BROWNSVILLE, Texas • Dec. 18, 2025 | The Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation (BCIC) announces eBridge Business Academy, a rebrand of its Blueprint Business Program, the business fundamentals course for entrepreneurs and early-stage small business owners sponsored by the organization and facilitated by UTRGV Entrepreneurship & Commercialization Center.
With more than 350 graduates to date, the program helps participants strengthen core business skills and apply practical tools to improve how they plan, market, sell, and manage day-to-day operations. Alumni include owners of several Brownsville favorites, including Jolie Petite, Todo Natural, Main Street Deli, Búho Bookstore, Warbler Coffee, and La Pale.
Formerly known as the Blueprint Business Program, eBridge Business Academy continues the same focus on fundamentals while aligning the program name more closely with eBridge and BCIC’s broader entrepreneurship programming.
eBridge Business Academy, based on UTRGV ECC’s Kauffman FastTrac curriculum and focuses on business planning and goal setting, market positioning and customer discovery, marketing and sales fundamentals, financial management and forecasting basics, and launch preparation and next-step planning.
The next eBridge Business Academy cohort runs from Jan. 13 to Feb. 24, 2026. This cohort will be taught in Spanish at the eBridge Center for Business and Commercialization (1304 E. Adams St.) in Brownsville. To accommodate different schedules and learning preferences, the course will also offer about a dozen additional sessions in other formats, including sprint-style options. The program is open to entrepreneurs and small business owners who are in the early stage of building or formalizing their business.
Interested participants can apply at: www.ebridgeacademy.com
About the Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation (BCIC)
The Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation (BCIC) is a Type B economic development organization funded by a 1/4 cent sales tax on every taxable dollar spent within Brownsville city limits. BCIC’s mission is to enhance quality of life through innovative and equitable economic development initiatives, ensuring that every investment contributes to a more vibrant, inclusive, and prosperous Brownsville. To bring that vision to life, BCIC invests in revitalizing public spaces by enhancing parks, supporting health and wellness programming, and creating welcoming environments for residents and visitors. It leads downtown redevelopment through restoration projects and business recruitment that breathe new life into Brownsville’s urban core. At the same time, BCIC supports entrepreneurship and small business growth through financial tools, mentorship, and targeted resources. These efforts are reinforced by cross-sector partnerships that drive workforce development, promote economic empowerment, and expand access to high-wage job opportunities. For more information, visit www.brownsvillecic.com.
For media inquiries, please contact Nelson Amaro, Director of Marketing & Communications, at namaro@brownsvillecic.com.