BROWNSVILLE, Texas – The Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation (BCIC) has published its FY 2024 & 2025 Annual Report as a special edition printed broadsheet newspaper. Free copies are available for pickup at the eBridge Center for Business & Commercialization (1304 E. Adams St.), and the full edition is also available online at brownsvillecic.com/ar2425
The FY 2024 & 2025 Annual Report covers BCIC’s core pillars: Community Development, Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Small Business Financing, and Marketing and Partnerships.
Highlights include the continued growth of the eBridge Center, which logged 86,500 visits during the period; the Business Improvement & Growth (BIG) program, which has invested $4.3 million across 120 projects since 2019 and catalyzed more than $37 million in private investment in Historic Downtown Brownsville; and Quality of Life program that in the past two fiscal year has committed over $13 million for 46 projects in partnership with local organizations, contributing to a grand total of more than $60 million in grants and self-directed investments across 270+ projects since 2003.
“When we create the right conditions, Brownsville families can build the future they want here,” said Cori Peña, President & CEO of BCIC. “This report is about the people behind the numbers, founders who took a risk, neighborhoods that saw real investment and impact, and a community that keeps choosing to build something here with our support.”
Every story in the report links to additional resources. QR codes and URLs embedded throughout the broadsheet connect readers directly to full success stories, program pages, and video content from the businesses, entrepreneurs, and community organizations featured inside. The print piece is designed to be a starting point; anyone who reads it can find their way into the same programs and resources covered on the page.
César López, who serves as BCIC’s current Board Chair, said the report is a testament to what consistent board leadership produces. “Dr. Rose Gowen chaired the board during the development of this report, and the outcomes speak for themselves. Equitable economic development that improves Brownsville’s quality of life has always been at the center of this work, and that’s why I serve on this board. I’m excited to be the current Chair and carry that commitment forward.”
The report also aligns with BCIC’s Strategic Plan 2025-2029, which outlines the organization’s priorities for the next phase of work in Brownsville.