Entrepreneurs and small business owners in McAllen will soon have access to free business coaching, market research, and strategic planning through a new partnership between the City of McAllen and The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.
The city has partnered with UTRGV’s Robert C. Vackar College of Business and Entrepreneurship to bring the university’s Market Lab program to the McAllen Main Library, expanding access to business development resources for startups and existing small businesses.
The six-week program will provide the first 30 accepted businesses with personalized coaching, branding support, market research, and strategic planning at no cost.
Participants will also be paired with UTRGV student consulting teams for semester-long projects focused on helping entrepreneurs.
“Small businesses are the backbone of our local economy, and we’re grateful to partner with UTRGV to offer this exceptional opportunity to the business community,” McAllen City Manager Isaac J. Tawil said in a news release Wednesday. “By investing in our entrepreneurs, we’re investing in the future of McAllen.”
The program combines classroom instruction with hands-on business consulting, allowing UTRGV students to work directly with local businesses while helping owners make data-driven decisions and strengthen their long-term growth.
“One of the best ways to prepare students for successful careers is to give them opportunities to solve real business challenges before they graduate,” Dr. Giorgio Gotti, dean of UTRGV’s Robert C. Vackar College of Business and Entrepreneurship, said in the release. “This collaboration benefits our students, our business partners and the continued growth of the Rio Grande Valley.”
Since its inception, Market Lab has served more than 70 businesses, with 92% of participants reporting increased market clarity and confidence in their business direction.
Applications for the Fall 2026 cohort are now being accepted here.
RGV Business Journal Staff
Staff
Most Read
- SpaceX is giving Brownsville $220M for water projects. In exchange, the city gave up zoning control of 444 acres near Starbase
- Port of Brownsville could soon host Nodule City, a first-of-its-kind commercial deep-sea mining hub
- What you need to know about Texas A&M’s newest manufacturing hub near the Port of Brownsville
- Harlingen hits pause on $27M offer from company planning 1,000-acre data center
- SpaceX seeks to take zoning control over nearly 450 acres from city of Brownsville as a ‘regional’ water deal takes shape
Get the latest business news delivered to your inbox every morning for free.
Try 30 Days Free!
Get full access to award-winning journalism covering business, real estate, health care, economic trends, and the people shaping the Rio Grande Valley.
30 Days Free!
$9.95/month
Limited time offer
Subscription renews after your 30 day free trial at $9.95/mo.
Included Benefits
- Unlimited access to all articles
- Daily business news and analysis
- Subscriber-only content and features
Stories That Matter
- Binational education leaders say they’re ready to train 10,000 for Port of Brownsville companies
- Valley Regional Medical Center plans $1.6M expansion
- McAllen produce distributor plans $8M cold storage warehouse
- Tamaulipas wants to put more of its products on Texas shelves
- Mission’s first Small Business Expo puts $25K on the line for local entrepreneurs
- Donna International Bridge upgrades tech ahead of commercial truck expansion as officials wait on Mexico
- Reynosa’s newest technical high school focuses on AI, semiconductors and bionics
- McCoy’s gives $10K, tools to launch Mid-Valley construction academy
- UT Health RGV performs new digestive procedure for first time in the Valley
- TSTC bets on advanced manufacturing to meet RGV’s industrial boom
