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Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement (VIDA) is celebrating 25 years of ending poverty in South Texas through the power of education! Celebrate with us on Thursday, October 21, 2021, at 6:30 p.m. at Orchidee Studios in North McAllen. Help us recognize our Investment Partners; The Development Corporation of McAllen and the Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation, Employer Partner; Doctor’s Hospital at Renaissance; Training Partner; South Texas College; Community Partner; Valley Interfaith and a Special Recognition to Pharr Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez, M.D. For sponsorships and individual tickets, please contact Christie Cantu at (956) 903-1900 Ext. 106 or (956) 534-3159 ccantu@vidacareers.org

UTRGV purchasing land in McAllen to double size of its medical school

August 20, 2021

MCALLEN, Texas – UT-Rio Grande Valley is to purchase 38 acres of land in McAllen in order to double the size of its medical school. The land, part of the 495 Commerce Center development just south of Pecan Boulevard between Jackson and McColl, will be home to UTRGV’s planned McAllen Academic Medical Campus. News of the purchase was announced by Dr. Parwinder Grewal, executive vice president of research, innovation, and new program development at UTRGV, in his monthly report to the McAllen Economic Development Corporation. Interviewed after the meeting, Grewal told the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service: “Mainly I wanted to share that UTRGV plans to buy 38 acres of land to double the size of its medical school. That will be in the City of McAllen. That land will be on the south side of Pecan Boulevard, between Jackson and McColl. We will complete the acquisition of that land…

McAllen ISD will follow school mask mandate

August 17, 2021

McAllen ISD will be following the school mask mandate issued by Hidalgo County. This means all students, staff, and school visitors will be required to wear a mask starting on Aug 23, the first day of classes. Click the following link for copy of the letter: https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/1478302/08172021_McAllen_ISD_letter_to_staff_and_parents__mask_.pdf

STC meets with THECB Commissioner Keller and Farias, THECB Chair

August 17, 2021

MCALLEN, TEXAS (Aug. 17, 2021) – South Texas College is a shining example not only for the state of Texas but for the entire country, according to the chair of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Dr. Fred Farias III. Speaking at a roundtable-style meeting with THECB Commissioner of Higher Education Harrison Keller, in attendance with STC President Dr. Ricardo J. Solis and college vice presidents and deans on Aug. 11, Farias, a Rio Grande Valley native, took the time to familiarize Keller with the college’s impact in communities. “We have a unique culture in the Valley, and higher education is the key to young people and to those adult learners coming back, to give them the opportunities to be able to get an education and to do well with their jobs and do well with their families and help us grow our community,” Farias said. “We are so happy…

GAC Chairman Dr. Fred Farias brings THECB Commissioner Dr. Harrison Keller to the RGV

August 10, 2021

Chamber News GAC Events Member Briefs No Comments

McALLEN, Texas – When he assumed the role of chairman of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in June, McAllen resident Fred Farias, III, said he would bring key stakeholders to the Rio Grande Valley. It has not taken him long to deliver. On Wednesday, Aug. 11, Farias will welcome Texas Commissioner of Higher Education Harrison Keller at a breakfast hosted by the McAllen Chamber of Commerce. Farias, an optometrist, chairs the McAllen Chamber’s Government Affairs Council. He was appointed chair of THECB in June by Gov. Greg Abbott. “We are now in a leadership position so that we can hopefully make a big difference down here in the Valley and South Texas. As you know, being the chair of any state agency is a big deal because we are able to get stakeholders down here,” Farias told the Rio Grande Guardian, earlier this summer. Asked about the visit of…

Neurosurgeon Jacinto I. Mañon, M.D., F.A.A.N.S, joins DHR Health Neuroscience Institute

July 29, 2021

DHR Health continues to improve the Rio Grande Valley’s access to neurological care. DHR Health Clinics is pleased to announce the addition of neurosurgeon, Jacinto I. Mañon, M.D., F.A.A.N.S, to the DHR Health Neuroscience Institute. Dr. Mañon is board certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgeons and will be treating adult and pediatric patients for the brain, spinal, and peripheral nerve problems. He will provide surgical treatments for a wide spectrum of conditions affecting the nervous system including but not limited to spinal stenosis, spine fractures, adult scoliosis, brain hemorrhage, stroke, herniated or bulging discs, degenerative disc disease, traumatic brain injury, Chiari malformations, pituitary tumors, neck and back pain, arm and leg pain, brain tumors, cranial and spinal trauma, spinal cord injuries, carpal tunnel syndrome, and peripheral nerve. Dr. Mañon earned his medical degree from the Ibero-American University in Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic before entering his internship in…

Driscoll Children’s Hospital to independently operate freestanding children’s hospital in Rio Grande Valley

June 17, 2021

MCALLEN – Plans were announced for Driscoll Children’s Hospital to open and independently operate a freestanding pediatric hospital in the Rio Grande Valley. The name of the hospital will be Driscoll Children’s Hospital Rio Grande Valley. The new eight-level hospital will be located on the campus of DHR Health, making it the only designated, freestanding children’s hospital in the Rio Grande Valley. Driscoll Children’s Hospital Rio Grande Valley will further the mission of Driscoll Children’s Hospital founder Clara Driscoll to provide medical care to all the children of South Texas. In early 2019, Driscoll began discussions with DHR Health to expand pediatric services to the Rio Grande Valley to include inpatient acute care. From there, plans developed in which DHR Health would build a hospital on its campus to be leased to and operated independently by Driscoll Children’s Hospital. Driscoll Children’s Hospital Rio Grande Valley will provide the following pediatric…

