While the City of Brownsville’s “Type A” economic development arm, the Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation, has been grabbing all the headlines recently, with the appointment of Mario Lozoya as executive director, its “Type B” economic development entity has been hard at work also.
Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation awarded $35,500 in partnership grants to ten local non-profits and city departments in order to support economic activity in the area.
The Type B economic development group believes the events they are helping to fund will attract around 63,000 participants, who in turn will spend money visiting local restaurants, hotels and retail establishments.
“BCIC continues to have a strong momentum in ensuring that each invested sales tax dollar going towards the Partnership Grants produces a return of investment in the form of increased local spending at retailers and restaurants in Brownsville, Texas,” said Rebeca Castillo, executive director of BCIC.
”Our economic development organization, BCIC, is strongly looking forward to the impact our partnerships will produce for our local economy.
Citing reports from the Texas Comptroller’s Office, Castillo notes that Texas continues to see a positive trend in sales tax revenues. The comptroller’s consumer confidence index indicates a positive spending trend by consumers in the state. She said the BCIC believes that partnering with organizations that are looking to strongly promote their events or campaigns outside and within city limits should trigger a positive response in local spending.
The following is a list of organizations that were selected and awarded for BCIC’s Partnership Grants:
Brownsville Animal Defense
Howl-O-Ween Extravaganza (Partnership Grant Award: $2,500)
The event will have educational tents and entertainment to promote a more pet-friendly and responsible pet owner culture in Brownsville, Texas.
Brownsville Wellness Coalition
Brownsville Farmers’ Market Marketing Campaign (Partnership Grant Award: $5,000)
The campaign will be focused on attracting visitors locally and throughout the Rio Grande Valley.
City of Brownsville
Main Street Downtown Events Initiative (Partnership Grant Award: $5,000)
Three special events, encompassing film, pop-up shops, and highlighting businesses, will be designed to promote Downtown Brownsville as a destination for shopping, dining, and entertainment.
Holiday Village of Dean Porter Park Renovation
Holiday Village 2018 (Partnership Grant Award: $10,000)
The Holiday Village is a unique event held at Dean Porter Park that attracts over 31,000 visitors from all over Texas during Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day. Local vendors will provide food and holiday-themed items and crafts while visitors enjoy a tour of thirty-two holiday themed cottages.
Hooked for Life
Hooked for Life Kids Gone Fish’n (Partnership Grant Award: $2,500)
An annual fishing tournament held at one of Brownsville’s unique resacas for children ages 16 and under with grand prizes, free fishing gear, and entertainment.
Infant & Family Nutrition Agency
Rubber Duck Race 2018 (Partnership Grant Award: $1,000)
A family-friendly event designed to attract visitors from the Rio Grande Valley to enjoy Brownsville’s quality of life assets found at Dean Porter Park.
Mitte Cultural District
Mitte Cultural District Brochure Project (Partnership Grant Award: $2,500)
The Mitte Cultural District will design and produce 25,500 brochures to be distributed at conferences around the state and country to introduce tourists to Brownsville’s district.
South Texas Conjunto Association
STCA “Bienvenidos a Brownsville” TV Show (Partnership Grant Award: $5,000)
The special 2 month broadcasting event on KRGV TV’s Somos El Valle Channel 5.2 will showcase attractions and community events happening in Brownsville, Texas.
Tip of Texas Family Outreach
5K Zombie Run & Monster Mile (Partnership Grant Award: $1,000)
A one of kind event for young children, youth and adults that provides participants to dress up as monsters or zombies and run through the streets of Brownsville while earning themselves finisher medals.
United Way of Southern Cameron County
Brownsville .5K (Partnership Grant Award: $1,000)
A unique event where your nontraditional runners can take a load off the usual 10 kilometer or marathon race. The event is expected to attract plenty of nontraditional participants from around the Rio Grande Valley.
The Partnership Grant was formally known as the Promotion & Community Event Grant which strictly allows BCIC to assist in the marketing expenditures for community events or campaigns.
Meanwhile, BCIC has welcome the “share economy” technology company Grubhub to Brownsville.
Grubhub, along with its subsidiaries, provides an online and mobile platform for restaurant pick-up and delivery orders in the United States. The company recently expanded its platform to Brownsville and is now seeking to engage the community to utilize their delivery and pick-up orders platform.
BCIC is actively looking to continue recruiting “share economy” technology companies into the area to increase job creation, improve commerce and the city’s quality of life.
“The BCIC firmly believes in developing an innovative economy for our residents to ensure we remain competitive in our region.”
BCIC encourages local businesses to visit Grubhub’s official website to learn more on how to provide delivery and pick-up services in the city. In addition, those who are looking to join Grubhub’s expanding delivery team can also visit Grubhub’s official website for more information.
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