The Small Business Monthly

July 2026

Dear Small Business Owner:

Happy Fourth of July!

July brings a time to celebrate independence and the spirit of entrepreneurship that drives our small business community forward. As we recognize the Fourth of July, it’s also a great moment to invest in your own business growth with new tools, ideas, and strategies for success.

This month features a dynamic lineup of trainings, including sessions on AI and YouTube, competitor analysis, and building marketing assets faster, along with both standard and hands-on SBDC Smart Start workshops. We’ll also host AI for Small Businesses: Practical Tools and Insights, packed with real-world applications you can use right away.

In addition to training, UTRGV SBDC advisors are available across the region—including every Tuesday and Thursday in Mission, Pharr, Weslaco, and Brownsville—to provide confidential, one-to-one advising tailored to your business needs. Whether you’re launching, growing, or adapting, support is available close to you.

You’ll find this month’s sessions below, along with resources and updates to help you stay informed and keep your business moving forward.

Warmest regards,

UTRGV Small Business Development Center

Celebrating over 35 years of service!

Proud Member of the Texas South-West SBDC Network

News & Information

Around the Rio Grande Valley

➤ It's the final stop! The UTRGV SBDC, in partnership with university collaborators, is wrapping up its summer Business Resource Showcase series with a final event in Edinburg on July 14. This multi-city initiative connects entrepreneurs and community members with valuable small business resources, including government contracting guidance, business incubation support, and professional development opportunities. Attendees can network beginning at 1:30 PM, followed by program sessions from 2:00–4:00 PM. Don’t miss this last opportunity of the season to access tools and connect with experts dedicated to helping your business grow. Register here.

➤ UTRGV SBDC advisors are now available every Tuesday and Thursday for confidential, one-to-one business advising at the Mission Center for Education and Economic Development (CEED), Pharr Global Business Hub, UTRGV Center for Innovation & Commercialization (CIC) in Weslaco, and the eBridge Center for Business & Commercialization in Brownsville. Sessions are offered at no cost, and appointments are required. Call 956-665-7535 to schedule your appointment.

➤ SBA disaster loans are available to Cameron, Hidalgo, and Willacy County businesses impacted by recent storms. Eligible applicants can access funding to repair damaged property or cover operating expenses and continue business operations. Learn more here.

➤ The SBA is offering low-interest disaster loans to Texas small businesses and nonprofits affected by drought, including those in the Rio Grande Valley. Funds can be used for working capital needs such as payroll, rent, and other operating expenses. Learn more here.

Business Advising Services

Meet with a Business Advisor from the UTRGV SBDC

The UTRGV SBDC is here to provide personalized support, as you develop and execute operational and growth strategies for your business. Confidential business advising services are available to you, either in person or virtually, by appointment, and at absolutely no cost.

Reach out to your advisor today to arrange a follow-up appointment. If you are new to the UTRGV SBDC, please visit eCenter Direct to register and schedule your initial appointment. If you're unable to access eCenter Direct online, please call our office at (956) 665-7535 for further assistance.

Stay connected with us! Follow us on Facebook for the latest information and resources for your small business.

Business Training Calendar

Seminars & Webinars in the Rio Grande Valley

7/1 AI+YouTube 11:00 AM | Live Webinar | No Fee

7/8 Turning Business Documents into Action Using NotebookLM 11:00 AM | Live Webinar | No Fee

7/8 SBDC Smart Start 2:00 PM | Live Webinar | No Fee

7/15 Know Your Business Rivals: Basic Tools for Competitor Analysis 2:00 PM | Live Webinar | No Fee

7/22 SBDC Smart Start: Hands-On Edition 10:00 AM | In-Person | No Fee

7/22 Get Your Business on Google Search and Maps 11:00 AM | Live Webinar | No Fee

7/29 Building Marketing Assets Faster 11:00 AM | Live Webinar | No Fee

7/29 AI for Small Businesses: Practical Tools and Insights 2:00 PM | Live Webinar | No Fee

Plus, coming up in August:

8/12 SBDC Smart Start: Hands-On Edition 10:00 AM | In-Person | No Fee

8/13 Patent Search 10:00 AM | Live Webinar | No Fee

8/25 Automate Business Workflows Using Gemini 11:00 AM | Live Webinar | No Fee

8/26 Sharpen Your Product Idea with Gemini 11:00 AM | Live Webinar | No Fee

8/27 Make AI Work for Local Businesses 11:00 AM | Live Webinar | No Fee

8/28 Make Better Decisions with Analytics and AI 11:00 AM | Live Webinar | No Fee

Webinars in our Texas South-West SBDC Network (and Beyond)

7/1 Mexico-United States Business Networking Event 5:00 PM | Live Webinar | Tecnológico de Monterrey SBDC

7/14 What Can You Negotiate in a Commercial Lease? 10:00 AM | Live Webinar | TXST SBDC

7/16 Build and Leverage Business Credit to Help Grow Your Business 10:00 AM | Live Webinar | EPCC SBDC

7/16 AI for the 50-Hat Business Owner 2:00 PM | Live Webinar | DMC SBDC

7/16 AI Day Virtual Summit 2:00 PM | Live Webinar | ASBDC

7/24 How to Read Your Financials 10:00 AM | Live Webinar | TAMUV SBDC

*Additional sessions found on eCenter.

Market Research Services

Access to SBDCNet: A Nation-Wide Service

The Texas South-West SBDC Network is proud to host SBDCNet, the National Information Clearinghouse for America's Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs). This official program, backed by the U.S. SBA, provides vital support to small businesses and SBDCs across the nation, offering market research and valuable resources. It reaches over 1,000 centers in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Resources and information from SBDCNet includes the following:

Additionally, as a client of the UTRGV SBDC, you have access to customized market research for your business. Whether you are exploring an industry for business startup, determining your target market to plan for promotional and sales strategies, or assessing growth opportunities, connect with your business advisor at the UTRGV SBDC to get help in acquiring your personalized reports. Call (956) 665-7535, or email sbdc@utrgv.edu for an appointment today.

Additional Partner Services

Texas South-West SBDC Network

The Texas South-West SBDC Network has 10 field offices (including the UTRGV SBDC) that provide services to a 79-county region. Check out additional center training events at the TXSW SBDC Network.

U.S. Small Business Administration in the Lower Rio Grande Valley District

The UTRGV SBDC is partially funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Locally, the SBA Lower Rio Grande Valley District Office serves 14 counties in southern Texas. The SBA office in Harlingen can be reached at (956) 427-8533. SBA offers a variety of online courses to help you start and run your business. Visit the SBA Learning Center for a list of courses to help you along your entrepreneurial journey. In addition, SBA has an online portal that can help businesses find potential lenders with competitive rates and fees. Visit SBA Lender Match for details.

UTRGV Office of Workforce & Economic Development

The UTRGV Office of Workforce & Economic Development (OWED) supports economic development in the Rio Grande Valley through services by the UTRGV SBDC and the following centers. For more information on these services, visit UTRGV OWED or any of the centers below.

UTRGV APEX Accelerator (APEX)

UTRGV Data and Information Systems Center (DISC)

UTRGV Entrepreneurship and Commercialization Center (ECC)

UTRGV Professional Education & Workforce Development (PEWD)

UTRGV Small Business Development Center (SBDC)

UTRGV Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC)

UTRGV SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER

BUILDING THE TEXAS ECONOMY ONE BUSINESS AT A TIME

Office Locations

UTRGV CESS Bldg. | 1407 E. Freddy Gonzalez Dr. | Suite 1.200 | Edinburg, Texas 78539

eBridge Center for Business & Commercialization | 1304 E. Adams St. | Brownsville, TX 78520

(956) 665-7535 | sbdc@utrgv.edu | www.utrgv.edu/sbdc

Funded in part through the State of Texas and a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. SBDC services are provided to all U.S. citizens and legal residents in accordance with Federal funding requirements. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities or limited English proficiency will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact the UTRGV SBDC at (956) 665-7535.

At The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, the UTRGV SBDC is a center of the Office of Workforce and Economic Development (OWED), under the UTRGV Division of Governmental & Community Relations. OWED aims to address issues that impact the long-term welfare of the community through private/public partnership efforts. For more information on these efforts, please call (956) 665-3361 or email vpgcr@utrgv.edu.