News & Press

Feb 1, 2022
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, TEXAS  (January 24, 2022) – Gulf Guardians, in partnership with Keep Texas Beautiful, is seeking local restaurants to join Plastic Free Padre, a pilot program helping to reduce single-use plastics and polystyrene use on South Padre Island. The program will kick off in the first half of 2022 and participating restaurants will shift to alternative materials for items like cutlery packets and takeout containers without raising prices for customers. Read More
Jun 30, 2021
South Padre Island, Friday, June 25, 2021 - According to the May 2021 Smith Travel Research (STR) the U.S. hotel industry showed its highest performance levels since the beginning of the pandemic, and the City of South Padre Island has not been the exception, this tropical Island continues making waves by setting record numbers, not only in comparison to 2020 but in the last three years preceding the pandemic. Read More
May 11, 2020
As a result of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief & Economic Security (CARES) Act, the Federal Reserve has created the Main Street Lending Program to provide a total of $600 billion in financing for small and medium-sized businesses. While the program’s start date has yet to be announced, here’s what you need to know to check eligibility and get ready to apply.   1. Am I eligible? In order to be eligible for a Main Street Lending Program loan, a business must: Read More
Apr 3, 2020
  Below are some very helpful pages put out by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce regarding emergency loans, etc. Read More
Mar 27, 2020
Texas Woman's University announced a million dollar grant program for small business' owned by women in Texas. Read More
Mar 25, 2020
From the Texas Comptroller... These are challenging times for businesses all over the nation. The Texas Comptroller’s office knows that during periods of economic hardship, paying or remitting taxes and fees on time can feel like an extra burden when there’s so much uncertainty. We’re thankful to those businesses that were able to remit state and local sales taxes they collected from customers in February on the March 20, 2020, due date. Read More
Mar 23, 2020
The Texas Department of Agriculture has created a document to help with COVID-19 resources.    COVID-19 Resource Guide                                                  Business Federal: Read More
Mar 21, 2020
The coronavirus epidemic is the greatest crisis our industry has ever faced.  Economic forecasts indicate that restaurants and the foodservice industry could sustain $225 billion in losses and eliminate 5-7 million jobs over the next three months. We need your help to confront the economic impact of the coronavirus head-on—as a united industry.  We need relief now! Read More
Mar 17, 2020
SBA Disaster Assistance in Response to the Coronavirus Read More
Feb 17, 2020
Kauffman FastTrac is coming to South Padre Island/Port Isabel, Texas! Register today -- space is limited! Download Flyer GAIN THE NECESSARY TOOLS TO LAUNCH YOUR BUSINESS TODAY. FastTrac® NewVenture™ provides the tools to develop a business concept, determine the viability of the business concept, and outline the critical steps to a successful business launch. Read More
Jan 29, 2020
A Seminar Series by the UTRGV Small Business Development Center for "Sand Dollars for Success". Read More
Jan 30, 2019
The Governor’s Small Business Conference is a learning and networking opportunity for businesses at every stage of development. Read More
Dec 19, 2018
Five artist will be selected for the program based on evaluation by a professional evaluation of their submitted applications. Application deadline is January 3, 2019. Read More
Feb 17, 2017
The U.S. Small Business Administration’s Lower Rio Grande Valley District Office (LRGVD) and the South Padre Island Economic Development Corporation (SPI EDC) signed a Strategic Alliance Memorandum (SAM) to encourage entrepreneurship and economic empowerment through increased collaboration on entrepreneurial and financial education for local residents and small business owners. Read More
May 6, 2016
The Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority (CCRMA) held an Industry Outreach Meeting on March 1, 2016, in South Padre Island. As discussed during the outreach meeting, the CCRMA desired to schedule confidential one-on-one meetings with developers in order to receive more detailed feedback on the overall proposed project delivery and future procurement process. Read More

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