Livability McAllen, TX 2013

56
2013 | SPONSORED BY THE MCALLEN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE livability.com/mcallen MCALLEN TEXAS McAllen in a Day This happening Valley city has plenty to do and see OUTSIDE THE BOX Residents get creative with business ventures

description

It’s no wonder that thousands of Winter Texans choose McAllen as their home away from home. This progressive city offers some of the best cultural activities, shopping, dining and recreation in the state. A downtown entertainment district is filled with galleries, restaurants, nightclubs and more. The commitment to the arts is demonstrated through the chamber of commerce’s art incubator, which provides support to aspiring artists of all disciplines. The Rio Grande Valley is the most popular birding destination in the nation. The area hosts dozens of wildlife watching sites.

Transcript of Livability McAllen, TX 2013

Page 1: Livability McAllen, TX 2013

2013 | sponsored by the mcallen chamber of commerce

livabilitycommcallen

MCALLENTexas

McAllen in a Daythis happening Valley city has plenty to do and see

outside the boxResidents get creative with business ventures

For business or leisure make your travel easier hellip

Fly McAllen First

wwwmcallenairportcom (956) 681-1500

2500 S Bicentennial Blvd Ste 100 bull McAllen TX 78503

wwwaacomwwwallegiantaircom wwwunitedcom

l iVabil it ycommc allen 3

CONTENTS

Things to Do10 Must Try McAlleninaDay ThishappeningValleycity

hasplentytodoandsee

14 Parks AhhHowRefreshing Cityaddsfour-acrelake

toFiremanrsquosPark

19 Local Flavor PalatePleasers

20 Arts amp Culture RaveReviews

22 Sports amp Recreation SoakUpSomeSun

24SeetheCity

Living28 High Tech Schools Paddingthe

Curriculum Techtoolsfoster studentsuccess

30 Education SetforSuccess

33 Health TakeaDeepBreath

andRelax

35 CommunityProfile

36 LivingSeetheCity

Business42 Entrepreneurship OutsidetheBox Residentsgetcreative

withbusinessventures

47 Chamber Letter WhatrsquostheBigIdea48 EconomicProfile

OnTheCoverThe McAllen Public Library Photo by Michael Conti

all or part of this magazine is printed with soy ink on recycled paper containing 10 post-consumer waste

PlEaSE rECyClE ThiS magaziNE

7 Welcome to McAllen an introduction to the community

MCALLEN2013EDITION vOLUME11

Texas

19

30

42

l iVabil it ycommc allen 3

l iVabil it ycommc allen 5

MCALLEN2013EDITION vOLUME11

Texascontent director|LisaBattles

contributing Writers|BarbaraBiehlerLauraHillCarsonOrsquoShoneyKathrynRoysterBraxtonShoop

content coordinator|JessicaWalkerstaff Writer|KevinLitwin

proofreading manager|RavenPetty

lead designer|StaceyAllissenior Graphic designers|LauraGallagher

KrisSextonJakeShoresVikkiWilliamsGraphic designers|EricaLampleyKaraLeiby

KaceyPassmorecreative technology analyst|BeccaAry

lead photographer|MichaelContisenior photographers|JeffAdkinsBrianMcCord

staff photographers|ToddBennettMartinBCherry

color imaging technician | AlisonHunter

integrated media manager|ToddPottersales support project manager|SaraQuint

ad production manager|KatieMiddendorfad traffic assistants|KrystinLemmonPatriciaMoisan

Web project manager|DavidDayWeb development lead|YamelHallWeb developeri|NelsNoseworthy

Web designer ii|RichardStevensWeb product manager|JohnHood

digital project manager|JillRidenour

chairman|GregThurmanpresidentpublisher|BobSchwartzman

executive Vice president|RayLangensenior Vpsales|ToddPotter

senior Vpclient development|JeffHeefnersenior Vpoperations|CaseyHester

Vpsales|JarekSwekoskyVpcontent operations|NatashaLorens

audience development director|DeannaNelsoncreative services director|ChristinaCarden

distribution director|GarySmithphotography director|JeffreySOtto

Web services director|AllisonDavis

controller|ChrisDudleysenior accountant| LisaOwens

accounts payable coordinator|MariaMcFarlandaccounts receivable coordinator|DianaGuzman

system administrator|DanielCantrell

executive secretary|KristyDuncanhuman resources manager|PeggyBlake

receptionist|LindaBishop

Livability McAllen TXispublishedannuallybyJournalCommunicationsIncandisdistributed

throughtheMcAllen Chamber of Commerce anditsmemberbusinesses

Foradvertisinginformationortodirectquestionsorcommentsaboutthemagazinecontact

JournalCommunicationsIncat(615)771-0080orbyemailatinfojnlcomcom

Formoreinformationcontactmcallen chamber of commerce1200 ash avenue bull po box 790

mcallen tx 78505-0790phone (956) 682-2871 bull fax (956) 687-2917

wwwmcallenchambercom

visitLivability McAllen TXonlineatlivabilitycommcallen

copyCopyright2012JournalCommunicationsInc725CoolSpringsBlvdSuite400FranklinTN37067(615)771-0080AllrightsreservedNoportionofthis

magazinemaybereproducedinwholeorinpartwithoutwrittenconsent

Member TheAssociationofMagazineMedia

Member CustomContentCouncil

MemberMcAllenChamberofCommerce

GETTHEDIGITALMAGAZINE

livabilitycommcallen

Itrsquos loaded with links to more great info about McAllen Telling your communityrsquos unique story has never been so easy

TakE iT wiTh yOu

Easily share an interesting article stunning photo or advertisement of your business on Facebook Twitter or via email

CliCk arOuNd

Click on the web addresses in the copy to enjoy immediate access to each website

SPrEad ThE NEwS

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2013 | SPONSORED BY THE MCALLEN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

livabilitycommcallen

MCALLENTEXAS

McAllen in a DayThis happening Valley city has plenty to do and see

OUTSIDE THE BOXResidents get creative with business ventures

l iVabil it ycommc allen 5

CONTENTSlivabilitycommcallen

Visit the website for more great photos and stories about McAllen Texas

Livabilitycom Follow us livability Like us at facebookcomlivability Follow us at pinterestcomlivability

Things To Do Find the must-do attractions activities and dining in McAllen

LivingLearn about McAllenrsquos schools health care education and neighborhoods

BusinessGet info on top employers jobs and success stories in McAllen

digital magazine

Read it online or on your tablet and quickly share articles with friends

FaCtSGet data fast on population climate workforce cost of living and more

PhoTos amp viDeo

2013 | SPONSORED BY THE MCALLEN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

livabilitycommcallen

MCALLENTEXAS

McAllen in a DayThis happening Valley city has plenty to do and see

OUTSIDE THE BOXResidents get creative with business ventures

aT a glaNCE

Cultural diversity progressive business practices and a booming economy best characterize McAllen ndash one of the fastest growing metros in Texas and part of one of the fastest growing MSAs in the nation Its location near the US-Mexico border has made it a magnet for retail international trade tourism and manufacturing

aBuNdaNT liviNgMcAllenrsquos economic mix means

tangible benefits for residents beyond a strong job market They take their picks among diverse shopping and dining options that include national brands and unique independent retailers

The resulting tax base means the city can offer amenities such as a massive state-of-the-art library in-town bus service awesome parks and popular hiking and biking trails that are enjoyed year round thanks to a warm climate

With all this and affordable homes McAllen also consistently ranks among cities with the lowest cost of living in the United States

grEaT FOr BuSiNESSMcAllen is good for business

big and small More than 100 Fortune 500 companies have a presence within the McAllen MSA and the city has also been recently recognized by CNNMoney on its list of Best Places to Launch a Small Business

Key factors bringing expansions and entrepreneurs are an excellent quality of life numerous advanced medical facilities a comprehensive financial services community demonstrated logistics advantages to reach existing and new markets and a mostly young bicultural and bilingual population

Read on to discover why McAllen is one of Americarsquos best places to live

McAllen Texasa quick comprehensiVe oVerVieW of Whatrsquos Great about the community

Rio Granded

Rio Grande

83

281

281

83

777777

28181288281777777

ReynosaosR sas

Matamoros

Rio BravoBrownsvilleBrowrow sss

WeslacoHarlingenrlinng

Edinburg

Mission

Pharr

McAllen

HIDALGO

MEXICO

UNITEDSTATESS

FOr mOrE iNFOrmaTiON

McAllenChamberofCommerce1200 Ash Avenue McAllen TX 78501 Phone (956) 682-2871Fax (956) 687-2917

wwwmcallenchambercom

lOCaTiONMcAllen is in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas situated just 70 miles west of the Gulf of Mexico McAllen is the largest city in Hidalgo County

POPulaTiON

133821 (McAllen)

774769 (MSA)

aNNual raiNFall

23rdquo

diSTaNCES TO ThrEE majOr CiTiES NEarBy San Antonio 224 miles Austin 311 miles Fort WorthDallas 502 miles

TimE zONECentral

National Average 30rdquo

No3Mid-Size

US City for Jobs

- Forbes

ACCOLADE

McAllen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 7

Shopping

BrOwSE Or Buy

mcallenrsquos la Plaza mall draws more than 18 million visitors each year as the main shopping spot for residents in the Rio Grande Valley The 1200000-square-foot mall has more than 140 retailers such as Macyrsquos and Dillardrsquos as well as a variety of restaurants

Art Events

miNglE wiTh arTiSTS

The music after hours Outdoor Concert Series is held monthly to showcase bands from the Rio Grande Valley Meanwhile mcallenrsquos artwalk is a monthly self-guided tour that features art galleries vendors and museums

Sports

Play Ball

The mcallen Thunder and Edinburg roadrunners are baseball teams that play at Edinburg Baseball Stadium Both teams are members of the North American League an independent professional league not affiliated with Major League Baseball

Locally Grown

STOCk uP

You can find more than 20 varieties of citrus and other fresh fruits vegetables nuts and locally made products at klementrsquos grove Bellrsquos Farm to market Farmers market at Town lake and Farmers market at mcallenrsquos new library

THINGSTODOMcAllenrsquos must-do attractions activities and dining

Grab Your Binocularsmcallenrsquos many wildlife havens include QuintaMazatlan above an urban sanctuary for birds plants and other wildlife valleyNatureCenter which is the oldest nature center in the rio Grande Valley and the 2000-acre SantaAnaNationalWildlifeRefuge which has recorded 400 bird species and hundreds of butterfly species

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Eatery

PiCk ThE PlaTTEr

The popular restaurant Costa messa has a new location on North 10th Street and its menu includes favorite items such as huge botana platters to share and choriqueso The eatery is open seven days a week from 11 am until 10 pm

Outdoors

gET iN ShaPE

Hiking and biking trail systems are located at various parks throughout McAllen Some of the arearsquos most popular trails can be found at las Palmas Park la vista Park los Encinos Park retama village Park Bill Schupp Park and westside Park

Pro Sports

FlaSh aNd viPErS

Cheer on the rio grande valley Flash a Professional Arena Soccer League team and catch the basketball action of the rio grande valley vipers 2010 NBA Development League Champions Both teams play at State Farm Arena in Hidalgo

ThiNgS TO dO

Happy Hour

PrOPOSE a TOaST

Enjoy dinner drinks and fun at the many businesses located within the 17th Street Entertainment district of downtown McAllen a revitalized area now bustling with interesting restaurants pubs clubs and lounges

Climb Aboardthe federal transit administration awarded mcallen $19 million to create an electric bus pilot program OLEvTechnologiesoversees the program which is retrofitting three diesel buses with electric motors passenger transport begins in 2013

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THIS HAPPEnInG vALLEY CITY OFFERS PLEnTY TO DO SEE amp EAT

ThiNgS TO dO

mcallenin a Day

l iVabil it ycommc allen 11 10 mc allen

midNighT TO NOON iN mCallENWhere to stay McAllen has nearly 3600 hotel rooms

from luxurious traditional hotels to new motels with all the contemporary bells and whistles The Renaissance Casa de Palmas a four-star hotel on Main Street was built in 1918 and lavishly restored into a luxury property featuring Mission architecture that recalls McAllenrsquos past Or try the Spring Hill Suites just off the expressway for a more modern take

After a comfortable night start the morning off with breakfast at Jimmyrsquos Egg a new outpost of a longtime Oklahoma favorite Here enjoy nearly any kind of egg you can imagine for breakfast ndash or atop a burger at lunch Go further south of the cuisine border at Las Cazuelas Grill another popular new eatery for menu items such as Chilaquiles con Huevo or Molletes

Got 24 hours to spare We recommend a busy day well spent in McAllen where you can fill every available hour

with interesting sights delicious cuisine and a variety of fun activities

a birdrsquos-eye view of the cityrsquos revitalized 17the street entertainment district

l iVabil it ycommc allen 11

NB

icen

tenn

ialB

lvd

WHackberryAve

S23

rdS

tree

t

83

international museum of arts and sciences

mcallen public library

McAllen Public Librarym-th 9am - 9pmf-sat 9am - 6pmsun 1pm - 9pm

phone (956) 688-3300uhV students (with id) free

wwwmcallenlibrarynet

12 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 13

The hike and bike trail on Second Street and another on Bicentennial offer the chance for a leisurely 23-mile stroll around town ndash yoursquove got to work off that breakfast after all And then head over to the International Museum of Arts and Science a Smithsonian affiliated museum where a wide variety of changing art and science exhibits always offer something interesting

Another must-see is McAllenrsquos new public library which at a whopping 123000 square feet is the largest single-floor library in the US This former Walmart building underwent a total transformation into an aesthetically pleasing community resource thatrsquos steadily gaining attention worldwide for its colorful open and functional design Opened in December 2011 the facility has already won first place in the International Interior Design Associationrsquos 2012 Library Interior Design Competition

luNCh aNd laTErldquoWersquove got over 600 restaurants

hererdquo says Chamber President and CEO Steve Ahlenius So since itrsquos noon by now try the flatbread or a

salad at house wine amp bistro or go for a panini at Corner Bakery Cafe Or for Latin flavor head to KoKorsquos for delicious Mexican fare

In McAllen a day without shopping would be sad indeed La Plaza Mall is the most visited mall in the country and Palms Crossings at the McAllen Convention Center is home to several shops and restaurants such as Mimirsquos Cafe and Romanorsquos Macaroni Grill

ldquoAfter I finished shopping Irsquod spend the rest of the afternoon at Quinta Mazatlan (a historic home that also offers nature trails and legendary bird watching)rdquo Ahlenius says Another option is to test the waters by kayaking or catch-and-release fishing on Town Lake at Firemanrsquos Park

mCallEN aFTEr hOurSYoursquore not tired are you

Good because after freshening up back at your hotel itrsquos off to a night on the town Cajun cuisine at The Bayou Grill on North 10th St is a great option as are the authentic Mexican menus at Cabritos Nuevo Leon or La Jaiba Mexican Seafood Grill both on West Nolana

After dinner stroll the 17th Street Entertainment District to catch the flavor of McAllen after hours or catch a show at the historic Cine El Rey theater where comedy acts concerts film festivals and other events take the stage Finally La Recova Contemporary Argentinean Grill beckons for a nightcap in its quiet upscale bar ldquowhere you can actually carry on a conversationrdquo Ahlenius says

Then to bed Where after a good nightrsquos rest you will surely want to get up and spend yet another great day in McAllen

by Laura Hill by staff photographer

Michael Conti

ldquoMcAllen is a beautiful multicultural city with plenty to do and see From shopping in the most popular stores in the nation or unique one-of-a-kind shops to fine dining and plenty of family outdoor activities ndash you can do it year round hererdquo

gErry garCia VPOFSPECIALPROJECTS

FORTHEMCALLENCHAMBER

SNAPSHOT

for music dinner and dancing head to downtown mcallenrsquos 17th street entertainment district

The Patio on Guerradiners enjoy the food and atmosphere at the patio on Guerra on 17th street in downtown mcallen

12 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 13

ThiNgS TO dO

Town Lakea boy takes his dog for a walk as he skateboards the trail along the new 4-acre town lake at firemanrsquos park a popular spot for canoeing kayaking fishing and more

ThiNgS TO dO

14 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 15 14 mc allen

nEW LAkE OPEnS AT FIREMAnrsquoS PARk

Ahh howrefreshing

ldquoWe did all the required dredging to transform the little pond into a recreational lake that is 15 feet at its deepest pointrdquo says Sally Gavlik director of the McAllen Parks amp Recreation Department ldquoIn these days of more and more people opting to remain close to home for staycations Town Lake at Firemanrsquos Park gives them a valid option for a different kind of local vacationrdquo

lET ThE FuN BEgiNTown Lake is situated right in the

middle of McAllen off Business Highway 83 between First and Second streets Swimming is prohibited due to park

irrigation regulations but a beach has been constructed to launch canoes kayaks and paddle boats A fishing pier is also in place

ldquoWe transferred fish to the lake from nearby Boeye Reservoir which has provided us with good stocks of bass perch and catfishrdquo Gavlik says ldquoTown Lake currently only has a catch-and-release program meaning you can catch fish but must release them back into the water At some point in the future when the fish population increases we plan to schedule times when people can take the fish homerdquo

The City of McAllen made a big splash in May 2012 when it officially opened Town Lake at Firemanrsquos Park What was once a small tract of land with a few basic

recreational amenities is now a 15-acre redevelopment that includes the four-acre Town Lake Crews used a water holding pond at the cityrsquos former water treatment facility to construct the new lake

14 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 15

TakE a hikEWalking and jogging are also good recreational

options around the waterrsquos perimeterldquoTown Lake actually ties into the well used Second

Street Trail People can come off the trail walk or jog along the lake and then get back onto the trailrdquo Gavlik says ldquoThe scenery includes wildflowers in a freshly seeded meadow while other park amenities are horseshoe pits two playgrounds and free picnic sites at the north end of Firemanrsquos Park at First Streetrdquo

There is also a covered pavilion area with sand volleyball courts a small concession building and three camping sites The campsites can be used during the day by anyone but only overnight by organized groups such as the Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts Group reservations must be made through the McAllen Parks amp Recreation Department

ldquoAnother park attraction is the former water treatment building which has been transformed into a rental facilityrdquo Gavlik says ldquoIt is now called The Old Pump House complete with new windows air conditioning uplighting tiling and carpeted floors Groups of 75 to 100 people can rent the facility for meetings small receptions or small social events The Old Pump House adds to the overall amenities of todayrsquos Firemenrsquos Parkrdquo

by Kevin Litwin by staff photographer Michael Conti

Fishinga group casts lines into town lake which enforces a catch-and-release program

WHackberryAve

TownLake

83

firemanrsquos park

N2

nd

Str

eet

16 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 17

children enjoy the playground at firemanrsquos park

16 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 17

l iVabil it ycommc allen 19

ThiNgS TO dO LoCAL FLAVoR

Palate Pleasersmcallen restaurants serVe up flaVorful foods

McAllen diners rejoice The city has a broad selection of distinctive restaurants and eateries appealing to just about every taste By Barbara Biehler

Asian

SENSaTiONal SuShi amp SPiCE

McAllen has several great spots for Japanese food such as sushi tempura and teppanyaki including kohnami kumori and yokorsquos Sushi Bar

Fans of Thai food should check out Thai red Chilirsquos for dishes like pad thai red curry chicken and sweet rice with mango

Indian

TaNdOOri aNyONETaste of india hits the spot

for diners looking for high quality authentic Indian food made from old family recipes and paired with excellent service

Tex-Mex and Mexican

SOmE likE iT SPiCy

Step into las Cazuelas grill for classic Mexican cuisine or visit Palenque Chicken for expertly prepared Mexican and Tex Mex dishes

Renowned regionally for homemade tamales deliarsquos uses fresh ingredients including pork chicken and beef

The republic of rio grande serves Mexican cuisine in an intimate setting order a traditional dish like the chicken fajitas or enchiladas suizas or enjoy a distinctive entree such as shrimp chipotle pesto pasta or a brick-oven pizza

check out more restaurants in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

ldquoDeliarsquos has the best tamales in town Probably even in the RGV The only place you can get the good old homemade flavor of real tamalesrdquo

