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It’s no wonder that thousands of Winter Texans choose McAllen as their home away from home. This progressive city offers some of the best cultural activities, shopping, dining and recreation in the state. A downtown entertainment district is filled with galleries, restaurants, nightclubs and more. The commitment to the arts is demonstrated through the chamber of commerce’s art incubator, which provides support to aspiring artists of all disciplines. The Rio Grande Valley is the most popular birding destination in the nation. The area hosts dozens of wildlife watching sites.
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TexasMcAllen
Now, the Next 100 Years City reflects on rich past
aCTION FIGURes
Entertainment and recreation prosper
BOOM!Business climate
ranks among nation’s best
spONsORed BY The McalleN ChaMBeR OF COMMeRCe
2011 | IMaGesMCalleN.COM
What’s Online sink your teeth into some of Mcallen’s favorite cuisine.
Your Time Is Worth It. Get There Faster …
Fly McAllen!
www.mcallenairport.com (956) 681-1500
2500 S. Bicentennial Blvd. • McAllen, TX 78503
(800) 433-7300 www.aa.com
(702) 505-8888 www.allegiantair.com
(800) 525-0280 www.continental.com
(800) 221-1212 www.delta.com
McAllEn 3
McAllEn 3
ON The COveR Photo by Jeff Adkins The Irrigation Worker in McAllen
departments
6 almanac
22 Biz Briefs
24 Chamber Report
25 economic profile
26 Gallery
30 local Flavor
32 arts & Culture
34 education
36 sports & Recreation
38 health & Wellness
40 Community profile
2011 edITION | vOlUMe 9
Texas
cOntents
Features
10 aCTION FIGUResEntertainment and recreation prosper.
14 NOW, The NexT 100 YeaRsCity reflects on rich past.
18 BOOM!Business climate ranks among nation’s best.
10
30
All or part of this magazine is printed on recycled paper containing 10% post-consumer waste.
please recycle this magazine
McAllen
McAllEn 5
Valley International Airport in Harlingen, Texas –the answer to your travel needs!
(956) 430-8600www.flythevalley.com
TEXAS | EAST COAST | WEST COAST | THE WORLD
More features. More of what you like.Valley International Airport gives you more services and options than ever before.
• On-site car rentals, shops and restaurants
• Complimentary Wi-Fi
• VIA V.I.P. Club, complimentary for our frequent flyers
• KidsPort Play Area
• NAFTA Cargo Hub
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection Station
• Shuttle Service to South Padre Island
McAllEn 5
Texas
pROjeCT MaNaGeR CourtnEy SEitEr
pROOFReadING MaNaGeR rAvEn PEtty
CONTeNT COORdINaTOR JESSiCA WAlkEr
sTaFF WRITeR kEvin litWin
COpY edITORs liSA BAttlES, Jill WyAtt
CONTRIBUTING WRITeRs MElAniE Hill,
CArSon o’SHonEy, tiffAny WilliAMS
MedIa TeChNOlOGY dIReCTOR CHriStinA CArdEn
seNIOR GRaphIC desIGNeRs lAurA GAllAGHEr,
JESSiCA MAnnEr, JAninE MArylAnd, kriS SExton,
CAndiCE SWEEt, vikki WilliAMS
MedIa TeChNOlOGY aNalYsTs CHAndrA BrAdSHAW,
lAnCE ConzEtt, MiCHElE niCCorE, MArCuS SnydEr
phOTOGRaphY dIReCTOR JEffrEy S. otto
seNIOR phOTOGRapheRs JEff AdkinS, BriAn McCord
sTaFF phOTOGRapheRs todd BEnnEtt, Antony BoSHiEr
WeB CONTeNT MaNaGeRs JoHn Hood, kiM MAdloM
WeB pROjeCT MaNaGeR noy fonGnAly
WeB desIGN dIReCTOR frAnCo SCArAMuzzA
WeB desIGNeR lEiGH GuArin
WeB develOpeR I yAMEl HAll
ad pROdUCTION MaNaGeR kAtiE MiddEndorf
ad TRaFFIC assIsTaNTs kryStin lEMMon, PAtriCiA MoiSAn
I.T. dIReCTOR yAnCEy Bond
I.T. sUppORT TeChNICIaN BryAn foriESt
ReGIONal sales MaNaGeR CHriS SWEEnEy
sales sUppORT/COMMUNITY, BUsINess, CUsTOM
rACHAEl GoldSBErry
seNIOR aCCOUNTaNT liSA oWEnS
aCCOUNTs paYaBle COORdINaTOR MAriA McfArlAnd
aCCOUNTs ReCeIvaBle COORdINaTOR diAnA GuzMAn
OFFICe MaNaGeR/aCCOUNTs ReCeIvaBle
COORdINaTOR SHElly MillEr
INTeGRaTed MedIa MaNaGeR dAvid MoSkovitz
sales sUppORT MaNaGeR Cindy HAll
COlOR IMaGING TeChNICIaN AliSon HuntEr
ChaIRMaN GrEG tHurMAn
pResIdeNT/pUBlIsheR BoB SCHWArtzMAn
exeCUTIve vICe pResIdeNT rAy lAnGEn
seNIOR v.p./sales todd PottEr, CArlA tHurMAn
seNIOR v.p./OpeRaTIONs CASEy HEStEr
seNIOR v.p./ClIeNT develOpMeNT JEff HEEfnEr
v.p./exTeRNal COMMUNICaTIONs tErEE CArutHErS
v.p./CUsTOM pUBlIshING kiM nEWSoM
v.p./vIsUal CONTeNT MArk forEStEr
v.p./CONTeNT OpeRaTIONs nAtASHA lorEnS
v.p./sales CHArlES fitzGiBBon,
HErB HArPEr, JArEk SWEkoSky
CONTROlleR CHriS dudlEy
CONTeNT dIReCTOR/TRavel pUBlICaTIONs
SuSAn CHAPPEll
CONTeNT dIReCTOR/BUsINess pUBlICaTIONs
Bill McMEEkin
MaRkeTING CReaTIve dIReCTOR kEitH HArriS
dIsTRIBUTION dIReCTOR GAry SMitH
exeCUTIve seCReTaRY kriSty dunCAn
hUMaN ResOURCes MaNaGeR PEGGy BlAkE
ReCepTIONIsT lindA BiSHoP
McAllen is published annually by Journal Communications inc. and is distributed
through the McAllen Chamber of Commerce and its member businesses.
