A department of the Division of Business Affairs of The University of Texas-Pan American
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
ANNUAL REPORT 2013-2014
REACHING OUT
to ensure the economic and social prosperity of the South Texas community
Dear Reader, The Department of Community Engagement serves as a catalyst for the advancement of regional prosperity in the Rio Grande Valley through collaborative university-community partnerships. Information and resources about innovative trends in STEM and literacy are made available to large segments of the community through programs such as Hispanic Engineering, Science & Technology (HESTEC Week) and the Festival of International Books & Arts (FESTIBA). Local businesses are strengthened through the comprehensive support system offered by the nationally recognized Small Business Development Center. The Center for Rural Advancement addresses the unique needs of rural communities through customized research, technical assistance, consultation, and resource development efforts.
Martin Baylor Vice President for Business Affairs
We are proud to see these initiatives and partnerships contributing to the economic development and prosperity of this great region. I invite you to explore and join us in the numerous community engagement opportunities at The University of Texas-Pan American.
Sincerely, Martin Baylor Vice President for Business Affairs The University of Texas-Pan American
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The Department of Community Engagement has three major components. COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION CENTER FOR RURAL ADVANCEMENT
Strategic Collaboration The Department of Community Engagement (CE) works strategically with UTPA students and faculty, government, corporate, and community partners to promote community and economic development, business development and innovation, and rural enterprise development in South Texas.
2013-2014 CE Annual Report //
COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT The UTPA Community and Economic Development component of Community Engagement serves to provide not only logistical support but valuable resources to our community by hosting educational initiatives and by providing educational training sessions and workshops.
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LAUNCHING THE FUTURE Since its inception 13 years ago, HESTEC (Hispanic, Engineering, Science and Technology) has drawn massive crowds. Staying true to its mission, the purpose of HESTEC is two-fold: to increase awareness of STEM fields among students, parents, educators and community members, and to increase the participation rates of Hispanics in these fields by boosting high school graduation rates and postsecondary education.
of the students who responded to the survey reported that “HESTEC had motivated them to pursue their career goals.”
91%
of the students agreed that “HESTEC is a great opportunity to visit the university.”
96%
Attendance 297
Educator Day
489
Student Leadership Day
674
Latina Day
300
Robotics Day
1,300
Career Expo
“I learned new things and they inspired me to keep doing well in school, finish high school, and be successful in life.” - GEAR UP student at HESTEC
community.utpa.edu/hestec 2013-2014 CE Annual Report //
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77%
86%
of the students who responded to the survey agreed that “FESTIBA was effective in increasing my interest about different careers for my future.”
of the students who responded to the survey were encouraged to become a better student.
Attendance
750
GEAR UP students
175
parents
150
librarians and educators
3,000
books distributed
“I really loved the overall experience. I really learned a lot and I am more confident in choosing a career in the arts.” - GEAR UP student at FESTIBA
community.utpa.edu/festiba // 2013-2014 CE Annual Report
COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Creating Innovations in Education
The Department of Community Engagement, in conjunction with the UTPA College of Arts and Humanities, hosted the Festival of International Books and Arts (FESTIBA) March 19-23, 2014. FESTIBA 2014 explored the relationship between creative thinking in the arts and humanities and the development of innovative ideas in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) fields.
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Data and Information Systems Center The Data and Information Systems Center (DISC) specializes in providing data and research for economic development organizations, consultants, governments, and businesses. As a Census Information Center, and a state affiliate of the Texas State Data Center, DISC provides access to Census and local demographic and socioeconomic data for South Texas, and offers a variety of value-added data and information products and services including: economic impact analysis, fiscal impact analysis, market research, demographic and market reports, community needs assessments, GIS services, and maps.
Census Information Center Designation Renewed for 10 Years DISC renewed its cooperative agreement with the U.S. Census Bureau in December 2013 to remain a Census Information Center (CIC). DISC is one of 57 CICs in the nation and has been participating in the program since 1998.
community.utpa.edu/disc 2013-2014 CE Annual Report //
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DISC Conducts Economic Impact Analysis for EB-5 Projects
Twenty-five UTPA students from the Health and Kinesiology Club and Alpha Sigma Tau Sorority participated in the BorderFest 2014 research project with DISC in March 2014. The students interviewed 358 attendees at BorderFest, which attracts over 80,000.
An expert in conducting economic impact analysis, DISC conducted five studies for EB-5 projects which are projected to create 730 jobs and inject $56.7 million in capital investment in the Rio Grande Valley.
25 UTPA students interviewed 358 attendees
$56.7M projected in
capital investment
730 jobs
projected
DISC Creates Maps for Analysis and Planning
DISC Introduces New Fiscal Impact Analysis
DISC created route analysis maps for the City of Mercedes, census tracts maps for Hidalgo County for the Hidalgo County Urban County program, and a topographical map for the UTPA Biology Department to identify the prevalence of Chagas disease in the Rio Grande Valley.
