By The Insider
Special toEl Rrun-Rrun
“Josh (Mejia) doesn’t just focus on the traditional economic development approach of wooing outside businesses to colonize our community, he understands that we have people with phenomenal skills and talents right here at home, and he helps local entrepreneurs make their dreams come true. His approach is both balanced and incredibly effective.” Traci Wickett, president and CEO of United Way of Southern Cameron County and board member of the BCIC.![]()
Downtown has no leadership and no chance of organic growth. The award was given for economic development to someone whose claim is that he is turning "Casa De Nylon" bldg into a business incubator?
It's a homeless hangout and business incubator? Who are they incubating and who is mentoring these future success stories?
(eBRIDGE:
To be located in the former Casa de Nylon, the eBridge Center for Business & Commercialization will mobilize the next generation of entrepreneurs and equip them with the skills and resources that they need to create jobs, access capital, and scale commercially. The partnership between the City of Brownsville, Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation, and the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley has attracted a $900,000 award from U.S. Economic Development Administration.
Construction is expected to begin early 2020. BTX Future website)
Mayor Topo Gigio bragging about national recognition? Downtown Brownsville and with the exception of a few spots out north, looks like a blighted war zone. Travel up the valley to see what cities should look like.
Instead of wasting an entire building, sell it. Try relocating the Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation within the wasted space of other city office space.
Instead of wasting an entire building, sell it. Try relocating the Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation within the wasted space of other city office space.
The city has squandered taxpayer money like indulging a child with a high allowance. Administrators who are not qualified to run a lemonade stand and yet are given the resources to fund businesses.
Look at the taxpayer cost/benefit over the last five years vs. the operational cost: the staff and building and money that have been given out with no return past, present or future.This city will never pull out on it's own.
Only by virtue of the fact that Brownsville serves as hub near the bridge and port will this city eventually turn into a service economy. This in turn will draw some ancillary industry.
It will be in spite of children running these offices who will of course, win another trophy for graduating fifth grade.
Hire someone with skills and knowledge, success – poach from McAllen.
Fed up...
Fed up...
"Josh took over as the leader, he had complete buy in, and from the board it was disrupting the model of BCIC, redefining BCIC and really implement a cultural shift. Josh has been the face of that culture shift, and you see it not only internally within staff but you see it in how much more robust we are as an (economic development) team than previous years.”