Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation

Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation Dedicated to entrepreneurship and quality of life projects, on the Border by the Sea and Beyond. View the policy here: https://bcic.us/social

BCIC social media pages are moderated according to our Social Media Comment Policy. Enhancing the quality of life in Brownsville through innovative and equitable economic development initiatives.

A little sweat, a very good cause. 🌹BCIC was proud to take part in United Way of Southern Cameron County’s Day of Caring...
09/14/2026

A little sweat, a very good cause. 🌹

BCIC was proud to take part in United Way of Southern Cameron County’s Day of Caring, which sends volunteer teams out to nonprofit partners across the area for hands-on projects and a closer look at the work they do every day.

We were honored to be paired with Moody Clinic, a Brownsville institution with roots going back to 1952. The clinic was founded after a local mother struggled to find treatment for her son with cerebral palsy, and that focus on access still shapes its work today. Moody Clinic provides physical, occupational, speech and language, and feeding therapy for local children and families, including support for families who may otherwise have difficulty affording care.

Our assignment was a little more outdoorsy: we helped freshen up the rose garden, cleaned up after tree trimming, painted a fence, and knocked out a few other projects around the grounds.

Thank you to United Way of Southern Cameron County for putting Day of Caring together, and to Moody Clinic for giving us a place to roll up our sleeves and help. 💛💙

Nonprofits rely on volunteers to run programs, support events, reach new people, and strengthen their work in the commun...
09/11/2026

Nonprofits rely on volunteers to run programs, support events, reach new people, and strengthen their work in the community. Recruiting those volunteers is only part of the job.

Organizations also need to understand what motivates them, respect their time, communicate clearly, and create an experience that keeps them involved.

BCIC and the Association of Fundraising Professionals invite local nonprofit leaders and professionals to Engaging Volunteers and Building Bonds That Last on Tuesday, September 22, from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM at the eBridge Center.

The free Lunch & Learn will be led by Brandi Brown, CFRE, Executive Director and co-founder of HYPE Freedom School. Drawing from more than 25 years of nonprofit leadership, Brown will share practical approaches to recruiting volunteers, building trust, and developing relationships that support an organization for the long term. 💪

Reserve your seat now 👉 bcic.us/afpsep26

Happy birthday to BCIC Board Member Stephanie Galvez! 🎉Stephanie is a Brownsville business owner, community advocate, an...
09/10/2026

Happy birthday to BCIC Board Member Stephanie Galvez! 🎉

Stephanie is a Brownsville business owner, community advocate, and MBA candidate at UTRGV. As co-owner of The Broken Sprocket, she has helped create a space that brings people together while supporting initiatives like toy giveaways, wellness runs, and family-focused activities throughout our city.

She now brings that same entrepreneurial experience and commitment to service to your BCIC Board of Directors. We’re proud to have her working alongside us for Brownsville. 💪

Help us wish Stephanie a very happy birthday! 👇🎂

Texas Venture Fest returns to Brownsville on October 1!The fourth annual statewide event will bring founders, investors,...
09/08/2026

Texas Venture Fest returns to Brownsville on October 1!

The fourth annual statewide event will bring founders, investors, business leaders, students, and entrepreneurship partners together at the eBridge Center for Business & Commercialization.

Brownsville will be one of 20 participating cities, giving the Rio Grande Valley a local place to meet the people starting, funding, and supporting companies across Texas.

Read the full announcement:
brownsvillecic.com/texas-venture-fest-returns-to-brownsville-on-october-1/

In observance of Labor Day, BCIC offices will be closed on Monday, September 7, 2026. Normal operations will resume Tues...
09/04/2026

In observance of Labor Day, BCIC offices will be closed on Monday, September 7, 2026.

Normal operations will resume Tuesday, September 8, 2026. Have a great holiday weekend!

Another group of Brownsville business owners has officially completed eBridge Business Academy, bringing a wide range of...
09/02/2026

Another group of Brownsville business owners has officially completed eBridge Business Academy, bringing a wide range of businesses, goals, and ideas for growth to the program.

Over the past several weeks, the cohort worked with the UTRGV Entrepreneurship & Commercialization Center to strengthen their business fundamentals and apply what they learned directly to their day-to-day operations.