for advertising information or to direct questions or comments about the magazine, contact
Journal Communications inc. at (615) 771-0080 or by e-mail at [email protected].
FOR MORe INFORMaTION, CONTaCT:McAllen Chamber of Commerce
1200 Ash Avenue • McAllen, tx 78501Phone: (956) 682-2871 • fax: (956) 687-2917
www.mcallenchamber.com
vIsIT McAllen ONlINe aT IMaGesMCalleN.COM
©Copyright 2010 Journal Communications inc., 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, franklin, tn 37067,
(615) 771-0080. All rights reserved. no portion of this magazine may be reproduced
in whole or in part without written consent.
Member the Association of Magazine Media
Member Custom Content Council
Member McAllen Chamber of Commerce
What’s Online imagesmcallen.com
TexasMcAllen
Now, the Next 100 Years City reflects on rich past
aCTION FIGURes
Entertainment and recreation prosper
BOOM!Business climate
ranks among nation’s best
spONsORed BY The McalleN ChaMBeR OF COMMeRCe
2011 | IMaGesMCalleN.COM
What’s Online sink your teeth into some of Mcallen’s favorite cuisine.
See more photos in our online photo gallery
Get the inside scoop from our photographers’ blog
Easily share articles and photos on Facebook, Twitter or via e-mail
Photos
Digital eDition
Facts & statsDig deeper with in-depth data on industries, schools and more
ViDeoGet a moving glimpse at favorite local places and attractions
Real estateLearn about the local housing market and get started finding your place
McAllen
6 iMAgEsMCAllEn.CoM McAllEn 7
Welcome to McAllenAn introduCtion to thE ArEA’s pEoplE, plACEs And EvEnts
Hispanic Heritagethe majority of McAllen’s population – nearly 90 percent –
is Hispanic. Meanwhile, more than 100 of the fortune 500’s
global manufacturers have operations in McAllen or just
across the border in reynosa, Mexico.
the Hispanic influence in McAllen is immense, and one of
the community’s biggest celebrations each year is Palmfest.
McAllen is known as the City of Palms, so every october nearly
30,000 people pack the McAllen Convention Center grounds
to celebrate Hispanic culture and the history of deep South
texas. Palmfest features Hispanic music, ethnic foods,
authentic cultural entertainment and children’s activities.
take noteGreat music in a great outdoor climate?
Sounds good. the McAllen Chamber of
Commerce and the City of McAllen host
the Music Afterhours outdoor Concert
Series, a free series that happens twice
a month from october through May. on
the first friday of every month, audiences
experience a variety of musical sounds at
historic Archer Park on Main Street in the
Arts district. on third fridays, Music
Afterhours occurs at the McAllen
Convention Center bandstand,
located on the east side of
the reflection pool.
Birds of a feather
Quinta Mazatlan is a
1930s Spanish revival country
estate in the heart of McAllen,
and the adobe hacienda is
surrounded by lush tropical
landscaping and native
woodland. it can serve as
an interesting conference
and events center but is also
an urban oasis where quiet
trails wind through more than
15 acres of birding habitat.
it attracts many of the favorite
valley species from around the
country, including Black-bellied
Whistling ducks, Green Jays,
Plain Chachalacas and olive
Sparrows. the grounds also
feature bird-feeding stations
and a hummingbird lane.
Almanac
6 iMAgEsMCAllEn.CoM McAllEn 7
Extra CreditSouth texas College has been around since 1993
and now has five campuses throughout Hidalgo
and Starr counties. the student enrollment has
surpassed 22,000 and there is a faculty and staff
of more than 1,800. South texas College offers
comprehensive courses for college transfer
to four-year institutions, as well as vocational,
technical and continuing education programs.
Going to the dogsMcAllen dog Park is a spacious area for dogs to run and their owners to mingle.
the park is at tamarack Avenue and 5th Street and is open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
every day – it is lighted after dark.
Fast Factsn the renaissance Casa de palmas hotel was built in 1918 and reflects McAllen’s colorful past.
n people come from all over the world to compete in the valley land Fund south texas shootout photo contest, held since 1994.
n there are more than 600 restaurants within the city limits of McAllen.
n More than 100 of the Fortune 500’s global manufacturers have operations in McAllen or across the border in reynosa.
n the los Ebanos Ferry is the last hand-operated ferry on the u.s.-Mexico border.
Sounds GreatFor an astounding aural experience, take in a
performance of the valley symphony orchestra. the orchestra that was founded in 1952 also has a chorale and performs six concerts annually at the McAllen Civic Center Auditorium. seasons run from september through April. the symphony also supports education programs such as success thru strings, as well as low-cost concerts for valley students. it also supports a south texas Youth symphony that brings 75 of the most talented orchestral middle school and high school students to learn and perform at the highest level.
