McAllen Economic Development Corporation

The Wall Street Journal recently visited McAllen for the day to report about the impacts of violence on Mexico on the McAllen economy. The reporter met with McAllen Economic Development Corporation President/CEO Keith Patridge to discuss the situation throughout Mexico. From the article: “The gunplay hasn’t erupted in McAllen itself, but people here fear their hard-won economic gains, already dimmed by the recession, are under threat.
“So far, the violence has acted as a disruption,” said Keith Patridge, whose job as president of the local development agency is to attract companies to the area. “If it were to get worse, it would have a big impact.”

To read the full WSJ article, click here

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McAllen Economic Development Corporation is happy to be a sponsor of the Technology Entrepreneurship Workshop being hosted by UTPA on Friday, March 5th. The event is free of charge and will host Kimberly Watson Hemphill, author of Fast Innovation, as keynote speaker. Please see below and the attached agenda for additional details about the event.

WHAT: The University of Texas-Pan American is again offering opportunities to learn more about entrepreneurship and technology commercialization. The event is to foster and support regional technology based economic development. FibeRio Technology Corporation, Photon 8, and Scantech are the most recent demonstrations that the region has sustainable competitive advantages that enhance lucrative enterprises. The event includes a keynote presentation by Kimberly Watson Hemphill, author of Fast Innovation, with focuses on reducing time to market, increasing the new product success and speed balanced against the need for product differentiation. Other presentations focus on raising capital, lessons learned by a panel of technology entrepreneurs from Border startups, designing and manufacturing your technology as well as highlighting the benefits of the region for manufacturing and scaling up your production.

WHO: The March 5th event is open to interested entrepreneurs, students and the public and now free thanks to the generous support of our sponsors. Registration is available by calling 956-318-8947 or emailing beckam@utpa.edu .
WHEN: March 5th, 2010 Registration at 8AM The Bootcamp will start 8:30AM at the Engineering Auditorium on UTPA’s Campus , 1201 W. University Drive, Edinburg, TX. Parking information provided after registration. For more information, contact 956-318-8947.
SPONSORS: UTPA partners for the event include EDCO Ventures, Edinburg Economic Development Corporation, MBA Alumni Association, Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center of South Texas, Lower Rio Grande Valley Workforce Solutions, McAllen Economic Development Corporation, Rapid Response Manufacturing Center, South Texas Manufacturing Association, North American Advanced Manufacturing Research and Education Initiative, and the Small Business Development Center.
This is the second year UTPA has hosted technology entrepreneurship events according to UTPA Director of Innovation and Intellectual Property, Jackie Michel. Michel said “the event serves as an example of how the Rio South Texas region is collaborating to foster technology-based economic development, especially in the technology areas.” “The goal of the conference is to provide access to knowledge regarding entrepreneurship, technology commercialization and to provide networking with technology entrepreneurs at the different stages of their company development. We want those interested in technology entrepreneurship to have access to tools and resources and the networks the need to be successful,” Michel said.

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Several economists, professors and historians will be discussing the history and future of the Rio Grande Valley during the conference, “Old Valley, New Valley: The Past, Present, Future of the Lower Rio Grande Valley.” The symposium will offer several sessions on economy, culture and education from Nov. 5 to Nov. 7 at the Cooper Center at South Texas College in McAllen.

For full schedule, click here

Visit the City of McAllen Web site for additional information.

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The City of McAllen, along with the McAllen Economic Development Corporation and the Chamber of Commerce, have launched the new Web site Explore McAllen. This is a one-stop shop for business people, visitors and residents to learn about events, activities and city amenities.

Tell us what you think of the new site. Leave us a message.

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Forbes.com has recently named McAllen as one of the top ten cities in American for jobs. The study found that more companies plan to hire employees, resulting in about a 9-percent expected increase in the next quarter.

McAllen has also been named one of the top cities to sustain and grow despite the economic slowdown.

For full report, click here

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The MEDC wants to respond to questions and comments about what students of all ages and grades in the Rio Grande Valley want to learn about economic development.

Please leave a comment here on our blog, our Facebook or Twitter. We want to respond to the needs and wants of our educated workforce.

Let us know. Thanks!

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The Rio Grande Valley Vipers- the only NBA-affiliated Development League basketball team- announced a new format to using its D-league teams.

The Rio Grande Valley Vipers are now officially linked to the Houston Rockets through coaching, running plays, etc.

For more on this first partnership, read The Monitor here

The Vipers play at Dodge Arena, along with the Central Hockey League’s Killer Bees and the Dorados of the Arena Football 2 league.

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