July 27, 2026 Community Update

Starting a business, or trying to grow one? The eBridge Business Academy is a free, seven-session program covering business concept development, customer discovery, value propositions, financial and operational fundamentals, and launch prep. Sessions meet Tuesdays and Thursdays, and each one brings in local business owners and program alumni who share what worked and what did not. Facilitated by the UTRGV Entrepreneurship & Commercialization Center at the eBridge Center, free thanks to BCIC sponsorship.

Upcoming dates:
August 11 to September 1, 2026, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
September 8 to September 29, 2026, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Classes are in person and attendance at all sessions is required.

¿Tienes una idea de negocio pero no sabes por dónde empezar? La eBridge Business Academy es un programa gratuito de siete sesiones, ofrecido en español, donde vas a trabajar el concepto de tu negocio, descubrimiento de clientes, propuesta de valor, finanzas y operaciones, y preparación para lanzar o crecer. En cada sesión participan dueños de negocios locales y egresados del programa que comparten lo que les funcionó y lo que no.

Próximas fechas:
11 de agosto al 1 de septiembre de 2026, martes y jueves, de 9:00 a.m. a 12:00 p.m.
8 al 29 de septiembre de 2026, martes y jueves, de 4:00 p.m. a 7:00 p.m.

Las clases son presenciales y hay que asistir a todas. El programa es gratuito gracias al patrocinio de BCIC.

Small business owners gathered in Los Fresnos last week to hear about funding options straight from the organizations doing the lending. Anthony Cantu, our Small Business Loan Coordinator, sat alongside representatives from LiftFund, DreamSpring, and the Business Development Fund of Texas to walk through available programs and answer questions.

Worth knowing if you are outside city limits: the eBridge Fund serves all of Cameron County, not just Brownsville. It is BCIC’s low-interest loan for small businesses that may not qualify for a conventional bank loan or want a more competitive rate, with loans from $15,000 up to $50,000 and a fixed rate locked in at approval. The site also has a calculator now, so you can estimate a monthly payment before you start an application.

Thanks to the City of Los Fresnos and the Los Fresnos Community Development Corporation for hosting.

The AFP Texas Coastal Bend Chapter is hosting a Lunch & Learn on Thursday, August 6, and the Brownsville session is right here at the eBridge Center. 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.

You will leave with practical tools to design sponsorship opportunities that line up a sponsor’s brand with your organization’s 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.

📍 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the eBridge Center, 1304 E. Adams St.

Curious what a 1 Million Cups pitch actually looks like? Watch Güero’s Beef Jerky present at the eBridge Center and you will know exactly what you are signing up for.

1 Million Cups Brownsville gives local founders a few minutes to present what they are building to a room of people who actually show up to listen. We host it every Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. at the eBridge Center, and the format is simple: you present for six minutes, then the room asks questions and offers feedback for another twenty.

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’ll have your coffee ready.

This summer BCIC hosted two interns from the University of Texas through the Home to Texas program, which places students in service-oriented internships in their own hometowns. Kimberly and Memphis spent the season working across our organization, and they made themselves useful from day one.

We got to recognize them at the Brownsville Events Center, alongside the other Home to Texas students who spent their summer giving back to the communities that raised them.

Thank you both for everything you did for BCIC. We are excited to see where your careers take you.

BCIC’s 5-Year Roadmap is Live

Our BCIC 2025-2029 Strategic Plan 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.

BIG Downtown Business Grants

Revitalize downtown Brownsville! If you’re 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

Business Financing

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