Daniela Capistran

RGG Business Journal •

Exclusive: Dallas Fed economist gives regional economic update - RGG Business Journal

WESLACO, Texas - Senior business economist in the San Antonio branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, Luis Torres, gave an in-depth presentation to RioPlex recently.

The event happened at South Texas College's Mid-Valley campus in Weslaco.

The presentation titled: "Regional Economic Update: The Twists and Turns of 2025 and a Look Ahead" focused on the Texas economy's slight decline last year and a possible increase in this year's economy.

Here is a slideshow presentation of the report T...
Rio Grande Guardian •

City of Brownsville breaks down 2026 fiscal year budget - Rio Grande Guardian

BROWNSVILLE, Texas - Interim City Manager Alan Guard discussed the City of Brownsville’s 2026 fiscal year budget and capital improvement plan on Jan. 16.

The event was held at the Communications and Marketing Department/Convention and Visitors Bureau Complex.

Guard introduced the business community to the city’s budget and broke down the services it entails.

The event featured Guard presenting on the city’s taxes, explaining how funds are allocated, and allowing members of the business commun...
Spotlight on Rotary, Part Five: Hernán Colmenero - •

Spotlight on Rotary, Part Five: Hernán Colmenero - Rio Grande Guardian

BROWNSVILLE, Texas - Hernán Colmenero is founder and board president of the Institute for Ecology Scholarship & Health. A Rotary Club member, he attended Rotary’s recent International Peace Summit, held at Brownsville Events Center. 

During the event, Colmenero gave the Rio Grande Guardian an exclusive interview. The interview, in English, was conducted by Guardian reporter Daniela Capistran. 

Here is the interview:

Editor’s Note: The above video story is the fifth in a five-part series. Clic...
Michoacán business leaders to tour RioPlex - RGG B •

Michoacán business leaders to tour RioPlex - RGG Business Journal

PHARR, Texas - RioPlex is set to host a groundbreaking for La Bonanza Avocodos, an avocado export company, on Nov. 14.
The ceremony will host more than 20 business leaders from Michoacan on the corner of Las Milipas and Veterans Rd. It will follow with a three day long trade mission event.
The Groundbreaking begins with a welcome from the ‘master of ceremonies’ at 4:30 p.m. and is accompanied by a message from the Mayor of Pharr, Dr. Ambrosio Hernandez. Chairman of Rioplex, Joaquin Spammer, is t...
Spotlight on Rotary, Part Three: Ron Whitlock - Ri •

Spotlight on Rotary, Part Three: Ron Whitlock - Rio Grande Guardian

BROWNSVILLE, Texas - Ron Whitlock was founder of the Sunrise Rotary Club of Corpus Christi and its first president. Whitlock attended Rotary’s recent International Peace Summit, held at Brownsville Events Center. 

During the event, Whitlock gave the Rio Grande Guardian an exclusive interview. The interview, in English, was conducted by Guardian reporter Daniela Capistran. 

Here is the interview:

BROWNSVILLE, Texas - Ron Whitlock was founder of the Sunrise Rotary Club of Corpus Christi and its...
Spotlight on Rotary, Part Four: Adriana Contreras •

Spotlight on Rotary, Part Four: Adriana Contreras - Rio Grande Guardian

BROWNSVILLE, Texas - Adriana Contreras is a member of the Rotary Club of Historic Brownsville. She played a key role in Rotary’s recent International Peace Summit, held at Brownsville Events Center. 

During the event, Contreras gave the Rio Grande Guardian an exclusive interview. The interview, in Spanish, was conducted by Guardian reporter Daniela Capistran. 

Here is the interview:

BROWNSVILLE, Texas - Adriana Contreras is a member of the Rotary Club of Historic Brownsville. She played a key...
Gonzalez: $3.1 million grant secured for Brownsvil •

Gonzalez: $3.1 million grant secured for Brownsville-South Padre Island International Airport - RGG Business Journal

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez has announced a $3,193,735 grant for Brownsville-South Padre Island International Airport.

The funding comes from the Federal Aviation Administration.

The grant will be used to rebuild the final phase of the airport’s Runway 18-36 project. The runway provides flights from United Airlines, American Airlines and Aerus Airlines. 

Brownsville Mayor John Cowen, Jr. thanked Gonzalez and the FAA for helping in the transformation of the runway.

"The Br...
UPDATED: Prosperity Task Force members voice their •

UPDATED: Prosperity Task Force members voice their concerns to U.S. Rep. Monica de la Cruz - Rio Grande Guardian

MCALLEN, Texas - The Prosperity Task Force that was set up by Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez to fight poverty in the RGV met privately with U.S. Rep. Monica de la Cruz.

