Harlingen EDC and UTRGV team up to empower entrepreneurs with resources and support
By Viviana Cervantes
May 31, 2023
To provide information and resources to entrepreneurs in the city of Harlingen, Texas who are planning to start or expand a business, the Harlingen Economic Development Corporation (Harlingen EDC) has formed a new partnership with the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV).
With this, an office was inaugurated within the Harlingen EDC complex , to which small and medium-sized businesses and investors can go to obtain advice and support with which they can achieve success in their projects, in addition to accessing educational programs.
Beverly Loftus, interim CEO of Harlingen EDC , highlighted the impact that this agreement will have in the region, also to strengthen the workforce.
"It is an opportunity for all entrepreneurs, especially for small ones that are growing and need support. We will take care of individually analyzing the cases to create strategies with the UTRGV, there are many important issues such as education, finance and development."
In this new office, entrepreneurs will resolve areas of opportunity in their processes, will be trained to improve closeness with customers, their consolidation strategies, and as part of the push and strengthening of economic development, will obtain various benefits for workshops, training, and plans. professionals granted by the UTRGV.
Labor recruitment, financial and economic management will be some of the main aspects.
Ron Garza, vice president of the labor force and economic development of the UTRGV , pointed out that the support will be permanent for businessmen.
“We will work together to make the small businesses in Harlingen stronger, from those that are starting to those that seek to consolidate, there are great teams in the UTRGV and we will all support each other.”
For her part, Veronica Gonzales, UTRGV's senior vice president of government and community relations, added that all courses, workshops and academic programs for entrepreneurs will always be available and updated.
Various representatives of business organizations and prominent members of the UTRGV participated in the opening ceremony of the office and presentation of the agreement, including Eric Ziehe, president of Harlingen EDC; Cledia Hernandez, vice chancellor and director of external relations at Texas State Technical College (TSTC); and Javier de Leon, CEO and President of the Harlingen Chamber of Commerce.