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South Padre Island Chamber of Commerce
April 28,  2017
The Business Leader
Social Media Strategies Class 

2018 Guide to South Padre Island 
Joint All - Member Meeting 
 
 Lisa Garcia, PI-ISD Superintendent, was guest speaker at the Joint Chamber All Member Meeting at Pirate's Landing on Thursday morning.  Dr.  Garcia  reviewed the proposed legislation regarding consolidating all Cameron County School Districts into a single school district overseen by the Brownsville school board trustees.  Garcia also discussed other legislative bills filed this session regarding education.
PI-ISD 
PITarponsLogo
Show your appreciation for our local teachers
and promote your business at the same time!
 
Each school year the South Padre Island Chamber of Commerce holds a
Teacher Appreciation mixer, compliments of Bob Friedman and Sea Ranch Restaurant, to say a much deserved "Thank You" to the teachers of the Point Isabel Independent School District.  Attendees are treated to hors d'oeuvres, door prizes and are recognized for their hard work and dedication to the youth of the Laguna Madre area.  Chamber members are invited to join us in showing appreciation by donating items such as coupons, gifts or discounts to be given as door prizes.  This is not only a great way to say "Thank You" to the teachers but also a way to promote your business.
 
If you would like to donate to this worthy cause, please contact Sue at the SPI Chamber by calling 956.761.4412 or emailing sue@spichamber.com
 We hope you will take advantage of this opportunity and be a part of this worthy endeavor. We will be happy to pick up your donation no later than May 12th.   
Grand Openings and Ribbon Cuttings  
What a great turnout this afternoon (4/22/17) for the ribbon cutting at Kingfisher Gallery and Taxidermy. SPI Chamber Islanders, board members, staff, Mayor Patel and many well wishers and friends joined Sandy Margret in celebrating the opening of her new gallery. Stop by soon and check out all the beautiful things she has to offer.

  We are so excited to welcome House of Frames to the Island. If you thought this was just a frame shop you will be surprised. Owner, Peggy Allen, has pulled together a group of artist that displays in her beautiful shop in addition to her extensive selection of frames. You are sure to find something you cannot live without. Thank you to the many people that joined us to make this a wonderful grand opening and ribbon cutting, and Happy 50th Anniversary to House of Frames!
Welcome to the Island Red Mango!! The perfect ending to an eventful afternoon. Red Mango owners Ethan Salazar, Jared Schmidt, and Red Mango welcomed everyone and treated those in attendance to wonderful yogurt and healthy juices. 
  And not to be overlooked is Daddy's Seafood and Cajun Kitchen for their major expansion that provided the beautiful space for these businesses, and another event space on the Island with the addition they made upstairs. Thank you to the Salazar family and their continued investment in the Island.
PI-ISD DECA International Competition 
 
Dalton Swink receives recognition check from South Padre Island Chamber of Commerce President Roxanne Mumm Harris. Dalton earned an opportunity to participate at DECA International competition in Anaheim California. Proudly watching on are PIHS Principal Dr. William Roach and DECA Club Sponsor Victor Barrera. Good luck Dalton! - at Port Isabel High School.
Chamber's Spring Break/High Traffic Business Survey 
 
 
Port of Brownsville 

Port of Browsville - Exciting Economic News

West Plains Accepts First Units of Grain at Port of Brownsville
BROWNSVILLE, Texas - West Plains LLC received its first grain of the season April 25th at the Port of Brownsville with the arrival of 109 rail cars of corn from Nebraska.
 
West Plains entered into an agreement with the port in 2016 to restore and operate the grain elevator, with capacity to store three million bushels of grain. Since restoration efforts began, West Plains has invested more than $5.5 million in preparation of Tuesday's shipment, the first at the port in more than seven years. Eventually, West Plains expects to receive 220 rail cars monthly.
 
The initial shipment of 109 rail cars is equivalent to 440 semi-truck loads. The corn will be stored for less than 30 days before being trucked to feed lots north of the Rio Grande Valley and parts of the Mexican states of Tamaulipas and Nuevo Leon.
 
"We feel like we're just scratching the surface," said Amit Bhandari, chairman and CEO of the BioUrja Group, parent company of West Plains. "There's a lot of business here."
 
West Plains' future plans include facility enhancements to achieve high-speed handling of grain through all modes of transportation, including truck, rail and vessel. On-port rail service is provided by OmniTRAX through a master franchise agreement with Brownsville Navigation District.
 
"We'd like to have the ship loader and unloader in about a year," Bhandari explained. "It will be an investment of $12 to $15 million, and at that point we want to just facilitate trade."
 
"The partnership between the Port of Brownsville, OmniTRAX Inc., and West Plains is another example of how the port is working to expand the economic vitality of the Rio Grande Valley," said John Wood, Brownsville Navigation District chairman.
 
# # #
 
About the Port of Brownsville
The Port of Brownsville is the only deepwater seaport directly on the U.S./Mexico border, and the largest land-owning public port authority in the nation with 40,000 acres of land. It is also an industrial port whose efforts are geared toward the attraction of industry and maritime commerce while providing economic growth and job creation in the region.
  
 
Member Renewals
 
Member Spotlight  
4912 Padre Blvd.
South Padre Island, TX  78597
956.761.1012
Smile! You're in GREAT hands. Welcome to the Dentist, the office of Emma L. Gavito DDS, the only dentist office on South Padre Island. They are a full service general dentistry office treating children to adults. We always welcome new patients. In addition to dental services, they also perform permanent makeup procedures to include eyebrows, eyeliner, and lip color.  
Member Job Postings

FNBSPILogo

First National Bank of South Padre Island is seeking a Full-time Customer Service Representative for our South Padre Island location. Position is 40 hours per week from Monday through Saturday.  Person must be accurate and detail oriented, excellent communication skills, dependable and well-organized. Applicants should have one year related work experience. Applicants must be able to pass a credit check and a criminal background screening.  Apply in person at 709 Padre Blvd., South Padre Island, Texas
Community Events /Specials From Our Members and Non-Profits
Head to Toe
Hot Deals - Pick up your flyer at the SPI Chamber
 
Palms Resort and Cafe on the Beach
Schlitterbahn Waterpark and Resort
 
SPI Birding and Nature Center
 


El Paseo Arts Foundations
 
Historic Museum of South Padre Island

SPI Farmers' Market
FarmersMarket

SPI Farmers' Market
Every Sunday
11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
The Shores
8605 Padre Blvd.
South Padre Island, TX

 
In This Issue
Social Media Strategies Class
2018 Guide to South Padre Island
PIISD
Ribbon Cuttings
DECA
Survey
Port of Brownsville
Member Renewals
Member Spotlight
Job Openings
Comnunity Events