Rio Grande Guardian's Podcast

René Xavier González, head of new business development and marketing for Sidee Industrial Development in Matamoros, has given a Mexican perspective to the idea of a bi-national auto cluster initiative. The idea has been proposed by the Council for South Texas Economic Progress.   González said some companies may need convincing about the data they share but he thinks there will be buy-in.   “Sometimes there are issues about confidentiality and security. A lot of companies would rather kind of keep kind of a low profile,” González said.   “But the fact that everybody's here, the fact that everybody is representing all the individual EDCs is already a huge win for COSTEP. Cobifer is here. We're representing CODEM, the Matamoros business community. It is very encouraging to see.”   Gonzalez continued:    “From the Matamoros side, we’re in. We just need steps. Like, okay, give us a data registry, make sure that it's in Spanish. My job would be to talk to the 30 members of CODEM, sell them on the idea and make sure that this is something viable, something that benefits their individual business.    “So, for example, in order to become part of the cluster, the individual manufacturing companies have to be have to register and pay a fee. So, for example, my job with the three automotive manufacturing companies that I have in my industrial park, I have to go tell them, this is why this benefits you. You have to sign up for this. So, the more informed that we all are, the better that we can actually help sell (the project).   Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas - South Padre Island City Council Member Kerry Schwartz wants to see an Eco Center District established to capitalize on the amount of interest there is in ecotourism. Schwartz made his case at a special workshop meeting the council held to discuss expansion of the island’s convention center. “Our mission really should be about ecotourism, because ecotourism is huge. I'd like to see us form an SPI Eco Center District. We already have an entertainment district for our beaches and all that,” Schwartz said. “But when you think about it, you've got the World Birding Center there, and you've got Sea Turtle Rescue. Turn that into an eco tourism center, a nature center, adding the theater and exhibition annex to the convention center,” Schwartz said.  In his presentation, Schwartz said “environmental hazards” are being created both by the development of liquefied natural gas export terminals at the Port of Brownsville plants and SpaceX. Here is an audio recording of his remarks: Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

MISSION, Texas - Hidalgo County Commissioner Ever Villarreal has announced what he says is an “amazing” transportation project that will help transform the western part of the county. Villarreal said the county, working with the City of Mission, is going to become “project sponsor” for two sections of the proposed county loop between Granjeno and Penitas and turn them into non-toll projects.  By becoming project sponsor, Villarreal said, the county, working with the City of Mission, can help find funding for the two sections, ensuring they get built much faster.  “It is an amazing project of not just for the City of Mission, but for the City of McAllen also. That is because the City of McAllen, as you know… they are part owner of the Anzalduas Bridge,” Villarreal said. “And it would be amazing, not just for McAllen and Mission financially, but also for our neighbors on the west side of the county, for the growth this amazing project can usher in.” Here is an interview the Rio Grande Guardian secured with Commissioner Villarreal. Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

MCALLEN, Texas - The former editor and publisher of El Periódico USA has launched a new binational Spanish language media project called Debate X Media, LLC. The plan, says Jose Luis B. Garza, is to highlight the potential and accomplishments of the Hispanic population in the Rio Grande Valley and become a binational news agency. “We have to project the importance of this region because it's totally different to other regions in the country,” Garza said. In an in-depth audio interview with the Rio Grande Guardian, Garza spoke about his time at El Periódico USA, the growth of Hispanic-owned news media publications, and his plans for Debate X.  El Periódico USA is a newspaper published in McAllen that initiated in 1986, focusing on the South Texas community.  Jose Luis Garza worked at El Periódico USA, initially as an advisor and worked his way up the media company.  “They gave me a lot of satisfaction, experiences and big opportunities to understand how the Spanish media works in this country,” Garza said. “Initially around the 90s, the Hispanic population, Hispanic marketing, Hispanic publications, were not so important. But after that, soon we were growing in the country.” Garza said the growth of Hispanic publications allowed him to participate with the National Association of Hispanic Publications, an advocacy organization for Spanish language publications. He said he was vice president of the organization and national president in 2013.  Garza was born in Gustavo Diaz Ordaz, Mexico and said many people from his birthplace are now living in the Rio Grande Valley. He was previously chairman of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce’s International Committee. After leaving El Periodico USA, Garza said he founded Debate X, an agency for expanding Hispanic news coverage. He said his company strives to give advice to other newspapers and he has the support of his family and friends on the project. He said he chose the name of the news agency, Debate X, because it translates the same in both English and Spanish.  Garza will be working on the project with Luis Cantu, former vice president for international business and community development for McAllen Chamber of Commerce.  “We are reporting, we are doing work on both sides of the world,” Garza said. “This is a national project.” Garza said he founded Debate X after leaving El Periodico USA because his company strives to give advice to other expanding news companies in the form of a news agency. He said he met with about 15 congressmen at the end of April in Washington D.C., and spoke with the communications team at the White House. Garza said Congress was receptive to Debate X’s plans to play an active role in aiding the Hispanic newspaper community. “We need to let the rest of the country, the rest of Texas, Mexico, know who we are, what we are doing, and the potential of this area,” Garza said. “This is an extraordinary area, we have problems like any other ones, but we have extraordinary opportunities here.” Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

WESLACO, TEXAS - A spokesperson for MHP Salud says no staff member has lost their job because of federal funding cuts to the Affordable Care Act Navigator Program. Heather Morgan is vice president of communications and business development for MHP Salud. She oversees brand development and management, reputation, communications, and positioning. In an email to the Rio Grande Guardian, she did confirm that the Weslaco-based non-profit has been informed of federal funding cuts to the Navigator program. “MHP Salud has a long-standing history in the RGV. We provide multiple services to the community to provide families and individuals with health education, child health and developmental support, health insurance education and application assistance, and much more,” said Heather Morgan, vice president of communications and business development for MHP Salud. “Our programming array includes Parents as Teachers, Familias Saludables, Silver Connections, Connecting Kids to Coverage, and the Navigator program.” Morgan continued: “While MHP Salud has received notice that funding for the Navigator program will be reduced, we will receive funding to continue serving the RGV through the Navigator program, as well as our other programs.” Morgan added: “Moreover, while the funding reduction will impact staffing, final decisions have not yet been made, and no one was informed that August 31 will be their last day of employment.” Morgan wrote to the Guardian following comments made by Moises Arjona, collective impact director for Unidos Contra la Diabetes. During a webinar hosted by Hidalgo County Prosperity Task Force, and in a subsequent interview with the Guardian, Arjona spoke about the impact of federal funding cuts to the Affordable Care Act. Morgan said Arjona does not work for MHP Salud and does not speak for the nonprofit.  Asked if he would like to respond, Arjona said: “What I shared (at the Hidalgo County Prosperity Task Force webinar) was that from the community health workers who are employed at MHP Salud, those who reached out and provided me with information regarding funding and who were looking for open job positions.” Arjona continued: “We value MHP Salud as a partner in the community and they do great work, but as they have stated in their email, funding is being reduced and that will affect the work that is being done in the community.” Arjona added: “MHP Salud is a provider for the Affordable Care Act and many of our folks in the community depend on MHP Salud to continue to help them navigate the Market Place during open enrollment. Our population is not tech savvy and needs help, especially during open enrollment.” Here is part of an interview Arjona gave the Guardian. Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.