BIG Grants Success Story: La Estacion
It started in a backyard. A grill going, a stack of tortillas, la familia gathered around a table. Tacos first, then more. Word spread, requests followed, and soon the calendar filled with events. After catering to more than 50 events, the team behind La Estación chose the next step: turning the weekend gig into a […]
eBridge Success Story: Ed’s World Class Tae Kwon Do
For Ed Arriaga, owner of Ed’s World Class Taekwondo, martial arts have always been more than competition. His academy focuses on leadership, confidence, and helping kids become strong, successful leaders in their communities. It all began in a garage, where Ed trained his younger brother and took him to a state championship. After his […]
BCIC announces dates for RGV Startup Week 2026, speaker applications now open
Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation (BCIC), in collaboration with The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Entrepreneurship and Commercialization Center (UTRGV ECC), announced that RGV Startup Week 2026 will take place April 24 through May 1, 2026, with events hosted in Brownsville and partner cities across the Rio Grande Valley. In 2025, RGV Startup Week delivered […]
BCIC announces eBridge Business Academy
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 […]
BCIC Recognized by UTRGV for eBridge Partnership
BROWNSVILLE, Texas • Dec. 16, 2025 – The Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation (BCIC) has been selected to receive UTRGV’s Community Partner Recognition Award for the 2024-2025 academic year. The recognition is connected to UTRGV’s Carnegie Community Engagement Reclassification work and highlights partners whose collaboration supports community engagement across the Rio Grande Valley. UTRGV selected 13 […]
BCIC Staff Spotlight – Astrid Rosales, Business Development & Entrepreneurship Officer
BCIC’s Business Development and Entrepreneurship Officer, Astrid Rosales, brings a bright, community-minded approach to her work. She’s focused on helping Brownsville’s entrepreneurs and small businesses grow in a way that lifts everyone: owners, employees, and families alike. Marketing Specialist Rudy Hinojosa sat down with her to learn how she’s approaching the job and what she’s […]
BCIC Earns 3 More IEDC Excellence Awards, Extends Lead as the RGV’s Most Awarded Economic Development Organization
August 21, 2025, Brownsville, Texas. The Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation (BCIC) has earned three more honors in the International Economic Development Council’s 2025 Excellence Awards, recognizing continued strength in marketing, innovative financing, and impact storytelling. These wins bring BCIC’s total IEDC Excellence Awards since 2021 to a total of thirteen, solidifying BCIC as the Rio […]
BCIC Announces New Space Accelerator Program in Partnership with the Space Foundation
June 19, 2025 – Brownsville, Texas – The Brownsville Community Corporation (BCIC) is proud to announce the launch of a new Space Accelerator Program in collaboration with the Space Foundation. This initiative is made possible through key partnerships with Cameron County, the Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation (GBIC) and Space Foundation. Set to begin in August, […]
Cantu: Frontera Leadership Institute is building the new CEOs of Brownsville (Rio Grande Guardian)
This article originally appeared on Rio Grande Guardian BROWNSVILLE, Texas – The Frontera Leadership Institute is helping create a tech entrepreneurship community in Brownsville in which the CEOs hail from the city. This is the view of Ruben Cantu, the group’s executive director. In an interview with the Rio Grande Guardian at the conclusion of […]
Nathan Burkhart Receives the 40 Under 40 in Economic Development Award
Brownsville, TEXAS – Nathan Burkhart, Vice President for Entrepreneurship & Innovation at the Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation (BCIC), has been announced as a recipient of the 2025 Economic Development 40 Under 40 Award, the biennial award recognizing rising stars under 40 years old in the economic development industry. The awards program is hosted by Development […]