DISC introduced a new fiscal impact analysis to help cities and economic development corporations analyze the revenues and costs a project will generate for the city, which is useful in determining the level of economic development incentives to offer a business or company.
// 2013-2014 CE Annual Report
COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Students Utilized for Research at BorderFest
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SBNRC Serves the Nonprofit Sector of Our Community The Southwest Border Nonprofit Resource Center (SBNRC) continues to provide nonprofit assistance to grant seekers and nonprofit leaders throughout the Rio Grande Valley. This past year, more than eight webinars and seven workshops have been hosted for enrichment purposes. These seminars were complemented by the launching of the SBNRC’s new website, community.utpa.edu/sbnrc. The website highlights include archived online reading material for nonprofit professionals and an interactive online directory with more than 80 SBNRC members. The SBNRC collectively has helped more than 150 individuals find the appropriate mediums to seek corporate gifts.
80 8 7 150
SBNRC members Webinars Workshops Individuals assisted
Some SBNRC collaborations are with: community.utpa.edu/sbnrc
2013-2014 CE Annual Report //
RGK Center at UT Austin OneStar Foundation Center for Community Based and Nonprofit Organizations The Office of Congressman RubĂŠn Hinojosa (TX-15)
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U.S. Department of Energy Grant Awarded
$209,090 received To contribute to the promotion and engagement of STEM fields To continue the planning and implementation of the Regional Science Bowl
In collaboration with Fort Valley State University Cooperative Developmental Energy Program
COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Grant Proposals
National Science Foundation (NSF) Grant Proposed
$2.9M proposed To expand informal STEM education To reach 450 teachers To create 100 hands-on, interactive demonstrations To create a mobile, traveling STEM Funland trailer To provide outreach to 15,000 persons over the course of five years
// 2013-2014 CE Annual Report
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$15M proposal to NASA for Educator Professional Development CE spearheaded a consortium of higher education institutions and nationally renowned STEM organizations in the realization of a proposal to design and implement standards-based NASA Educator Professional Development for middle school educators (grades 5-8) throughout the United States.
Collaborating partners include: University of Washington Montana State University Northeastern Illinois University Morehouse College in Georgia The National Math and Science Initiative Dr. Ramon Lopez from The University of Texas at Arlington
$15M
proposed
25,000
educators nationwide
UTPA Data Center Grant The market study will examine the size of the existing market and what the potential market demand is for personal credit repair services in the Rio Grande Valley.
Study to examine personal credit repair industry
2013-2014 CE Annual Report //
$15,000 received
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Reaching Out In July, 2014, the SBNRC met with The Foundation Center in New York regarding additional services the center would be able to provide for the community, resulting in an expansion of services and more valuable resources. CE staff also met with 100Kin10, an organization whose mission is to reach 100,000 STEM teachers in 10 years and to ensure children have access to quality STEM education.
Grants Workshop The SBNRC, in collaboration with the Office of Congressman RubĂŠn Hinojosa (TX-15) hosted their annual Grants Workshop in August, 2014. The workshop featured trainings on writing a grant and research resources as well as a roundtable panel of community experts who provided the attendees with valuable information regarding the nonprofit and grants sector. More than 75 community members attended this free event.
Affordable Care Act Workshop Attendees to this workshop were first directed to a presentation regarding deadlines, health care providers and options. Then, they were paired up with a volunteer on a one-on-one basis, where they received technical assistance on attaining health care.
150
community members attended
// 2013-2014 CE Annual Report
COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Partners and Collaborations
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Regional Science Bowl Team “B” of the Math and Science Academy of Brownsville and Team “A” from Alton Memorial Jr. High earned the opportunity to travel to Washington D.C., where they spent five days competing against more than 110 schools from across the nation.
250
students participated
75 Teachers Participate in STEM/Robotics Training Several items for the HESTEC Robotics Day competition were reviewed at the teacher training including rules, regulations, formatting, and tutorials for programming the robots for the sumo-style robot competition. The SeaPerch competition challenges students to create underwater robots. The students then compete by navigating their vessels through an underwater obstacle course while expanding their knowledge in robotics. Teachers were trained in competition rules and regulations.
2013-2014 CE Annual Report //
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university students led the scientific tours
14 faculty members were scientific judges
5
faculty members showcased university science equipment
61
Robotics Day teachers trained
14
SeaPerch Competition teachers trained
In collaboration with U.S. Army and U. S. Navy
12
CE collaborated with UTPA’s SPS to engage students and community members through exciting, hands-on science experiments. Through this partnership, members of SPS participated in service learning by taking what they learn in their collegiate classrooms and sharing their knowledge of physics with the community.
RiSA Rio Grande Science and Arts Festival (RiSA) aims to attract members of the community to experience fun and engaging activities related to science and the arts and celebrates science through a wide variety of art forms in the Brownsville community. Several CE staff members provided valuable insight while serving on the RiSA advisory board throughout the academic school year.
