{"id":4503,"date":"2026-07-21T18:45:36","date_gmt":"2026-07-21T18:45:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brownsvillecic.com\/newsletter-3833feff98\/"},"modified":"2026-07-21T18:59:24","modified_gmt":"2026-07-21T18:59:24","slug":"newsletter-3833feff98","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brownsvillecic.com\/es\/newsletter-3833feff98\/","title":{"rendered":"July 21, 2026 Community Update"},"content":{"rendered":"
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COMING UP<\/h2>\n

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Thinking about a loan but not sure what the payments would look like? The eBridge Fund site now has a loan calculator<\/strong>, so you can estimate your monthly payment before you fill out a single form.<\/p>\n

The eBridge Fund is BCIC\u2019s low-interest loan for Cameron County small businesses that may not qualify for a conventional bank loan or want a more competitive rate. Loans run from $15,000 up to $50,000, with a fixed rate set at 75% of the Wall Street Journal Prime Rate (a 3.00% floor, 10.00% cap) locked in when your loan is approved. And because it is a revolving fund, every payment you make goes back out as the next entrepreneur\u2019s loan.<\/p>\n

Punch in your numbers and see what a loan would actually cost you. \ud83d\udc47<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Try the eBridge Fund calculator<\/a><\/div>\n
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SPONSORSHIPS LUNCH & LEARN<\/h2>\n
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El AFP Texas Coastal Bend Chapter<\/strong> is hosting a Lunch & Learn on Thursday, August 6, and the Brownsville session is right here at the eBridge Center<\/strong>. Amy Canterbury, Development Director for the AHA Heart Ball, will walk nonprofit professionals through a fresh approach to event sponsorship, treating it as a mission-driven partnership instead of a one-time transaction.<\/p>\n

You will leave with practical tools to design sponsorship opportunities that line up a sponsor\u2019s brand with your organization\u2019s purpose, measure whether they actually worked, and build partnerships that outlast the event itself. Lunch is provided, virtual attendance is available, and the session is approved for CFRE credit.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udccd 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the eBridge Center, 1304 E. Adams St.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

RSVP now<\/a><\/div>\n
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BIG RESULTS<\/h2>\n
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District 1 applications are closed.<\/strong> Here is how the first round of BIG LIFT did: the campaign reached more than 766,000 people, drove over 5,500 visits to the application page, and 27 businesses started an application. 13 of them finished.<\/p>\n

District 2 opens September 1, 2026. If your business is in District 2, 3, or 4, fill out the interest form now so you are ready the day your application opens.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Get notified<\/a><\/div>\n
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CALLING ALL FOUNDERS<\/h2>\n
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1 Million Cups Brownsville<\/strong> gives local founders a few minutes to present what they are building to a room of people who actually show up to listen. It happens regularly at the eBridge Center every Wednesday at 9:00 a.m.<\/strong>, and the format is simple: you present for six minutes, then the room asks questions and offers feedback for another twenty.<\/p>\n

Founders walk out with new connections, honest input, and sometimes a new partner! And if you are not ready to present yet, come sit in. We\u2019ll have your coffee ready.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Apply to present<\/a><\/div>\n
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SWEET WEEK<\/h2>\n
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Last week belonged to Brownsville\u2019s youngest entrepreneurs! As an Official Sweet Spot for Lemonade Day, the eBridge Center filled with lemonade stands run entirely by kids.<\/p>\n

Thanks to everyone who stopped by, brought cash, and cheered them on, and to the Brownsville Chamber of Commerce and H-E-B for making Lemonade Day happen. Some of these kids will be applying for real business loans one day. You saw them first! \ud83d\udc23<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Check out the recap<\/a><\/div>\n
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MORE FROM BCIC<\/h2>\n
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BCIC\u2019s 5-Year Roadmap is Live<\/strong><\/p>\n

Our BCIC 2025-2029 Strategic Plan<\/strong> is based on your input about what Brownsville needs most: quality of life upgrades, business support, downtown revival, and opportunities that keep talent home. View it here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

BIG Downtown Business Grants<\/strong><\/p>\n

Revitalize downtown Brownsville! If you\u2019re a property owner or tenant, the BIG Program offers matching grants to support your commercial renovations. Make a difference in the heart of our city: brownsvillecic.com\/big<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Business Financing<\/strong><\/p>\n

Access funding designed for Brownsville entrepreneurs and small businesses. The eBridge Fund provides accessible financing options for those unable to secure traditional loans or seeking better rates. Get started here: fund.ebridgecenter.org<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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COMING UP Thinking about a loan but not sure what the payments would look like? The eBridge Fund site now has a loan calculator, so you can estimate your monthly payment before you fill out a single form. The eBridge Fund is BCIC\u2019s low-interest loan for Cameron County small businesses that may not qualify for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":4506,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_angie_page":false,"content-type":"","page_builder":"","feature_success_story":"false","footnotes":""},"categories":[48,47,74,54,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4503","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-economic-development","category-ebridge-center","category-quality-of-life","category-startup-texas","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/brownsvillecic.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4503","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/brownsvillecic.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/brownsvillecic.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brownsvillecic.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brownsvillecic.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4503"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/brownsvillecic.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4503\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4507,"href":"https:\/\/brownsvillecic.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4503\/revisions\/4507"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brownsvillecic.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4506"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/brownsvillecic.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4503"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brownsvillecic.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4503"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brownsvillecic.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4503"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}