The meeting took place in the boardroom of Vantage Bank in McAllen on Aug. 26.

Judge Cortez said: "We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Rep. Monica de la Cruz for joining us today for an important roundtable discussion with county departments and community organizations.

"This meeting was a vital opportunity to p...
UPDATED: Wolfe: NovaLink has positively impacted t •

UPDATED: Wolfe: NovaLink has positively impacted the lives of thousands of Matamoros families - RGG Business Journal

BROWNSVILLE, Texas - Jason Wolfe, CEO of NovaLink, spoke about what led to commencement of its US-Mexico based manufacturing business.

NovaLink is a U.S. and Mexico manufacturing service provider that connects companies with facilities, labor and supply chain support to produce goods across the border. The company has served the Brownsville and Matamoros communities for 36 years. 

“NovaLink is owned and run by individuals that have come from a long line of manufacturing,” Wolfe said. “This is...
Coming soon: 2025 Luna Awards Luncheon & Expo - Ri •

Coming soon: 2025 Luna Awards Luncheon & Expo - Rio Grande Guardian

HARLINGEN, Texas - The RGV Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is hosting the 2025 Luna Awards Luncheon & Expo in Harlingen August 27 from 10:00 am to 1:30pm.

The Luna Awards were created in 2007 by the Regional Hispanic Contractors Association to uphold women who show dedication in career paths geared toward the advancement of architecture, construction, and engineering industries. 

The RGV Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, a non-profit organization that helps local businesses with networking and mentor...
UPDATED: JLL marketing 302 acres of land next to t •

UPDATED: JLL marketing 302 acres of land next to the Port of Brownsville - RGG Business Journal

BROWNSVILLE, Texas - Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL), a Chicago-based real estate company, has announced it is marketing a 302-acre portion of land alongside the Port of Brownsville.

The land is located on Highway 48 and has been owned by the Vista del Mar Irrigation Company since 1928, according to the JLL company.

JLL is marketing the land, on a local and international level. JLL’s Executive Vice President, Mark Nicholas, said the land was placed on the market in April.

“The Port of Brownsville ow...
Tributes pour in for Texas Transportation Commissi •

Tributes pour in for Texas Transportation Commission Chairman J. Bruce Bugg, Jr. - RGG Business Journal

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Tributes have poured in for Texas Transportation Commission Chairman J. Bruce Bugg, Jr., who passed away unexpectedly on Aug. 6.

Texas Department of Transportation Executive Director Marc Williams said:

“It is with profound sadness that we share the news of the sudden passing of Chairman of the Texas Transportation Commission, J. Bruce Bugg, Jr.

“Chairman Bugg was a steadfast leader whose vision and dedication helped shape the future of transportation across our state. Hi...
Rio Grande Guardian •

An interview with the Jesuit priest who claimed 'kangaroo courts' are operating in the RGV – Rio Grande Guardian

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Jesuit Priest Brian Strassburger, of San Felipe de Jesus Catholic Church in Brownsville, has spoken about his work helping migrants along the US-Mexico border.


Strassburger made the headlines recently when, in a column for the Jesuit Review, he said a “kangaroo court” system was in operation in the Rio Grande Valley. He penned the column with fellow Jesuit William Critchley-Menor.


The article was titled: “What we saw during an ICE arrest and immigration court hearing:...
Rio Grande Guardian •

Bishop Flores: Help People Affected by Deportation Efforts – Rio Grande Guardian

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Bishop of Brownsville Daniel E. Flores has asked churchgoers to help people being deported.


He gave his sermon on July 13, the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Homily.


Flores spoke about the Mosaic Law. He also spoke about what it meant to be a Samaritan in Jesus’ time. He said someone who treats others with compassion is a Samaritan.“This is the law of God,” Flores said. “This is what it means to love a neighbor. You see and you do what you can.”


United States Im...
Rio Grande Guardian •

UTRGV School of Medicine establishes its first endowed chair in orthopedic surgery  – Rio Grande Guardian

MCALLEN, Texas – UTRGV presented the addition of its first endowed chair in orthopedic surgery for the UTRGV School of Medicine during a press conference at the Rio Bank Tower in McAllen on Tuesday.