South Texas Buick GMC earns two 2020 Dealer of the Year awards

June 16, 2021

General Motors recognizes South Texas Buick GMC with both the 2020 Buick Dealer of the Year and 2020 GMC Dealer of the Year awards for outstanding performance in the last calendar year. The program annually honors the top 1% of Buick and GMC dealers across the country for their performance in sales and their ability to provide their customers with an exceptional ownership experience. With nearly 2,000 Buick and 1,700 GMC dealerships nationwide, being among the class of only 44 Buick and GMC retailers to achieve Dealer of the Year is a demanding and highly respected accomplishment. “Last year brought many new challenges to auto dealers across the country,” said Duncan Aldred, GM vice president, Global Buick GMC. “Every dealer faced uncertainty and difficult decisions as they worked their way through the multiple stages of the pandemic. Today, we honor those who navigated the challenges best and helped to move our company…

UTRGV celebrates a momentous day in the history.

June 16, 2021

UTRGV is happy to announce it has received a transformative $40 million gift from philanthropists MacKenzie Scott and Dan Jewett to enhance its mission of student success and expanded educational opportunities. The grant will provide much-needed scholarship money for students not just as they enter college, but throughout their educational journey. Ms. Scott and Mr. Jewett chose UTRGV based on UTRGV’s success as the second-largest Hispanic Serving Institution in the country and its proven ability to transform the lives of underserved students through higher education. Recently, UTRGV ranked first in Texas and fifth nationally in the performance of Pell-eligible students; first in Texas and 11th nationally in the performance of first-generation students; and second in Texas and 29th nationally in the social mobility of its students. UTRGV is also the first among national public universities with the lowest student debt. To read more about the donors and their gifts, click…

Kemper Insurance is hiring for an AVP, Customer Service Field Operations

June 2, 2021

Kemper Insurance is hiring for an AVP, Customer Service Field Operations – Location in McAllen, Texas Category – Customer Service / Operations Job IDR-21-0013071 POSITION SUMMARY: Assistant Vice President of Customer Service/Field Operations will regionally oversee Kemper Auto Customer and Agent Service as well as Direct to Consumer Sales. This position is responsible for leading and delivering policies and procedures for the effective operation of the Kemper Auto call centers to ensure operational efficiency and compliance with Kemper standards. Responsible for planning and directing regional operations at the field level, including development and maintenance of staffing plans, KPI’s, goals and objectives, and overall agent and customer interaction. The position will work closely with the head of Operational Effectiveness to drive adherence standards. This role will have responsibility for all Operational professionals in the regional field office as well as site responsibilities including safety, business resumption, leadership communication, agent engagement, and…

Biden administration changes PPP rules to help reach the smallest businesses

February 22, 2021

By Katie Lobosco, CNN Updated 12:55 PM ET, Mon February 22, 2021 (CNN)The Biden administration announced several changes Monday to the Paycheck Protection Program in an effort to reach minority-owned and very small businesses that may have previously missed out on accessing loans to help weather the coronavirus pandemic. Starting Wednesday, small businesses with fewer than 20 employees will have a two-week exclusive window to apply for the funding. Bigger businesses will be blocked during that time period. MORE ON COVID-19 RELIEF Here’s what’s in the House Democrats’ stimulus relief plan Congress already approved $4 trillion in Covid relief. What happened to it? Here’s what budget reconciliation is (and why it matters for Biden’s stimulus) Here are the executive actions Biden has signed so far The administration will also change some eligibility rules, effective the first week in March. The self-employed, sole proprietors, and independent contractors can now qualify for more money. They previously were…

The Monitor offers great advertising deals for small businesses!

February 19, 2021

The Monitor is helping small and locally-owned businesses with some great advertising solutions for the month of March. Stevan with The Monitor is offering some great advertising deals. These “post-it” notes are great for getting your promotion out to the public and great visibility being right on the front page of The Monitor newspaper. These will be $250.00 for 10k “post-it” notes – that’s 70% off! Myrgv.com (formally Themonitor.com) receives millions of visits per month to their site, and Steven has great ideas for getting in front of this audience. You can call him directly or email him: 956-601-6390 or Stevanp@rgvmedianetwork.com.

102-year-old happy to be vaccinated by Driscoll at ABC site

February 11, 2021

Mary Yager, a 102-year-old from Padre Island, was thankful to be receiving her COVID-19 vaccination Thursday morning from a Driscoll nurse at the City of Corpus Christi and Driscoll Children’s Hospital COVID-19 Vaccination Site at the American Bank Center. She and her two daughters, Patty Albright and Janet Whitehead, got their shot together. Patty said they had been trying to get the shot for a long time. And her mother? “Oh, she had a wonderful experience. She hasn’t stopped talking about it. The shot didn’t hurt and she was so excited about how friendly everyone was,” Patty said. About Driscoll Children’s Hospital … “Devoted to expert care, education, outreach, and advocacy.” Driscoll Children’s Hospital is a 191-bed pediatric tertiary care center with more than 30 medical and surgical specialties offering care throughout South Texas, including Corpus Christi, the Rio Grande Valley, Victoria, and Laredo. Through the vision and generosity of…

Living Intentionally

February 11, 2021

Stephanie Hawk