Peña: We’re writing the next chapter of Brownsville filled with pride, progress, and purpose

When I think about what progress looks like in Brownsville, I see more than new projects or buildings going up. I see people coming together to make this city stronger. Every initiative we take on at BCIC is guided by that spirit: honoring where we come from while creating new opportunities for everyone who calls Brownsville home.

This past month reminded me just how far we’ve come. Attending the Samano Building reopening on October 2 was such a powerful moment. What was once a vacant historic structure has now been brought back to life as affordable housing with built-in support systems to help families move toward stability. It’s proof that when preservation and purpose work together, amazing things happen.

That idea isn’t new to Brownsville. In 1966, Fort Brown became a National Historic Landmark, setting the course for our city to become one of Texas’ most historic places. Nearly sixty years later, we’re still showing that progress and preservation can go hand in hand, and September at BCIC carried that same energy.

Our entrepreneurship and innovation team wrapped up the first-ever Space Accelerator with its Launch Day on October 9, and earlier in the month, we hosted Pitch Fest and the SBIR/STTR Demo Day at eBridge Center. These events gave founders and researchers from right here in the Valley a chance to showcase ideas that could change industries. We also welcomed Astrid Rosales to the team as our new Business Development and Entrepreneurship Officer, helping us grow our support for local small businesses and innovators.

Across the city, community projects kept moving forward, too. The Treehouse high ropes course opened at Camp Rio at Historic Lula Sams, and the Simon Celaya Railroad Exhibit debuted at the Historic Brownsville Museum. We also kicked off a new round of applications for our Quality of Life Grants program, which since 2003 has supported more than 270 projects totaling over $60 million, improving parks, museums, open spaces, and tourism across Brownsville.

Our BCIC staff also took some time to step back and refocus during our team retreat. It was a great chance to reconnect with our Strategic Plan and make sure everything we do is working toward the same shared goals for our community.

We kept busy out in the community as well. Our marketing team met with YouthBuild students, young adults earning their diplomas and GEDs, to talk about entrepreneurship and how success can start from anywhere. Because here in Brownsville, we know that legacies aren’t just built in boardrooms or classrooms. They’re built by people who start where they are, take a chance, and keep moving forward.

That same drive took our team to Detroit, where BCIC received three IEDC Excellence Awards, and to Harlingen, where our Vice President of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Nathan Burkhart, served as a judge at the RISE Up Demo Day, cheering on founders from across the Valley.

Thank you to all our partners, supporters, and neighbors for being part of this journey. Brownsville keeps moving forward because people like you believe in what our city can become. Together, we’re writing the next chapter filled with pride, progress, and purpose.

With gratitude,

Cori Peña

Editor’s Note: The above guest column was penned by Cori Peña, president and CEO of Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation. The column first appeared in BCIC’s electronic newsletter. It appears in the Rio Grande Guardian with the author’s approval.