The Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation (BCIC) and University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Entrepreneurship and Commercialization Center announce a gathering of space industry leaders for "Insights Unplugged: Space Edition" on Tuesday, November 19, from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM at the eBridge Center for Business & Commercialization.
"South Texas is not only turning into a major force in space exploration but now becoming synonymous with exploring the red planet,” said Gilberto Salinas, CEO of the Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation (GBIC), the economic development arm of the city. "Our workforce, infrastructure, and strategic location make us uniquely positioned to advance the space industry."
Featured speakers include Gilberto Salinas, who led the Brownsville initiative in recruiting SpaceX to Boca Chica and brings nearly two decades of economic development experience, and Walt Ugalde, Economic Development Lead for NASA Johnson Space Center's T2X/T2U program.
"NASA's T2X program provides direct access to technology, expertise, and resources that can enhance and enable South Texas's innovation and economic development strategic objectives," says Ugalde. "We continue to see significant potential for new companies launched via NASA commercialized technologies. Programs such as NASA T2X, along with others within NASA’s early-stage innovation portfolio of programs, are available to the Industry and Academic organizations within the Greater RGV region."
"Insights Unplugged brings NASA's resources and GBIC's economic development expertise directly to our local business community," says Nathan Burkhart, VP of Entrepreneurship & Innovation at BCIC. "Having both Walt Ugalde and Gilberto Salinas share practical pathways for business growth shows exactly why we created the eBridge Center."
Linda Ufland, Director of Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Commercialization at UTRGV's Entrepreneurship and Commercialization Center, emphasizes the practical benefits: "This event connects our entrepreneurial ecosystem and our University students and faculty with NASA's technology transfer program and active aerospace companies. The program is a direct path to internships, research partnerships, and commercial development in the space sector."
The event includes a networking lunch and discussion session. Business leaders, educators, students, and community members are invited to attend.
Event Details:
- Date: Tuesday, November 19, 2024
- Time: 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM CST
- Location: eBridge Center, 1304 East Adams Street, Brownsville, TX 78520
- Parking available at La Plaza Parking Garage
For registration and additional information, visit Eventbrite.
About the Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation
The Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation (BCIC) is a Type B economic development corporation. It is dedicated to driving sustainable economic development, enhancing quality of life, fostering innovation, empowering entrepreneurs, supporting strategic projects, and cultivating partnerships that support Brownsville's thriving and vibrant community. BCIC operates under three core pillars. The first is Community Development, achieved through initiatives like the BIG Grants, which support the revitalization and preservation of Historical Downtown Brownsville, and the Quality of Life Grants, designed to enhance the community's well-being. These grants fund projects that create welcoming and inclusive spaces, improve amenities, and promote activities that benefit both residents and visitors. The second pillar is Finance Programs, which support local small businesses by providing financial resources to help them start or expand. This, in turn, creates jobs with livable wages, contributing to the overall economic stability of the region. The third pillar is Innovation & Entrepreneurship, where BCIC supports the entrepreneurial journey with incubation, acceleration, and continuous assistance.
For more information, visit www.brownsvillecic.com. For media inquiries, please contact Nelson Amaro, Director of Marketing & Communications, at namaro@bcic.us.
English 
Spanish