Taco Palenque Group; Dante Galeazzi, CEO and President of Texas International Produce Association; and state Rep. Sergio Muñoz of Mission. The moderator was Kimberly Selber, associate dean of community engagement in the College of Liberal Arts at UT-Rio Grande Valley.
- Title
- Jaime Escobar, Jr
- Runtime
- 1:00
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Tío Juan Manuel Escobar is a role model for Roma Mayor Jaime Escobar, Jr. In an exclusive interview with the Rio Grande Guardian, the mayor notes that his uncle is a war hero, former county commissioner, former school board president, and former state representative. He forgot to mention that he is also a noted genealogist and RGV Sports Hall of Famer. "He is one of my idols," the mayor said. "I hope one to one day be the type of leader he is."
- Title
- Jaime Escobar, Jr
- Runtime
- 10:08
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Jaime Escobar, Jr., is mayor of Roma. In an exclusive and in-depth interview with the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service, Escobar speaks about industrial activity in his city, which revolves around the Roma International Bridge. He said a new industrial park called Las Americas is key but laments that the take up by tenants has not been as fast as he would have liked. He puts this down in part to uncertainty caused by the federal government's tariff policy. In the interview, Escobar also talks about a new spur being built to the bridge and TxDOT's long term plans for an interstate in Starr County.
- Title
- 2025 Small Business Summit - Building Your Dream: A Conversation with Entrepreneurs
- Runtime
- 34:34
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- The Governor's Office of Small Business Assistance teamed up with Pharr Economic Development Corporation to host the 2025 Governor's Small Business Summit. It was held at the Jose "Pepe" Salinas Memorial Recreation Center in Pharr. One of the panel discussions was titled: Building Your Dream: A Conversation with Entrepreneurs. The moderator was Carlos Margo, dean of the Center for Advanced Training and Apprenticeships at South Texas College. The panelists were: Elizabeth Chavez, vice president of development and community engagement for Junior’s Supermarket, Isaac D. Smith, co-owner of Matt’s Building Materials, and Ramon Mery, owner of Lakeway Foods. Here are highlights from the panel discussion.
- Title
- Adrian Gonzalez
- Runtime
- 4:38
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Weslaco Mayor Adrian Gonzalez welcomed RioPlex to his city for a press conference held at South Texas College's Mid Valley Campus. At the event, RioPlex's board of directors announced their first 15 "Ambassadors." Gonzalez had a speaking role at the event and afterwards gave an exclusive interview to the RGG Business Journal. In the interview, Gonzalez gave his full backing to RioPlex. He said it is vital the Rio Grande Valley and Northern Tamaulipas be marketed as one region, noting that it is easy for him to lure new businesses to Weslaco if he cites a population in the millions, rather than 45,000. In the interview, Gonzalez also spoke about an exciting development for Weslaco, the arrival of a Sam's Club.
- Title
- Richard Cortez
- Runtime
- 3:11
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- RioPlex, the new marketing initiative designed to promote the Rio Grande Valley and Northern Tamaulipas across the globe, came about thanks in large part to Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez. Cortez started the Prosperity Task Force to address poverty in the region. The participants in this group realized there needed to be a business component. So, the CEO Group was formed. The top executives in the CEO Group decided the region needed to be marketed as one. And so, RioPlex was born. It is now a nonprofit with a board of directors. On Aug. 22, 2025, the board held a press conference to announce their first 15 "Ambassadors." These ambassadors will help spread the word about RioPlex. At the end of the press conference, Judge Cortez gave an exclusive interview to the RGG Business Journal about the work of RioPlex.
- Title
- Rafael Vela
- Runtime
- 9:06
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Rafael Vela, CEO of Workforce Solutions Cameron, has given an in-depth update on his group's work. RGG Border Business caught up with Vela at a JET Grant check presentation ceremony hosted by the Texas Workforce Commission at Texas Southmost College. Vela has been with WSC for a year and a half. He said being there was like being on a fast moving train. He said he wakes up every morning knowing he has to satisfy the needs of three groups, those looking for a job, those in work but needing to improve their work skills, and what he calls the "industrial complex." He noted that the latter has grown considerably in recent years, due to the arrival of SpaceX and LNG. He said the amount of investment coming in has not been seen in Texas before, never mind the Rio Grande Valley.
- Title
- TWC Jet Grant presentation
- Runtime
- 18:44
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Albert Treviño, III, the Texas Workforce Commission commissioner representing labor, was at Texas Southmost College on Wednesday, Aug. 20, to present replicas of checks to representatives from various educational institutions. Treviño presented five JET grants, totaling $1,174,514.00 to five grant recipients. The five were: Edinburg CISD (in partnership with Texas Southmost College), Roma ISD (in partnership with South Texas College), South Texas ISD (in partnership with Texas State Technical College-Harlingen), Texas Southmost College, and Weslaco ISD (in partnership with South Texas College). In the first year of the grants, the funding will help train 2,140 students in high demand occupations in Healthcare and Welding, Treviño explained.“This is very important, especially for this area,” he said. “This is going to benefit 2,140 students." Here is a video recording of the remarks of the recipients.
- Title
- Nestor Lopez - Part Two
- Runtime
- 3:04
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Nestor Lopez is regional business liaison in the Outreach & Employer Initiatives Division of Texas Workforce Commission. Lopez recently spoke at an event hosted by McAllen Economic Development Corporation. It was held to encourage businesses to take advantage of TWC programs, particularly the agency's biggest - the Skills Development Fund. However, in a powerpoint presentation, Lopez showed a slide that confirmed that, per capita, the local workforce bodies in the upper and lower Rio Grande Valley were not getting their fair share of funds. Lopez acknowledged as much in his remarks. "I am not very happy (with what this slide shows). I do think we should be getting more of these funds," Lopez said.
- Title
- Nestor Lopez - Part One
- Runtime
- 5:12
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Nestor Lopez is regional business liaison in the Outreach & Employer Initiatives Division of Texas Workforce Commission. Lopez recently spoke at an event hosted by McAllen Economic Development Corporation. It was held to encourage businesses to take advantage of TWC programs, particularly the agency's biggest - the Skills Development Fund. However, in a powerpoint presentation, Lopez showed a slide that confirmed that, per capita, the local workforce bodies in the upper and lower Rio Grande Valley were not getting their fair share of funds. Lopez acknowledged as much in his remarks. "I am not very happy (with what this slide shows). I do think we should be getting more of these funds," Lopez said. At the conclusion of his presentation the Rio Grande Guardian interviewed Lopez to learn why the RGV was not utilizing the funds to the fullest.
- Title
- Dub Taylor
- Runtime
- 2:41
- Date posted
- 1 year ago
- Description
- Dub Taylor is COO of the Texas PACE Authority. He recently spoke at a Pharr EDC event and to help make his case he had a powerpoint presentation. That presentation showed lots of examples of PACE projects in other parts of the state - but none along the border. The nearest were in San Antonio. In an interview with the Rio Grande Guardian, Taylor said that is why he was in Pharr - to spread the word about the benefits. The Pace website states: "Property Assessed Clean Energy (TX-PACE) is a proven financial tool that incentivizes Texas’ property owners to upgrade facility infrastructure with little or no capital outlay. Approved by State legislation and established by local governments, TX-PACE programs enable owners to lower their operating costs and use the savings to pay for eligible water conservation, energy efficiency, resiliency, and distributed generation projects. Owners gain access to private, affordable, long-term (typically 20-30 years) financing that is not available throu...