Evila l YELPCOM

Argentine

SOuTh amEriCaN CuiSiNE

Relax in the elegant yet casual atmosphere of la Pampa argentinean Steak housewhile you dine on classic Argentine- cut steaks grilled chicken breasts marinated in Chimichurri or traditional de carne empanadas

Meanwhile la recova also offers a wide selection of Argentine-style favorites on its menu Favorite dishes at La Recova includes chorizo tuna carnitas duck confit and churrasco a classic top sirloin steak

Outdoor Dining

TrENdy amp TaSTy

If yoursquore in the mood for a USDA prime steak or succulent seafood drop by The Patio on guerra Dine on the outdoor patio and have a bottle of one of the restaurantrsquos award-winning wines

FridarsquosGrillandCantina located on 17th street offers traditional mexican favorites with modern flavors Go to fridarsquos to enjoy unique culinary dishes signature drinks and live music on the weekends

l iVabil it ycommc allen 19

ThiNgS TO dO ARTS amp CULTURE

Rave Reviewsmcallenrsquos arts scene remains robust With museums music and eVents

Arts patrons music lovers and history buffs enjoy many cultural attractions throughout McAllen The latest buzz McAllen Performing Arts Center will spring up near the McAllen Convention Center giving fans of live music theater and dance a fine new facility to anticipate

Live Entertainment

PErFOrmErS TakE ThE STagE

The 17th Street Entertainment district in downtown McAllen overflows with lounges restaurants and clubs For live music visit The old Ice House or Cine El Rey

The cityrsquos diverse culture is what influences much of the music performed by the valley Symphony Orchestra amp Chorale The Symphony was established in 1952 with the Chorale joining later in 1984 Similarly the South Texas lyric Opera brings the fine art of opera to the Rio Grande Valley with a yearly slate of productions and an annual opera gala and rio grande valley Broadway brings popular stage shows to town such as Disneyrsquos Beauty and the Beast and Monty Pythonrsquos Spamalot

Historic Sites

TakE a STEP BaCk iN TimE

The museum of South Texas history and the mcallen heritage Center are just two locations to learn about the rich history of this bicultural area

Quinta mazatlan a 1930s hacienda that embodies the Spanish Colonial Revival architecture of arches adobe and beams and provides an intimate look into South Texas history The 10000-square- foot mansion sits on a 15-acre plot hosting a mix of native and exotic plants and wildlife making up McAllenrsquos wing of the popular world Birding Center

Cine El Reyopened in 1947 the historic cine el rey theater now functions as

a music and performance venue showcasing a variety of live events and also shows spanish and english independent films the theater is located in downtown mcallenrsquos 17th street entertainment district

20 mc allen

ldquoCine El Rey hosts events as diverse as wrestling live bands films and comedy shows A huge stage is complimented by killer production value and a staff that really cares about all aspects of the experience Irsquom looking forward to a return triprdquo

Bill dykES YELP

visual Arts and Festivals

aCCESSiBlE arT FuN EvENTS

The international museum of art amp Science founded in 1969 promotes an appreciation for the arts and sciences through its exhibitions cultural events and many educational programs imaS is located at 1900 Nolana Ave

The mcallen art walk is a self-guided tour that gives art lovers the opportunity to explore the many art offerings in the city Itrsquos held every first Friday from September through May and is free and open to the public

on the first Saturday night of December folks enjoy the Candlelight Posada which includes food booths luminaries a parade live entertainment caroling and a live nativity scene

Chamber of Commerce Support

ChamBEr BaCkS ThE arTS

The mcallen Chamber of Commerce shows its love for the arts by managing the mcallen arts Council which publishes a quarterly magazine produces an annual fine arts exhibition and offers grants to local artists The Chamber also offers an outdoor concert series and coordinates the Public art Committeersquos acquisition program

20 mc allen

ThiNgS TO dO SPoRTS amp RECREATIoN

Soak Up Some Sunmcallen residents haVe plenty of Good reasons to Get outdoors

Great golf courses hiking and biking trails and a large well-maintained park system make McAllen the perfect place to enjoy outdoor fun By Carson OrsquoShoney

Golf

TEE iT uPWith nearly 20 courses in the

McAllen area golf is a popular attraction in the Rio Grande Valley

one of the most notable courses is the Palm view golf Course an 18-hole public course with a private feel With rolling fairways and Bermuda rough mounds the course is an often-used location for tournaments having hosted LPGA tournaments and Palm viewrsquos amateur golf Championship

mcallen Country Club provides a challenge with tree-lined fairways and small greens and also offers a swimming pool tennis courts a fitness center and other amenities

Every golf course in the area is bustling especially in the winter when ldquoWinter Texansrdquo come to the Rio Grande Valley The weather generally stays in the 70s in the coldest months making it a perfect place for winter golfing

Hiking Biking and Racing

ON ThE mOvE iN mCallEN

There are plenty of hiking and biking trails on the east and west sides of town such as the retama village Park Trail westside Park Trail and las Palmas Park Trail Visiting cyclists are welcome to meet up with Team mcallen Cycling a bike club thatrsquos been in the city for more than 25 years

Racing fans can enjoy the mcallen international motorplex and Event Center which hosts stock car races car shows and more The racetrack is a family-friendly place offering activities for children such as games face painting and crafts

Palm view Golf Courseirish cochran plays a round of golf at palm View Golf course an 18-hole public course often used for high profile tournaments

22 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 23

City Parks

OuTdOOr Family FuN

The mcallen Parks and recreation department currently oversees 25 city parks Ranging from historic parks established in the early 1900s to more modern facilities there are several options suitable for the whole family

archer Park McAllenrsquos oldest park opened in 1912 Serving as a historic landmark in the city it also plays host to many of the cityrsquos annual special events including the Candlelight Posada and movies in the Park

Spanning 38 acres Springfest Park is the largest park in McAllen Springfest hosts a variety of special events and is home to mcallenrsquos winter Polo league from January through March

check out more fun things to do in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

Spray and Ground Parkbesides its popular water feature mcallenrsquos new SprayandGroundParkhas a sand volleyball court skateboard area a half basketball court and just over half a mile of walking trails in addition there are athletic practice fields shaded areas picnic shelters and restroom facilities

22 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 23

ThiNgS TO dO SEE THE CITY

24 mc allen

The Irrigation Workerthe sun sets behind a sculpture ldquothe irrigation Workerrdquo which was created by artist douglas clark and is located on nolana and 25th

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

l iVabil it ycommc allen 25

LIvINGHERESchools health care education and neighborhoods in McAllen

26 mc allen 26 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 27 26 mc allen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 27

see more beautiful photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

Luxury Livingnewcomers have many beautiful home options in mcallen such as those offered in eight different communities by cantu construction a locally based award-winning builder

26 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 27 liVabil it ycommc allen 27

liviNg

TECH TOOLS FOSTER STUDEnT SUCCESS

Padding theCurriculum

McAllen Independent School District (ISD) is feeling the benefits of an ambitious technology plan that places an iPod or iPad in the hands of every teacher and student

mcallen independent school district students use system-issued ipads in class

28 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 29

EduCaTiNg FOr ThE 21ST CENTury

The initiative began with a meeting between Dr James Ponce McAllenrsquos superintendent of schools and a ldquocadrerdquo of about 35 teachers administrators and parents

The grouprsquos primary goal was to build a 21st-century classroom environment one that fosters creativity collaboration and entrepreneurship The group also wanted to find a way to harness the 247 educational potential of the Internet ndash and teach students the critical-thinking skills needed to process online content

ldquoItrsquos an environment where the teachers become the primary learners and the students are driven by their examplerdquo Ponce says ldquoSo we asked what tools we would need for this transformation of the way we teach and the way the kids learnrdquo

After much research the group chose iPods (for grades K-2) and iPads (for teachers and grades 3-12) because of their portability

ldquoIrsquove learned more from my fellow teachers than I have in many years just from sharing ideas for how to use the iPads in the classroomrdquo

CarOl aNN allEN LANGuAGEARTSTEACHER

ATMICHAELEFOSSuMMIDDLESCHOOL

relatively low cost and ease of use To implement the planrsquos first stage McAllen ISD issued 5800 of these devices to teachers and students when the rollout is complete it will cover more than 25000 students

Big BENEFiTS FOr TEaChErS aNd STudENTS

Both teachers and students are seeing benefits from the program

ldquoThe iPods help the kids be creative My students are organizing information in new waysrdquo says Ruth Whiddon who teaches first grade at Andrew Jackson Elementary School

For Carol Ann Allen International Baccalaureate coordinator and eighth-grade language arts teacher at Michael E Fossum Middle School the initiative is all about collaboration

ldquoIrsquove learned more from my fellow teachers than I have in many years just from sharing ideas for how to use the iPads in the classroomrdquo she says

Sandra Guerra who teaches seventh- and eighth-grade math

at Fossum says the iPads have changed both her teaching style and the way her students learn

Instead of mapping out the learning process step-by-step she now gives students their goal and lets them choose how to get there

ldquoWith this approach they own their learning and theyrsquove been more willing to learnrdquo Guerra says

The iPads have also been a game-changer for Guerrarsquos family

Her seventh-grade daughter is learning advanced science concepts because of independent iPad projects And because most of her childrenrsquos school materials are on their iPads itrsquos easier than ever for Guerra to check on their progress from home

That kind of scenario says Superintendent Ponce is at the heart of the initiative

ldquoThe entire school system and our community want to lead in this effort to build a 21st-century learning environmentrdquo he says ldquoThis is a direct investment in our children and their familiesrdquo

by Kathryn Royster

High-Tech Learningseventh-grade students use ipads to follow class lectures and take quizzes during a language arts class at michael e fossum middle school

PH

oT

o C

oU

RT

EST

Y o

F M

CA

LLE

N IN

DE

PE

ND

EN

T S

CH

oo

L D

IST

RIC

T

28 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 29

Higher Education

SOuTh TExaS COllEgE

McAllenrsquos South Texas College has more than 30000 students and offers numerous associate and bachelorrsquos degree programs as well as professional certifications in more than 40 areas The college also has online degree courses for students who work full time

liviNg EDUCATIoN

Set for SuccesscolleGe prep is a top priority in mcallen

Education in McAllen is defined by excellent options From elementary school through college McAllen includes numerous institutions designed to prepare students for success By Braxton Shoop

school yourself on more educational offerings at livabilitycommcallen

Public Schools

mCallEN iNdEPENdENT SChOOl diSTriCT

Established in 1915 the mcallen independent School district comprises three high schools seven middle schools and 20 elementary schools Among these schools the district offers an advanced placement college-level curriculum and a dual-enrollment program for students who would like to obtain high school and college credit simultaneously

In addition the district features an International Baccalaureate program that provides students with an advanced curriculum geared toward global standards

Local Inspiration

FOrmEr STudENT FliES high

one of McAllenrsquos successful students is astronaut michael Fossum a graduate of McAllen High School After receiving his commission from the US Air Force by Texas AampM University Fossum graduated Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base and in 1993 he started at NASA Throughout his NASA career Fossum was on crew for three spaceflights He commanded the space station during one of his flights helping him rank seventh on the all-time list for cumulative Extravehicular Activity time

Top-notch Learning Environmentuniversity of texas-pan american offers many undergraduate degrees more than 50 masterrsquos degrees and three doctoral degrees utpa has accreditations from organizations like the commission for collegiate nursing the examining board of nurse examiners for the state of texas and the engineering accreditation commission of the accreditation board for engineering and technology

30 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 31

Charter School

idEa aCadEmy

idEa academy is an innovative institution that offers a fully scaled curriculum for students in kindergarten and in the first second and sixth grades The school which opened in McAllen in 2012 will eventually add more grades each one including approximately 110 students While the school is public students must apply to fill the 460 available spots

To prepare its students to be collegiate scholars IDEA provides International Baccalaureate curriculum as well as the Road to College curriculum which begins in the sixth grade

ldquoWersquore very proud of the connection to our distinguished alumni like NASA astronaut Michael Fossum and we want our students to recognize the kind of education we provide here What he learned here helped catapult him into space and wersquore very proud of thatrdquo

NOrma zamOra-guErra MCALLENINDEPENDENTSCHOOL

DISTRICTCOMMuNITYINFORMATIONDIRECTOR

Michael E Fossum Middle Schoolnamed for astronaut michael e fossum the school is part of the mcallen independent school district

30 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 31

Please call 9566316109 for a representative today

2501 Buddy Owens Blvd McAllen TX 78504

9656316125 Fax

wwwrio-healthcom

RioHealth MedicalWe are here to meet all your

occupational medicine needs

bull Workplace injuries and workersrsquo compensation

bull On site and off site drug screening

bull Physicals

bull Orthopedics

bull Early return to work

bull 247 coverage

bull We accept all types of insurance

WorkplaceInjury

DANIEL J GUERRA MD Diplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

LEONEL G MORENO MDDiplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

HOMERO RIVAS MDDiplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

606 S Broadway bull McAllen TX bull (956) 682-4515 bull wwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

FAMILY PHYSICIANS

CLINICSince 1967

Mon-Fri 8 am-5 pm Sat 8 am-Noon

VALLEY NIGHT CLINIC

Since 1981

Open Every Night of the Year 6 pm-Midnight

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valley supports children of all abilities through child care

services early intervention and parenting support programs

Early Childhood intErvEntion ChildCarE sErviCEs ParEnts as tEaChErs

Easter seals rio Grande valley Programs for Children Birth to Five years

bullChild-Care servicesndashHigh-qualitychildcare sixweekstofiveyears

bullParents as teachers (Pat)ndashDevelopmental parentingsupportforchildrenbirthtofiveyears

bullEarly Childhood intervention (ECi) ndashConcerns indevelopmentforchildrenbirthtothreeyears

For more information about Easter seals

programs and services call (956) 631-9171 or visit wwweasterseals-rgvorg

32 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 33

liviNg HEALTH

Take a Deep Breath and Relaxresidents haVe access to top hospitals

McAllen residents receive quality care from the South Texas Health System Rio Grande Regional Hospital and the Doctors Hospital at Renaissance By Kevin Litwin

Health System

SOuTh TExaS hEalTh SySTEm

South Texas health System is the umbrella organization for a number of fine medical facilities including mcallen medical Center MMC has 441 beds and a staff of more than 400 physicians that represent 50 medical specialties

Also part of South Texas Health System is mcallen heart hospital which opened in 1996 as the first freestanding cardiology and cardiovascular hospital built in the United States It includes 60 beds and a 24-hour emergency center

Healthgrades has awarded McAllen Medical Center and McAllen Heart Hospital with a variety of honors in recent years and both earned a Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence in 2011

Hospital

riO graNdE rEgiONal hOSPiTal

rio grande regional hospital is an acute care medical facility with 320 beds and more than 500 physicians The hospital is the only area Diabetes Management Center accredited by the American Diabetes Association and is the arearsquos first facility to have a Pediatric Heart Program

RGRH also includes a 24-hour emergency room Womenrsquos Services department Level III trauma center and cardiovascular care The hospital is fully accredited by The Joint Commission and the College of American Pathologists and every year since 2007 has been named a Center of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery

32 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 33

Hospital

dOCTOrS hOSPiTal aT rENaiSSaNCE

The 506-bed doctors hospital at renaissance is an acute care facility It provides cardiology neurosurgery and endocrinology as well as a Pediatric Medical Tower that offers pediatric oncology and pediatric ICU services

Doctors Hospital has been ranked among the nationrsquos 100 Top Hospitals by Thomson Reuters and recently invested $32 million to establish an Electronic Medical Record System

DHR was the first in South Texas to acquire a PETCT scanner for diagnosing cancer and the first in the region to introduce da Vinci robotic surgical technology The hospital also oversees Renaissance Behavioral Center which provides treatment for people with mental health problems substance abuse or eating disorders

34 mc allen

COMMUNITyPROFILE COST OF liviNg

$44074Median Household Income

$129554Median Home Price

$689Median Rent for a Two-Bedroom Apartment

TraNSPOrTaTiON

Median Travel Time to Work

agE

TEmPEraTurE

January Average

July Average

EThNiCiTy

19 and Under

20-54

55 and over

White

Black

Hispanic

other

1645minutes

Closest Airport McAllen International Airport

955deg

482deg

South Texasrsquo Finest Gift Store Offers Gifts From Around the World

4300 N 10th St bull Ste C bull McAllen TX 78504 (956) 686-1264 bull ohkaysaolcom

Look for us on Facebook

gOlF COurSES

gOlF TEC

2901 N 10TH ST956-994-9631

mCallEN COuNTry CluB615 WICHITA AVE956-686-0923

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

The national Butterfly Center the national butterfly center dedicates 100 acres to the conservation and scientific study of wild butterflies in their natural habitats the wildlife center is open daily from 8 am until 5 pm september through march and from 9 am until 4 pm april through august

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

liviNg SEE THE CITY

36 mc allen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 37

BUSINESSInfo on McAllenrsquos top employers jobs and success stories

McAllen Convention Centerthe McAllenConventionCenter is located on 185 acres and includes a 60000-square-foot exhibit hall as well as more than 25000 square feet of meeting space in 16 breakout rooms

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

38 mc allen 38 mc allen

38 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 39

BuSiNESS oVERVIEW

McAllenrsquos in the MoneyCultural diversity location and innovation drive cityrsquos top business sectors

As the retail hub of South Texas McAllen is thriving The city draws a customer base of more than 10 million within a 200-mile radius and is represented by 40 of Americarsquos top 100 retailers

By Tiffany Williams

La Plaza MallPumping much of the life into this retail hub is la Plaza mall which annually attracts more than 18 million visitors its anchoring stores such as dillardrsquos and macyrsquos and sought-after retailers including BCBg-max azria and Coach average sales of more than $650 per square foot and are among the most profitable stores in their chains

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

Meetings amp Events

CONvENTiON CENTEr lurES viSiTOrS

The mcallen Convention Center also helps draw businesses to the area The 185-acre complex featuring a 60000-square-foot column-free exhibit hall more than 25000 square feet of meeting space and up to 16 breakout rooms offers bicultural themes and tropical accents that represent the cultural and natural diversity of McAllen

Retail

ShOPPiNg hOT SPOTS

This bicultural city which is located just five miles from the US-Mexico border also has access to three international bridges that flood with visitors and eager shoppers daily many of whom are spending at a rate twice the national average

In addition to La Plaza Mall shopping centers in the McAllen area include Trenton Crossing las Tiendas Plaza and La Plaza Mallrsquos 600sbquo000-square-foot sister shopping center Palms Crossing which hosts such big-name retailers as Barnes amp Noble and Babies rsquoRrsquo Us as well as specialty shops and restaurants Its appeal stems from its open-air design with lots of palm trees water fountains and seating areas

Major Manufacturers

madE FOr maNuFaCTuriNg

Ranked third in Texas in per-capita sales the McAllen area has some of the largest manufacturing and wholesale companies in the nation

valley Coca Cola Bottling Co Value Frozen Foods and Emerson Network Power are just a few who have put down roots here Tri-City Steel which provides a full scope of steel construction by fabricating and erecting structural steel buildings pre-engineered metal buildings stairs handrails and more Texas Citrus Exchange in Mission makes Texas rio red grapefruit juice

learn more about businesses in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

BuSiNESS

RESIDEnTS GET CREATIvE WITH BUSInESS vEnTURES

the BoxOutside

One of McAllenrsquos most innovative startups sprang from the mind of someone who wasnrsquot even interested in business Today Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar is one

of the arearsquos top entrepreneurs and is finding serious success

mcallen entrepreneur dalinda Gonzalez-alcantar founded eJucomm llc

liVabil it ycommc allen 43 42 mc allen

ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the worldrdquo

EllEry BuChaNaN FIBERIOPRESIDENTCEO

Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar the founder of eJucomm LLC simply wanted to make information in her school district more accessible to families The company was a way she could make it happen

She got the idea while working as a teacher at DeLeon Middle School in McAllen and was frustrated that families without computers andor Internet access had difficulty communicating with teachers and administrators So she decided to develop a smartphone application that would solve the problem