40 involved
1,100
community members engaged
4
high schools impacted
ENCORE Convocation On May 1, 2014, CE collaborated with ENCORE, an organization that promotes college readiness, to host an ENCORE Convocation for more than 800 middle school students from across the Valley. The students dispersed throughout the university to listen to presentations regarding attending college and college readiness.
people
10,000 people expected In collaboration with The University of Texas at Brownsville
800
middle school students attended
In collaboration with ENCORE
// 2013-2014 CE Annual Report
COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Society of Physics Students (SPS) brings science to schools
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CE Lends Support to Community Partners The Department of Community Engagement engages the University and its community partners. Recent contributions and collaborations include the following events:
TubaChristmas
430
students, music directors, and community members
700
audience members attended
College Preparedness Training
30
High school counselors from across the region
In collaboration with The Rio Grande Valley TubaChristmas Ensemble
In collaboration with the Region One ESC GEAR UP Program
Region One GEAR UP Youth Student Leadership Council
USDA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program
150
ninth grade students from across the Rio Grande Valley
In collaboration with the Region One ESC GEAR UP Program
2013-2014 CE Annual Report //
more than 100 convention attendees In collaboration with The U.S. Department of Agriculture Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program
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A collaborative partnership with The Deep South Texas Financial Literacy Alliance, whose focus is to inform the community about financial literacy and bring awareness about banking and saving, saw many successes this year. CE staff members Dr. Doris Mendiola and Joe Garcia have been members of The Deep South Texas Financial Literacy Alliance since its inception two years ago.
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leaders from local financial, higher education, government and community organizations
more than 4,778 students and their families participated
In collaboration with the Region One ESC GEAR UP Program and the Office of Congressman Rubén Hinojosa (TX-15)
Together In Education for Success (T.I.E.S.) Conference Fifty teens were given their own personal neckties during the T.I.E.S. conference where they learned to tie the neckties. This was a symbolic “rite of passage” as the teens were told the necktie symbolized success and professionalism. The adults accompanying the teens were challenged to raise their teens’ educational expectations while promoting leadership and encouraging them to pursue a postsecondary education.
50
students attended
50
fathers/male role models attended
In collaboration with the Region One ESC GEAR UP Program // 2013-2014 CE Annual Report
COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Deep South Texas Financial Literacy Alliance
Business Development and Innovation The UTPA Business Development and Innovation Group provides business guidance and training to small business owners and fosters entrepreneurship and growth. The BDI Group is comprised of three centers: Rio South Texas Regional Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC), UTPA Small Business Development Center (SBDC), and Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC). The centers work closely together to deliver comprehensive, business development services to meet the needs of prospective and existing businesses. The UTPA BDI Group Assistant Executive Director is Maria D. Juarez-Serna.
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The UTPA Rio South Texas Regional Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) provides no-cost, technical services to persons interested in obtaining government contracts at the local, state, and federal levels. For businesses interested in selling to the government, PTAC procurement specialists can help them get started with confidential counseling and procurement training. The director is Hector Landez.
Rio South Texas PTAC Impact for 2013-2014 434 Active Client Base
174
Initial counseling sessions with all category small business concerns
46
Outreach Events (Sponsored /led)
5
Initial counseling sessions with other than small business concerns
11
Outreach Events (Supported /participated in)
170
Initial counseling sessions with distressed area concerns
248
Follow-up counseling sessions with all category small business concerns
9
Follow-up counseling sessions with other than small business concerns
250
Follow-up counseling sessions with distressed area concerns
409
Estimated jobs created/retained
764 Total attendees 76
Contracts awarded to PTAC small business clients
10
Contracts awarded to PTAC other than small business clients $5,215,848.00
8
$16,800,858.00
Subcontracts awarded to PTAC small business clients $1,318,502.00
Total : $23,335,208.00 // 2013-2014 CE Annual Report
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION
UTPA Rio South Texas Regional Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC)
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UTPA Rio South Texas PTAC Activities & Collaborations The Rio South Texas PTAC is working with the UT System Office of Facilities Planning and Construction for projects related to The new University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, including:
UTRGV
UTRGV Health and Academic Building ($54 Million) UTRGV Science Building ($70 Million) UTRGV – Brownsville Administration Building ($52 Million project) UTRGV RAHC Additions ($11 Million)
Partnered with Starr County Agencies More than 30 business owners and representatives attended the first ever “Meet the Buyer” Workshop in Rio Grande City on December 12, 2013. Poised for explosive growth, Rio Grande City showcased the many opportunities available for businesses to increase their market base. A highly successful endeavor, participants at the event obtained procurement information, asked questions, and met one-on-one with department representatives. Additionally, business owners networked with one another. During the two-hour seminar, public officials from the city’s finance department, police department, public utility, public works, and Starr County outlined the procedures to follow in order to take advantage of current and upcoming business opportunities.