They now join more than 350 entrepreneurs who have completed the program, including the founders behind Brownsville favorites like Warbler Coffee, Búho Bookstore, Main Street Deli, and La Pale.

We are proud to congratulate the newest graduates of eBridge Business Academy and look forward to seeing where they take their businesses next.

Will you be part of the next cohort? Visit ebridgebusinessacademy.com for upcoming dates and program updates.

¡Ya abrió el periodo de solicitudes de BIG LIFT para los negocios del Distrito 2! 📣Las pequeñas empresas elegibles puede...
09/01/2026

¡Ya abrió el periodo de solicitudes de BIG LIFT para los negocios del Distrito 2! 📣

Las pequeñas empresas elegibles pueden recibir un reembolso del 80% de los costos aprobados para mejoras exteriores, hasta un máximo de $30,000. Esto puede incluir letreros, iluminación exterior, puertas y ventanas, repavimentación de estacionamientos, murales y más.

Desliza para conocer los requisitos, quiénes califican, cómo funciona el reembolso y qué necesitarás para solicitar.

La fecha límite es el 9 de octubre de 2026. Puedes crear una cuenta, guardar tu avance y continuar tu solicitud después, así que te recomendamos comenzar con tiempo.

Aplica: http://bcic.us/bigliftESP

District 2 businesses, it’s your turn. BIG LIFT applications are now open!Eligible small businesses can receive reimburs...
09/01/2026

District 2 businesses, it’s your turn. BIG LIFT applications are now open!

Eligible small businesses can receive reimbursement for 80% of approved storefront improvement costs, up to $30,000. That can include signage, exterior lighting, doors and windows, landscaping, outdoor seating, parking lot resurfacing, murals, and more.

Swipe through for the basics, including who qualifies, how reimbursement works, and what you’ll need to apply.

Applications close October 9, 2026. You can create an account, save your progress, and return to your application, so get started early!

Start your application: http://bcic.us/bigliftEN

Today we’re celebrating Victoria Padron, BCIC’s Chief Operating Officer and Finance Program Director. 🎉As Brownsville gr...
08/30/2026

Today we’re celebrating Victoria Padron, BCIC’s Chief Operating Officer and Finance Program Director. 🎉

As Brownsville grows, the needs of our businesses and community keep changing. Victoria’s work makes sure BCIC can change with them. She has helped strengthen the eBridge Fund, build the systems and team behind our expanding programs, and keep our organization ready for whatever comes next.

Happy birthday, Victoria. We hope today includes time with family and a great carne asada! Help us celebrate her by leaving a birthday wish in the comments. 🎂

The myth. The legend. The place where you'll definitely run into someone you know!Our final Annual Report stop is The Ve...
08/26/2026

The myth. The legend. The place where you'll definitely run into someone you know!

Our final Annual Report stop is The Vermillion Restaurant & Watering Hole.

The Vermillion opened at Paredes Line and Boca Chica in 1934, back when this part of Brownsville looked very different. In the early days, customers reportedly arrived on horseback, and Mr. Vermillion himself kept a loaded holster on him while he served up cold beer and hamburgers to visitors from all over the country.

More than 90 years later, Vermillion is still here.

The restaurant passed from the Vermillion family to the Davidsons, and eventually to George Perez, who first walked into the kitchen as a 13-year-old dishwasher in 1980. He worked his way through just about every job in the restaurant before becoming manager and, decades later, owner.

That kind of longevity is hard to overstate. Brownsville grew around The Vermillion, and generations of families have kept coming back to the same corner for enchiladas, nachos, fajitas, burgers, and a restaurant that has never felt much pressure to become anything other than itself.

BCIC spends a lot of time talking about what makes a city a good place to live, build a business, and put down roots. Sometimes the best example is a place that has already been doing exactly that for more than 90 years.

Grab a copy of BCIC’s FY 2024 & 2025 Annual Report next time you’re at The Vermillion, or read it online at brownsvillecic.com/ar2425

Address

1304 East Adams Street
Brownsville, TX
78520

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+19567470100

Website

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