8 iMAgEsMCAllEn.CoM McAllEn 9
Get the story behind the
photoNow that you've experienced McAllen through our photos, see it through the eyes of our photographers. Visit imagesmcallen.com to view our exclusive photographers' blog documenting what all went in to capturing those perfect moments.
8 iMAgEsMCAllEn.CoM McAllEn 9
pOpUlaTION (2009 esTIMaTe)McAllen: 126,411
Greater McAllen Area: 741,152
lOCaTIONMcAllen is in the rio Grande valley of South texas,
70 miles west of the Gulf of Mexico.
BeGINNINGsthe city of McAllen was unofficially founded
in 1904 and incorporated in 1911.
FOR MORe INFORMaTIONMcAllen Chamber of Commerce
1200 Ash Ave.
McAllen, tx 78501
Phone: (956) 682-2871
fax: (956) 687-2917 www.mcallenchamber.com
mcallen at a glance
What’s Online Take a virtual tour of McAllen, courtesy of our award-winning photographers, at imagesmcallen.com.
Rio GrandeG
Rio Grande
83
281
281
83
7777
28128222777777
ReynosaoR osao
MatamorosRio Bravo
Brownsvilleowwn vvv
WeslacoHarlingenrlining
Edinburg
Mission
Pharr
McAllen
H I DA L G O
MEXICO
UNITED STATES
McAllen
the fun districtready for a night out on the town?
residents and visitors of McAllen enjoy a variety of pubs, clubs, lounges and restaurants in McAllen’s heart of the City, which runs primarily along 17th street. the district has something for every taste and has a convenient and safe place to park in the McAllen downtown parking garage. As for entertainment, the district has attractions such as Broadway in McAllen, the McAllen symphonic Band, south texas lyric opera, and the international Museum of Arts and science.
McAllEn 11 10 iMAgEsMCAllEn.CoM
EntErtAinMEnt, shopping And rECrEAtion ArE EndlEss in this Young CitY
Playingin McAllen
Now
What’s Online Go to imagesmcallen.com and click on “recreation” to read more about McAllen’s recreational activities.
McAllEn 11
McAllen is young – and young at heart. With a median age of 27, the border city is a hub for nightlife, shopping and recreation in the Rio Grande Valley.
Steve Ahlenius, President and Chief Executive Officer of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce, says the city’s low cost of living and year-round tropical climate attract countless young families and singles, including the 50,000 higher education students who call Hidalgo County home.
“The region’s student population has been a huge economic engine in terms of retail, restaurants, music and culture,” Ahlenius says.
NightlifeWhen the sun goes down in McAllen, party-goers hit the
17th Street nightlife district, where more than 40 restaurants, lounges and nightclubs line trendy city streets. From the ultra-modern, bamboo-wrapped walls of the popular Lumen Lounge to the unforgettable fine dining of The Patio on Guerra, the entertainment district offers something for everyone.
MusicMusic and arts are a vital part of the culture in McAllen,
and few venues showcase that passion more than PalmFest, an international folklife celebration held each fall at the
Playing
Story By MelaNIe hIllPHotoGrAPHy By jeFF adkINs
Martinis are the drink of choice at lumen lounge in the 17th street nightlife district in McAllen.
12 iMAgEsMCAllEn.CoM McAllEn 13
12 iMAgEsMCAllEn.CoM McAllEn 13
McAllen Convention Center outdoor festival grounds. The event draws tens of thousands with nonstop music, entertainment, food and activities for the entire family.
shoppingAnd with the best retail selection in the Valley, McAllen
is also a destination for millions of hard-core shoppers from across Texas and Mexico. More than 40 shopping centers and a plethora of high-end, discount and specialty boutiques in downtown McAllen offer shoppers popular brands combined with one-of-a-kind items unique to south Texas. And with 600-plus restaurants serving every possible culinary genre, the toughest part of shopping is deciding where to eat afterward.
Mcallen parks and RecreationPicture-perfect temperatures make McAllen an unbeatable
outdoor destination. The McAllen Parks and Recreation Department maintains 25 city parks designed to get kids
of all ages up and moving. In 2010, the department celebrated the opening of McAllen’s Park and Spray Ground, located at 29th and Zinnia. The 20-acre park includes a child-friendly playing surface with automated spray features, a sand volleyball court, skateboard area, a half basketball court and 0.6 miles of walking trails. Other features include athletic practice fields, pavilions, picnic shelters and restroom facilities.
“The park has been extremely successful, with visitors playing from the time it opens to the time it closes,” says Sally Gavlik, Director of the McAllen Parks and Recreation Department. “It’s become a very vital aspect of the community.”
Set to open in 2011 is Firemen’s Park, located at First and Business 83. Guests will enjoy capabilities for overnight camping and a 10-acre man-made lake ideal for fishing, kayaking and canoeing.
“Parks are extremely vital here, and add to the quality of life for visitors who can go from one to the other and really experience a variety of activities,” Gavlik says.
From left to right: Children play in the automated spray features at McAllen’s new park and spray ground; Mickey pena skates the rails and jumps at park and spray ground; leslie garza admires the display room at stilo design.
14 iMAgEsMCAllEn.CoM
hEAding into thE FuturE, thE CitY rEFlECts on its riCh pAst
Mcallen,100 Years Later
McAllEn 15
McAllen, Texas, is a city worth celebrating. And few events call for celebration quite like the
city’s 100th anniversary on Feb. 13, 2011.“Over the last three decades,
McAllen has grown into a center for business, commerce and government in the Rio Grande Valley, and it is one of the fastest-growing metropolitan statistical areas in the country,” says Texas senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa of McAllen. “The citizens of McAllen are justifiably proud of their city, which has played a significant role in the annals of Texas history.”