2013-2014 CE Annual Report //
18 BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION
Collaborated with the UT System for Model Contractor Development Program To help local firms prepare for UT System contracting opportunities, the UT System Office of HUB Development and Federal Small Business Program and the UTPA PTAC partnered to present the MCDP in April of 2014. The UT System developed this unique training course to mobilize and educate small-construction and construction-related firms needed to complete UT System-related projects. To bring the initial $196 million unification to realization, partnerships are being made to make room for the influx of construction projects, new students, and new offices for the new university. The three-week course concluded with a graduation ceremony and presentation of certificates of completion.
BDI Group Grant Proposals The UTPA BDI Group developed, submitted, and secured seven proposals for grant funding for 2013-2014.
// 2013-2014 CE Annual Report
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UTPA Small Business Development Center (SBDC) The UTPA Small Business Development Center (SBDC) provides business owners with training, counseling, research, and other specialized, technical assistance. In doing so, it enhances economic development by providing small business with management and technical assistance. The UTPA SBDC is nationally recognized for its excellence in service and high performance and is fully accredited by America’s Small Business Development Center (ASBDC) Network, the most comprehensive small-business assistance network in the United States and its territories. The director is Maria D. Juarez-Serna.
UTPA SBDC Impact for 2013-2014 1,124 Small business community members received advisement 7,438 Hours provided in business counseling 759
Jobs created/retained
1,749 Community members trained 121
Workshops/trainings
105
Businesses started/expanded
52
Secured loans totaling $7.66 Million
111
Owners’ investment totaling more than $20.8 Million
2013-2014 CE Annual Report //
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Partnered with CoBA on the F.I.R.E. Symposium The UTPA Small Business Development Center (SBDC) collaborated with the UTPA College of Business Administration (CoBA) to co-host the F.I.R.E. (Finance, Insurance & Real Estate) Symposium on September 19, 2013, an annual CoBA event that presently focuses on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the insurance industry. A follow-up to the one held in April 2013, the conference aimed to address the latest changes of the ACA and their impact on small businesses. UTPA students also had the opportunity to learn about the ACA and meet various industry experts.
Collaborated with OTT & TMAC for Technology Conference The UTPA Small Business Development Center (SBDC) partnered with the Office of Technology Transfer (OTT) and the Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center (TMAC) to host the 2013 Technology Ventures Conference: Resources to Launch Your Idea! on October 17, 2013 in Edinburg. With a focus on “how to take your business idea to the next level,� the conference provided numerous attendees with the resources and information specific to innovation and technology-based enterprises.
Completed its commitment to the Small Business Emergency Preparedness Program As a partner in implementation, the UTPA SBDC completed its commitment to the Small Business Emergency Preparedness Program /Supplemental Funds project to provide technical assistance to small businesses in the Hurricane Dolly affected areas: Willacy, Cameron, and Hidalgo counties.
// 2013-2014 CE Annual Report
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION
UTPA SBDC Activities & Collaborations
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Hosted DOC & SBA for Trade Summit
Receives BusinessDevelopment Endowment
The UTPA SBDC hosted the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for the Trade and Finance Resource Summit on November 13, 2013 in McAllen. The half-day event delivered information and key resources by these federal agencies for trade-ready entrepreneurs interested in expanding their markets through global commerce.
The UTPA SBDC thanks longtime Valley resident Gloria Fitch for her financial support through an endowment! Mrs. Fitch donated to UTPA in support of the SBDC because of her interest in helping small business owners in the Rio Grande Valley. “You don’t have to give a lot to start an endowment. You can start small and continue to add gifts over the years. It all adds up over time,”Gloria Fitch said.
SBDC and RGV Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Hosted the H-E-B Supplier Diversity Workshop The UTPA SBDC partnered with the Rio Grande Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to host a workshop for H-E-B’s Primo Picks: Quest for the Texas Best. The workshop, which featured James Harris, director of supplier diversity for H-E-B, covered details on how food and beverage companies can sell their products to H-E-B and participate in Primo Picks, a competition for local vendors.
2013-2014 CE Annual Report //
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The UTPA SBDC partnered with the Consulate of Mexico in McAllen for a trade mission to the Rio Grande Valley by individuals from Zacatecas and Veracruz, Mexico. The group of business owners and entrepreneurs listened to multiple speakers focused on business growth opportunities through trade and services available to start or expand operations into the United States.
Hosted a Crowdfunding Conference Featuring a National Speaker The UTPA SBDC hosted the 2014 Crowdfunding Conference: Building Your Campaign! for startups or existing businesses with unique products/ services on September 5, 2014 in Edinburg. The conference featured guest speaker Martin Butts, owner of Small Potatoes Sales & Marketing. Butts is the 2010 winner of New York’s “40 Under Forty,” and the 2013 winner of Slow Food Central, New York’s “Snail of Approval.”
Hosted Food Conference for Potential Vendors The UTPA SBDC hosted its first food conference on September 4, 2014 in Edinburg. The From Idea to Store Shelf: Developing & Launching Food Products to Market Conference taught participants the ABCs of starting a food business and how to sell these products to large and small grocers. The event also featured guest speaker Martin Butts, owner of Small Potatoes Sales & Marketing.