With no previous technical experience she researched code online at night and a year later was selling the app to various school districts

ldquoThe app enables Android and iPhone users to access information for things like grades and attendancerdquo Gonzalez-Alcantar says

The entrepreneur also faced unexpected challenges ndash for instance how to tailor individual apps to the roughly seven school districts and 40 campuses that now use them No longer teaching she has partnered with a chief technology officer so she can focus on sales and marketing

One of her biggest hurdles was finding legal fees to fund the startup and a $10000 McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant in 2011 helped pay for a licensing agreement and intellectual property protection for eJucomm to move forward

BaNaNa E-z SPliTAnother McAllen resident

Gerald Guerra faced a similar obstacle when developing a product called Banana E-Z Split A health insurance broker Guerra was inspired at his own kitchen table to create single serving packets with all three syrups

Banana E-Z SplitGerald Guerra inventor of the banana e-Z split single serving syrup packets poses with his daughters Victoria and kaitlyn enthusiastic taste testers for his product

liVabil it ycommc allen 43

To order please call or visit 956-668-0555 or wwwediblearrangementscom 5113-A N 10th St bull McAllen TX 78504

Offer valid at participating locations Offer expires 12312013 Cannot be combined with another offers Offer code must be used when placing order

Containers may vary EDIBLE ARRANGEMENTS and the Fruit Basket Logo Design are registered trademarks of Edible Arrangements LLC

copy2012 Edible Arrangements LLC All rights reserved Frachises available call (888) 727-4258 or visit wwweafranchisescom

DELICIOUSLYd e s i r a b l e

FREE PIECE OF DIPPED FRUIT

Code mctx1213

Living green is making sure the air in your home is healthy for your family to breathe Test your home for radon and build radon-resistant

Its easy Thats living healthy and green

Just call 866-730-green or visit wwwepagovradon

Living greenstarts from the ground up

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

(pineapple chocolate strawberry) needed for a banana split

The concept led to a 2011 McAllen Business Plan Competition grant to fund the necessary patents

ldquoI envisioned a product that could hang easily in refrigerated sections at big box storesrdquo Guerra says ldquoI have lined up a distributor and a broker with my ultimate goal being to have Banana E-Z Split available to customers in large grocery chains It is close to happeningrdquo

FiBEriO TEChNOlOgyAnother startup in McAllen

is already making waves globally FibeRio Technology Corporation another McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant recipient is thriving thanks to ground-breaking nanofiber-producing machinery The nanofibers can be used to make products ranging from diapers to

ballistics using a new way to spin microscopic nanofibers

The technology serves an array of industries that feature filtration textiles or biomedical applications

ldquoDr Karen Lozano at UT-Pan American discovered the process and I was contacted because I am an entrepreneur familiar with launching technology- based companies including nanotechnologyrdquo says FibeRio Technology presidentCEO Ellery Buchanan ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the world Plus we use local McAllen suppliers whenever possible including machine shops parts suppliers IT contractors and other business servicesrdquo

by Kevin Litwin by staff photographer

Michael Conti

FibeRio Technology Corporationnanomaterials processing research equipment is used at FibeRioTechnologyCorporation

FEldmaNrsquoS markET CENTErFeldmanrsquos Market Center features a broad selection of beer as well as wines liquors cigars and a gourmet deli In addition weekly beer and wine tastings are offered(956) 687-9463

PErFECT PawS rESOrTPerfect Paws Resort offers grooming services daycare and boarding to vaccinated dogs and cats that are at least 12 weeks old Boarding suites are climate controlled and under constant supervisionperfectpawsresortcom

mCCrEEry aviaTiON CO iNCMcCreery Aviation Co Inc is a place for pilots and their aircraft to receive top-notch treatment A fuel center flight planning room and hangar storage are availablemccreeryaviationcom

kiTikakE llCKitikake LLC offers gently- used vintage clothing for women from an array of top designers such as Lilly Pulitzer and Catherine Malandrino Vintage home deacutecor and dishes are also availablekitikakecom

krEidlEr FuNEral hOmEFounded owned and operated by the Kreidler family Kreidler Funeral Home has served McAllen for 100 years They offer traditional burial and graveside funeral services direct burials cremations memorial services and morekreidlerfuneralhomecom

Business Spotlight

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

visit ouradvertisersBorder Capital Bankwwwbordercapitalbankcom

City of McAllen Public Info Officewwwexploremcallennet

Courtyard by Marriottwwwmarriottcommtema

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valleywwweasterseals-rgvorg

Edible Arrangementswwwediblearrangementscom

Family Physicians Clinicwwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

Magic Valley Electric Cooperativewwwmagicvalleycoop

McAllen Economic Development Corporationwwwmcallenedcorg

McAllen Independent School Districtwwwmcallenisdorg

McAllen International Airportwwwmcallenairportcom

McAllen Realty

Mr Electricwwwmrelectriccom

Nuevo Santander Gallerywwwnuevosantandercom

OH KAYrsquoS

Preventative Care Institutewwwrgvpcicom

Quinta Mazatlanwwwquintamazatlancom

Rio Health Medicalwwwrio-healthcom

South Texas College wwwsouthtexascollegeedu

South Texas Health Systemwwwsouthtexashealthsystemcom

The Patio on Guerra wwwpatioonguerracom

Valley International Airportwwwflythevalleycom

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

BuSiNESS CHAMBER REPoRT

Whatrsquos the Big Ideachamberrsquos readiness tool kit assists entrepreneurs

The McAllen Chamber of Commerce has helped prepare 25 McAllen entrepreneurs in the continuing quest to launch their ideas ndash all since July 2011

The Chamber has a software package called VentureBusiness Readiness Assessment which is used by states such as oklahoma and Kentucky to assist startup companies The software helps an entrepreneur through the entire process of seeing whether they are truly ready to launch their startup

ldquoVentureBusiness Readiness Assessment is a way that the Chamber assists entrepreneurs who are trying to get funding for their products or projectsrdquo says Steve Ahlenius who serves as President and CEo of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce ldquoThe Chamber awards $50000 a year in innovation grants in $10000 increments and entrepreneurs are always looking for funding But they must earn that money by passing the various stages of the software tool kitrdquo

TEN hOurS TO COmPlETEAhlenius says the assessment

has several specific steps to make sure that a startup company has everything in place to ensure that it is successful

ldquoThe entrepreneurs contact us and set up an appointment to see me then they come to the Chamber office we sign them up and give them passwords to access the software at their conveniencerdquo he says ldquo[The program] takes about 10 hours to complete but doesnrsquot have to be finished in one sitting However the program must be eventually completed in order to qualify for our innovation grantrdquo

CaN iT BE madE QuiCklyThe software asks questions

such as Have you protected your intellectual property Is your product something that can be

made quickly Have you set a value on your idea and do you know how to do that If itrsquos a product that involves high-tech engineering do you have an engineer on your companyrsquos team

ldquoThe entrepreneur needs to know if his venture is worth 20 shares of stock or 200 shares ndash things like thatrdquo Ahlenius says ldquoMany factors go into launching a product or business and Venture Readiness points out a personrsquos strengths and weaknessesrdquo

a grEaT OvErviEwVicente Valle Martinez of

McAllen is an entrepreneur who contacted the Chamber in 2012 about his idea for connecting

people on the Internet who have similar educational experiences and higher learning interests

ldquoI have no background in business but heard one day about an innovation grant competition that the Chamber was sponsoringrdquo Martinez says ldquoSteve told me about the software package and it gave me a great overview of what I need to know before launching my ideardquo

Ahlenius says the various concepts the software package covers include credentials character capabilities commitment and circumstance

ldquoIt is an excellent self-awareness testrdquo he says ldquoItrsquos ideal for entrepreneursrdquo

by Kevin Litwin

the mcallen chamber of commerce on ash avenue

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

Ad Index 41 BorderCapitalBank

21 CityofMCallen puBliCinfooffiCe

4 CourtyardByMarriott

32 easterseals rioGrandeValley

44 ediBlearranGeMents

32 faMilyphysiCiansCliniC

2 MaGiCValley eleCtriCCooperatiVe

C3 MCalleneConoMiC deVelopMentCorporation

46 MCallenindependent sChooldistriCt

1 MCallen internationalairport

C4 MCallenrealty

48 MreleCtriC

46 nueVosantanderGallery

35 ohkayrsquos

34 preVentatiVe

Careinstitute

23 QuintaMazatlan

32 riohealthMediCal

31 southtexasColleGe

C2 southtexas

healthsysteM

18 thepatioonGuerra

44 Valley

internationalairport

ECONOMICPROFILE

3000+

2000- 2999

1999- 500

hOuSEhOld iNCOmE

TOP EmPlOyErS

$200000+

$150000-199999

$100000 and under

McAllen Independent School District

McAllen Medical Center South Texas College City of McAllen

Rio Grande Regional Hospital International Bank of Commerce

EduCaTiON lEvEl

High School Graduate

Associate Degree

Bachelorrsquos Degree

Masterrsquos Degree

TaxES

2City Sales and Use Tax

625State Sales Tax

825Total Sales Tax

SCOrECard

$36BAnnual Retail Sales

$28682Retail sales per capita

$3575MAnnual Hotel and Food Sales

15161Total Number of Firms

TraNSPOrTaTiON

mcallen-miller international airportwwwmcallenairportcom

metro mcallenwwwmcallennetmetro

amtrakwwwamtrakcom

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

everything you need every step of the way

Serving the rio grande valley Since 1989

Rachel Hardison-Oliva Broker

3321 N McColl Rd

McAllen TX 78501

(956) 687-7172 bull (956) 687-7178 Fax

Page 2: Livability McAllen, TX 2013

For business or leisure make your travel easier hellip

Fly McAllen First

wwwmcallenairportcom (956) 681-1500

2500 S Bicentennial Blvd Ste 100 bull McAllen TX 78503

wwwaacomwwwallegiantaircom wwwunitedcom

l iVabil it ycommc allen 3

CONTENTS

Things to Do10 Must Try McAlleninaDay ThishappeningValleycity

hasplentytodoandsee

14 Parks AhhHowRefreshing Cityaddsfour-acrelake

toFiremanrsquosPark

19 Local Flavor PalatePleasers

20 Arts amp Culture RaveReviews

22 Sports amp Recreation SoakUpSomeSun

24SeetheCity

Living28 High Tech Schools Paddingthe

Curriculum Techtoolsfoster studentsuccess

30 Education SetforSuccess

33 Health TakeaDeepBreath

andRelax

35 CommunityProfile

36 LivingSeetheCity

Business42 Entrepreneurship OutsidetheBox Residentsgetcreative

withbusinessventures

47 Chamber Letter WhatrsquostheBigIdea48 EconomicProfile

OnTheCoverThe McAllen Public Library Photo by Michael Conti

all or part of this magazine is printed with soy ink on recycled paper containing 10 post-consumer waste

PlEaSE rECyClE ThiS magaziNE

7 Welcome to McAllen an introduction to the community

MCALLEN2013EDITION vOLUME11

Texas

19

30

42

l iVabil it ycommc allen 3

l iVabil it ycommc allen 5

MCALLEN2013EDITION vOLUME11

Texascontent director|LisaBattles

contributing Writers|BarbaraBiehlerLauraHillCarsonOrsquoShoneyKathrynRoysterBraxtonShoop

content coordinator|JessicaWalkerstaff Writer|KevinLitwin

proofreading manager|RavenPetty

lead designer|StaceyAllissenior Graphic designers|LauraGallagher

KrisSextonJakeShoresVikkiWilliamsGraphic designers|EricaLampleyKaraLeiby

KaceyPassmorecreative technology analyst|BeccaAry

lead photographer|MichaelContisenior photographers|JeffAdkinsBrianMcCord

staff photographers|ToddBennettMartinBCherry

color imaging technician | AlisonHunter

integrated media manager|ToddPottersales support project manager|SaraQuint

ad production manager|KatieMiddendorfad traffic assistants|KrystinLemmonPatriciaMoisan

Web project manager|DavidDayWeb development lead|YamelHallWeb developeri|NelsNoseworthy

Web designer ii|RichardStevensWeb product manager|JohnHood

digital project manager|JillRidenour

chairman|GregThurmanpresidentpublisher|BobSchwartzman

executive Vice president|RayLangensenior Vpsales|ToddPotter

senior Vpclient development|JeffHeefnersenior Vpoperations|CaseyHester

Vpsales|JarekSwekoskyVpcontent operations|NatashaLorens

audience development director|DeannaNelsoncreative services director|ChristinaCarden

distribution director|GarySmithphotography director|JeffreySOtto

Web services director|AllisonDavis

controller|ChrisDudleysenior accountant| LisaOwens

accounts payable coordinator|MariaMcFarlandaccounts receivable coordinator|DianaGuzman

system administrator|DanielCantrell

executive secretary|KristyDuncanhuman resources manager|PeggyBlake

receptionist|LindaBishop

Livability McAllen TXispublishedannuallybyJournalCommunicationsIncandisdistributed

throughtheMcAllen Chamber of Commerce anditsmemberbusinesses

Foradvertisinginformationortodirectquestionsorcommentsaboutthemagazinecontact

JournalCommunicationsIncat(615)771-0080orbyemailatinfojnlcomcom

Formoreinformationcontactmcallen chamber of commerce1200 ash avenue bull po box 790

mcallen tx 78505-0790phone (956) 682-2871 bull fax (956) 687-2917

wwwmcallenchambercom

visitLivability McAllen TXonlineatlivabilitycommcallen

copyCopyright2012JournalCommunicationsInc725CoolSpringsBlvdSuite400FranklinTN37067(615)771-0080AllrightsreservedNoportionofthis

magazinemaybereproducedinwholeorinpartwithoutwrittenconsent

Member TheAssociationofMagazineMedia

Member CustomContentCouncil

MemberMcAllenChamberofCommerce

GETTHEDIGITALMAGAZINE

livabilitycommcallen

Itrsquos loaded with links to more great info about McAllen Telling your communityrsquos unique story has never been so easy

TakE iT wiTh yOu

Easily share an interesting article stunning photo or advertisement of your business on Facebook Twitter or via email

CliCk arOuNd

Click on the web addresses in the copy to enjoy immediate access to each website

SPrEad ThE NEwS

Broadcast your communityrsquos positive image by placing the magazine on your website blog or newsletter

2013 | SPONSORED BY THE MCALLEN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

livabilitycommcallen

MCALLENTEXAS

McAllen in a DayThis happening Valley city has plenty to do and see

OUTSIDE THE BOXResidents get creative with business ventures

l iVabil it ycommc allen 5

CONTENTSlivabilitycommcallen

Visit the website for more great photos and stories about McAllen Texas

Livabilitycom Follow us livability Like us at facebookcomlivability Follow us at pinterestcomlivability

Things To Do Find the must-do attractions activities and dining in McAllen

LivingLearn about McAllenrsquos schools health care education and neighborhoods

BusinessGet info on top employers jobs and success stories in McAllen

digital magazine

Read it online or on your tablet and quickly share articles with friends

FaCtSGet data fast on population climate workforce cost of living and more

PhoTos amp viDeo

2013 | SPONSORED BY THE MCALLEN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

livabilitycommcallen

MCALLENTEXAS

McAllen in a DayThis happening Valley city has plenty to do and see

OUTSIDE THE BOXResidents get creative with business ventures

aT a glaNCE

Cultural diversity progressive business practices and a booming economy best characterize McAllen ndash one of the fastest growing metros in Texas and part of one of the fastest growing MSAs in the nation Its location near the US-Mexico border has made it a magnet for retail international trade tourism and manufacturing

aBuNdaNT liviNgMcAllenrsquos economic mix means

tangible benefits for residents beyond a strong job market They take their picks among diverse shopping and dining options that include national brands and unique independent retailers

The resulting tax base means the city can offer amenities such as a massive state-of-the-art library in-town bus service awesome parks and popular hiking and biking trails that are enjoyed year round thanks to a warm climate

With all this and affordable homes McAllen also consistently ranks among cities with the lowest cost of living in the United States

grEaT FOr BuSiNESSMcAllen is good for business

big and small More than 100 Fortune 500 companies have a presence within the McAllen MSA and the city has also been recently recognized by CNNMoney on its list of Best Places to Launch a Small Business

Key factors bringing expansions and entrepreneurs are an excellent quality of life numerous advanced medical facilities a comprehensive financial services community demonstrated logistics advantages to reach existing and new markets and a mostly young bicultural and bilingual population

Read on to discover why McAllen is one of Americarsquos best places to live

McAllen Texasa quick comprehensiVe oVerVieW of Whatrsquos Great about the community

Rio Granded

Rio Grande

83

281

281

83

777777

28181288281777777

ReynosaosR sas

Matamoros

Rio BravoBrownsvilleBrowrow sss

WeslacoHarlingenrlinng

Edinburg

Mission

Pharr

McAllen

HIDALGO

MEXICO

UNITEDSTATESS

FOr mOrE iNFOrmaTiON

McAllenChamberofCommerce1200 Ash Avenue McAllen TX 78501 Phone (956) 682-2871Fax (956) 687-2917

wwwmcallenchambercom

lOCaTiONMcAllen is in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas situated just 70 miles west of the Gulf of Mexico McAllen is the largest city in Hidalgo County

POPulaTiON

133821 (McAllen)

774769 (MSA)

aNNual raiNFall

23rdquo

diSTaNCES TO ThrEE majOr CiTiES NEarBy San Antonio 224 miles Austin 311 miles Fort WorthDallas 502 miles

TimE zONECentral

National Average 30rdquo

No3Mid-Size

US City for Jobs

- Forbes

ACCOLADE

McAllen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 7

Shopping

BrOwSE Or Buy

mcallenrsquos la Plaza mall draws more than 18 million visitors each year as the main shopping spot for residents in the Rio Grande Valley The 1200000-square-foot mall has more than 140 retailers such as Macyrsquos and Dillardrsquos as well as a variety of restaurants

Art Events

miNglE wiTh arTiSTS

The music after hours Outdoor Concert Series is held monthly to showcase bands from the Rio Grande Valley Meanwhile mcallenrsquos artwalk is a monthly self-guided tour that features art galleries vendors and museums

Sports

Play Ball

The mcallen Thunder and Edinburg roadrunners are baseball teams that play at Edinburg Baseball Stadium Both teams are members of the North American League an independent professional league not affiliated with Major League Baseball

Locally Grown

STOCk uP

You can find more than 20 varieties of citrus and other fresh fruits vegetables nuts and locally made products at klementrsquos grove Bellrsquos Farm to market Farmers market at Town lake and Farmers market at mcallenrsquos new library

THINGSTODOMcAllenrsquos must-do attractions activities and dining

Grab Your Binocularsmcallenrsquos many wildlife havens include QuintaMazatlan above an urban sanctuary for birds plants and other wildlife valleyNatureCenter which is the oldest nature center in the rio Grande Valley and the 2000-acre SantaAnaNationalWildlifeRefuge which has recorded 400 bird species and hundreds of butterfly species

8 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 9

Eatery

PiCk ThE PlaTTEr

The popular restaurant Costa messa has a new location on North 10th Street and its menu includes favorite items such as huge botana platters to share and choriqueso The eatery is open seven days a week from 11 am until 10 pm

Outdoors

gET iN ShaPE

Hiking and biking trail systems are located at various parks throughout McAllen Some of the arearsquos most popular trails can be found at las Palmas Park la vista Park los Encinos Park retama village Park Bill Schupp Park and westside Park

Pro Sports

FlaSh aNd viPErS

Cheer on the rio grande valley Flash a Professional Arena Soccer League team and catch the basketball action of the rio grande valley vipers 2010 NBA Development League Champions Both teams play at State Farm Arena in Hidalgo

ThiNgS TO dO

Happy Hour

PrOPOSE a TOaST

Enjoy dinner drinks and fun at the many businesses located within the 17th Street Entertainment district of downtown McAllen a revitalized area now bustling with interesting restaurants pubs clubs and lounges

Climb Aboardthe federal transit administration awarded mcallen $19 million to create an electric bus pilot program OLEvTechnologiesoversees the program which is retrofitting three diesel buses with electric motors passenger transport begins in 2013

