A building that housed The Monitor for more than two decades is getting a $41.3 million transformation as The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley prepares to open its new School of Optometry.
The University of Texas System Board of Regents on Thursday approved $41.3 million in Permanent University Fund bond proceeds to renovate the former AIM Media Texas property at 1400 E. Nolana Ave., where The Monitor operated for more than 21 years.
The building will become the academic and clinical home of UTRGV’s new Doctor of Optometry program, replacing a longtime newspaper operation with classrooms, pre-clinic laboratories, research areas, patient-care space, and faculty and administrative offices.
Regents also approved tuition and fees for the program, clearing two major milestones as UTRGV works toward welcoming its first class of about 40 students in fall 2027. The program still requires approval from the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education before it can launch.
5,000+ business leaders across the Valley start their day with us.
Join them free!
RGV Business Journal is the only newsroom dedicated exclusively to the business and economic forces driving South Texas and the border economy.
Our subscribers get:
Try it free for 30 days.
Start My Free Trial$9.95/month after trial. Cancel anytime.
RGV Business Journal Staff
Staff
Most Read
- USMCA won’t die in 2026 — but it’s entering a new, uncertain phase, RGV trade expert says
- Mission lands one of its largest private investments with $50M aluminum manufacturing plant
- Vice President J.D. Vance cancels South Texas visit ahead of Port of Brownsville event
- New $1.6M food hall aims to transform downtown Edinburg with dining, retail and events
- South Texas builders say ICE raids are back, mourn death of slain construction worker
- Sluggish job growth across the Rio Grande Valley continues through June, data shows
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
- USMCA won’t die in 2026 — but it’s entering a new, uncertain phase, RGV trade expert says
- 7 Brew Coffee plans $1.25M drive-thru in McAllen
- UTRGV to turn former Monitor building into $41.3M optometry school
- Travelers spent $272M on RGV lodging in first half of 2026. See where they stayed
- TSTC lands nearly $500K grant to train more South Texas truck drivers
- South Texas communities chase federal dollars for their next big projects
- Mexico president opens Tamaulipas tour in Reynosa with $2.16B housing push
- Volvo’s truck deal in Mexico is driving millions in new investment at Matamoros plant
- Industrial growth is bringing RGV workers home — now the region needs to build its next workforce generation
- TSTC adds two aircraft to expand aviation training in Harlingen
- What Valley businesses should know about new Trump Account rules