// 2013-2014 CE Annual Report
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION
Partnered with Mexican Consulate for Trade Mission
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UTPA Veterans Business Outreach Center The UTPA Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) is funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration to provide technical assistance for veterans and reservists who want to start or expand a small business. VBOC provides business training, counseling, technical assistance, and mentoring to veterans, reservists, National Guard, and active duty business owners and start-up candidates in the Southwest Central region of the United States of America. The director is Carlos Gutierrez.
UTPA VBOC Impact for 2013-2014 334 Community members reached Community members received 417 technical training
411 Hours provided in business counseling 36 Jobs created/retained 28 Workshops/trainings 4 Businesses started/expanded
Completed a Successful TVC Grant Project and Resubmits Proposal to Continue Providing Services The UTPA VBOC completed a TVC grant project for 2013 sponsored by the Texas Veterans Commission via a partnership with the UTPA Foundation. The program provided entrepreneurship training to 95 veterans throughout the state. In all, VBOC delivered training to seven on-site cohorts and two on-line cohorts. The program was very well received with requests from resource partners for follow-up sessions in the coming years.
2013-2014 CE Annual Report //
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Tech-Entrepreneurship Under this initiative, business advisors provided clients with innovation pre-planning training and evaluation tools to develop ideas into services and products; access to research for evaluating the market and developing a brand; and information about asset protection, commercialization options, and funding options – all to assist the inventor/ entrepreneur to determine the best course of action on the entrepreneurship road to commercialization. Tech-Entrepreneurship training included a technology ventures conference, crowdfunding summit, multiple innovation labs, and asset protection workshops.
7
Conferences/ workshops
170 Clients and attendees served 180 8
Training hours Impact
(business start/expansion, capital infusion, jobs)
Emergency Preparedness for Small Businesses Business advisors provide outreach as well as handy CDs with training to increase awareness in/ of the need to prepare for quick recovery after emergency situations such as hurricanes as well as on-site training and conferences in contingency and emergency planning topics such as insurance, document storage, and planning; and referred businesses for planning assistance to the advisors of the SBDC. Interested individuals can continue to have access online in English and Spanish at the South-West Texas Border SBDC Network Training Portal.
// 2013-2014 CE Annual Report
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION
UTPA BDI Group Projects/Initiatives
25
Boots to Business: From Service to Startup Boots to Business: From Service to Startup is an SBA-sponsored, worldwide program offered as a component of the Department of Defense’s (DoD) redesigned Transition Assistance Program (TAP). Boots to Business is offered by the Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University (SU) and operated by SU’s Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF), in partnership with SBA resource partners, including the UTPA VBOC. Boots to Business is a three-step training program developed to introduce and train transitioning service members to business ownership. Boots to Business helps ensure that every transitioning service member has access to a standardized entrepreneurship training track and small business resources in their local communities. The UTPA VBOC conducted training cohorts throughout the state and will continue teaching and collaborating with Base Transition Assistance offices to provide “Boots to Business” training in San Antonio, Corpus Christi, and other bases throughout the state.
Business Financial Literacy Initiative
8
Conferences/ workshops
The UTPA Foundation and SBDC received a $30,000 grant from BBVA Foundation to fund the Business Financial Business Basics and Analysis for Small Business Owners project. The project is an extension of the Business Financial Literacy Initiative to enhance business financial literacy outreach through multi-topic workshops and the Plan. Build. Secure Conference which increases awareness amongst nascent small business owners, promotes skills building and skills implementation, and fosters business growth.
101
Clients/ attendees served
2013-2014 CE Annual Report //
40 11
Training hours Impact
(business start/expansion, capital infusion, jobs)
26
The Rural Business Program is a specialty center affiliated with The University of Texas at San Antonio’s South-West Texas Border Small Business Development Center Network, a 79-county service area that covers the Gulf Coast of Texas as well as south and west Texas. Rural communities in the network area have been principally agricultural based. Rural Business advisors provide help to reverse challenging trends by providing rural communities and small to mediumsized businesses with technical assistance to help them grow, develop and create new jobs.
Trade Readiness Supporting national trade initiatives, business advisors provide clients with trade planning tools and counseling assistance to determine export readiness, growth opportunities, and financing options. Trade Readiness offers a variety of workshops throughout the Rio Grande Valley on a variety of topics including import/export processes, tips, requirements, documentation, and financing options.
6
Conferences/ workshops
143
Clients/ attendees served
102 8
Training hours Impact
(business start/expansion, capital infusion, jobs)
// 2013-2014 CE Annual Report
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION
Rural Business Program
Center for Rural Advancement The Center for Rural Advancement (CRA) engages with rural communities through communitybased participatory research, academic service learning, and outreach and technical assistance, while providing students with experiential learning and employment opportunities. The Center is currently comprised of a number of rural programs, projects, and initiatives that focus on rural economic and business development, direct marketing of farm produce, specialty-crop research, USDA rural-program outreach, rural broadband access, and rural social media programming.