8 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 9

THIS HAPPEnInG vALLEY CITY OFFERS PLEnTY TO DO SEE amp EAT

ThiNgS TO dO

mcallenin a Day

l iVabil it ycommc allen 11 10 mc allen

midNighT TO NOON iN mCallENWhere to stay McAllen has nearly 3600 hotel rooms

from luxurious traditional hotels to new motels with all the contemporary bells and whistles The Renaissance Casa de Palmas a four-star hotel on Main Street was built in 1918 and lavishly restored into a luxury property featuring Mission architecture that recalls McAllenrsquos past Or try the Spring Hill Suites just off the expressway for a more modern take

After a comfortable night start the morning off with breakfast at Jimmyrsquos Egg a new outpost of a longtime Oklahoma favorite Here enjoy nearly any kind of egg you can imagine for breakfast ndash or atop a burger at lunch Go further south of the cuisine border at Las Cazuelas Grill another popular new eatery for menu items such as Chilaquiles con Huevo or Molletes

Got 24 hours to spare We recommend a busy day well spent in McAllen where you can fill every available hour

with interesting sights delicious cuisine and a variety of fun activities

a birdrsquos-eye view of the cityrsquos revitalized 17the street entertainment district

l iVabil it ycommc allen 11

NB

icen

tenn

ialB

lvd

WHackberryAve

S23

rdS

tree

t

83

international museum of arts and sciences

mcallen public library

McAllen Public Librarym-th 9am - 9pmf-sat 9am - 6pmsun 1pm - 9pm

phone (956) 688-3300uhV students (with id) free

wwwmcallenlibrarynet

12 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 13

The hike and bike trail on Second Street and another on Bicentennial offer the chance for a leisurely 23-mile stroll around town ndash yoursquove got to work off that breakfast after all And then head over to the International Museum of Arts and Science a Smithsonian affiliated museum where a wide variety of changing art and science exhibits always offer something interesting

Another must-see is McAllenrsquos new public library which at a whopping 123000 square feet is the largest single-floor library in the US This former Walmart building underwent a total transformation into an aesthetically pleasing community resource thatrsquos steadily gaining attention worldwide for its colorful open and functional design Opened in December 2011 the facility has already won first place in the International Interior Design Associationrsquos 2012 Library Interior Design Competition

luNCh aNd laTErldquoWersquove got over 600 restaurants

hererdquo says Chamber President and CEO Steve Ahlenius So since itrsquos noon by now try the flatbread or a

salad at house wine amp bistro or go for a panini at Corner Bakery Cafe Or for Latin flavor head to KoKorsquos for delicious Mexican fare

In McAllen a day without shopping would be sad indeed La Plaza Mall is the most visited mall in the country and Palms Crossings at the McAllen Convention Center is home to several shops and restaurants such as Mimirsquos Cafe and Romanorsquos Macaroni Grill

ldquoAfter I finished shopping Irsquod spend the rest of the afternoon at Quinta Mazatlan (a historic home that also offers nature trails and legendary bird watching)rdquo Ahlenius says Another option is to test the waters by kayaking or catch-and-release fishing on Town Lake at Firemanrsquos Park

mCallEN aFTEr hOurSYoursquore not tired are you

Good because after freshening up back at your hotel itrsquos off to a night on the town Cajun cuisine at The Bayou Grill on North 10th St is a great option as are the authentic Mexican menus at Cabritos Nuevo Leon or La Jaiba Mexican Seafood Grill both on West Nolana

After dinner stroll the 17th Street Entertainment District to catch the flavor of McAllen after hours or catch a show at the historic Cine El Rey theater where comedy acts concerts film festivals and other events take the stage Finally La Recova Contemporary Argentinean Grill beckons for a nightcap in its quiet upscale bar ldquowhere you can actually carry on a conversationrdquo Ahlenius says

Then to bed Where after a good nightrsquos rest you will surely want to get up and spend yet another great day in McAllen

by Laura Hill by staff photographer

Michael Conti

ldquoMcAllen is a beautiful multicultural city with plenty to do and see From shopping in the most popular stores in the nation or unique one-of-a-kind shops to fine dining and plenty of family outdoor activities ndash you can do it year round hererdquo

gErry garCia VPOFSPECIALPROJECTS

FORTHEMCALLENCHAMBER

SNAPSHOT

for music dinner and dancing head to downtown mcallenrsquos 17th street entertainment district

The Patio on Guerradiners enjoy the food and atmosphere at the patio on Guerra on 17th street in downtown mcallen

12 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 13

ThiNgS TO dO

Town Lakea boy takes his dog for a walk as he skateboards the trail along the new 4-acre town lake at firemanrsquos park a popular spot for canoeing kayaking fishing and more

ThiNgS TO dO

14 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 15 14 mc allen

nEW LAkE OPEnS AT FIREMAnrsquoS PARk

Ahh howrefreshing

ldquoWe did all the required dredging to transform the little pond into a recreational lake that is 15 feet at its deepest pointrdquo says Sally Gavlik director of the McAllen Parks amp Recreation Department ldquoIn these days of more and more people opting to remain close to home for staycations Town Lake at Firemanrsquos Park gives them a valid option for a different kind of local vacationrdquo

lET ThE FuN BEgiNTown Lake is situated right in the

middle of McAllen off Business Highway 83 between First and Second streets Swimming is prohibited due to park

irrigation regulations but a beach has been constructed to launch canoes kayaks and paddle boats A fishing pier is also in place

ldquoWe transferred fish to the lake from nearby Boeye Reservoir which has provided us with good stocks of bass perch and catfishrdquo Gavlik says ldquoTown Lake currently only has a catch-and-release program meaning you can catch fish but must release them back into the water At some point in the future when the fish population increases we plan to schedule times when people can take the fish homerdquo

The City of McAllen made a big splash in May 2012 when it officially opened Town Lake at Firemanrsquos Park What was once a small tract of land with a few basic

recreational amenities is now a 15-acre redevelopment that includes the four-acre Town Lake Crews used a water holding pond at the cityrsquos former water treatment facility to construct the new lake

14 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 15

TakE a hikEWalking and jogging are also good recreational

options around the waterrsquos perimeterldquoTown Lake actually ties into the well used Second

Street Trail People can come off the trail walk or jog along the lake and then get back onto the trailrdquo Gavlik says ldquoThe scenery includes wildflowers in a freshly seeded meadow while other park amenities are horseshoe pits two playgrounds and free picnic sites at the north end of Firemanrsquos Park at First Streetrdquo

There is also a covered pavilion area with sand volleyball courts a small concession building and three camping sites The campsites can be used during the day by anyone but only overnight by organized groups such as the Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts Group reservations must be made through the McAllen Parks amp Recreation Department

ldquoAnother park attraction is the former water treatment building which has been transformed into a rental facilityrdquo Gavlik says ldquoIt is now called The Old Pump House complete with new windows air conditioning uplighting tiling and carpeted floors Groups of 75 to 100 people can rent the facility for meetings small receptions or small social events The Old Pump House adds to the overall amenities of todayrsquos Firemenrsquos Parkrdquo

by Kevin Litwin by staff photographer Michael Conti

Fishinga group casts lines into town lake which enforces a catch-and-release program

WHackberryAve

TownLake

83

firemanrsquos park

N2

nd

Str

eet

16 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 17

children enjoy the playground at firemanrsquos park

16 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 17

l iVabil it ycommc allen 19

ThiNgS TO dO LoCAL FLAVoR

Palate Pleasersmcallen restaurants serVe up flaVorful foods

McAllen diners rejoice The city has a broad selection of distinctive restaurants and eateries appealing to just about every taste By Barbara Biehler

Asian

SENSaTiONal SuShi amp SPiCE

McAllen has several great spots for Japanese food such as sushi tempura and teppanyaki including kohnami kumori and yokorsquos Sushi Bar

Fans of Thai food should check out Thai red Chilirsquos for dishes like pad thai red curry chicken and sweet rice with mango

Indian

TaNdOOri aNyONETaste of india hits the spot

for diners looking for high quality authentic Indian food made from old family recipes and paired with excellent service

Tex-Mex and Mexican

SOmE likE iT SPiCy

Step into las Cazuelas grill for classic Mexican cuisine or visit Palenque Chicken for expertly prepared Mexican and Tex Mex dishes

Renowned regionally for homemade tamales deliarsquos uses fresh ingredients including pork chicken and beef

The republic of rio grande serves Mexican cuisine in an intimate setting order a traditional dish like the chicken fajitas or enchiladas suizas or enjoy a distinctive entree such as shrimp chipotle pesto pasta or a brick-oven pizza

check out more restaurants in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

ldquoDeliarsquos has the best tamales in town Probably even in the RGV The only place you can get the good old homemade flavor of real tamalesrdquo

Evila l YELPCOM

Argentine

SOuTh amEriCaN CuiSiNE

Relax in the elegant yet casual atmosphere of la Pampa argentinean Steak housewhile you dine on classic Argentine- cut steaks grilled chicken breasts marinated in Chimichurri or traditional de carne empanadas

Meanwhile la recova also offers a wide selection of Argentine-style favorites on its menu Favorite dishes at La Recova includes chorizo tuna carnitas duck confit and churrasco a classic top sirloin steak

Outdoor Dining

TrENdy amp TaSTy

If yoursquore in the mood for a USDA prime steak or succulent seafood drop by The Patio on guerra Dine on the outdoor patio and have a bottle of one of the restaurantrsquos award-winning wines

FridarsquosGrillandCantina located on 17th street offers traditional mexican favorites with modern flavors Go to fridarsquos to enjoy unique culinary dishes signature drinks and live music on the weekends

l iVabil it ycommc allen 19

ThiNgS TO dO ARTS amp CULTURE

Rave Reviewsmcallenrsquos arts scene remains robust With museums music and eVents

Arts patrons music lovers and history buffs enjoy many cultural attractions throughout McAllen The latest buzz McAllen Performing Arts Center will spring up near the McAllen Convention Center giving fans of live music theater and dance a fine new facility to anticipate

Live Entertainment

PErFOrmErS TakE ThE STagE

The 17th Street Entertainment district in downtown McAllen overflows with lounges restaurants and clubs For live music visit The old Ice House or Cine El Rey

The cityrsquos diverse culture is what influences much of the music performed by the valley Symphony Orchestra amp Chorale The Symphony was established in 1952 with the Chorale joining later in 1984 Similarly the South Texas lyric Opera brings the fine art of opera to the Rio Grande Valley with a yearly slate of productions and an annual opera gala and rio grande valley Broadway brings popular stage shows to town such as Disneyrsquos Beauty and the Beast and Monty Pythonrsquos Spamalot

Historic Sites

TakE a STEP BaCk iN TimE

The museum of South Texas history and the mcallen heritage Center are just two locations to learn about the rich history of this bicultural area

Quinta mazatlan a 1930s hacienda that embodies the Spanish Colonial Revival architecture of arches adobe and beams and provides an intimate look into South Texas history The 10000-square- foot mansion sits on a 15-acre plot hosting a mix of native and exotic plants and wildlife making up McAllenrsquos wing of the popular world Birding Center

Cine El Reyopened in 1947 the historic cine el rey theater now functions as

a music and performance venue showcasing a variety of live events and also shows spanish and english independent films the theater is located in downtown mcallenrsquos 17th street entertainment district

20 mc allen

ldquoCine El Rey hosts events as diverse as wrestling live bands films and comedy shows A huge stage is complimented by killer production value and a staff that really cares about all aspects of the experience Irsquom looking forward to a return triprdquo

Bill dykES YELP

visual Arts and Festivals

aCCESSiBlE arT FuN EvENTS

The international museum of art amp Science founded in 1969 promotes an appreciation for the arts and sciences through its exhibitions cultural events and many educational programs imaS is located at 1900 Nolana Ave

The mcallen art walk is a self-guided tour that gives art lovers the opportunity to explore the many art offerings in the city Itrsquos held every first Friday from September through May and is free and open to the public

on the first Saturday night of December folks enjoy the Candlelight Posada which includes food booths luminaries a parade live entertainment caroling and a live nativity scene

Chamber of Commerce Support

ChamBEr BaCkS ThE arTS

The mcallen Chamber of Commerce shows its love for the arts by managing the mcallen arts Council which publishes a quarterly magazine produces an annual fine arts exhibition and offers grants to local artists The Chamber also offers an outdoor concert series and coordinates the Public art Committeersquos acquisition program

20 mc allen

ThiNgS TO dO SPoRTS amp RECREATIoN

Soak Up Some Sunmcallen residents haVe plenty of Good reasons to Get outdoors

Great golf courses hiking and biking trails and a large well-maintained park system make McAllen the perfect place to enjoy outdoor fun By Carson OrsquoShoney

Golf

TEE iT uPWith nearly 20 courses in the

McAllen area golf is a popular attraction in the Rio Grande Valley

one of the most notable courses is the Palm view golf Course an 18-hole public course with a private feel With rolling fairways and Bermuda rough mounds the course is an often-used location for tournaments having hosted LPGA tournaments and Palm viewrsquos amateur golf Championship

mcallen Country Club provides a challenge with tree-lined fairways and small greens and also offers a swimming pool tennis courts a fitness center and other amenities

Every golf course in the area is bustling especially in the winter when ldquoWinter Texansrdquo come to the Rio Grande Valley The weather generally stays in the 70s in the coldest months making it a perfect place for winter golfing

Hiking Biking and Racing

ON ThE mOvE iN mCallEN

There are plenty of hiking and biking trails on the east and west sides of town such as the retama village Park Trail westside Park Trail and las Palmas Park Trail Visiting cyclists are welcome to meet up with Team mcallen Cycling a bike club thatrsquos been in the city for more than 25 years

Racing fans can enjoy the mcallen international motorplex and Event Center which hosts stock car races car shows and more The racetrack is a family-friendly place offering activities for children such as games face painting and crafts

Palm view Golf Courseirish cochran plays a round of golf at palm View Golf course an 18-hole public course often used for high profile tournaments

22 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 23

City Parks

OuTdOOr Family FuN

The mcallen Parks and recreation department currently oversees 25 city parks Ranging from historic parks established in the early 1900s to more modern facilities there are several options suitable for the whole family

archer Park McAllenrsquos oldest park opened in 1912 Serving as a historic landmark in the city it also plays host to many of the cityrsquos annual special events including the Candlelight Posada and movies in the Park

Spanning 38 acres Springfest Park is the largest park in McAllen Springfest hosts a variety of special events and is home to mcallenrsquos winter Polo league from January through March

check out more fun things to do in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

Spray and Ground Parkbesides its popular water feature mcallenrsquos new SprayandGroundParkhas a sand volleyball court skateboard area a half basketball court and just over half a mile of walking trails in addition there are athletic practice fields shaded areas picnic shelters and restroom facilities

22 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 23

ThiNgS TO dO SEE THE CITY

24 mc allen

The Irrigation Workerthe sun sets behind a sculpture ldquothe irrigation Workerrdquo which was created by artist douglas clark and is located on nolana and 25th

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

l iVabil it ycommc allen 25

LIvINGHERESchools health care education and neighborhoods in McAllen

26 mc allen 26 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 27 26 mc allen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 27

see more beautiful photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

Luxury Livingnewcomers have many beautiful home options in mcallen such as those offered in eight different communities by cantu construction a locally based award-winning builder

26 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 27 liVabil it ycommc allen 27

liviNg

TECH TOOLS FOSTER STUDEnT SUCCESS

Padding theCurriculum

McAllen Independent School District (ISD) is feeling the benefits of an ambitious technology plan that places an iPod or iPad in the hands of every teacher and student

mcallen independent school district students use system-issued ipads in class

28 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 29

EduCaTiNg FOr ThE 21ST CENTury

The initiative began with a meeting between Dr James Ponce McAllenrsquos superintendent of schools and a ldquocadrerdquo of about 35 teachers administrators and parents

The grouprsquos primary goal was to build a 21st-century classroom environment one that fosters creativity collaboration and entrepreneurship The group also wanted to find a way to harness the 247 educational potential of the Internet ndash and teach students the critical-thinking skills needed to process online content

ldquoItrsquos an environment where the teachers become the primary learners and the students are driven by their examplerdquo Ponce says ldquoSo we asked what tools we would need for this transformation of the way we teach and the way the kids learnrdquo

After much research the group chose iPods (for grades K-2) and iPads (for teachers and grades 3-12) because of their portability

ldquoIrsquove learned more from my fellow teachers than I have in many years just from sharing ideas for how to use the iPads in the classroomrdquo

CarOl aNN allEN LANGuAGEARTSTEACHER

ATMICHAELEFOSSuMMIDDLESCHOOL

relatively low cost and ease of use To implement the planrsquos first stage McAllen ISD issued 5800 of these devices to teachers and students when the rollout is complete it will cover more than 25000 students

Big BENEFiTS FOr TEaChErS aNd STudENTS

Both teachers and students are seeing benefits from the program

ldquoThe iPods help the kids be creative My students are organizing information in new waysrdquo says Ruth Whiddon who teaches first grade at Andrew Jackson Elementary School

For Carol Ann Allen International Baccalaureate coordinator and eighth-grade language arts teacher at Michael E Fossum Middle School the initiative is all about collaboration

ldquoIrsquove learned more from my fellow teachers than I have in many years just from sharing ideas for how to use the iPads in the classroomrdquo she says

Sandra Guerra who teaches seventh- and eighth-grade math

at Fossum says the iPads have changed both her teaching style and the way her students learn

Instead of mapping out the learning process step-by-step she now gives students their goal and lets them choose how to get there

ldquoWith this approach they own their learning and theyrsquove been more willing to learnrdquo Guerra says

The iPads have also been a game-changer for Guerrarsquos family

Her seventh-grade daughter is learning advanced science concepts because of independent iPad projects And because most of her childrenrsquos school materials are on their iPads itrsquos easier than ever for Guerra to check on their progress from home

That kind of scenario says Superintendent Ponce is at the heart of the initiative

ldquoThe entire school system and our community want to lead in this effort to build a 21st-century learning environmentrdquo he says ldquoThis is a direct investment in our children and their familiesrdquo

by Kathryn Royster

High-Tech Learningseventh-grade students use ipads to follow class lectures and take quizzes during a language arts class at michael e fossum middle school

PH

oT

o C

oU

RT

EST

Y o

F M

CA

LLE

N IN

DE

PE

ND

EN

T S

CH

oo

L D

IST

RIC

T

28 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 29

Higher Education

SOuTh TExaS COllEgE

McAllenrsquos South Texas College has more than 30000 students and offers numerous associate and bachelorrsquos degree programs as well as professional certifications in more than 40 areas The college also has online degree courses for students who work full time

liviNg EDUCATIoN

Set for SuccesscolleGe prep is a top priority in mcallen

Education in McAllen is defined by excellent options From elementary school through college McAllen includes numerous institutions designed to prepare students for success By Braxton Shoop

school yourself on more educational offerings at livabilitycommcallen

Public Schools

mCallEN iNdEPENdENT SChOOl diSTriCT

Established in 1915 the mcallen independent School district comprises three high schools seven middle schools and 20 elementary schools Among these schools the district offers an advanced placement college-level curriculum and a dual-enrollment program for students who would like to obtain high school and college credit simultaneously

In addition the district features an International Baccalaureate program that provides students with an advanced curriculum geared toward global standards

Local Inspiration

FOrmEr STudENT FliES high

one of McAllenrsquos successful students is astronaut michael Fossum a graduate of McAllen High School After receiving his commission from the US Air Force by Texas AampM University Fossum graduated Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base and in 1993 he started at NASA Throughout his NASA career Fossum was on crew for three spaceflights He commanded the space station during one of his flights helping him rank seventh on the all-time list for cumulative Extravehicular Activity time

Top-notch Learning Environmentuniversity of texas-pan american offers many undergraduate degrees more than 50 masterrsquos degrees and three doctoral degrees utpa has accreditations from organizations like the commission for collegiate nursing the examining board of nurse examiners for the state of texas and the engineering accreditation commission of the accreditation board for engineering and technology