100 Years of historyThough the city’s namesake,
John McAllen arrived in the Rio Grande
Valley in the early 1850s, it wasn’t until 1911 that the city of McAllen was incorporated, giving its 150 residents a well-earned place in Texas history.
Valley writer Eileen Mattei helped commemorate the occasion with the historical book, Leading the Way: McAllen’s First 100 Years. Months of research led Mattei to memorable stories about the people who took McAllen from a rural south Texas border town to a thriving, world-renowned destination for families, businesses and visitors.
“History is really about the people who helped take part in the events, and that’s what this book is looking at,” Mattei says. “When something was needed, be it a water well, hotel, public housing or foreign-trade zone, individuals put up the money to make it happen.
Residents underwrote crucial parts of the city’s development – things that have really helped it move forward.”
Mcallen’s MilestonesThe hardcover keepsake book,
commissioned by and available through the McAllen Chamber of Commerce, features more than 250 historical photographs of the city’s earliest residents and landmarks, and highlights significant events in the city’s colorful history. In 1916, for example, 12,000 military troops settled into McAllen, far outnumbering the city’s 1,200 residents.
“The event really changed the city’s outlook on what retail could do, and gave them an idea of what the city’s potential was,” Mattei says. “It triggered a tremendous spurt in retail operations
Story By MelaNIe hIll
the cover of the book Leading the Way: McAllen’s First 100 Years
McAllEn 17 16 iMAgEsMCAllEn.CoM
McAllEn 17
and made residents look ahead.”Other milestones include the 1959
construction of the McAllen Convention and Civic Center, the 1960 purchase of the international suspension bridge across the Rio Grande and the 1976 opening of La Plaza Mall, destined to become one of the most productive shopping malls in the United States. Another key event – the 1973 establishment of the nation’s first inland foreign-trade zone – boosted McAllen to the international center for
commerce that it is today. In 2007, the 18.5-acre McAllen Convention Center opened, featuring a 60,000-square-foot exhibit hall and more than 25,000 square feet of meeting space. And in 2008, the McAllen Heritage Center opened to the public in downtown McAllen’s La Placita Building, showcasing McAllen’s historic past through artwork, documents, pictures and writings. It’s one of the many ways the city is preserving its rich history while gearing up for the next 100 years.
“history is really about the people who helped take part in
the events … residents underwrote crucial parts of the city’s
development – things that have really helped it move forward.”
Clockwise from far left: McAllen’s new Convention Center; the old southern pacific railroad depot, built in 1927, on Bicentennial Boulevard in downtown McAllen; the McAllen heritage Center in downtown’s la placita Building; la plaza Mall
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By
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Business is booming in McAllen. Despite a tough national economy, the city is leading the way in
population and job growth, claiming its place as the preferred site for companies locating along the United States/Mexico border.
“McAllen is unique because of its location, which has helped create an economy based on a young population and skill set,” says Keith Patridge, president and chief executive officer of the McAllen Economic Development Corporation. The not-for-profit works to create jobs by attracting new industry and helping existing companies expand.
Mcallen Ranks high in Business, population
Recognized by Forbes magazine as one of the most resilient major metro areas for employment, McAllen also ranks as one of the most cost-efficient American cities for doing business. In 2009, CNNMoney.com recognized McAllen among its Best Places to Launch a Small Business. And with a total population of 1.7 million, the McAllen metropolitan area is one of the fastest-growing metros in the state, thanks in large part to cross-border economic development with neighboring Reynosa, Mexico, which is located just 4 miles south.
Under American and Mexican
laws and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) provisions, the McAllen Foreign- Trade Zone designation offers specific cost-saving opportunities to manufacturers, including warehousing and storage, materials handling and manipulation, and tailor-made services such as training and traffic control. According to the MEDC, the Greater McAllen/Reynosa metro region boasts an unofficial population of about 2 million people. The maquiladora program, which operates under Mexico but is facilitated by tax laws in the United States, has allowed more than 200 Mexican and foreign-owned manufacturing
McAllEn’s BusinEss CliMAtE rAnks AMong thE nAtion’s BEst
Border TowN
Story By MelaNIe hIll
McAllen has been recognized as being one of the best places to launch a small business. StAff PHoto
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companies to open large-scale operations in Reynosa.
Business in the Foreign-Trade ZoneMcAllen is represented by 40 of America’s top 100 retailers
and more than 80 of Fortune 500’s global manufacturers. JVC USA is one of many global companies located in the Foreign-Trade Zone. The company opened its product return center in McAllen in 2003 and, within the next seven years, relocated engineering, its customer call center and factory service center to the border city. Neal Rozelle, general manager for service and engineering at JVC USA, says the company hired more than 75 percent of its workforce locally, including engineers, administrators, quality control inspectors and technicians.
“The primary factors that appealed to us were the strategically valuable location, access to a large, eager and capable workforce and access to valuable networking within
the robust maquiladora industry,” Rozelle says. “There are personal benefits as well. This is a good place to live and raise a family.”
For more information about JVC USA, visit the website at www.jvc.com.
livabilityMcAllen’s livability is evident in its numbers. In contrast
to much of the nation, building permit values in Rio Grande Valley cities rose from $825 million in 2000 to almost $8.93 billion in 2008. McAllen leads the Valley with $159 million, and was ranked highest in the nation for affordable homes in Money magazine in 2006.
“In today’s economy, the importance of an affordable place to live and work is more visible than ever,” Rozelle says. “This area offers great value.”
McAllen is known as an excellent place to raise a family and for its affordable homes.