28
Projects/Initiatives
The Texas Rural Cooperative Center (TRCC) provides advocacy, training, and technical assistance to rural cooperatives, cooperative members, and member businesses in rural Texas with an emphasis on South Texas.
Provided training to more than 200 community members
Produced 3 videos promoting cooperative development
Provided technical assistance to 8 rural cooperatives and 15 rural businesses
Developed 8 startup and capitalization plans for cooperatives
Provided startup assistance to 14 community groups looking to form cooperatives
Assistance helped create or save more than 25 jobs in rural Texas
“With (the Center’s) help, we are proving that low-income residents of colonias can create business opportunities and increase their standard of living.” - Sister Emily Jocson Proyecto Desarrollo Humano, Peñitas, Texas
// 2013-2014 CE Annual Report
CENTER FOR RURAL ADVANCEMENT
Texas Rural Cooperative Center (TRCC)
29
Direct Marketing Initiative for Beginning Farmers and Ranchers (DMI) DMI provides training and hands-on technical assistance to beginning farmers and ranchers in South Texas. It focuses on the small-scale production of fruit and vegetable specialty crops that can be marketed directly to consumers through farmers’ markets and other direct-marketing venues.
98 beginning farmers and ranchers assisted Provided material support (labor and supplies) to 47 beginning farmers and ranchers Delivered 23 trainings to a total of 306 beginning farmers and ranchers Responsible for launching 9 new direct-marketing farms in South Texas
Socially Disadvantaged Producers Small-Acreage Initiative (SAI) SAI is an innovative outreach network that helps increase participation in USDA programs. SAI strengthens relations with USDA offices and producers and helps producers learn about small-acreage strategies, including the development of niche markets, specialty crops, direct marketing channels, and marketing cooperatives.
2013-2014 CE Annual Report //
Provided training assistance to 315 individuals, including 257 sociallydisadvantaged producers at 19 training events
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This program provides agricultural producers with risk management education to improve their financial management, drought mitigation strategies, and economic decision making to enhance their long-term sustainability.
Provided risk management training for more than 80 disadvantaged agricultural producers in South Texas Produced bilingual instructional video on drip irrigation techniques
NRCS Texas Outreach Initiative for the Socially Disadvantaged (TOISD) The Natural Resource Conservation Servicefunded TOISD assists socially-disadvantaged, limited-resource agricultural producers in 47 counties in Texas. The program promotes awareness of NRCS technical and financial assistance and other USDA programs. Provided training assistance to 601 individuals, including 437 sociallydisadvantaged producers at 26 training events
// 2013-2014 CE Annual Report
CENTER FOR RURAL ADVANCEMENT
Risk Management Education for Small Hispanic Producers in South Texas
31
Rural Video Production and Broadcasting Initiative The Rural Video Production and Broadcasting Initiative promotes both student learning and the economic, environmental, and social advancement of rural areas through the production and broadcasting of video segments. The videos highlight student learning and engagement with rural communities and businesses.
Specialty-Crop Research and Demonstration Specialty-Crop Research and Demonstration promotes the economic and environmental advancement of rural areas through Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) on agricultural specialty crops that are suited for direct marketing, warmer climates, and Hispanic-influenced markets.
Research trails have investigated various specialty crops, including: Tomatoes Artichoke
2013-2014 CE Annual Report //
Blackberry
Wine grapes
Huitlacoche
Provided video and broadcast productions services to Valley Telephone Cooperative Inc., allowing CE project outreach to reach more than 10,000 rural households Produced 5 student-led videos, highlighting the engagement of UTPA faculty members in rural South Texas
32
The Center for Rural Advancement developed and submitted nine proposals for grant funding this year. Significant and innovative proposals submitted included an Agriculture & Food Research Initiative (AFRI) proposal that engaged UTPA faculty and students to investigate and assess the impact of innovative social media strategies on the sustainability of small-scale farmers in largely Hispanic rural communities.
Also submitted was the Small Socially-Disadvantaged Producer Grant (SSDPG) proposal to deliver technical and legal assistance to small-scale Hispanic and women agricultural producers throughout a 27-county South Texas region.
CRA Partners & Collaborations UTPA’s Center for Rural Advancement hosted the 4th annual conference for USDA’s Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) in McAllen, Texas. The conference was attended by about 120 project directors from BFRDP projects around the nation. The theme for this year’s conference was Cruzando Fronteras: Supporting Diversity in Agriculture. CRA assisted with the planning and development of the UTPA Agroecology garden, which is now operational and under the leadership of Dr. Alex Racelis, assistant professor in the Department of Biology. The north end of the garden site will feature UTPA’s Community Garden, which will open for student and community use in fall 2014.
// 2013-2014 CE Annual Report
CENTER FOR RURAL ADVANCEMENT
Grant Proposals
33
Community Engagement Student Assistants The Department of Community Engagement has an eclectic mix of student assistants who complement the existing CE team. Ranging from psychology to computer science, all student workers came from varying degree plans and backgrounds. The students, who are assigned meaningful tasks, experience a setting where valuable workplace skills are harnessed and proactively used. Student employees worked at a unique place where they had real world hands-on experience. Responsibility and timeliness were key assets that helped them succeed at their specific jobs. When asked about their experiences at CE, many of the students expressed their sentiments as “exceptional,” “rewarding,” and “appreciative.”