30 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 31

Charter School

idEa aCadEmy

idEa academy is an innovative institution that offers a fully scaled curriculum for students in kindergarten and in the first second and sixth grades The school which opened in McAllen in 2012 will eventually add more grades each one including approximately 110 students While the school is public students must apply to fill the 460 available spots

To prepare its students to be collegiate scholars IDEA provides International Baccalaureate curriculum as well as the Road to College curriculum which begins in the sixth grade

ldquoWersquore very proud of the connection to our distinguished alumni like NASA astronaut Michael Fossum and we want our students to recognize the kind of education we provide here What he learned here helped catapult him into space and wersquore very proud of thatrdquo

NOrma zamOra-guErra MCALLENINDEPENDENTSCHOOL

DISTRICTCOMMuNITYINFORMATIONDIRECTOR

Michael E Fossum Middle Schoolnamed for astronaut michael e fossum the school is part of the mcallen independent school district

30 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 31

Please call 9566316109 for a representative today

2501 Buddy Owens Blvd McAllen TX 78504

9656316125 Fax

wwwrio-healthcom

RioHealth MedicalWe are here to meet all your

occupational medicine needs

bull Workplace injuries and workersrsquo compensation

bull On site and off site drug screening

bull Physicals

bull Orthopedics

bull Early return to work

bull 247 coverage

bull We accept all types of insurance

WorkplaceInjury

DANIEL J GUERRA MD Diplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

LEONEL G MORENO MDDiplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

HOMERO RIVAS MDDiplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

606 S Broadway bull McAllen TX bull (956) 682-4515 bull wwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

FAMILY PHYSICIANS

CLINICSince 1967

Mon-Fri 8 am-5 pm Sat 8 am-Noon

VALLEY NIGHT CLINIC

Since 1981

Open Every Night of the Year 6 pm-Midnight

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valley supports children of all abilities through child care

services early intervention and parenting support programs

Early Childhood intErvEntion ChildCarE sErviCEs ParEnts as tEaChErs

Easter seals rio Grande valley Programs for Children Birth to Five years

bullChild-Care servicesndashHigh-qualitychildcare sixweekstofiveyears

bullParents as teachers (Pat)ndashDevelopmental parentingsupportforchildrenbirthtofiveyears

bullEarly Childhood intervention (ECi) ndashConcerns indevelopmentforchildrenbirthtothreeyears

For more information about Easter seals

programs and services call (956) 631-9171 or visit wwweasterseals-rgvorg

32 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 33

liviNg HEALTH

Take a Deep Breath and Relaxresidents haVe access to top hospitals

McAllen residents receive quality care from the South Texas Health System Rio Grande Regional Hospital and the Doctors Hospital at Renaissance By Kevin Litwin

Health System

SOuTh TExaS hEalTh SySTEm

South Texas health System is the umbrella organization for a number of fine medical facilities including mcallen medical Center MMC has 441 beds and a staff of more than 400 physicians that represent 50 medical specialties

Also part of South Texas Health System is mcallen heart hospital which opened in 1996 as the first freestanding cardiology and cardiovascular hospital built in the United States It includes 60 beds and a 24-hour emergency center

Healthgrades has awarded McAllen Medical Center and McAllen Heart Hospital with a variety of honors in recent years and both earned a Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence in 2011

Hospital

riO graNdE rEgiONal hOSPiTal

rio grande regional hospital is an acute care medical facility with 320 beds and more than 500 physicians The hospital is the only area Diabetes Management Center accredited by the American Diabetes Association and is the arearsquos first facility to have a Pediatric Heart Program

RGRH also includes a 24-hour emergency room Womenrsquos Services department Level III trauma center and cardiovascular care The hospital is fully accredited by The Joint Commission and the College of American Pathologists and every year since 2007 has been named a Center of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery

32 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 33

Hospital

dOCTOrS hOSPiTal aT rENaiSSaNCE

The 506-bed doctors hospital at renaissance is an acute care facility It provides cardiology neurosurgery and endocrinology as well as a Pediatric Medical Tower that offers pediatric oncology and pediatric ICU services

Doctors Hospital has been ranked among the nationrsquos 100 Top Hospitals by Thomson Reuters and recently invested $32 million to establish an Electronic Medical Record System

DHR was the first in South Texas to acquire a PETCT scanner for diagnosing cancer and the first in the region to introduce da Vinci robotic surgical technology The hospital also oversees Renaissance Behavioral Center which provides treatment for people with mental health problems substance abuse or eating disorders

34 mc allen

COMMUNITyPROFILE COST OF liviNg

$44074Median Household Income

$129554Median Home Price

$689Median Rent for a Two-Bedroom Apartment

TraNSPOrTaTiON

Median Travel Time to Work

agE

TEmPEraTurE

January Average

July Average

EThNiCiTy

19 and Under

20-54

55 and over

White

Black

Hispanic

other

1645minutes

Closest Airport McAllen International Airport

955deg

482deg

South Texasrsquo Finest Gift Store Offers Gifts From Around the World

4300 N 10th St bull Ste C bull McAllen TX 78504 (956) 686-1264 bull ohkaysaolcom

Look for us on Facebook

gOlF COurSES

gOlF TEC

2901 N 10TH ST956-994-9631

mCallEN COuNTry CluB615 WICHITA AVE956-686-0923

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

The national Butterfly Center the national butterfly center dedicates 100 acres to the conservation and scientific study of wild butterflies in their natural habitats the wildlife center is open daily from 8 am until 5 pm september through march and from 9 am until 4 pm april through august

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

liviNg SEE THE CITY

36 mc allen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 37

BUSINESSInfo on McAllenrsquos top employers jobs and success stories

McAllen Convention Centerthe McAllenConventionCenter is located on 185 acres and includes a 60000-square-foot exhibit hall as well as more than 25000 square feet of meeting space in 16 breakout rooms

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

38 mc allen 38 mc allen

38 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 39

BuSiNESS oVERVIEW

McAllenrsquos in the MoneyCultural diversity location and innovation drive cityrsquos top business sectors

As the retail hub of South Texas McAllen is thriving The city draws a customer base of more than 10 million within a 200-mile radius and is represented by 40 of Americarsquos top 100 retailers

By Tiffany Williams

La Plaza MallPumping much of the life into this retail hub is la Plaza mall which annually attracts more than 18 million visitors its anchoring stores such as dillardrsquos and macyrsquos and sought-after retailers including BCBg-max azria and Coach average sales of more than $650 per square foot and are among the most profitable stores in their chains

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

Meetings amp Events

CONvENTiON CENTEr lurES viSiTOrS

The mcallen Convention Center also helps draw businesses to the area The 185-acre complex featuring a 60000-square-foot column-free exhibit hall more than 25000 square feet of meeting space and up to 16 breakout rooms offers bicultural themes and tropical accents that represent the cultural and natural diversity of McAllen

Retail

ShOPPiNg hOT SPOTS

This bicultural city which is located just five miles from the US-Mexico border also has access to three international bridges that flood with visitors and eager shoppers daily many of whom are spending at a rate twice the national average

In addition to La Plaza Mall shopping centers in the McAllen area include Trenton Crossing las Tiendas Plaza and La Plaza Mallrsquos 600sbquo000-square-foot sister shopping center Palms Crossing which hosts such big-name retailers as Barnes amp Noble and Babies rsquoRrsquo Us as well as specialty shops and restaurants Its appeal stems from its open-air design with lots of palm trees water fountains and seating areas

Major Manufacturers

madE FOr maNuFaCTuriNg

Ranked third in Texas in per-capita sales the McAllen area has some of the largest manufacturing and wholesale companies in the nation

valley Coca Cola Bottling Co Value Frozen Foods and Emerson Network Power are just a few who have put down roots here Tri-City Steel which provides a full scope of steel construction by fabricating and erecting structural steel buildings pre-engineered metal buildings stairs handrails and more Texas Citrus Exchange in Mission makes Texas rio red grapefruit juice

learn more about businesses in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

BuSiNESS

RESIDEnTS GET CREATIvE WITH BUSInESS vEnTURES

the BoxOutside

One of McAllenrsquos most innovative startups sprang from the mind of someone who wasnrsquot even interested in business Today Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar is one

of the arearsquos top entrepreneurs and is finding serious success

mcallen entrepreneur dalinda Gonzalez-alcantar founded eJucomm llc

liVabil it ycommc allen 43 42 mc allen

ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the worldrdquo

EllEry BuChaNaN FIBERIOPRESIDENTCEO

Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar the founder of eJucomm LLC simply wanted to make information in her school district more accessible to families The company was a way she could make it happen

She got the idea while working as a teacher at DeLeon Middle School in McAllen and was frustrated that families without computers andor Internet access had difficulty communicating with teachers and administrators So she decided to develop a smartphone application that would solve the problem

With no previous technical experience she researched code online at night and a year later was selling the app to various school districts

ldquoThe app enables Android and iPhone users to access information for things like grades and attendancerdquo Gonzalez-Alcantar says

The entrepreneur also faced unexpected challenges ndash for instance how to tailor individual apps to the roughly seven school districts and 40 campuses that now use them No longer teaching she has partnered with a chief technology officer so she can focus on sales and marketing

One of her biggest hurdles was finding legal fees to fund the startup and a $10000 McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant in 2011 helped pay for a licensing agreement and intellectual property protection for eJucomm to move forward

BaNaNa E-z SPliTAnother McAllen resident

Gerald Guerra faced a similar obstacle when developing a product called Banana E-Z Split A health insurance broker Guerra was inspired at his own kitchen table to create single serving packets with all three syrups

Banana E-Z SplitGerald Guerra inventor of the banana e-Z split single serving syrup packets poses with his daughters Victoria and kaitlyn enthusiastic taste testers for his product

liVabil it ycommc allen 43

To order please call or visit 956-668-0555 or wwwediblearrangementscom 5113-A N 10th St bull McAllen TX 78504

Offer valid at participating locations Offer expires 12312013 Cannot be combined with another offers Offer code must be used when placing order

Containers may vary EDIBLE ARRANGEMENTS and the Fruit Basket Logo Design are registered trademarks of Edible Arrangements LLC

copy2012 Edible Arrangements LLC All rights reserved Frachises available call (888) 727-4258 or visit wwweafranchisescom

DELICIOUSLYd e s i r a b l e

FREE PIECE OF DIPPED FRUIT

Code mctx1213

Living green is making sure the air in your home is healthy for your family to breathe Test your home for radon and build radon-resistant

Its easy Thats living healthy and green

Just call 866-730-green or visit wwwepagovradon

Living greenstarts from the ground up

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

(pineapple chocolate strawberry) needed for a banana split

The concept led to a 2011 McAllen Business Plan Competition grant to fund the necessary patents

ldquoI envisioned a product that could hang easily in refrigerated sections at big box storesrdquo Guerra says ldquoI have lined up a distributor and a broker with my ultimate goal being to have Banana E-Z Split available to customers in large grocery chains It is close to happeningrdquo

FiBEriO TEChNOlOgyAnother startup in McAllen

is already making waves globally FibeRio Technology Corporation another McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant recipient is thriving thanks to ground-breaking nanofiber-producing machinery The nanofibers can be used to make products ranging from diapers to

ballistics using a new way to spin microscopic nanofibers

The technology serves an array of industries that feature filtration textiles or biomedical applications

ldquoDr Karen Lozano at UT-Pan American discovered the process and I was contacted because I am an entrepreneur familiar with launching technology- based companies including nanotechnologyrdquo says FibeRio Technology presidentCEO Ellery Buchanan ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the world Plus we use local McAllen suppliers whenever possible including machine shops parts suppliers IT contractors and other business servicesrdquo

by Kevin Litwin by staff photographer

Michael Conti

FibeRio Technology Corporationnanomaterials processing research equipment is used at FibeRioTechnologyCorporation

FEldmaNrsquoS markET CENTErFeldmanrsquos Market Center features a broad selection of beer as well as wines liquors cigars and a gourmet deli In addition weekly beer and wine tastings are offered(956) 687-9463

PErFECT PawS rESOrTPerfect Paws Resort offers grooming services daycare and boarding to vaccinated dogs and cats that are at least 12 weeks old Boarding suites are climate controlled and under constant supervisionperfectpawsresortcom

mCCrEEry aviaTiON CO iNCMcCreery Aviation Co Inc is a place for pilots and their aircraft to receive top-notch treatment A fuel center flight planning room and hangar storage are availablemccreeryaviationcom

kiTikakE llCKitikake LLC offers gently- used vintage clothing for women from an array of top designers such as Lilly Pulitzer and Catherine Malandrino Vintage home deacutecor and dishes are also availablekitikakecom

krEidlEr FuNEral hOmEFounded owned and operated by the Kreidler family Kreidler Funeral Home has served McAllen for 100 years They offer traditional burial and graveside funeral services direct burials cremations memorial services and morekreidlerfuneralhomecom

Business Spotlight

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

visit ouradvertisersBorder Capital Bankwwwbordercapitalbankcom

City of McAllen Public Info Officewwwexploremcallennet

Courtyard by Marriottwwwmarriottcommtema

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valleywwweasterseals-rgvorg

Edible Arrangementswwwediblearrangementscom

Family Physicians Clinicwwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

Magic Valley Electric Cooperativewwwmagicvalleycoop

McAllen Economic Development Corporationwwwmcallenedcorg

McAllen Independent School Districtwwwmcallenisdorg

McAllen International Airportwwwmcallenairportcom

McAllen Realty

Mr Electricwwwmrelectriccom

Nuevo Santander Gallerywwwnuevosantandercom

OH KAYrsquoS

Preventative Care Institutewwwrgvpcicom

Quinta Mazatlanwwwquintamazatlancom

Rio Health Medicalwwwrio-healthcom

South Texas College wwwsouthtexascollegeedu

South Texas Health Systemwwwsouthtexashealthsystemcom

The Patio on Guerra wwwpatioonguerracom

Valley International Airportwwwflythevalleycom

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

BuSiNESS CHAMBER REPoRT

Whatrsquos the Big Ideachamberrsquos readiness tool kit assists entrepreneurs

The McAllen Chamber of Commerce has helped prepare 25 McAllen entrepreneurs in the continuing quest to launch their ideas ndash all since July 2011

The Chamber has a software package called VentureBusiness Readiness Assessment which is used by states such as oklahoma and Kentucky to assist startup companies The software helps an entrepreneur through the entire process of seeing whether they are truly ready to launch their startup

ldquoVentureBusiness Readiness Assessment is a way that the Chamber assists entrepreneurs who are trying to get funding for their products or projectsrdquo says Steve Ahlenius who serves as President and CEo of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce ldquoThe Chamber awards $50000 a year in innovation grants in $10000 increments and entrepreneurs are always looking for funding But they must earn that money by passing the various stages of the software tool kitrdquo

TEN hOurS TO COmPlETEAhlenius says the assessment

has several specific steps to make sure that a startup company has everything in place to ensure that it is successful

ldquoThe entrepreneurs contact us and set up an appointment to see me then they come to the Chamber office we sign them up and give them passwords to access the software at their conveniencerdquo he says ldquo[The program] takes about 10 hours to complete but doesnrsquot have to be finished in one sitting However the program must be eventually completed in order to qualify for our innovation grantrdquo

CaN iT BE madE QuiCklyThe software asks questions

such as Have you protected your intellectual property Is your product something that can be

made quickly Have you set a value on your idea and do you know how to do that If itrsquos a product that involves high-tech engineering do you have an engineer on your companyrsquos team

ldquoThe entrepreneur needs to know if his venture is worth 20 shares of stock or 200 shares ndash things like thatrdquo Ahlenius says ldquoMany factors go into launching a product or business and Venture Readiness points out a personrsquos strengths and weaknessesrdquo

a grEaT OvErviEwVicente Valle Martinez of

McAllen is an entrepreneur who contacted the Chamber in 2012 about his idea for connecting

people on the Internet who have similar educational experiences and higher learning interests

ldquoI have no background in business but heard one day about an innovation grant competition that the Chamber was sponsoringrdquo Martinez says ldquoSteve told me about the software package and it gave me a great overview of what I need to know before launching my ideardquo

Ahlenius says the various concepts the software package covers include credentials character capabilities commitment and circumstance

ldquoIt is an excellent self-awareness testrdquo he says ldquoItrsquos ideal for entrepreneursrdquo

by Kevin Litwin

the mcallen chamber of commerce on ash avenue

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

Ad Index 41 BorderCapitalBank

21 CityofMCallen puBliCinfooffiCe

4 CourtyardByMarriott

32 easterseals rioGrandeValley

44 ediBlearranGeMents

32 faMilyphysiCiansCliniC

2 MaGiCValley eleCtriCCooperatiVe

C3 MCalleneConoMiC deVelopMentCorporation

46 MCallenindependent sChooldistriCt

1 MCallen internationalairport

C4 MCallenrealty

48 MreleCtriC

46 nueVosantanderGallery

35 ohkayrsquos

34 preVentatiVe

Careinstitute

23 QuintaMazatlan

32 riohealthMediCal

31 southtexasColleGe

C2 southtexas

healthsysteM

18 thepatioonGuerra

44 Valley

internationalairport

ECONOMICPROFILE

3000+

2000- 2999

1999- 500

hOuSEhOld iNCOmE

TOP EmPlOyErS

$200000+

$150000-199999

$100000 and under

McAllen Independent School District

McAllen Medical Center South Texas College City of McAllen

Rio Grande Regional Hospital International Bank of Commerce

EduCaTiON lEvEl

High School Graduate

Associate Degree

Bachelorrsquos Degree

Masterrsquos Degree

TaxES

2City Sales and Use Tax

625State Sales Tax

825Total Sales Tax

SCOrECard

$36BAnnual Retail Sales

$28682Retail sales per capita

$3575MAnnual Hotel and Food Sales

15161Total Number of Firms

TraNSPOrTaTiON

mcallen-miller international airportwwwmcallenairportcom

metro mcallenwwwmcallennetmetro

amtrakwwwamtrakcom

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

everything you need every step of the way

Serving the rio grande valley Since 1989

Rachel Hardison-Oliva Broker

3321 N McColl Rd

McAllen TX 78501

(956) 687-7172 bull (956) 687-7178 Fax

Page 3: Livability McAllen, TX 2013

l iVabil it ycommc allen 3

CONTENTS

Things to Do10 Must Try McAlleninaDay ThishappeningValleycity

hasplentytodoandsee

14 Parks AhhHowRefreshing Cityaddsfour-acrelake

toFiremanrsquosPark

19 Local Flavor PalatePleasers

20 Arts amp Culture RaveReviews

22 Sports amp Recreation SoakUpSomeSun

24SeetheCity

Living28 High Tech Schools Paddingthe

Curriculum Techtoolsfoster studentsuccess

30 Education SetforSuccess

33 Health TakeaDeepBreath

andRelax

35 CommunityProfile

36 LivingSeetheCity

Business42 Entrepreneurship OutsidetheBox Residentsgetcreative

withbusinessventures

47 Chamber Letter WhatrsquostheBigIdea48 EconomicProfile

OnTheCoverThe McAllen Public Library Photo by Michael Conti

all or part of this magazine is printed with soy ink on recycled paper containing 10 post-consumer waste

PlEaSE rECyClE ThiS magaziNE

7 Welcome to McAllen an introduction to the community

MCALLEN2013EDITION vOLUME11

Texas

19

30

42

l iVabil it ycommc allen 3

l iVabil it ycommc allen 5

MCALLEN2013EDITION vOLUME11

Texascontent director|LisaBattles

contributing Writers|BarbaraBiehlerLauraHillCarsonOrsquoShoneyKathrynRoysterBraxtonShoop

content coordinator|JessicaWalkerstaff Writer|KevinLitwin

proofreading manager|RavenPetty

lead designer|StaceyAllissenior Graphic designers|LauraGallagher

KrisSextonJakeShoresVikkiWilliamsGraphic designers|EricaLampleyKaraLeiby

KaceyPassmorecreative technology analyst|BeccaAry

lead photographer|MichaelContisenior photographers|JeffAdkinsBrianMcCord

staff photographers|ToddBennettMartinBCherry

color imaging technician | AlisonHunter

integrated media manager|ToddPottersales support project manager|SaraQuint

ad production manager|KatieMiddendorfad traffic assistants|KrystinLemmonPatriciaMoisan

