MISSION — Petronilo “Petro” Vázquez took the stage at the Mission Economic Development Corporation’s Small Business Expo on Wednesday with a story.
About three years ago, Vázquez said, he started thinking about the little cafe his church runs.
The church, strapped for money, was spending too much money on coffee beans.
Vázquez, a math teacher at La Joya Independent School District with a passion for coffee, figured he could buy unroasted beans on the cheap in Mexico, roast them himself, and save the church some money while doing something he was passionate about.
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.
Matt Wilson
Reporter
Most Read
- SpaceX is giving Brownsville $220M for water projects. In exchange, the city gave up zoning control of 444 acres near Starbase
- SpaceX seeks to take zoning control over nearly 450 acres from city of Brownsville as a ‘regional’ water deal takes shape
- Port of Brownsville could soon host Nodule City, a first-of-its-kind commercial deep-sea mining hub
- SpaceX’s millionaire boom could make Brownsville homes — and some tax bills — more expensive
- Cameron County is negotiating a $20M Fluidstack data center donation after Harlingen waffles on the same offer
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
- SpaceX reschedules Starship’s first flight around the Earth
- Entrepreneurs enter Mission EDC’s ‘Shark Tank’ competition for $25K top prize
- The Rio Grande Valley’s tech industry is small but growing — meet some of the next-gen workforce
- Mission’s first Small Business Expo puts $25K on the line for local entrepreneurs
- 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
- Pharr’s cross-border business push earns international recognition
- Brownsville eases drought restrictions after nearly three years as Rio Grande reservoir levels improve
