ESTA SEMANA
Own or work with a historic Brownsville property? Before you start construction, there may be tax credits worth checking.
BCIC’s new Historic Rehab Tax Credit Cheat Sheet gives property owners a plain-language starting point for the federal and Texas historic rehabilitation tax credit programs. The federal credit can cover 20% of qualified rehabilitation expenses, while the Texas program offers 25%. Some projects may be able to pursue both programs separately.
The biggest thing to know is timing: work started before the required review and approval can put some or all of a credit at risk. The cheat sheet walks through six readiness questions, the application sequence, and who to contact before spending starts.
You can also use BCIC’s Historic Tax Credit Eligibility Map to check whether a Brownsville property currently shows a potential federal-and-state or Texas-only pathway.
The map is not an approval or guarantee of eligibility.
Y’ALL READY FOR THURSDAY?
Texas Venture Fest is this Thursday, October 1, at the eBridge Center.
Founders, investors, business leaders, students, and entrepreneurship organizations will gather in Brownsville as part of the fourth annual simultaneous statewide event.
This year’s Texas Venture Fest network spans 15 regions, with organizers anticipating more than 3,500 participants across 20 cities and 30+ venues!
Registration for the Rio Grande Valley event is gratis, so if you’ve been meaning to RSVP, this is the week to do it.
APPLICATIONS CLOSE OCT 9
BIG LIFT applications for District 2 close October 9.
Eligible locally owned small businesses can receive reimbursement for 80% of approved exterior improvement costs, up to $30,000. Projects can include façades, signage, exterior lighting, doors and windows, awnings, parking improvements, landscaping, outdoor seating, and more.
Because BIG LIFT is a reimbursement program, approved businesses must be able to fund the project upfront before receiving reimbursement. If you’re planning to apply, now is the time to review the guidelines and get the application moving.
NEXT CLASS, NEXT WEEK!
The next eBridge Business Academy cohort begins October 7.
The no-cost, seven-session program is designed for aspiring entrepreneurs, early-stage founders, and current small business owners who want to work through business concept development, customer discovery, value propositions, financial and operational fundamentals, and preparation for launch or growth.
The upcoming cohort runs October 7 through November 18, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., with instruction available in English and Spanish. Classes are held in person at the eBridge Center in Downtown Brownsville.
Applications are open now, and the next cohort starts next week. If this sounds like the kind of structure your business needs, get your application in!
MÁS DE BCIC
La hoja de ruta a 5 años de BCIC ya está disponible.
Nuestro Plan Estratégico BCIC 2025-2029 Se basa en sus comentarios sobre lo que Brownsville más necesita: mejoras en la calidad de vida, apoyo a las empresas, revitalización del centro y oportunidades para retener el talento. Véalo aquí.
BIG Downtown Business Grants
¡Revitalice el centro de Brownsville! Si es propietario o inquilino, el Programa BIG ofrece apoyos equivalentes para apoyar sus renovaciones comerciales. Marque la diferencia en el corazón de nuestra ciudad. brownsvillecic.com/big
Financiamiento empresarial
Acceda a financiamiento diseñado para emprendedores y pequeñas empresas de Brownsville. El Fondo eBridge ofrece opciones de financiamiento accesibles para quienes no pueden obtener préstamos tradicionales o buscan mejores tasas. Comience aquí: ebridgefund.com