Student Assistants Raul Aldape Kassandra Aleman Adam Boston Javier Cantu Martin Cantu Ruben Capuchino Gabriela Cazares Fernando Cervantes Jorge Cordoba Violeta Davila Leilani De Leon Sandra De Luna Guadalupe Diaz David Elizondo
2013-2014 CE Annual Report //
Christal Espericueta Noel Espericueta Wendy Estrada Ashkan Fatehi Luz Garcia Albert Garza Juan Maciel Laura Martinez Andy Martinez Joshua Levi Martinez Juan Medrano Giselle B. Odum Nicolas Piontek Paola Ramirez
Eliza Joanne Rivera Gerardo Rodriguez Juan Carlos Rosales Erika Salamanca Geoffrey Schwarz Bianca Serda Kirk A. Teegardin Sergio Torres Jonathan Trevino Walter H. Rodriguez Ugarte Karen Villarreal Johnathon Miguel Waggoner Lauro Zuniga
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Community and Economic Development Student Assistants
“I can already tell by the warm welcoming of my coworkers that I will fit in just right and contribute greatly to this team. I have been given the opportunity to excel in important areas that I know will help me gain the experience I need for my future in the workplace.”
- Bianca Serda Student Assistant
Business Development and Innovation Student Assistants Recent political science graduate Javier Cantu enhanced his academic learning through his work as a research assistant at the SBDC, supporting the business development efforts of the center. Graduate research assistant Jorge Cordoba and research assistants Myra Reyes and Violeta Davila completed their project periods at the SBDC and left the center with greater knowledge and skills with regard to business development. Raul Aldape, who recently earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management and Finance, similarly completed his work as a research assistant at the SBDC and has accepted an internship at IDEO, a design and innovation consulting firm and technology-based company in San Francisco.
// 2013-2014 CE Annual Report
STUDENT ASSISTANTS
Junior criminal justice majors and siblings Noel and Christal Espericueta assisted the CE team in organizing volunteers and planning events. They worked alongside Juan Medrano, a junior psychology major with a minor in criminal justice, who managed logistics. Senior graphic design students Ruben Capuchino and Karen Villarreal worked together to develop the visual identity of HESTEC and FESTIBA by designing graphic elements and several publications for the events. They collaborated with senior computer science major Fernando Cervantes to develop CE websites. Gabriela Cazares, a senior working on her bachelor’s in accounting, and Bianca Serda, who is pursuing her bachelor’s in biology, assisted the team in ensuring that events went on as planned.
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Center for Rural Advancement Student Assistants CRA worked with Erika Salamanca, Kevin Corona, and Mario Castro – all UTPA engineering students — to research and develop methods to cool olive trees enough during the South Texas winter to induce flowering and set fruit during the early spring. The students worked with faculty members Stephen W. Crown, Ph.D., and Subhash Bose, Ph.D., PE, and Cruz Salinas, an agricultural specialist with the Department of Community Engagement on their project. CRA worked with partner Valley Telephone Cooperative to train undergraduate students Giselle Odum, Kirk Teegardin, and Leilani De Leon - all college of business marketing majors - to write, shoot, and edit videos highlighting three rural Texas businesses. Leilani also worked with biology major Guadalupe Diaz to develop a video investigating the commercialization of Huitlacoche, an edible fungus that grows on corn. These student-produced videos are currently running on the rural cable network managed by Valley Telephone Cooperative, and can be found on the VTX Productions YouTube page.
“Working with the Center for Rural Advancement has opened up new possibilities for my professional career. People here believe in me and push me to improve myself. I’ve gained business and social skills that cannot be taught by simply sitting in a classroom.”
-Leilani De Leon Student Assistant
“Working with Community Engagement is one of the things that I appreciate most in life because not only has it given me experience, but it has also encouraged me to become a better person.” - Gabriela Cazares
2013-2014 CE Annual Report //
Student Assistant
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Staff Highlights
STAFF HIGHLIGHTS
Balde Morales, Aaron Gonzalez, Adriana Rincon, Janie Caballero, Laura Martinez, Eva Martinez, Mariana Hernandez, Bianca Hammond, and Esperanza Delgado received certifications by the Professional Development and Certification Committee of the South-West Texas Border SBDC Network for 2013-2014. For business counseling and training, Balde Morales received his Certified Business Advisor (CBA) I; Aaron Gonzalez was recognized as a CBA IV, while Janie Caballero and Adriana Rincon received their recertification for CBA IV. For administrative functions, Laura Martinez, Eva Martinez, and Mariana Hernandez were recertified as Certified Administrative Professionals (CAP). Bianca Hammond earned her Certified Training Professional (CTP) designation, while Esperanza Delgado was recertified as a CTP. Based on strict criteria for each category, the committee reviews and awards certifications to qualified team members to foster increased professional development and to continually build capacity in the Network. Maria Juarez-Serna, Carlos Gutierrez, Janie Caballero, and Aaron Gonzalez obtained their “Certificates in Technology Commercialization.� The certifications were presented to these individuals by the Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston and the University of Houston Small Business Development Center Network after completing several weeks of training and testing.