The chair will be recognized as the Subram G. Krishnan M.D. and Sumant “Butch” Krishnan M.D. Endowed Chair for Orthopedic Surgery. Drs. Subram and Elizabeth Krishnan have endowed three other chairs at UTRGV in the past, including the endowed chair of neurosciences. President of UTRGV, Guy Bailey,...
Rio Grande Guardian •

$52 million investment coming to Mercedes – Rio Grande Guardian

MERCEDES, Texas – A $52,896,005 investment in the Shops at Mercedes has been announced by the city of Mercedes and Merit Commercial Real Estate


The Shops at Mercedes will be located at the intersection of Expressway 83 and Mile 1 ½ East. Merit Commercial Real Estate, a Rio Grande Valley and San Antonio real estate firm, is leading the project. The chief executive officer of the real estate firm, Will Collins, said the shopping center would provide new shopping variety and generate more jobs f...
Rio Grande Guardian •

Texas International Produce Association: Keep the Tomato Suspension Agreement in place – Rio Grande Guardian

MISSION, Texas – Dante Galeazzi, president and CEO of the Texas International Produce Association, has spoken about the repercussions Texas faces from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s intent to withdraw from the 2019 Tomato Suspension Agreement.


The withdrawal is slated to happen July 14.


The 2019 Tomato Suspension Agreement is a trade deal between the U.S. and Mexico that suspended an antidumping investigation in exchange for price floors and inspection requirements on Mexican tomato imp...
Rio Grande Guardian •

ERO Architects produces three videos about the new Hidalgo County Courthouse – Rio Grande Guardian

EDINBURG, Texas – ERO Architects have produced three videos about the new Hidalgo County Courthouse.


ERO were architects for the building.


Brian Godinez, CEO of ERO Architects, explained:“HDR and ERO designed the new Hidalgo County courthouse for justice and community safety. Their work on the courthouse aimed to create a modern, secure, and accessible 21st-century judicial complex. They meticulously planned for clear circulation, separating defendants from the public to ensure safety and...
Rio Grande Guardian •

Edinburg EDC has a new international development business manager  – Rio Grande Guardian

EDINBURG, Texas – Jeffrey Salcedo Cantú, the new international development business manager for the Edinburg Economic Development Corporation (EEDC), spoke about the outreach the EEDC is doing for the business market in Mexico.


Salcedo Cantú has worked for the EEDC for about two months and has previous experience working for media companies such as Televisa and KRGV-TV Channel 5 located in Weslaco. He said he also had a digital marketing company located in Reynosa, Mexico and the Rio Grande V...
Rio Grande Guardian •

South Texas Vocational Technical Institute accepting donations for Hill Country flood victims – Rio Grande Guardian

BROWNSVILLE, Tx – South Texas Vocational Technical Institute (STVT), is collecting donations for Kerr County and surrounding areas affected by the Guadalupe River flooding at each of its campuses from July 9-11.


STVTV is a vocational and technical training institute with campuses in Brownsville, McAllen, Weslaco, Corpus Christi, San Antonio and Arlington. 


STVT’s senior vice president of operations, Daylan Childress, said that in partnership with local campuses and residents across the reg...
Rio Grande Guardian •

Crespo: How and why we mapped out Central Mexico's automotive industry cluster – Rio Grande Guardian

MCALLEN, Tx – Elisa Crespo, president of the Metropolitan Automotive Cluster of Central Mexico, delivered a presentation for economic development organizations from across the Rio Grande Valley about the transformation of the automotive industry.


Crespo held her Spanish presentation at a meeting hosted by the Council for South Texas Progress (COSTEP) for the Rio South Texas Binational Auto Cluster Initiative at the Cambria Hotel in McAllen on Tuesday. CEO of COSTEP, Adam Gonzalez, introduced...
Rio Grande Guardian •

The Biggest Onion Statue in the World is Coming to Weslaco – Rio Grande Guardian

WESLACO, Texas – The City of Weslaco is to receive a giant statue of the Texas 1015 Sweet Onion, thanks to the Texas International Produce Association.


According to TIPA it will be the largest onion statue in the world. 


The Texas 1015 Sweet Onion was created in Weslaco by Texas A&M horticulture professor Leonard Pike in about 1985 and is known for being a sweet and large onion. It is celebrated in the Rio Grande Valley through the Texas Onion Fest, which takes place in Weslaco each year....
Rio Grande Guardian •

Founder of 'Oro Verde Matcha Bar' Speaks About How It All Began – Rio Grande Guardian

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – The 24-year-old founder of Oro Verde Matcha Bar, Jimena Chacon, spoke at the 1 Million Cups event at the E-Bridge Center on June 26 about the quick rise of her company.


Oro Verde began one Saturday morning in March when Chacon decided she would set up a matcha shop at Brownsville’s Farmers’ Market as a fun activity to do with her friend. Friends of Chacon began posting on their Instagram story about the matcha bar. Soon that morning, her shop had a line of about 100 peopl...
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