Rachely Hernandez Salazar and Melissa Chaidez with the Business One-Stop Shop (BOSS) team sharing resources at the Border Health Innovation Summit.

August 22, 2025

El Paso Shines at IEDC Excellence Awards

We are proud to announce that the City of El Paso’s Economic & International Development Department has received multiple honors at the 2025 International Economic Development Council (IEDC) Excellence Awards:

• Bronze Award in the Special Purpose Website category for the El Paso BOSS Website, benefiting over 500,000 residents.
• Bronze Award in the Regional or Cross-Border Partnership category for the International Policy Agenda, strengthening partnerships with Ciudad Juárez and neighboring communities in Texas and New Mexico.
• Silver Award in the Special Purpose Brochure category for the Small Business Assistance Brochure, providing vital resources to entrepreneurs and small businesses.

These accolades underscore our commitment to fostering economic growth and collaboration across borders. We are proud that El Paso’s initiatives are being recognized nationally for their impact and innovation.

This recognition builds on our continued success in economic development, following the 2024 IEDC Gold Award for the BOSS Entrepreneurial Support Organizations Network.

Thank you to our dedicated team and partners for making these achievements possible.

We’re excited to invite you to the mayoral proclamation reading on Wednesday, September 3. This is a powerful moment when the City of El Paso officially recognizes and celebrates El Paso Startup Week and its commitment to supporting our local business community. This ceremony kicks off a week-long celebration of innovation, collaboration, and growth across the Borderplex region.

Stick around right after the proclamation for a fun and memorable group photo to capture the energy, and unity that makes El Paso a vibrant place to launch and grow ideas. Your presence will not only highlight the importance of this week but also amplify our collective message of momentum, optimism, and community-driven success.

If you have any questions or need additional details (location specifics, parking info, or photography logistics), don’t hesitate to reach out—we’re happy to help.

We’d be honored to have you join us as we set the tone for an unforgettable Startup Week.

Calling All Vendors & Food Trucks!

Get ready to showcase your unique offerings at the first-ever Mercadito on Mills Ave. during El Paso Startup Week, a celebration of local entrepreneurship and culture.

🗓️ September 25, 2025

🕧 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM

📍 Mills Ave. in front of San Jacinto Plaza, El Paso, TX

Join us for an unforgettable evening filled with:

• 🍔 Delicious eats from local food trucks
• 🛍️ Unique products from artisan vendors
• 🤝 Networking opportunities with fellow entrepreneurs

This is more than just a market, it's a movement to support emerging entrepreneurs and celebrate the local goodness of our community.

Spaces are limited! Secure your spot today and be part of this fun event that promises to be a highlight of El Paso Startup Week.

👉 Apply now to be a vendor or food truck participant and connect with a community excited to experience your sourced produce or artisan goods. You can find more details on the link below.

Let's come together to make the Mercadito on Mills Ave. a resounding success!

A new feature lets consumers pay you directly with their Open Rewards balance instantly, no more waiting!

Why it matters

• Consumers: No more paying first and redeeming later - redeem instantly at a business
• Your business: Draws in customers who want to use their rewards immediately
• Local impact: Keeps money circulating right into the community

How Instant Pay works as a Business

1. Enable Instant Pay in your business portal
2. Customers tap “Instant Pay,” scan your Open Rewards QR code, and enter a payment amount
3. Funds move instantly from the consumers reward balance to yours
4. You can withdraw anytime through your portal

Quick video walkthrough below

Watch Business Setup in your portal for step-by-step visuals.

Where to find it in the app

Tap the light-blue Instant Pay button on the home screen, then register via your business profile to get started.

Check it out and be sure to register via your profile to benefit from this new feature.

The Hunt Institute for Global Competitiveness at The University of Texas at El Paso, in collaboration with the Texas Association of Business, is conducting a survey to better understand how tariffs are affecting businesses across Texas.

We’d love your input! If your company has a presence in Texas, please take a few minutes to complete the survey in the link below.

Your perspective is critical in helping us capture the real impact of these policies. Please also feel free to share this survey with other businesses in Texas that may be affected.

Thank you for lending your voice to this important effort!

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