StAff PHoto
22 iMAgEsMCAllEn.CoM McAllEn 23
Biz BriefsBusinEssEs – Both lArgE And sMAll – thAt hElp dEFinE
McAllEn’s EConoMiC CliMAtE
alhaMBRaBiz: RestaurantBuzz: Alhambra is a Mediterranean and Mideast-themed restaurant, bar and hookah lounge. It is open for dinner Tuesday through Saturday and features live music and a DJ. The restaurant serves appetizers such as white anchovy bruschetta and crispy calamari; entrees such as hummus and spiced lamb chops; and sweet treats such as coconut couscous pudding.www.alhambraon17th.com
scorecardBUsINess aT
a GlaNCe
$3.5 billionannual Retail sales
$27,496Retail sales
per Capita
$82,819annual Retail sales
per household
Source: mcallen.org
22 iMAgEsMCAllEn.CoM McAllEn 23
aRT vIllaGe ON MaINBiz: Artists’ rental spacesBuzz: Art Village on Main is a building constructed specifically for the artistic community. Tenants are able to rent studios, offices or galleries. Cantu Construction is behind the project and, besides the arts, there is space available for banking services, a restaurant and a multipurpose room. Spaces can also be rented and transformed into exhibits or event locations.www.cantuconstruction.com
aBasTO CORpORaTIONBiz: Warehouse salesBuzz: Abasto is a leader in the sale and leasing of warehouses, ranging from 1,400 to 20,000 square feet. The company was founded in 1992 and offers warehouse space as close as 3 miles from the U.S./Mexico border bridge. In 1992, Abasto launched its first project in the U.S. – the McAllen Produce Terminal Market of Texas – and has since built more than 800 commercial warehouse complexes.www.mcallenwarehouse.com
Us FlOORsBiz: Flooring expertsBuzz: US Floors/Flooring America has experts on staff who are trained in flooring sales and design, and will help individuals and companies find the ideal f loors for the way they live. The nationwide 500-store buying power allows customers to receive low prices on thousands of carpet types and other f looring options. Flooring America showcases a large selection of carpet, hardwood, laminate and more.www.usfloorsfa.com
RUssO’s NeW YORk pIZZeRIaBiz: RestaurantBuzz: The Russo family of New York decided to move their pizza operation to Texas in the early 1990s and opened its first restaurant in the Houston market. Today, Russo’s has 25 locations, including McAllen. The motto at Russo’s is, “If you can’t make it fresh, don’t serve it.”www.nypizzeria.com
24 iMAgEsMCAllEn.CoM
chamber reportMcAllEn ChAMBEr BACks initiAtivE For EntrEprEnEurs
The McAllen Chamber of Commerce has brainstormed
a plan to back people who are brainstormers.
The Chamber has established an Inventors & Entrepreneurs Network
that helps individuals or groups transform good ideas into eventual products and services, which could ultimately result in new businesses and jobs. On the fourth Thursday of every month from 6 to 8 p.m.,
the Chamber’s office hosts an I&E Network meeting for the purpose of furthering the connections and networking opportunities for inventors and entrepreneurs.
“Many times, creative people have an idea but feel alone or don’t know what to do with it, so we started this network to really push people beyond the conceptual stage,” says Steve Ahlenius, president and CEO of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce. “We provide information and discuss topics such as developing a business plan, patenting and funding options.”
Ahlenius says the I&E Network was established in January 2010, and about 30 aspiring inventors and entrepreneurs attend each session.
The monthly meeting can include small business counseling, market analysis, educational seminars and business plan competitions. The Chamber has also secured $50,000 for innovation grants as well as $25,000 for small business grants, and Ahlenius points out that one McAllen group in the program is already close to becoming a success story.
“That group is working on a concept for a new kind of baby bottle washer, and it is currently going through the required steps to secure a patent,” he says. “They started by attending an I&E Network meeting, then developed a concept in terms of a business plan, made an application for an innovation grant and were awarded $10,000 to go toward their patent filings and eventual manufacturing.”
Ahlenius says anyone in McAllen or surrounding communities who wishes to attend an I&E Network session is encouraged to do so. For more information on the I&E Network or to make a reservation to attend a meeting, call the McAllen Chamber of Commerce at (956) 682-2871.
– Kevin Litwin
McAllEn 25
eCONOMIC OveRvIeWthe McAllen MSA was ranked first in Forbes 2009 best mid-sized
cities for jobs. McAllen was ranked second in the nation for income
growth and first for job growth in 2009.
eCONOMIC pROFIle
Taxes
2%City sales and use tax
6.25%state sales tax
8.25%total sales tax
WORkFORCe
39,362total Workforce
80%percentage White Collar
20%percentage Blue Collar
edUCaTION
21%Associate degree
15%Bachelor’s degree
INCOMe
$16,069per Capita income
$41,580Average Annual household Expenditure
eCONOMIC ResOURCes
McAllen Chamber of Commerce1200 Ash Ave. McAllen, texas 78501 (956) 682-2871 www.mcallenchamber.com
McAllen Convention & visitors’ Bureau(945) 682-2871 www.mcallencvb.com
McAllen Economic development Corporation
6401 S. 33rd St. McAllen, texas 78503 (956) 682-2875 www.medc.org
McAllen heart of the City 220 S. 17th St. McAllen, texas 78501 (956) 686-4357 www.mcallenheartofthecity.com
TRaNspORTaTION
McAllen-Miller international Airport2500 S. Bicentennial Blvd. McAllen, texas 78503 (956) 682-9101 www.mcallenairport.com
McAllen Express transit1500 W. Business Highway 83 McAllen, texas 78501 (956) 688-3500
McAllen/hidalgo international Bridge1023 international Blvd. Hidalgo, texas 78557 (956) 843-2471 www.mcallen.net/bridge
greyhound/valley transit Company(956) 686-5479 www.valleytransitcompany.com www.greyhound.com
Amtrakwww.amtrak.com
MajOR eMplOYeRs
Edinburg Consolidated i.S.d. 3,600
McAllen independent School district 3,595
Edinburg regional Medical Center 3,000
university of texas Pan American 2,850
McAllen Medical Center 2,800
Hidalgo County 2,211
Mission Consolidated i.S.d. 2,140
City of McAllen 1,801
Columbia rio Grande regional Hospital 975
South texas College 811
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image Gallery
What’s Online Visit imagesmcallen.com to see more award-winning photography highlighting the places and people in McAllen.