Web project manager|DavidDayWeb development lead|YamelHallWeb developeri|NelsNoseworthy

Web designer ii|RichardStevensWeb product manager|JohnHood

digital project manager|JillRidenour

chairman|GregThurmanpresidentpublisher|BobSchwartzman

executive Vice president|RayLangensenior Vpsales|ToddPotter

senior Vpclient development|JeffHeefnersenior Vpoperations|CaseyHester

Vpsales|JarekSwekoskyVpcontent operations|NatashaLorens

audience development director|DeannaNelsoncreative services director|ChristinaCarden

distribution director|GarySmithphotography director|JeffreySOtto

Web services director|AllisonDavis

controller|ChrisDudleysenior accountant| LisaOwens

accounts payable coordinator|MariaMcFarlandaccounts receivable coordinator|DianaGuzman

system administrator|DanielCantrell

executive secretary|KristyDuncanhuman resources manager|PeggyBlake

receptionist|LindaBishop

Livability McAllen TXispublishedannuallybyJournalCommunicationsIncandisdistributed

throughtheMcAllen Chamber of Commerce anditsmemberbusinesses

Foradvertisinginformationortodirectquestionsorcommentsaboutthemagazinecontact

JournalCommunicationsIncat(615)771-0080orbyemailatinfojnlcomcom

Formoreinformationcontactmcallen chamber of commerce1200 ash avenue bull po box 790

mcallen tx 78505-0790phone (956) 682-2871 bull fax (956) 687-2917

wwwmcallenchambercom

visitLivability McAllen TXonlineatlivabilitycommcallen

copyCopyright2012JournalCommunicationsInc725CoolSpringsBlvdSuite400FranklinTN37067(615)771-0080AllrightsreservedNoportionofthis

magazinemaybereproducedinwholeorinpartwithoutwrittenconsent

Member TheAssociationofMagazineMedia

Member CustomContentCouncil

MemberMcAllenChamberofCommerce

GETTHEDIGITALMAGAZINE

livabilitycommcallen

Itrsquos loaded with links to more great info about McAllen Telling your communityrsquos unique story has never been so easy

TakE iT wiTh yOu

Easily share an interesting article stunning photo or advertisement of your business on Facebook Twitter or via email

CliCk arOuNd

Click on the web addresses in the copy to enjoy immediate access to each website

SPrEad ThE NEwS

Broadcast your communityrsquos positive image by placing the magazine on your website blog or newsletter

2013 | SPONSORED BY THE MCALLEN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

livabilitycommcallen

MCALLENTEXAS

McAllen in a DayThis happening Valley city has plenty to do and see

OUTSIDE THE BOXResidents get creative with business ventures

l iVabil it ycommc allen 5

CONTENTSlivabilitycommcallen

Visit the website for more great photos and stories about McAllen Texas

Livabilitycom Follow us livability Like us at facebookcomlivability Follow us at pinterestcomlivability

Things To Do Find the must-do attractions activities and dining in McAllen

LivingLearn about McAllenrsquos schools health care education and neighborhoods

BusinessGet info on top employers jobs and success stories in McAllen

digital magazine

Read it online or on your tablet and quickly share articles with friends

FaCtSGet data fast on population climate workforce cost of living and more

PhoTos amp viDeo

2013 | SPONSORED BY THE MCALLEN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

livabilitycommcallen

MCALLENTEXAS

McAllen in a DayThis happening Valley city has plenty to do and see

OUTSIDE THE BOXResidents get creative with business ventures

aT a glaNCE

Cultural diversity progressive business practices and a booming economy best characterize McAllen ndash one of the fastest growing metros in Texas and part of one of the fastest growing MSAs in the nation Its location near the US-Mexico border has made it a magnet for retail international trade tourism and manufacturing

aBuNdaNT liviNgMcAllenrsquos economic mix means

tangible benefits for residents beyond a strong job market They take their picks among diverse shopping and dining options that include national brands and unique independent retailers

The resulting tax base means the city can offer amenities such as a massive state-of-the-art library in-town bus service awesome parks and popular hiking and biking trails that are enjoyed year round thanks to a warm climate

With all this and affordable homes McAllen also consistently ranks among cities with the lowest cost of living in the United States

grEaT FOr BuSiNESSMcAllen is good for business

big and small More than 100 Fortune 500 companies have a presence within the McAllen MSA and the city has also been recently recognized by CNNMoney on its list of Best Places to Launch a Small Business

Key factors bringing expansions and entrepreneurs are an excellent quality of life numerous advanced medical facilities a comprehensive financial services community demonstrated logistics advantages to reach existing and new markets and a mostly young bicultural and bilingual population

Read on to discover why McAllen is one of Americarsquos best places to live

McAllen Texasa quick comprehensiVe oVerVieW of Whatrsquos Great about the community

Rio Granded

Rio Grande

83

281

281

83

777777

28181288281777777

ReynosaosR sas

Matamoros

Rio BravoBrownsvilleBrowrow sss

WeslacoHarlingenrlinng

Edinburg

Mission

Pharr

McAllen

HIDALGO

MEXICO

UNITEDSTATESS

FOr mOrE iNFOrmaTiON

McAllenChamberofCommerce1200 Ash Avenue McAllen TX 78501 Phone (956) 682-2871Fax (956) 687-2917

wwwmcallenchambercom

lOCaTiONMcAllen is in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas situated just 70 miles west of the Gulf of Mexico McAllen is the largest city in Hidalgo County

POPulaTiON

133821 (McAllen)

774769 (MSA)

aNNual raiNFall

23rdquo

diSTaNCES TO ThrEE majOr CiTiES NEarBy San Antonio 224 miles Austin 311 miles Fort WorthDallas 502 miles

TimE zONECentral

National Average 30rdquo

No3Mid-Size

US City for Jobs

- Forbes

ACCOLADE

McAllen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 7

Shopping

BrOwSE Or Buy

mcallenrsquos la Plaza mall draws more than 18 million visitors each year as the main shopping spot for residents in the Rio Grande Valley The 1200000-square-foot mall has more than 140 retailers such as Macyrsquos and Dillardrsquos as well as a variety of restaurants

Art Events

miNglE wiTh arTiSTS

The music after hours Outdoor Concert Series is held monthly to showcase bands from the Rio Grande Valley Meanwhile mcallenrsquos artwalk is a monthly self-guided tour that features art galleries vendors and museums

Sports

Play Ball

The mcallen Thunder and Edinburg roadrunners are baseball teams that play at Edinburg Baseball Stadium Both teams are members of the North American League an independent professional league not affiliated with Major League Baseball

Locally Grown

STOCk uP

You can find more than 20 varieties of citrus and other fresh fruits vegetables nuts and locally made products at klementrsquos grove Bellrsquos Farm to market Farmers market at Town lake and Farmers market at mcallenrsquos new library

THINGSTODOMcAllenrsquos must-do attractions activities and dining

Grab Your Binocularsmcallenrsquos many wildlife havens include QuintaMazatlan above an urban sanctuary for birds plants and other wildlife valleyNatureCenter which is the oldest nature center in the rio Grande Valley and the 2000-acre SantaAnaNationalWildlifeRefuge which has recorded 400 bird species and hundreds of butterfly species

8 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 9

Eatery

PiCk ThE PlaTTEr

The popular restaurant Costa messa has a new location on North 10th Street and its menu includes favorite items such as huge botana platters to share and choriqueso The eatery is open seven days a week from 11 am until 10 pm

Outdoors

gET iN ShaPE

Hiking and biking trail systems are located at various parks throughout McAllen Some of the arearsquos most popular trails can be found at las Palmas Park la vista Park los Encinos Park retama village Park Bill Schupp Park and westside Park

Pro Sports

FlaSh aNd viPErS

Cheer on the rio grande valley Flash a Professional Arena Soccer League team and catch the basketball action of the rio grande valley vipers 2010 NBA Development League Champions Both teams play at State Farm Arena in Hidalgo

ThiNgS TO dO

Happy Hour

PrOPOSE a TOaST

Enjoy dinner drinks and fun at the many businesses located within the 17th Street Entertainment district of downtown McAllen a revitalized area now bustling with interesting restaurants pubs clubs and lounges

Climb Aboardthe federal transit administration awarded mcallen $19 million to create an electric bus pilot program OLEvTechnologiesoversees the program which is retrofitting three diesel buses with electric motors passenger transport begins in 2013

8 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 9

THIS HAPPEnInG vALLEY CITY OFFERS PLEnTY TO DO SEE amp EAT

ThiNgS TO dO

mcallenin a Day

l iVabil it ycommc allen 11 10 mc allen

midNighT TO NOON iN mCallENWhere to stay McAllen has nearly 3600 hotel rooms

from luxurious traditional hotels to new motels with all the contemporary bells and whistles The Renaissance Casa de Palmas a four-star hotel on Main Street was built in 1918 and lavishly restored into a luxury property featuring Mission architecture that recalls McAllenrsquos past Or try the Spring Hill Suites just off the expressway for a more modern take

After a comfortable night start the morning off with breakfast at Jimmyrsquos Egg a new outpost of a longtime Oklahoma favorite Here enjoy nearly any kind of egg you can imagine for breakfast ndash or atop a burger at lunch Go further south of the cuisine border at Las Cazuelas Grill another popular new eatery for menu items such as Chilaquiles con Huevo or Molletes

Got 24 hours to spare We recommend a busy day well spent in McAllen where you can fill every available hour

with interesting sights delicious cuisine and a variety of fun activities

a birdrsquos-eye view of the cityrsquos revitalized 17the street entertainment district

l iVabil it ycommc allen 11

NB

icen

tenn

ialB

lvd

WHackberryAve

S23

rdS

tree

t

83

international museum of arts and sciences

mcallen public library

McAllen Public Librarym-th 9am - 9pmf-sat 9am - 6pmsun 1pm - 9pm

phone (956) 688-3300uhV students (with id) free

wwwmcallenlibrarynet

12 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 13

The hike and bike trail on Second Street and another on Bicentennial offer the chance for a leisurely 23-mile stroll around town ndash yoursquove got to work off that breakfast after all And then head over to the International Museum of Arts and Science a Smithsonian affiliated museum where a wide variety of changing art and science exhibits always offer something interesting

Another must-see is McAllenrsquos new public library which at a whopping 123000 square feet is the largest single-floor library in the US This former Walmart building underwent a total transformation into an aesthetically pleasing community resource thatrsquos steadily gaining attention worldwide for its colorful open and functional design Opened in December 2011 the facility has already won first place in the International Interior Design Associationrsquos 2012 Library Interior Design Competition

luNCh aNd laTErldquoWersquove got over 600 restaurants

hererdquo says Chamber President and CEO Steve Ahlenius So since itrsquos noon by now try the flatbread or a

salad at house wine amp bistro or go for a panini at Corner Bakery Cafe Or for Latin flavor head to KoKorsquos for delicious Mexican fare

In McAllen a day without shopping would be sad indeed La Plaza Mall is the most visited mall in the country and Palms Crossings at the McAllen Convention Center is home to several shops and restaurants such as Mimirsquos Cafe and Romanorsquos Macaroni Grill

ldquoAfter I finished shopping Irsquod spend the rest of the afternoon at Quinta Mazatlan (a historic home that also offers nature trails and legendary bird watching)rdquo Ahlenius says Another option is to test the waters by kayaking or catch-and-release fishing on Town Lake at Firemanrsquos Park

mCallEN aFTEr hOurSYoursquore not tired are you

Good because after freshening up back at your hotel itrsquos off to a night on the town Cajun cuisine at The Bayou Grill on North 10th St is a great option as are the authentic Mexican menus at Cabritos Nuevo Leon or La Jaiba Mexican Seafood Grill both on West Nolana

After dinner stroll the 17th Street Entertainment District to catch the flavor of McAllen after hours or catch a show at the historic Cine El Rey theater where comedy acts concerts film festivals and other events take the stage Finally La Recova Contemporary Argentinean Grill beckons for a nightcap in its quiet upscale bar ldquowhere you can actually carry on a conversationrdquo Ahlenius says

Then to bed Where after a good nightrsquos rest you will surely want to get up and spend yet another great day in McAllen

by Laura Hill by staff photographer

Michael Conti

ldquoMcAllen is a beautiful multicultural city with plenty to do and see From shopping in the most popular stores in the nation or unique one-of-a-kind shops to fine dining and plenty of family outdoor activities ndash you can do it year round hererdquo

gErry garCia VPOFSPECIALPROJECTS

FORTHEMCALLENCHAMBER

SNAPSHOT

for music dinner and dancing head to downtown mcallenrsquos 17th street entertainment district

The Patio on Guerradiners enjoy the food and atmosphere at the patio on Guerra on 17th street in downtown mcallen

12 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 13

ThiNgS TO dO

Town Lakea boy takes his dog for a walk as he skateboards the trail along the new 4-acre town lake at firemanrsquos park a popular spot for canoeing kayaking fishing and more

ThiNgS TO dO

14 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 15 14 mc allen

nEW LAkE OPEnS AT FIREMAnrsquoS PARk

Ahh howrefreshing

ldquoWe did all the required dredging to transform the little pond into a recreational lake that is 15 feet at its deepest pointrdquo says Sally Gavlik director of the McAllen Parks amp Recreation Department ldquoIn these days of more and more people opting to remain close to home for staycations Town Lake at Firemanrsquos Park gives them a valid option for a different kind of local vacationrdquo

lET ThE FuN BEgiNTown Lake is situated right in the

middle of McAllen off Business Highway 83 between First and Second streets Swimming is prohibited due to park

irrigation regulations but a beach has been constructed to launch canoes kayaks and paddle boats A fishing pier is also in place

ldquoWe transferred fish to the lake from nearby Boeye Reservoir which has provided us with good stocks of bass perch and catfishrdquo Gavlik says ldquoTown Lake currently only has a catch-and-release program meaning you can catch fish but must release them back into the water At some point in the future when the fish population increases we plan to schedule times when people can take the fish homerdquo

The City of McAllen made a big splash in May 2012 when it officially opened Town Lake at Firemanrsquos Park What was once a small tract of land with a few basic

recreational amenities is now a 15-acre redevelopment that includes the four-acre Town Lake Crews used a water holding pond at the cityrsquos former water treatment facility to construct the new lake

14 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 15

TakE a hikEWalking and jogging are also good recreational

options around the waterrsquos perimeterldquoTown Lake actually ties into the well used Second

Street Trail People can come off the trail walk or jog along the lake and then get back onto the trailrdquo Gavlik says ldquoThe scenery includes wildflowers in a freshly seeded meadow while other park amenities are horseshoe pits two playgrounds and free picnic sites at the north end of Firemanrsquos Park at First Streetrdquo

There is also a covered pavilion area with sand volleyball courts a small concession building and three camping sites The campsites can be used during the day by anyone but only overnight by organized groups such as the Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts Group reservations must be made through the McAllen Parks amp Recreation Department

ldquoAnother park attraction is the former water treatment building which has been transformed into a rental facilityrdquo Gavlik says ldquoIt is now called The Old Pump House complete with new windows air conditioning uplighting tiling and carpeted floors Groups of 75 to 100 people can rent the facility for meetings small receptions or small social events The Old Pump House adds to the overall amenities of todayrsquos Firemenrsquos Parkrdquo

by Kevin Litwin by staff photographer Michael Conti

Fishinga group casts lines into town lake which enforces a catch-and-release program

WHackberryAve

TownLake

83

firemanrsquos park

N2

nd

Str

eet

16 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 17

children enjoy the playground at firemanrsquos park

16 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 17

l iVabil it ycommc allen 19

ThiNgS TO dO LoCAL FLAVoR

Palate Pleasersmcallen restaurants serVe up flaVorful foods

McAllen diners rejoice The city has a broad selection of distinctive restaurants and eateries appealing to just about every taste By Barbara Biehler

Asian

SENSaTiONal SuShi amp SPiCE

McAllen has several great spots for Japanese food such as sushi tempura and teppanyaki including kohnami kumori and yokorsquos Sushi Bar

Fans of Thai food should check out Thai red Chilirsquos for dishes like pad thai red curry chicken and sweet rice with mango

Indian

TaNdOOri aNyONETaste of india hits the spot

for diners looking for high quality authentic Indian food made from old family recipes and paired with excellent service

Tex-Mex and Mexican

SOmE likE iT SPiCy

Step into las Cazuelas grill for classic Mexican cuisine or visit Palenque Chicken for expertly prepared Mexican and Tex Mex dishes

Renowned regionally for homemade tamales deliarsquos uses fresh ingredients including pork chicken and beef

The republic of rio grande serves Mexican cuisine in an intimate setting order a traditional dish like the chicken fajitas or enchiladas suizas or enjoy a distinctive entree such as shrimp chipotle pesto pasta or a brick-oven pizza

check out more restaurants in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

ldquoDeliarsquos has the best tamales in town Probably even in the RGV The only place you can get the good old homemade flavor of real tamalesrdquo

Evila l YELPCOM

Argentine

SOuTh amEriCaN CuiSiNE

Relax in the elegant yet casual atmosphere of la Pampa argentinean Steak housewhile you dine on classic Argentine- cut steaks grilled chicken breasts marinated in Chimichurri or traditional de carne empanadas

Meanwhile la recova also offers a wide selection of Argentine-style favorites on its menu Favorite dishes at La Recova includes chorizo tuna carnitas duck confit and churrasco a classic top sirloin steak

Outdoor Dining

TrENdy amp TaSTy

If yoursquore in the mood for a USDA prime steak or succulent seafood drop by The Patio on guerra Dine on the outdoor patio and have a bottle of one of the restaurantrsquos award-winning wines

FridarsquosGrillandCantina located on 17th street offers traditional mexican favorites with modern flavors Go to fridarsquos to enjoy unique culinary dishes signature drinks and live music on the weekends

l iVabil it ycommc allen 19

ThiNgS TO dO ARTS amp CULTURE

Rave Reviewsmcallenrsquos arts scene remains robust With museums music and eVents

Arts patrons music lovers and history buffs enjoy many cultural attractions throughout McAllen The latest buzz McAllen Performing Arts Center will spring up near the McAllen Convention Center giving fans of live music theater and dance a fine new facility to anticipate

Live Entertainment

PErFOrmErS TakE ThE STagE

The 17th Street Entertainment district in downtown McAllen overflows with lounges restaurants and clubs For live music visit The old Ice House or Cine El Rey

The cityrsquos diverse culture is what influences much of the music performed by the valley Symphony Orchestra amp Chorale The Symphony was established in 1952 with the Chorale joining later in 1984 Similarly the South Texas lyric Opera brings the fine art of opera to the Rio Grande Valley with a yearly slate of productions and an annual opera gala and rio grande valley Broadway brings popular stage shows to town such as Disneyrsquos Beauty and the Beast and Monty Pythonrsquos Spamalot

Historic Sites

TakE a STEP BaCk iN TimE

The museum of South Texas history and the mcallen heritage Center are just two locations to learn about the rich history of this bicultural area

Quinta mazatlan a 1930s hacienda that embodies the Spanish Colonial Revival architecture of arches adobe and beams and provides an intimate look into South Texas history The 10000-square- foot mansion sits on a 15-acre plot hosting a mix of native and exotic plants and wildlife making up McAllenrsquos wing of the popular world Birding Center

Cine El Reyopened in 1947 the historic cine el rey theater now functions as

a music and performance venue showcasing a variety of live events and also shows spanish and english independent films the theater is located in downtown mcallenrsquos 17th street entertainment district

20 mc allen

ldquoCine El Rey hosts events as diverse as wrestling live bands films and comedy shows A huge stage is complimented by killer production value and a staff that really cares about all aspects of the experience Irsquom looking forward to a return triprdquo

Bill dykES YELP

visual Arts and Festivals

aCCESSiBlE arT FuN EvENTS

The international museum of art amp Science founded in 1969 promotes an appreciation for the arts and sciences through its exhibitions cultural events and many educational programs imaS is located at 1900 Nolana Ave