// 2013-2014 CE Annual Report
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Juan Raygoza
Richard Carrera
Juan Raygoza, program coordinator for CRA’s Direct Marketing Initiative, was a featured speaker at the USDA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program National Conference in McAllen. He spoke about lessons learned and best practices for providing technical assistance and training to small-scale Hispanic farmers and ranchers.
Richard Carrera, director of CRA’s Texas Rural Cooperative Center, was a featured presenter at the Association of Cooperative Educators (ACE) Institute where he provided insight on delivering cooperative business education to immigrant populations. He also participates at the Texas Organic Farmers & Gardeners Association (TOFGA) Annual Conference where he highlighted cooperative marketing strategies for small-scale agricultural producers.
Marcela Arredondo
Janie Caballero
Marcela Arredondo was named a Certified Global Business Professional (CGBP). The NASBITE CGBP certification confirms knowledge in international trade and assures that employees are able to practice global business at the professional level required in today’s competitive environment. The NASBITE CGBP credential is awarded to candidates that have passed the NASBITE CGBP exam and have completed a minimum of two-years of college, or worked in international trade for two or more years.
Janie Caballero was awarded the “SBDC Advisor of the Year” by the U.S. Small Business Administration at the 2014 Small Business Week Awards banquet. Since joining the UTPA SBDC in 2008, Caballero has learned swiftly and contributes highly to the success of the UTPA SBDC. She has contributed to the center with outstanding results: more than 293 total client jobs created and maintained, 29 client businesses started and expanded, 46 client investments totaling over $18.5 million, 1,008 hours of advising effort to 159 new clients and 53 long-term clients and 19 business trainings to local entrepreneurs.
2013-2014 CE Annual Report //
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COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Hispanic Engineering, Science and Technology (HESTEC) Week (956) 665-7305 www.utpa.edu/hestec
Jessica Idy Salinas, MBA Executive Director of External Relations lopezj@utpa.edu Jessica Salinas is the Executive Director of External Relations where she currently oversees community and economic development programs at The University of Texas-Pan American. Salinas holds a master’s degree in business administration and has more than eight years of small business and economic development experience, and five years of community development experience with special emphasis on community engagement efforts, all under the scope of UT Pan American. She also has more than 20 years of military service in the U.S. Navy where she now serves as a Lieutenant.
Festival of International Books and Arts (FESTIBA) (956) 665-7305 www.utpa.edu/festiba
Southwest Border Nonprofit Resource Center (SBNRC) (956) 665-7566 www.utpa.edu/sbnrc
Data and Information System Center (DISC) (956) 665-2301 community.utpa.edu/disc
International Trade and Technology (ITT) Building 1201 W. University Drive Edinburg, TX 78539 (956) 665-3361 2013-2014 CE Annual Report // 2013-2014 CE Annual Report //
CENTER FOR RURAL ADVANCEMENT
Project Farm Ownership and Rural Growers Empowerment (FORGE) www.utpa.edu/RED Texas Rural Cooperative Center (TRCC) (956) 665-7545 www.utpa.edu/RED NRCS Texas Outreach Initiative for the Socially Disadvantaged (TOISD) (956) 665-3118 www.utpa.edu/RED
Direct Marketing Initiative for Beginning Farmers & Ranchers in South Texas (DMI) www.utpa.edu/RED Socially Disadvantaged Producers SmallAcreage Initiative (SAI) (956) 665-3118 www.utpa.edu/RED Rural Video and Broadcast Production Initiative (RVBPI) (956) 642-1179
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION GROUP UTPA Small Business Development Center Phone: (956) 665-7535 Fax: (956) 665-7561
 www.utpa.edu/sbdc UTPA Rio South Texas Regional Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) Phone: (956) 665-8931 www.utpa.edu/ptac UTPA Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) Phone: (956) 665-8931 www.utpa.edu/vboc
George Bennack Executive Director of Rural and Business Development bennack@utpa.edu George Bennack serves as UTPA’s executive director for Business and Rural Development and serves as project director for the South Texas Direct Marketing Initiative for Beginning Farmers and Ranchers, which is funded through USDA-NIFA. During the past 14 years, Bennack has planned, proposed, operated, directed, and/or administered over 80 sponsored projects for UTPA that have been funded through various sponsored sources, including 19 federal agencies. Bennack received his Bachelor of Business Administration from UTPA in 1984 and has 30 years of managerial and entrepreneurial experience in the agricultural, agricultural and commercial aviation, agricultural chemical, rural telecommunications, commercial and residential construction, and business/ economic development industries.
// 2013-2014 CE Annual Report
2013-2014 CE Annual Report //
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