McAllEn 27
The sun sets over McAllen, Texas. Photo by Jeff Adkins
28 iMAgEsMCAllEn.CoM
Flowers at the Quinta Mazatlan house Photo by Jeff Adkins
McAllEn 29
Art by Kim Snyder Johnson at the McA2 Creative Incubator Staff Photo
PHoto By JEff AdkinS
30 iMAgEsMCAllEn.CoM McAllEn 31
mcallen has many restaurants and eateries to satisfy almost any food craving, including a wide variety of international cuisine. Whether it’s original texas favorites or something more worldly you crave, get ready to saddle up for a round-the-world adventure without ever having to leave the city.
McAllEn hAs FlAvorsoME FAvoritEs FroM All ovEr thE World
a treat for the taste Buds
30 iMAgEsMCAllEn.CoM McAllEn 31
mcallen Fine dining and internatiOnal restaurants
for authentic Argentinian
cooking, try la Pampa, which
specializes in Argentinean steaks.
Popular fine dining restaurants
include Bistro M and venetian
fine dining, which let you escape
into a world of elegant relaxation.
live music on a baby grand piano
allows Bistro M to set the tone
of the night, with European chef
and owner Marcel fortuin always
cooking up something fresh.
At venetian fine dining,
you can kick back and enjoy
a decadent menu devoted
to Mediterranean cuisine.
Also offering a taste of the
Mediterranean is Espana
Mediterranean Cuisine.
roll on over to Japan and
try an Eclipse roll at kumori.
taste buds still craving more?
Well mosey on over to the taste
of india, Sahadi Specialty foods
or onyx.
catering and Organic OptiOns
tired yet? Well, no worries.
Jrow’s Catering brings the food
to you. Prepared fresh using the
highest-quality ingredients, Jrow’s
makes any function a delicious hit.
McAllen also has a variety of
organic and fresh food markets
that are sure to help you muster
up some energy. Clemmon’s
orchard, norm’s farmers Market
and the McAllen farmers Market
give sensible patrons an
opportunity to enjoy fresh,
homegrown fruits and vegetables,
as well as an array of farm favorites.
– Tiffany Williams
local flavor
Costa Messa RestauRant www.costamessarestaurant.com
BistRo M www.bistrom.net
Venetian Fine Dining www.venetianfinedining.com
kuMoRiwww.kumori-sushi.com
taste oF inDiatasteofiiamcallentx.com
RepuBliC oF the Rio gRanDe www.republicgrill.com
jRow’s, www.jrowscatering.com
BRownsVille FaRMeRs MaRkethttp://agnews.tamu.edu/ showstory.php?id+2100
For more information
left: desert at Bistro M Top right: Filet mignon with grilled asparagus and mashed potatoes at republic of the rio grande Bottom right: Bistro M features European cuisine.
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tex-mexStarting off close to home,
tex-Mex eatery Costa Messa
restaurant offers authentic
Mexican cuisine, with menu
favorites such as the botana
platter, which consists of chips,
beans, cheese, your choice of
beef or chicken, fried zucchini,
quesadillas and rice, making
each visit a sizzling good time.
Wineif it’s delectable wines you
desire, you can toast to the
memory of a free republic every
night at the republic of the rio
Grande Grill and Cantina, where
scrumptious steaks and tasty wines
pervade the menu. Whether dining
inside their white mission walls or
outside on their flame-lit patio,
patrons can enjoy the taste of the
Chateau Saint Cyrgues Meritage
or a ripe kendall Jackson Pinot
noir with any lunch or dinner.
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discover the rich heritage and mixed culture of a city bustling with life through the many art and culture offerings in mcallen, texas. Straddling the u.S.-Mexico border, this progressive city offers some of the best cultural activities in the state.
art aboundsAn ArrAY oF Art And CulturE ACtivitiEs ArE Found in McAllEn
Right: A historic bell is on display at the Museum of south texas history. J
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Arts & Culture
histOric sitesthe Museum of South texas History and McAllen
Heritage Center are just a few of the places to learn
about the rich history of this bicultural city as well as
other nearby areas.
Quinta Mazatlan, a 1930s hacienda, embodies the
Spanish Colonial revival architecture of arches, beams
and carvings, and provides an intimate look into
south texas history. Set in formal tropical landscaping‚
this 10,000-square-foot mansion hosts a mix of
native and exotic plants and wildlife and makes up
one section of the popular World Birding Center.
– Tiffany Williams
Visual arts and FestiValsthe fascinating international Museum of Art &
Science promotes a deeper appreciation for the arts
and sciences through its exhibitions, cultural events
and many educational programs.
the McAllen Art Walk is a self-guided tour that
gives art lovers the opportunity to explore the many
art offerings in one of the oldest parts of the city.
the tour is free and open to the public.
the Candlelight Posada offers food booths,
luminaries, twinkling lights, caroling and a live
nativity scene every in december.
entertainment in mcallenMcAllen’s downtown 17th Street Entertainment
district is filled with galleries, restaurants, nightclubs
and more. And located at its center is the historic
Cine El rey theater, which functions as a music and
performance venue and screens Spanish and English
language independent features.