The mcallen art walk is a self-guided tour that gives art lovers the opportunity to explore the many art offerings in the city Itrsquos held every first Friday from September through May and is free and open to the public

on the first Saturday night of December folks enjoy the Candlelight Posada which includes food booths luminaries a parade live entertainment caroling and a live nativity scene

Chamber of Commerce Support

ChamBEr BaCkS ThE arTS

The mcallen Chamber of Commerce shows its love for the arts by managing the mcallen arts Council which publishes a quarterly magazine produces an annual fine arts exhibition and offers grants to local artists The Chamber also offers an outdoor concert series and coordinates the Public art Committeersquos acquisition program

20 mc allen

ThiNgS TO dO SPoRTS amp RECREATIoN

Soak Up Some Sunmcallen residents haVe plenty of Good reasons to Get outdoors

Great golf courses hiking and biking trails and a large well-maintained park system make McAllen the perfect place to enjoy outdoor fun By Carson OrsquoShoney

Golf

TEE iT uPWith nearly 20 courses in the

McAllen area golf is a popular attraction in the Rio Grande Valley

one of the most notable courses is the Palm view golf Course an 18-hole public course with a private feel With rolling fairways and Bermuda rough mounds the course is an often-used location for tournaments having hosted LPGA tournaments and Palm viewrsquos amateur golf Championship

mcallen Country Club provides a challenge with tree-lined fairways and small greens and also offers a swimming pool tennis courts a fitness center and other amenities

Every golf course in the area is bustling especially in the winter when ldquoWinter Texansrdquo come to the Rio Grande Valley The weather generally stays in the 70s in the coldest months making it a perfect place for winter golfing

Hiking Biking and Racing

ON ThE mOvE iN mCallEN

There are plenty of hiking and biking trails on the east and west sides of town such as the retama village Park Trail westside Park Trail and las Palmas Park Trail Visiting cyclists are welcome to meet up with Team mcallen Cycling a bike club thatrsquos been in the city for more than 25 years

Racing fans can enjoy the mcallen international motorplex and Event Center which hosts stock car races car shows and more The racetrack is a family-friendly place offering activities for children such as games face painting and crafts

Palm view Golf Courseirish cochran plays a round of golf at palm View Golf course an 18-hole public course often used for high profile tournaments

22 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 23

City Parks

OuTdOOr Family FuN

The mcallen Parks and recreation department currently oversees 25 city parks Ranging from historic parks established in the early 1900s to more modern facilities there are several options suitable for the whole family

archer Park McAllenrsquos oldest park opened in 1912 Serving as a historic landmark in the city it also plays host to many of the cityrsquos annual special events including the Candlelight Posada and movies in the Park

Spanning 38 acres Springfest Park is the largest park in McAllen Springfest hosts a variety of special events and is home to mcallenrsquos winter Polo league from January through March

check out more fun things to do in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

Spray and Ground Parkbesides its popular water feature mcallenrsquos new SprayandGroundParkhas a sand volleyball court skateboard area a half basketball court and just over half a mile of walking trails in addition there are athletic practice fields shaded areas picnic shelters and restroom facilities

22 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 23

ThiNgS TO dO SEE THE CITY

24 mc allen

The Irrigation Workerthe sun sets behind a sculpture ldquothe irrigation Workerrdquo which was created by artist douglas clark and is located on nolana and 25th

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

l iVabil it ycommc allen 25

LIvINGHERESchools health care education and neighborhoods in McAllen

26 mc allen 26 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 27 26 mc allen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 27

see more beautiful photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

Luxury Livingnewcomers have many beautiful home options in mcallen such as those offered in eight different communities by cantu construction a locally based award-winning builder

26 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 27 liVabil it ycommc allen 27

liviNg

TECH TOOLS FOSTER STUDEnT SUCCESS

Padding theCurriculum

McAllen Independent School District (ISD) is feeling the benefits of an ambitious technology plan that places an iPod or iPad in the hands of every teacher and student

mcallen independent school district students use system-issued ipads in class

28 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 29

EduCaTiNg FOr ThE 21ST CENTury

The initiative began with a meeting between Dr James Ponce McAllenrsquos superintendent of schools and a ldquocadrerdquo of about 35 teachers administrators and parents

The grouprsquos primary goal was to build a 21st-century classroom environment one that fosters creativity collaboration and entrepreneurship The group also wanted to find a way to harness the 247 educational potential of the Internet ndash and teach students the critical-thinking skills needed to process online content

ldquoItrsquos an environment where the teachers become the primary learners and the students are driven by their examplerdquo Ponce says ldquoSo we asked what tools we would need for this transformation of the way we teach and the way the kids learnrdquo

After much research the group chose iPods (for grades K-2) and iPads (for teachers and grades 3-12) because of their portability

ldquoIrsquove learned more from my fellow teachers than I have in many years just from sharing ideas for how to use the iPads in the classroomrdquo

CarOl aNN allEN LANGuAGEARTSTEACHER

ATMICHAELEFOSSuMMIDDLESCHOOL

relatively low cost and ease of use To implement the planrsquos first stage McAllen ISD issued 5800 of these devices to teachers and students when the rollout is complete it will cover more than 25000 students

Big BENEFiTS FOr TEaChErS aNd STudENTS

Both teachers and students are seeing benefits from the program

ldquoThe iPods help the kids be creative My students are organizing information in new waysrdquo says Ruth Whiddon who teaches first grade at Andrew Jackson Elementary School

For Carol Ann Allen International Baccalaureate coordinator and eighth-grade language arts teacher at Michael E Fossum Middle School the initiative is all about collaboration

ldquoIrsquove learned more from my fellow teachers than I have in many years just from sharing ideas for how to use the iPads in the classroomrdquo she says

Sandra Guerra who teaches seventh- and eighth-grade math

at Fossum says the iPads have changed both her teaching style and the way her students learn

Instead of mapping out the learning process step-by-step she now gives students their goal and lets them choose how to get there

ldquoWith this approach they own their learning and theyrsquove been more willing to learnrdquo Guerra says

The iPads have also been a game-changer for Guerrarsquos family

Her seventh-grade daughter is learning advanced science concepts because of independent iPad projects And because most of her childrenrsquos school materials are on their iPads itrsquos easier than ever for Guerra to check on their progress from home

That kind of scenario says Superintendent Ponce is at the heart of the initiative

ldquoThe entire school system and our community want to lead in this effort to build a 21st-century learning environmentrdquo he says ldquoThis is a direct investment in our children and their familiesrdquo

by Kathryn Royster

High-Tech Learningseventh-grade students use ipads to follow class lectures and take quizzes during a language arts class at michael e fossum middle school

PH

oT

o C

oU

RT

EST

Y o

F M

CA

LLE

N IN

DE

PE

ND

EN

T S

CH

oo

L D

IST

RIC

T

28 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 29

Higher Education

SOuTh TExaS COllEgE

McAllenrsquos South Texas College has more than 30000 students and offers numerous associate and bachelorrsquos degree programs as well as professional certifications in more than 40 areas The college also has online degree courses for students who work full time

liviNg EDUCATIoN

Set for SuccesscolleGe prep is a top priority in mcallen

Education in McAllen is defined by excellent options From elementary school through college McAllen includes numerous institutions designed to prepare students for success By Braxton Shoop

school yourself on more educational offerings at livabilitycommcallen

Public Schools

mCallEN iNdEPENdENT SChOOl diSTriCT

Established in 1915 the mcallen independent School district comprises three high schools seven middle schools and 20 elementary schools Among these schools the district offers an advanced placement college-level curriculum and a dual-enrollment program for students who would like to obtain high school and college credit simultaneously

In addition the district features an International Baccalaureate program that provides students with an advanced curriculum geared toward global standards

Local Inspiration

FOrmEr STudENT FliES high

one of McAllenrsquos successful students is astronaut michael Fossum a graduate of McAllen High School After receiving his commission from the US Air Force by Texas AampM University Fossum graduated Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base and in 1993 he started at NASA Throughout his NASA career Fossum was on crew for three spaceflights He commanded the space station during one of his flights helping him rank seventh on the all-time list for cumulative Extravehicular Activity time

Top-notch Learning Environmentuniversity of texas-pan american offers many undergraduate degrees more than 50 masterrsquos degrees and three doctoral degrees utpa has accreditations from organizations like the commission for collegiate nursing the examining board of nurse examiners for the state of texas and the engineering accreditation commission of the accreditation board for engineering and technology

30 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 31

Charter School

idEa aCadEmy

idEa academy is an innovative institution that offers a fully scaled curriculum for students in kindergarten and in the first second and sixth grades The school which opened in McAllen in 2012 will eventually add more grades each one including approximately 110 students While the school is public students must apply to fill the 460 available spots

To prepare its students to be collegiate scholars IDEA provides International Baccalaureate curriculum as well as the Road to College curriculum which begins in the sixth grade

ldquoWersquore very proud of the connection to our distinguished alumni like NASA astronaut Michael Fossum and we want our students to recognize the kind of education we provide here What he learned here helped catapult him into space and wersquore very proud of thatrdquo

NOrma zamOra-guErra MCALLENINDEPENDENTSCHOOL

DISTRICTCOMMuNITYINFORMATIONDIRECTOR

Michael E Fossum Middle Schoolnamed for astronaut michael e fossum the school is part of the mcallen independent school district

30 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 31

Please call 9566316109 for a representative today

2501 Buddy Owens Blvd McAllen TX 78504

9656316125 Fax

wwwrio-healthcom

RioHealth MedicalWe are here to meet all your

occupational medicine needs

bull Workplace injuries and workersrsquo compensation

bull On site and off site drug screening

bull Physicals

bull Orthopedics

bull Early return to work

bull 247 coverage

bull We accept all types of insurance

WorkplaceInjury

DANIEL J GUERRA MD Diplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

LEONEL G MORENO MDDiplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

HOMERO RIVAS MDDiplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

606 S Broadway bull McAllen TX bull (956) 682-4515 bull wwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

FAMILY PHYSICIANS

CLINICSince 1967

Mon-Fri 8 am-5 pm Sat 8 am-Noon

VALLEY NIGHT CLINIC

Since 1981

Open Every Night of the Year 6 pm-Midnight

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valley supports children of all abilities through child care

services early intervention and parenting support programs

Early Childhood intErvEntion ChildCarE sErviCEs ParEnts as tEaChErs

Easter seals rio Grande valley Programs for Children Birth to Five years

bullChild-Care servicesndashHigh-qualitychildcare sixweekstofiveyears

bullParents as teachers (Pat)ndashDevelopmental parentingsupportforchildrenbirthtofiveyears

bullEarly Childhood intervention (ECi) ndashConcerns indevelopmentforchildrenbirthtothreeyears

For more information about Easter seals

programs and services call (956) 631-9171 or visit wwweasterseals-rgvorg

32 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 33

liviNg HEALTH

Take a Deep Breath and Relaxresidents haVe access to top hospitals

McAllen residents receive quality care from the South Texas Health System Rio Grande Regional Hospital and the Doctors Hospital at Renaissance By Kevin Litwin

Health System

SOuTh TExaS hEalTh SySTEm

South Texas health System is the umbrella organization for a number of fine medical facilities including mcallen medical Center MMC has 441 beds and a staff of more than 400 physicians that represent 50 medical specialties

Also part of South Texas Health System is mcallen heart hospital which opened in 1996 as the first freestanding cardiology and cardiovascular hospital built in the United States It includes 60 beds and a 24-hour emergency center

Healthgrades has awarded McAllen Medical Center and McAllen Heart Hospital with a variety of honors in recent years and both earned a Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence in 2011

Hospital

riO graNdE rEgiONal hOSPiTal

rio grande regional hospital is an acute care medical facility with 320 beds and more than 500 physicians The hospital is the only area Diabetes Management Center accredited by the American Diabetes Association and is the arearsquos first facility to have a Pediatric Heart Program

RGRH also includes a 24-hour emergency room Womenrsquos Services department Level III trauma center and cardiovascular care The hospital is fully accredited by The Joint Commission and the College of American Pathologists and every year since 2007 has been named a Center of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery

32 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 33

Hospital

dOCTOrS hOSPiTal aT rENaiSSaNCE

The 506-bed doctors hospital at renaissance is an acute care facility It provides cardiology neurosurgery and endocrinology as well as a Pediatric Medical Tower that offers pediatric oncology and pediatric ICU services

Doctors Hospital has been ranked among the nationrsquos 100 Top Hospitals by Thomson Reuters and recently invested $32 million to establish an Electronic Medical Record System

DHR was the first in South Texas to acquire a PETCT scanner for diagnosing cancer and the first in the region to introduce da Vinci robotic surgical technology The hospital also oversees Renaissance Behavioral Center which provides treatment for people with mental health problems substance abuse or eating disorders

34 mc allen

COMMUNITyPROFILE COST OF liviNg

$44074Median Household Income

$129554Median Home Price

$689Median Rent for a Two-Bedroom Apartment

TraNSPOrTaTiON

Median Travel Time to Work

agE

TEmPEraTurE

January Average

July Average

EThNiCiTy

19 and Under

20-54

55 and over

White

Black

Hispanic

other

1645minutes

Closest Airport McAllen International Airport

955deg

482deg

South Texasrsquo Finest Gift Store Offers Gifts From Around the World

4300 N 10th St bull Ste C bull McAllen TX 78504 (956) 686-1264 bull ohkaysaolcom

Look for us on Facebook

gOlF COurSES

gOlF TEC

2901 N 10TH ST956-994-9631

mCallEN COuNTry CluB615 WICHITA AVE956-686-0923

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

The national Butterfly Center the national butterfly center dedicates 100 acres to the conservation and scientific study of wild butterflies in their natural habitats the wildlife center is open daily from 8 am until 5 pm september through march and from 9 am until 4 pm april through august

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

liviNg SEE THE CITY

36 mc allen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 37

BUSINESSInfo on McAllenrsquos top employers jobs and success stories

McAllen Convention Centerthe McAllenConventionCenter is located on 185 acres and includes a 60000-square-foot exhibit hall as well as more than 25000 square feet of meeting space in 16 breakout rooms

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

38 mc allen 38 mc allen

38 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 39

BuSiNESS oVERVIEW

McAllenrsquos in the MoneyCultural diversity location and innovation drive cityrsquos top business sectors

As the retail hub of South Texas McAllen is thriving The city draws a customer base of more than 10 million within a 200-mile radius and is represented by 40 of Americarsquos top 100 retailers

By Tiffany Williams

La Plaza MallPumping much of the life into this retail hub is la Plaza mall which annually attracts more than 18 million visitors its anchoring stores such as dillardrsquos and macyrsquos and sought-after retailers including BCBg-max azria and Coach average sales of more than $650 per square foot and are among the most profitable stores in their chains

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

Meetings amp Events

CONvENTiON CENTEr lurES viSiTOrS

The mcallen Convention Center also helps draw businesses to the area The 185-acre complex featuring a 60000-square-foot column-free exhibit hall more than 25000 square feet of meeting space and up to 16 breakout rooms offers bicultural themes and tropical accents that represent the cultural and natural diversity of McAllen

Retail

ShOPPiNg hOT SPOTS

This bicultural city which is located just five miles from the US-Mexico border also has access to three international bridges that flood with visitors and eager shoppers daily many of whom are spending at a rate twice the national average

In addition to La Plaza Mall shopping centers in the McAllen area include Trenton Crossing las Tiendas Plaza and La Plaza Mallrsquos 600sbquo000-square-foot sister shopping center Palms Crossing which hosts such big-name retailers as Barnes amp Noble and Babies rsquoRrsquo Us as well as specialty shops and restaurants Its appeal stems from its open-air design with lots of palm trees water fountains and seating areas

Major Manufacturers

madE FOr maNuFaCTuriNg

Ranked third in Texas in per-capita sales the McAllen area has some of the largest manufacturing and wholesale companies in the nation

valley Coca Cola Bottling Co Value Frozen Foods and Emerson Network Power are just a few who have put down roots here Tri-City Steel which provides a full scope of steel construction by fabricating and erecting structural steel buildings pre-engineered metal buildings stairs handrails and more Texas Citrus Exchange in Mission makes Texas rio red grapefruit juice

learn more about businesses in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

BuSiNESS

RESIDEnTS GET CREATIvE WITH BUSInESS vEnTURES

the BoxOutside

One of McAllenrsquos most innovative startups sprang from the mind of someone who wasnrsquot even interested in business Today Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar is one

of the arearsquos top entrepreneurs and is finding serious success

mcallen entrepreneur dalinda Gonzalez-alcantar founded eJucomm llc

liVabil it ycommc allen 43 42 mc allen

ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the worldrdquo

EllEry BuChaNaN FIBERIOPRESIDENTCEO

Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar the founder of eJucomm LLC simply wanted to make information in her school district more accessible to families The company was a way she could make it happen

She got the idea while working as a teacher at DeLeon Middle School in McAllen and was frustrated that families without computers andor Internet access had difficulty communicating with teachers and administrators So she decided to develop a smartphone application that would solve the problem

With no previous technical experience she researched code online at night and a year later was selling the app to various school districts

ldquoThe app enables Android and iPhone users to access information for things like grades and attendancerdquo Gonzalez-Alcantar says

The entrepreneur also faced unexpected challenges ndash for instance how to tailor individual apps to the roughly seven school districts and 40 campuses that now use them No longer teaching she has partnered with a chief technology officer so she can focus on sales and marketing

One of her biggest hurdles was finding legal fees to fund the startup and a $10000 McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant in 2011 helped pay for a licensing agreement and intellectual property protection for eJucomm to move forward

BaNaNa E-z SPliTAnother McAllen resident

Gerald Guerra faced a similar obstacle when developing a product called Banana E-Z Split A health insurance broker Guerra was inspired at his own kitchen table to create single serving packets with all three syrups

Banana E-Z SplitGerald Guerra inventor of the banana e-Z split single serving syrup packets poses with his daughters Victoria and kaitlyn enthusiastic taste testers for his product

liVabil it ycommc allen 43

To order please call or visit 956-668-0555 or wwwediblearrangementscom 5113-A N 10th St bull McAllen TX 78504

Offer valid at participating locations Offer expires 12312013 Cannot be combined with another offers Offer code must be used when placing order

Containers may vary EDIBLE ARRANGEMENTS and the Fruit Basket Logo Design are registered trademarks of Edible Arrangements LLC

copy2012 Edible Arrangements LLC All rights reserved Frachises available call (888) 727-4258 or visit wwweafranchisescom

DELICIOUSLYd e s i r a b l e

FREE PIECE OF DIPPED FRUIT

Code mctx1213

Living green is making sure the air in your home is healthy for your family to breathe Test your home for radon and build radon-resistant

Its easy Thats living healthy and green

Just call 866-730-green or visit wwwepagovradon

Living greenstarts from the ground up

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

(pineapple chocolate strawberry) needed for a banana split

The concept led to a 2011 McAllen Business Plan Competition grant to fund the necessary patents

ldquoI envisioned a product that could hang easily in refrigerated sections at big box storesrdquo Guerra says ldquoI have lined up a distributor and a broker with my ultimate goal being to have Banana E-Z Split available to customers in large grocery chains It is close to happeningrdquo

FiBEriO TEChNOlOgyAnother startup in McAllen

is already making waves globally FibeRio Technology Corporation another McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant recipient is thriving thanks to ground-breaking nanofiber-producing machinery The nanofibers can be used to make products ranging from diapers to

ballistics using a new way to spin microscopic nanofibers

The technology serves an array of industries that feature filtration textiles or biomedical applications

ldquoDr Karen Lozano at UT-Pan American discovered the process and I was contacted because I am an entrepreneur familiar with launching technology- based companies including nanotechnologyrdquo says FibeRio Technology presidentCEO Ellery Buchanan ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the world Plus we use local McAllen suppliers whenever possible including machine shops parts suppliers IT contractors and other business servicesrdquo

by Kevin Litwin by staff photographer

Michael Conti

FibeRio Technology Corporationnanomaterials processing research equipment is used at FibeRioTechnologyCorporation

FEldmaNrsquoS markET CENTErFeldmanrsquos Market Center features a broad selection of beer as well as wines liquors cigars and a gourmet deli In addition weekly beer and wine tastings are offered(956) 687-9463

