| Residents of Texas' Rio Grande Valley are learning the skills they need to create and maintain jobs through a new business-assistance program established by the University of Texas-Pan American in Edinburg. The Rio Grande Valley One Stop Capital Shop (OSCS) is part of an initiative by the Rio Grande Valley Enterprise Zone (EZ) to stimulate economic development in a four-county area along the U.S.-Mexican border. OSCS offers a comprehensive array of outreach, training, and technical assistance services in coordination with other public, private, and nonprofit organizations.
Workshops on a wide variety of business issues, such as starting a business and preparing a business plan are currently being offered at OSCS. Technical assistance is provided on a one-on-one basis to business clients, who can also receive access to capital through OSCS's partnerships with economic development entities.
The One Stop Capital Shop is serving one of the country's poorest regions, which include the communities of Edcouch, La Villa, Port Isabel, and Rio Grande City. Sixty percent of residents meet the Federal poverty levels and unemployment rates traditionally reach more than 21 percent within the EZ.
The HSIAC grant allows for the continued funding of activities that have been underway since 1996 when the university received an EZ grant to provide business and technical assistance to micro and small business enterprises within the zone. The university has leveraged more than $1.3 million dollars for the HSIAC project and is currently working with more than 15 partners.
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