Music in McAllen is performed by the valley
Symphony orchestra & Chorale. Similarly, the South
texas lyric opera brings the fine art of opera to the
rio Grande valley with a yearly slate of productions
and an annual opera gala.
chamBer suppOrtthe Chamber of Commerce shows its love for the
arts in other ways, too. its McA2 Creative incubator
houses studios and more for artists of all genres
to utilize at low, reasonable costs. And it sponsors
Broadway in McAllen, featuring Broadway shows
performed at the Civic Center or State farm Arena.
34 iMAgEsMCAllEn.CoM McAllEn 35
parents, take your pick: mcallen has the school to suit all your child’s educational needs, whether your child is pint-sized and packing a lunch, or all grown up and headed to history 101.
With many of the school districts in the area offering early college preparation courses and programs, local little ones will be ready to hit the dorm rooms in no time.
mcallen area schOOl districts
the Achieve Early College
High School program is offered
through the McAllen independent
School district in partnership with
South texas College. the program
allows 400 students to complete
high school on the college’s Pecan
Campus in McAllen, and gives
them an opportunity to earn up
to 60 hours of college credit at no
cost to students or their families.
Pharr-San Juan-Alamo
independent School district
and Hidalgo independent
School district both offer
similar programs.
cOllege prep and technical training
While South texas College
partners with several of the school
districts, it also offers traditional
college programs, a nursing and
allied health campus, and a
technology campus in McAllen, as
well as workforce training centers.
the school is also one of only two
in the state accredited to offer
bachelor of technology degrees.
la Joya independent School
district has a College and Career
Center, and Sharyland and valley
view independent school districts
provide students Advanced
Placement options.
college readinessMcAllEn oFFErs quAlitY EduCAtion options, CollEgE prEp
international educationSomething unique to the McAllen Independent School District is its International Baccalaureate Program, which offers students three programs focusing on international education. The three programs are the Diploma Programme, which is a course of pre-university studies, the Middle Years Programme and the Primary Years Programme. The goal is to teach students the skills they need to live and work in a globalized world.
university of texas-pan American
PHotoS By JEff AdkinS
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Education
mcallen area parent participatiOn
Just north of McAllen is
Edinburg, where the Edinburg
Consolidated independent School
district offers 27 elementary
schools, five middle schools, three
high schools and one alternative
campus. Encompassing a massive
945 square miles, ECiSd is one
of the largest school districts in
the nation. its EnCorE Parent
College readiness forum
Program helps students keep
a progressive interest in college
by providing a combination of
teacher and parental support.
uniVersity degrees in sOuth texas
Also located in Edinburg
is the university of texas–Pan
American. opening its doors in
1927, utPA offers 57 bachelors
degrees, 57 master’s degrees,
three doctoral degrees and two
cooperative doctoral programs
within six colleges.
the university is dedicated
to the academic advancement
of its students and prides
itself on providing them an
affordable education and
global opportunities.
– Tiffany Williams
36 iMAgEsMCAllEn.CoM McAllEn 37
mcallen, texas, is a border city that’s never boring. residents can enjoy the many city parks and golf courses, cheer on their favorite local sports teams, and even go ice skating in south texas.
gOlFWith nearly 20 courses in the
McAllen area, it’s safe to say that
golf is a popular attraction. one
of the most notable courses is the
Palm view Golf Course, a public
course with a private feel. With
rolling fairways and Bermuda
rough mounds, the course is a
popular location for professional
and amateur tournaments, as
it has previously hosted lPGA
tournaments and Amateur
Golf Championships.
Private courses are also
plentiful in the area. McAllen
Country Club gives players from
all skill levels a challenge, and also
offers a swimming pool and tennis
courts. other courses surround
the city in nearby towns, including
Cimarrón Golf resort in Mission,
los lagos Golf Club in Edinburg,
tierra Santa Golf Club in Weslaco,
and tierra del Sol Golf Course
in Pharr.
Every golf course in the area
is constantly bustling week in and
week out, especially in the winter,
when “Winter texans” come to the
rio Grande valley. the weather
generally stays in the 70s in
the winter months, making it
a perfect place for winter golfing.
hiking and BikingMcAllen residents enjoy plenty
of hiking and biking trails on the
east and west sides of town, and
cyclists can meet up with the help
of team McAllen Cycling, a bike
club that’s been in the city for
more than 25 years.
Fun With no BordersMcAllEn rECrEAtion rAngEs FroM golF to iCE skAting
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McAllen Country Club
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Sports & recreation
parksthe Parks division of the
Parks & recreation department
currently oversees 25 city parks
in McAllen. Archer Park, McAllen’s
oldest, serves as a historic
landmark and also plays host to
many of the city’s annual special
events. one of the newest
additions to the park system is
los Encinos Community Park,
which has become a great place
to play many different sports.
McAllen’s largest city park is
Springfest Park, which hosts many
special city events and is home
to McAllen’s Winter Polo league.
other parks include Westside,
Suarez, Garza, las Palmas and
Cascade parks, each with their
own special features.
