Click here to read The Monitor's front-page story on JDG Jewelers

The city has been a magnet for regional and national retail chains in the last year. Discount Tire, El Pollo Loco, Blue Wave Car Wash, Delia's, Bert Ogden Kia and others have added locations or expanded in Mission recently. The new construction represents Mission's overall economic vitality, and how the city is an appealing  location for new business.

Hundreds of RGV high school students des cended on the CEED building on March 4 for The South Texas Ideas Festival, or STXi, a one-day fete of innovation, culture and ideas. The IDEA school students that organized the event, led by Michael Mireles, planned for months to make the event a success. We are glad to report that our building could not have been a better location for the students' celebration.

Mission Economic Development Corporation has partnered with Shared_Studios, an art, architecture, and technology organization, to bring the global public art initiative Portals to Mission. The portal will allow entrepreneurs to communicate across borders. In the last several weeks, Program Director Cristina Garza has led dozens of portal sessions with local educators, business owners & students with folks in Berlin, Mexico City and other locations.

The Mission Chamber and the US Small Business Administration Lower Rio Grande Valley District will host a luncheon at the Cimarron Country Club on Tuesday May 4 to mark Small Business Week. All twelve SBA awardees from around the entire district, including Mission's JDG Jewelers, have been invited to be recognized for their achievements. The event starts at 11:30 a.m. Contact the  Greater Mission Chamber of Commerce for more information.