How Weslaco Hit $1 Billion in Sales Tax | Steve Valdez, EDC Director | RGV Business Journal Podcast Ep. 36

How Weslaco Hit $1 Billion in Sales Tax | Steve Valdez, EDC Director | RGV Business Journal Podcast Ep. 36

Weslaco is one of the Rio Grande Valley's most strategically located cities — and right now, it's one of the fastest growing. In this episode, RGV Business Journal host Naxiely Lopez Puente sits down with Steve Valdez, executive director of the Weslaco Economic Development Corporation, to talk about what's really driving the city's growth.Steve covers:• How Weslaco's central location gives it a workforce pool of nearly 1 million people within 30 miles• The industrial park that's already 50% sold just three years after opening• Sam's Club's arrival and how it will transform the Highway 1015 corridor• Crossing the $1 billion taxable sales mark — for a city of 50,000 people• How downtown Weslaco went from 15 vacancies to a thriving nightlife district• Facade and interior improvement grants still available for business owners• The Pollo Loco groundbreaking — six years in the making• A peek at a major future project that Steve can't quite talk about yet🎙️ RGV Business Journal Podcast | Episode 36📰 Read more at RGVBusinessJournal.com📧 Contact Weslaco EDC: (956) 969-0838 | weslacoEDC.com#Weslaco #RGVBusiness #EconomicDevelopment #RioGrandeValley #SouthTexas #TexasBusiness #SmallBusiness #SteveValdez #WeslacoEDC #RGVValley

How the RGV Red Crowns Soccer Club landed in a FIFA World Cup: a discussion with Jamal Fayyad, founder and president of the RGV Red Crowns campaign

The RGV Red Crowns started as a community-first soccer club built from scratch — with the Valley helping shape the name, colors, identity and mission.Now, the semi-pro team is set to appear in a national Bank of America campaign tied to the FIFA World Cup.In this episode of the Rio Grande Valley Business Journal Podcast, Naxi Lopez sits down with Jamal Fayyad, founder and president of the RGV Red Crowns, to discuss how the team was built, why community buy-in matters, and how a local soccer club caught the attention of one of the world’s biggest sporting events.Fayyad explains why the Red Crowns are focused on local athletes, local businesses, local artists and a Valley-wide identity — from playing at Harlingen Field to partnering with Brownsville’s Pluton Brewery and giving young players a path to the next level.The conversation also explores the economic impact of the commercial shoot, the Valley’s image beyond border stereotypes, and what it would take for the Red Crowns to eventually move toward professional soccer.Topics covered:• RGV Red Crowns and Valley soccer• Bank of America’s FIFA World Cup campaign• Community-first sports branding• Harlingen Field and local soccer culture• Opportunities for Valley athletes• Local business partnerships and sponsorships• The economic impact of filming in the RGV• The future of professional soccer in South Texas👉 Subscribe to the Rio Grande Valley Business Journal for more reporting on business, sports, culture, economic development and the forces shaping South Texas and northern Mexico.

The Creator Economy Comes to the Valley — And It's Not Leaving | Yaw Sam, CEO of Brand Genius and co-founder of Social Fest, discusses all things Social Fest and its phenomenal growth.

Naxiely Lopez-Puente sits down with Yaw Sam, CEO of Brand Genius and co-founder of Social Fest, to discuss how the event is growing after drawing more than 1,000 attendees in its first year.Sam explains why Social Fest was created, how organizers brought national and international speakers to the Valley, and why the 2026 event is moving to the McAllen Convention Center.The conversation also explores the business side of content creation — from brand deals and paid platforms to food creators, lifestyle creators, and the growing role of AI in helping entrepreneurs build businesses.Looking ahead, Sam says Social Fest aims to become a destination event for creators, marketers, small businesses, students, and brands looking to connect with one of the country’s largest Hispanic and young consumer markets.Topics covered:• Social Fest 2026• Creator economy growth• Content creators and brand deals• Marketing, AI, and audience building• Hispanic and young consumer markets• Food, lifestyle, and sports creators• Keith Lee and national speakers• McAllen Convention Center👉 Subscribe to the Rio Grande Valley Business Journal for more reporting on business, marketing, entrepreneurship, and economic development across South Texas and northern Mexico.

The SBA Toolbox: Funding, Mentorship & the RGV Economic Boom | Justin Crossie

In this National Small Business Week special, we sit down with Justin Crossie, South Central Regional Administrator for the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), to talk about the tools, resources, and capital available to entrepreneurs in the Rio Grande Valley and across Region 6.Justin breaks down:✅ What the SBA actually does beyond loans✅ How to access capital as a first-generation entrepreneur✅ Why South Texas is seeing a manufacturing resurgence✅ When to reach out to the SBA (hint: it's earlier than you think)✅ Resources available right now for women-, minority-, and veteran-owned businessesWhether you're dreaming of starting your first business or scaling an existing one — this episode is your starting point.#SmallBusiness #SBA #RioGrandeValley #Entrepreneurship #NationalSmallBusinessWeek #RGV #SouthTexas #BusinessPodcast

Inside the McAllen foreign trade zone: How it works & why it matters - An interview with Mark Garcia

What exactly is a Foreign Trade Zone — and why does it matter for businesses in the Rio Grande Valley?In this episode of the RGV Business Journal Podcast, host Kristin Mossbrucker-Garza sits down with Mark Garcia, CEO of the McAllen Foreign Trade Zone, for a wide-ranging conversation on one of the Valley's most important but least understood economic assets.Mark breaks down how the FTZ program works, who benefits from it, and why the McAllen zone — now celebrating its 56th year — has grown to nearly one million square feet of industrial space. He also shares big news: a strategic land acquisition in North McAllen near the Mórán Air Base, where a mixed-use development is planned alongside the incoming $750M USDA screw worm facility.Topics covered:✅ What a Foreign Trade Zone is and how it saves businesses on duties and taxes✅ The "inverted tariff" benefit and how BMW uses it✅ How the program adapted during recent tariff uncertainty✅ Expansion into Willacy County and what it means for the region✅ The North McAllen development: industrial, commercial, educational, and more✅ Infrastructure challenges: roads, water, fiber, and the 765kV transmission line✅ How the FTZ fits into the broader RGV bridge and logistics ecosystem✅ Advice for any Valley business considering the programWhether you're in manufacturing, logistics, importing, or real estate — this is a conversation you don't want to miss.🎙️ Guest: Mark Garcia, CEO — McAllen Foreign Trade Zone🎤 Host: Kristin Mossbrucker-Garza, Reporter — RGV Business Journal📰 Read more at: rgvbusinessjournal.com #ForeignTradeZon#McAllenT#RioGrandeValley#RGVEconomy