Other spOrtsSports fans have plenty to
cheer for, with minor league or semi-pro teams in basketball, football, baseball, hockey and soccer. Hockey fans cheer on the rio Grande valley killer Bees.Basketball fans have the rio Grande valley vipers to root for. the rio Grande valley Bravos is
the valley’s only soccer team.
the Edinburg roadrunners
are members of united league
Baseball, a professional baseball
league not affiliated with Major
league Baseball. the rio Grande
Speedway hosts stock car races
and the frio Grande valley ice
Center is fun for ice skating and
much more. – Carson O’Shoney
Jogging along the 2nd street hike and Bike trail in McAllen
McAllEn 39 38 iMAgEsMCAllEn.CoM
Whichever type of health-care program or treatment one seeks, finding it in mcallen is easy. the McAllen area has several major hospitals and medical centers, each offering a broad range of health services.
mcallen medical centeropening in 1919, McAllen Medical Center serves as the valley’s
longest operating health-care facility, offering 441 beds and a staff
of more than 400 physicians representing more than 50 medical
specialties. there is also a level iii trauma Center and a variety
of services ranging from a birthing center to diabetes
management to endocrinology.
a hub For health careMcAllEn oFFErs A vAriEtY oF MEdiCAl options
McAllEn 39
Health & Wellness
dOctOrs hOspital at renaissance
Another medical center serving
McAllen is the 506-bed doctors
Hospital at renaissance. Since
opening its doors in 1997 as
an outpatient surgical center,
the hospital has grown into
a complete acute care facility.
today, it provides a full range
of medical and surgical services,
including cardiology, neurosurgery,
endocrinology, and has a Pediatric
Medical tower that provides
pediatric oncology and pediatric
iCu services.
– Tiffany Williams
riO grande regiOnal hOspital
rio Grande regional Hospital
also has a keen focus on the
little ones, performing the first
pediatric open-heart surgery in
the valley in 2009 at its Pediatric
Pavilion. With 66 beds, a pediatric
iCu and a Pediatric Step-down
unit, the Pediatric Pavilion also
undertakes procedures such
as cochlear implants and
electrophysiology. the hospital
is well known for patient safety
and clinical excellence. its
320-bed, full-service acute care
medical facility has more than
500 physicians representing more
than 35 specialties, and serves
as the only Accredited diabetes
Management Center in the area.
doctors hospital at renaissance
50Number of medical specialties practiced at McAllen Medical Center
2009Year the first pediatric open-heart surgery
was performed at Rio Grande Regional
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COMMUNITY OveRvIeWMcAllen is an area with a burgeoning arts culture. the city
is known statewide for the quality and quantity of its artists.
visit ouradvertisersAEP Texaswww.aep.com
City of McAllen Public Information Officewww.exploremcallen.net
Copy Graphicswww.copyg.com
Embassy Suiteswww.embassysuites.com
Family Physicians Clinicwww.familyphysiciansclinic.com
Magic Valley Electric Cooperativewww.magicvalley.coop
McAllen EDCwww.medc.org
McAllen Independent School Districtwww.mcallenisd.org
McAllen International Airportwww.mcallenairport.com
Rio Grande Regional Hospitalwww.riogranderegionalhospital.com
Shepard Walton Kingwww.shepardwaltonking.com
St. Paul Lutheran Church & Schoolwww.stpaulmcallen.org
Valley International Airportwww.flythevalley.com
hOUsehOld INFORMaTION
126,411total population
29Median resident Age
54%Married
46%single
35.27%Age 19 and under
47.37%Age 20-54
17.36%Age 55 and over
TRaNspORTaTION
17 minutesMedian travel time to Work
sIZe IN sqUaRe MIles
46.7COsT OF lIvING
$44,612Median household income
$123,286Median home price
$718Median rent for a two-Bedroom Apartment
COMMUNITY pROFIle
TIMe ZONe
Central
ClIMaTe OveRvIeW
McAllen has a semi-tropical
climate, with an average
annual temperature of
74 degrees. its mild winters
and warm summers make
it a perfect destination for
both tourists and retirees.
49 FWinter low temperature
96 Fsummer high temperature
23”Annual rain Fall (vs. national Average Annual rain Fall of 37”)
McAllEn 41
Family Practice with comPetence and integrit y
cayetano e. Barrera, m.d.
Fellow A.A.F.P.
homero rivas, m.d.
Diplomate A.A.F.P.Fellow A.A.F.P.
daniel j. guerra, m.d., P.a.
Diplomate A.A.F.P.Fellow A.A.F.P.
leonel g. moreno, m.d.Diplomate A.A.F.P.
Fellow A.A.F.P.
Family Physicians clinicSince 1967
Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat. 8 a.m.-Noon
682-4515606 S. Broadway • McAllen, TX
valley night clinicSince 1981
Open Every Night of the Year 6 p.m.-Midnight
682-4515606 S. Broadway • McAllen, TX
1906 E. Tyler, Ste. BP.O. Box 1830
Harlingen, TX 78550(956) 423-8755
Fax: (956) 423-0730(888) 423-8755
801 N. MainP.O. Box 1630
McAllen, TX 78501(956) 682-2841
Fax: (956) 630-4015(800) 446-2471
CommerCial ProPerty • auto • liability
Workers’ ComPensation
HomeoWners • life • HealtH
www.shepardwaltonking.com
“You’ll Like theWay We Do Business”
Ad Index 37 AEP tExAS
23 City of MCAllEn PuBliC inforMAtion offiCE
41 CoPy GrAPHiCS
20 EMBASSy SuitES
41 fAMily PHySiCiAnS CliniC
2 MAGiC vAllEy ElECtriC CooP
35 MCAllEn EdC
C4 MCAllEn indEPEndEnt SCHool diStriCt
1 MCAllEn intErnAtionAl AirPort
C2 rio GrAndE rEGionAl HoSPitAl
41 SHEPArd WAlton kinG
24 St. PAul lutHErAn CHurCH & SCHool
4 vAllEy intErnAtionAl AirPort