The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley SBDC

Monthly Newsletter

May 2024

Happy National Small Business Week! Did you know that over half of Americans own or work for a small business? Small businesses create about two out of every three new jobs in the U.S. each year.

Since 1963, the President of the United States has issued a proclamation announcing National Small Business Week, recognizing the critical contributions of America’s entrepreneurs and small business owners. The UTRGV SBDC is pleased to join this celebration, from April 28 through May 4, 2024, honoring all small business owners, especially those close to home! We congratulate you on your hard work, perseverance, and contributions to our economy.

Please remember that the UTRGV SBDC is here to help you, as you plan and implement operational and growth strategies in your business. Confidential, one-to-one business advisement is available virtually, by appointment, and at no cost. Call your advisor today for a follow-up appointment. If you are new to the SBDC, visit eCenter Direct to register and set up your first appointment. For registration assistance, please call our office at (956) 665-7535. Training on various business topics is also available at little or no cost. See the many available options below!

Stay connected and follow us on Facebook and Twitter for up-to-date information and resources for your small business!

Warmest regards,

UTRGV Small Business Development Center

Celebrating over 35 years of service!

Proud Member of the Texas South-West SBDC Network

Service Area Sessions

5/8/24 Make Better Decisions with Analytics 11:00 AM-12:00 PM | Live Webinar | No Fee

5/9/24 SBDC Smart Start 2:00 PM-3:00 PM | Live Webinar | No Fee

5/9/24 Use YouTube to Grow Your Business 11:00 AM-12:00 PM | Live Webinar | No Fee

5/15/24 Art of Marketing 2:00 PM-3:00 PM | Live Webinar | No Fee

5/21/24 Power of Business Planning 10:00 AM-12:00 PM | In-Person | No Fee

5/22/24 Power Your Business with AI 11:00 AM-12:00 PM | Live Webinar | No Fee

5/22/24 Small Business Branding 10:00 AM-12:00 PM | In-Person | No Fee

5/28/24 Maximize Sales: Strategies & Tips 10:00 AM-12:00 PM | Live Webinar | No Fee

5/29/24 Thriving at E-Commerce 11:00 AM-12:00 PM | Live Webinar | No Fee

Network Area Sessions

5/2/24 Small Business Disaster Ready 10:00 AM-11:00 AM | Live Webinar | UHV SBDC

5/3/24 IRS: Protect Your Small Business from Scams 11:00 AM-12:00 PM | Live Webinar | UHV SBDC

5/10/24 Commercial Property Value 10:00 AM-11:00 AM | Live Webinar | UHV SBDC

5/14/24 Perfect Launch: Sell More with Amazon 1:00 PM-2:00 PM | Live Webinar | UHV SBDC

5/16/24 Where's the Money? Financing Your Business 10:00 AM-11:00 AM | Live Webinar | TXST SBDC

5/16/24 Cyber Aware: Small Business Secure Wi-Fi 2:00 PM-3:00 PM | Live Webinar | DMC SBDC

5/23/24 Cybersecurity 101 for Small Business 10:00 AM-11:00 AM | Live Webinar | ASU SBDC

*Additional sessions found on eCenter.

Network Self-Paced Modules

For those in business, or even new to business, the UTRGV SBDC offers additional, online training modules that can be accessed from anywhere and at any time. All sessions are at no cost and self-paced!

*Registration required. Access the TXSW SBDC Network Training Portal for online training today!



Texas South-West SBDC Network

The Texas South-West SBDC Network has 10 field offices (including the UTRGV SBDC) that provide services to a 79-county region. Check out additional center training events at the TXSW SBDC Network.

US Small Business Administration (SBA) for the Lower Rio Grande Valley District

The SBA Lower Rio Grande Valley District Office services 14 counties in southern Texas. The local SBA office is in Harlingen and can be reached at (956) 427-8533. SBA also offers a variety of online courses to help you start and run your business. Visit the SBA Learning Center for a list of courses to help you along your entrepreneurial journey.

UTRGV Office of Workforce & Economic Development

The UTRGV Office of Workforce & Economic Development (OWED) supports economic development in the Rio Grande Valley through services by the UTRGV SBDC and the following centers. For more information on these services, visit UTRGV OWED or any of the centers below.

UTRGV APEX Accelerator (APEX)

UTRGV Data and Information Systems Center (DISC) 

UTRGV Entrepreneurship and Commercialization Center (ECC)

UTRGV Professional Education & Workforce Development (PEWD)

UTRGV Small Business Development Center (SBDC)

UTRGV Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC)

UTRGV SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER

BUILDING THE TEXAS ECONOMY ONE BUSINESS AT A TIME

Office Locations

UTRGV CESS Bldg. | 1407 E. Freddy Gonzalez Dr. | Suite 1.200 | Edinburg, Texas 78539

eBridge Center for Business & Commercialization | 1304 E. Adams St. | Brownsville, TX 78520

(956) 665-7535 | sbdc@utrgv.edu | www.utrgv.edu/sbdc

Funded in part through the State of Texas and a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities or limited English proficiency will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact the UTRGV SBDC at (956) 665-7535.

At The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, the UTRGV SBDC is a center of the Office of Workforce and Economic Development (OWED), under the UTRGV Division of Governmental & Community Relations. OWED aims to address issues that impact the long-term welfare of the community through private/public partnership efforts.

In addition to assistance in business development and growth offered by the UTRGV SBDC, OWED also offers training and counseling for veterans; procurement assistance for existing businesses seeking to engage in government contracting; assistance with data, research, impact analysis, and maps for private/public entities; cohort-based training and membership access to professional workspace, soft landing, and business incubation; and professional education and continuing education opportunities. For more information on these services, please call (956) 665-3361 or email vpgcr@utrgv.edu.