PErFECT PawS rESOrTPerfect Paws Resort offers grooming services daycare and boarding to vaccinated dogs and cats that are at least 12 weeks old Boarding suites are climate controlled and under constant supervisionperfectpawsresortcom

mCCrEEry aviaTiON CO iNCMcCreery Aviation Co Inc is a place for pilots and their aircraft to receive top-notch treatment A fuel center flight planning room and hangar storage are availablemccreeryaviationcom

kiTikakE llCKitikake LLC offers gently- used vintage clothing for women from an array of top designers such as Lilly Pulitzer and Catherine Malandrino Vintage home deacutecor and dishes are also availablekitikakecom

krEidlEr FuNEral hOmEFounded owned and operated by the Kreidler family Kreidler Funeral Home has served McAllen for 100 years They offer traditional burial and graveside funeral services direct burials cremations memorial services and morekreidlerfuneralhomecom

Business Spotlight

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

visit ouradvertisersBorder Capital Bankwwwbordercapitalbankcom

City of McAllen Public Info Officewwwexploremcallennet

Courtyard by Marriottwwwmarriottcommtema

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valleywwweasterseals-rgvorg

Edible Arrangementswwwediblearrangementscom

Family Physicians Clinicwwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

Magic Valley Electric Cooperativewwwmagicvalleycoop

McAllen Economic Development Corporationwwwmcallenedcorg

McAllen Independent School Districtwwwmcallenisdorg

McAllen International Airportwwwmcallenairportcom

McAllen Realty

Mr Electricwwwmrelectriccom

Nuevo Santander Gallerywwwnuevosantandercom

OH KAYrsquoS

Preventative Care Institutewwwrgvpcicom

Quinta Mazatlanwwwquintamazatlancom

Rio Health Medicalwwwrio-healthcom

South Texas College wwwsouthtexascollegeedu

South Texas Health Systemwwwsouthtexashealthsystemcom

The Patio on Guerra wwwpatioonguerracom

Valley International Airportwwwflythevalleycom

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

BuSiNESS CHAMBER REPoRT

Whatrsquos the Big Ideachamberrsquos readiness tool kit assists entrepreneurs

The McAllen Chamber of Commerce has helped prepare 25 McAllen entrepreneurs in the continuing quest to launch their ideas ndash all since July 2011

The Chamber has a software package called VentureBusiness Readiness Assessment which is used by states such as oklahoma and Kentucky to assist startup companies The software helps an entrepreneur through the entire process of seeing whether they are truly ready to launch their startup

ldquoVentureBusiness Readiness Assessment is a way that the Chamber assists entrepreneurs who are trying to get funding for their products or projectsrdquo says Steve Ahlenius who serves as President and CEo of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce ldquoThe Chamber awards $50000 a year in innovation grants in $10000 increments and entrepreneurs are always looking for funding But they must earn that money by passing the various stages of the software tool kitrdquo

TEN hOurS TO COmPlETEAhlenius says the assessment

has several specific steps to make sure that a startup company has everything in place to ensure that it is successful

ldquoThe entrepreneurs contact us and set up an appointment to see me then they come to the Chamber office we sign them up and give them passwords to access the software at their conveniencerdquo he says ldquo[The program] takes about 10 hours to complete but doesnrsquot have to be finished in one sitting However the program must be eventually completed in order to qualify for our innovation grantrdquo

CaN iT BE madE QuiCklyThe software asks questions

such as Have you protected your intellectual property Is your product something that can be

made quickly Have you set a value on your idea and do you know how to do that If itrsquos a product that involves high-tech engineering do you have an engineer on your companyrsquos team

ldquoThe entrepreneur needs to know if his venture is worth 20 shares of stock or 200 shares ndash things like thatrdquo Ahlenius says ldquoMany factors go into launching a product or business and Venture Readiness points out a personrsquos strengths and weaknessesrdquo

a grEaT OvErviEwVicente Valle Martinez of

McAllen is an entrepreneur who contacted the Chamber in 2012 about his idea for connecting

people on the Internet who have similar educational experiences and higher learning interests

ldquoI have no background in business but heard one day about an innovation grant competition that the Chamber was sponsoringrdquo Martinez says ldquoSteve told me about the software package and it gave me a great overview of what I need to know before launching my ideardquo

Ahlenius says the various concepts the software package covers include credentials character capabilities commitment and circumstance

ldquoIt is an excellent self-awareness testrdquo he says ldquoItrsquos ideal for entrepreneursrdquo

by Kevin Litwin

the mcallen chamber of commerce on ash avenue

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

Ad Index 41 BorderCapitalBank

21 CityofMCallen puBliCinfooffiCe

4 CourtyardByMarriott

32 easterseals rioGrandeValley

44 ediBlearranGeMents

32 faMilyphysiCiansCliniC

2 MaGiCValley eleCtriCCooperatiVe

C3 MCalleneConoMiC deVelopMentCorporation

46 MCallenindependent sChooldistriCt

1 MCallen internationalairport

C4 MCallenrealty

48 MreleCtriC

46 nueVosantanderGallery

35 ohkayrsquos

34 preVentatiVe

Careinstitute

23 QuintaMazatlan

32 riohealthMediCal

31 southtexasColleGe

C2 southtexas

healthsysteM

18 thepatioonGuerra

44 Valley

internationalairport

ECONOMICPROFILE

3000+

2000- 2999

1999- 500

hOuSEhOld iNCOmE

TOP EmPlOyErS

$200000+

$150000-199999

$100000 and under

McAllen Independent School District

McAllen Medical Center South Texas College City of McAllen

Rio Grande Regional Hospital International Bank of Commerce

EduCaTiON lEvEl

High School Graduate

Associate Degree

Bachelorrsquos Degree

Masterrsquos Degree

TaxES

2City Sales and Use Tax

625State Sales Tax

825Total Sales Tax

SCOrECard

$36BAnnual Retail Sales

$28682Retail sales per capita

$3575MAnnual Hotel and Food Sales

15161Total Number of Firms

TraNSPOrTaTiON

mcallen-miller international airportwwwmcallenairportcom

metro mcallenwwwmcallennetmetro

amtrakwwwamtrakcom

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

everything you need every step of the way

Serving the rio grande valley Since 1989

Rachel Hardison-Oliva Broker

3321 N McColl Rd

McAllen TX 78501

(956) 687-7172 bull (956) 687-7178 Fax

Page 4: Livability McAllen, TX 2013

CONTENTS

Things to Do10 Must Try McAlleninaDay ThishappeningValleycity

hasplentytodoandsee

14 Parks AhhHowRefreshing Cityaddsfour-acrelake

toFiremanrsquosPark

19 Local Flavor PalatePleasers

20 Arts amp Culture RaveReviews

22 Sports amp Recreation SoakUpSomeSun

24SeetheCity

Living28 High Tech Schools Paddingthe

Curriculum Techtoolsfoster studentsuccess

30 Education SetforSuccess

33 Health TakeaDeepBreath

andRelax

35 CommunityProfile

36 LivingSeetheCity

Business42 Entrepreneurship OutsidetheBox Residentsgetcreative

withbusinessventures

47 Chamber Letter WhatrsquostheBigIdea48 EconomicProfile

OnTheCoverThe McAllen Public Library Photo by Michael Conti

all or part of this magazine is printed with soy ink on recycled paper containing 10 post-consumer waste

PlEaSE rECyClE ThiS magaziNE

7 Welcome to McAllen an introduction to the community

MCALLEN2013EDITION vOLUME11

Texas

19

30

42

l iVabil it ycommc allen 3

l iVabil it ycommc allen 5

MCALLEN2013EDITION vOLUME11

Texascontent director|LisaBattles

contributing Writers|BarbaraBiehlerLauraHillCarsonOrsquoShoneyKathrynRoysterBraxtonShoop

content coordinator|JessicaWalkerstaff Writer|KevinLitwin

proofreading manager|RavenPetty

lead designer|StaceyAllissenior Graphic designers|LauraGallagher

KrisSextonJakeShoresVikkiWilliamsGraphic designers|EricaLampleyKaraLeiby

KaceyPassmorecreative technology analyst|BeccaAry

lead photographer|MichaelContisenior photographers|JeffAdkinsBrianMcCord

staff photographers|ToddBennettMartinBCherry

color imaging technician | AlisonHunter

integrated media manager|ToddPottersales support project manager|SaraQuint

ad production manager|KatieMiddendorfad traffic assistants|KrystinLemmonPatriciaMoisan

Web project manager|DavidDayWeb development lead|YamelHallWeb developeri|NelsNoseworthy

Web designer ii|RichardStevensWeb product manager|JohnHood

digital project manager|JillRidenour

chairman|GregThurmanpresidentpublisher|BobSchwartzman

executive Vice president|RayLangensenior Vpsales|ToddPotter

senior Vpclient development|JeffHeefnersenior Vpoperations|CaseyHester

Vpsales|JarekSwekoskyVpcontent operations|NatashaLorens

audience development director|DeannaNelsoncreative services director|ChristinaCarden

distribution director|GarySmithphotography director|JeffreySOtto

Web services director|AllisonDavis

controller|ChrisDudleysenior accountant| LisaOwens

accounts payable coordinator|MariaMcFarlandaccounts receivable coordinator|DianaGuzman

system administrator|DanielCantrell

executive secretary|KristyDuncanhuman resources manager|PeggyBlake

receptionist|LindaBishop

Livability McAllen TXispublishedannuallybyJournalCommunicationsIncandisdistributed

throughtheMcAllen Chamber of Commerce anditsmemberbusinesses

Foradvertisinginformationortodirectquestionsorcommentsaboutthemagazinecontact

JournalCommunicationsIncat(615)771-0080orbyemailatinfojnlcomcom

Formoreinformationcontactmcallen chamber of commerce1200 ash avenue bull po box 790

mcallen tx 78505-0790phone (956) 682-2871 bull fax (956) 687-2917

wwwmcallenchambercom

visitLivability McAllen TXonlineatlivabilitycommcallen

copyCopyright2012JournalCommunicationsInc725CoolSpringsBlvdSuite400FranklinTN37067(615)771-0080AllrightsreservedNoportionofthis

magazinemaybereproducedinwholeorinpartwithoutwrittenconsent

Member TheAssociationofMagazineMedia

Member CustomContentCouncil

MemberMcAllenChamberofCommerce

GETTHEDIGITALMAGAZINE

livabilitycommcallen

Itrsquos loaded with links to more great info about McAllen Telling your communityrsquos unique story has never been so easy

TakE iT wiTh yOu

Easily share an interesting article stunning photo or advertisement of your business on Facebook Twitter or via email

CliCk arOuNd

Click on the web addresses in the copy to enjoy immediate access to each website

SPrEad ThE NEwS

Broadcast your communityrsquos positive image by placing the magazine on your website blog or newsletter

2013 | SPONSORED BY THE MCALLEN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

livabilitycommcallen

MCALLENTEXAS

McAllen in a DayThis happening Valley city has plenty to do and see

OUTSIDE THE BOXResidents get creative with business ventures

l iVabil it ycommc allen 5

CONTENTSlivabilitycommcallen

Visit the website for more great photos and stories about McAllen Texas

Livabilitycom Follow us livability Like us at facebookcomlivability Follow us at pinterestcomlivability

Things To Do Find the must-do attractions activities and dining in McAllen

LivingLearn about McAllenrsquos schools health care education and neighborhoods

BusinessGet info on top employers jobs and success stories in McAllen

digital magazine

Read it online or on your tablet and quickly share articles with friends

FaCtSGet data fast on population climate workforce cost of living and more

PhoTos amp viDeo

2013 | SPONSORED BY THE MCALLEN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

livabilitycommcallen

MCALLENTEXAS

McAllen in a DayThis happening Valley city has plenty to do and see

OUTSIDE THE BOXResidents get creative with business ventures

aT a glaNCE

Cultural diversity progressive business practices and a booming economy best characterize McAllen ndash one of the fastest growing metros in Texas and part of one of the fastest growing MSAs in the nation Its location near the US-Mexico border has made it a magnet for retail international trade tourism and manufacturing

aBuNdaNT liviNgMcAllenrsquos economic mix means

tangible benefits for residents beyond a strong job market They take their picks among diverse shopping and dining options that include national brands and unique independent retailers

The resulting tax base means the city can offer amenities such as a massive state-of-the-art library in-town bus service awesome parks and popular hiking and biking trails that are enjoyed year round thanks to a warm climate

With all this and affordable homes McAllen also consistently ranks among cities with the lowest cost of living in the United States

grEaT FOr BuSiNESSMcAllen is good for business

big and small More than 100 Fortune 500 companies have a presence within the McAllen MSA and the city has also been recently recognized by CNNMoney on its list of Best Places to Launch a Small Business

Key factors bringing expansions and entrepreneurs are an excellent quality of life numerous advanced medical facilities a comprehensive financial services community demonstrated logistics advantages to reach existing and new markets and a mostly young bicultural and bilingual population

Read on to discover why McAllen is one of Americarsquos best places to live

McAllen Texasa quick comprehensiVe oVerVieW of Whatrsquos Great about the community

Rio Granded

Rio Grande

83

281

281

83

777777

28181288281777777

ReynosaosR sas

Matamoros

Rio BravoBrownsvilleBrowrow sss

WeslacoHarlingenrlinng

Edinburg

Mission

Pharr

McAllen

HIDALGO

MEXICO

UNITEDSTATESS

FOr mOrE iNFOrmaTiON

McAllenChamberofCommerce1200 Ash Avenue McAllen TX 78501 Phone (956) 682-2871Fax (956) 687-2917

wwwmcallenchambercom

lOCaTiONMcAllen is in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas situated just 70 miles west of the Gulf of Mexico McAllen is the largest city in Hidalgo County

POPulaTiON

133821 (McAllen)

774769 (MSA)

aNNual raiNFall

23rdquo

diSTaNCES TO ThrEE majOr CiTiES NEarBy San Antonio 224 miles Austin 311 miles Fort WorthDallas 502 miles

TimE zONECentral

National Average 30rdquo

No3Mid-Size

US City for Jobs

- Forbes

ACCOLADE

McAllen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 7

Shopping

BrOwSE Or Buy

mcallenrsquos la Plaza mall draws more than 18 million visitors each year as the main shopping spot for residents in the Rio Grande Valley The 1200000-square-foot mall has more than 140 retailers such as Macyrsquos and Dillardrsquos as well as a variety of restaurants

Art Events

miNglE wiTh arTiSTS

The music after hours Outdoor Concert Series is held monthly to showcase bands from the Rio Grande Valley Meanwhile mcallenrsquos artwalk is a monthly self-guided tour that features art galleries vendors and museums

Sports

Play Ball

The mcallen Thunder and Edinburg roadrunners are baseball teams that play at Edinburg Baseball Stadium Both teams are members of the North American League an independent professional league not affiliated with Major League Baseball

Locally Grown

STOCk uP

You can find more than 20 varieties of citrus and other fresh fruits vegetables nuts and locally made products at klementrsquos grove Bellrsquos Farm to market Farmers market at Town lake and Farmers market at mcallenrsquos new library

THINGSTODOMcAllenrsquos must-do attractions activities and dining

Grab Your Binocularsmcallenrsquos many wildlife havens include QuintaMazatlan above an urban sanctuary for birds plants and other wildlife valleyNatureCenter which is the oldest nature center in the rio Grande Valley and the 2000-acre SantaAnaNationalWildlifeRefuge which has recorded 400 bird species and hundreds of butterfly species

8 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 9

Eatery

PiCk ThE PlaTTEr

The popular restaurant Costa messa has a new location on North 10th Street and its menu includes favorite items such as huge botana platters to share and choriqueso The eatery is open seven days a week from 11 am until 10 pm

Outdoors

gET iN ShaPE

Hiking and biking trail systems are located at various parks throughout McAllen Some of the arearsquos most popular trails can be found at las Palmas Park la vista Park los Encinos Park retama village Park Bill Schupp Park and westside Park

Pro Sports

FlaSh aNd viPErS

Cheer on the rio grande valley Flash a Professional Arena Soccer League team and catch the basketball action of the rio grande valley vipers 2010 NBA Development League Champions Both teams play at State Farm Arena in Hidalgo

ThiNgS TO dO

Happy Hour

PrOPOSE a TOaST

Enjoy dinner drinks and fun at the many businesses located within the 17th Street Entertainment district of downtown McAllen a revitalized area now bustling with interesting restaurants pubs clubs and lounges

Climb Aboardthe federal transit administration awarded mcallen $19 million to create an electric bus pilot program OLEvTechnologiesoversees the program which is retrofitting three diesel buses with electric motors passenger transport begins in 2013

8 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 9

THIS HAPPEnInG vALLEY CITY OFFERS PLEnTY TO DO SEE amp EAT

ThiNgS TO dO

mcallenin a Day

l iVabil it ycommc allen 11 10 mc allen

midNighT TO NOON iN mCallENWhere to stay McAllen has nearly 3600 hotel rooms

from luxurious traditional hotels to new motels with all the contemporary bells and whistles The Renaissance Casa de Palmas a four-star hotel on Main Street was built in 1918 and lavishly restored into a luxury property featuring Mission architecture that recalls McAllenrsquos past Or try the Spring Hill Suites just off the expressway for a more modern take

After a comfortable night start the morning off with breakfast at Jimmyrsquos Egg a new outpost of a longtime Oklahoma favorite Here enjoy nearly any kind of egg you can imagine for breakfast ndash or atop a burger at lunch Go further south of the cuisine border at Las Cazuelas Grill another popular new eatery for menu items such as Chilaquiles con Huevo or Molletes

Got 24 hours to spare We recommend a busy day well spent in McAllen where you can fill every available hour

with interesting sights delicious cuisine and a variety of fun activities

a birdrsquos-eye view of the cityrsquos revitalized 17the street entertainment district

l iVabil it ycommc allen 11

NB

icen

tenn

ialB

lvd

WHackberryAve

S23

rdS

tree

t

83

international museum of arts and sciences

mcallen public library

McAllen Public Librarym-th 9am - 9pmf-sat 9am - 6pmsun 1pm - 9pm

phone (956) 688-3300uhV students (with id) free

wwwmcallenlibrarynet

12 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 13

The hike and bike trail on Second Street and another on Bicentennial offer the chance for a leisurely 23-mile stroll around town ndash yoursquove got to work off that breakfast after all And then head over to the International Museum of Arts and Science a Smithsonian affiliated museum where a wide variety of changing art and science exhibits always offer something interesting

Another must-see is McAllenrsquos new public library which at a whopping 123000 square feet is the largest single-floor library in the US This former Walmart building underwent a total transformation into an aesthetically pleasing community resource thatrsquos steadily gaining attention worldwide for its colorful open and functional design Opened in December 2011 the facility has already won first place in the International Interior Design Associationrsquos 2012 Library Interior Design Competition

luNCh aNd laTErldquoWersquove got over 600 restaurants

hererdquo says Chamber President and CEO Steve Ahlenius So since itrsquos noon by now try the flatbread or a

salad at house wine amp bistro or go for a panini at Corner Bakery Cafe Or for Latin flavor head to KoKorsquos for delicious Mexican fare

In McAllen a day without shopping would be sad indeed La Plaza Mall is the most visited mall in the country and Palms Crossings at the McAllen Convention Center is home to several shops and restaurants such as Mimirsquos Cafe and Romanorsquos Macaroni Grill

ldquoAfter I finished shopping Irsquod spend the rest of the afternoon at Quinta Mazatlan (a historic home that also offers nature trails and legendary bird watching)rdquo Ahlenius says Another option is to test the waters by kayaking or catch-and-release fishing on Town Lake at Firemanrsquos Park

mCallEN aFTEr hOurSYoursquore not tired are you

Good because after freshening up back at your hotel itrsquos off to a night on the town Cajun cuisine at The Bayou Grill on North 10th St is a great option as are the authentic Mexican menus at Cabritos Nuevo Leon or La Jaiba Mexican Seafood Grill both on West Nolana

After dinner stroll the 17th Street Entertainment District to catch the flavor of McAllen after hours or catch a show at the historic Cine El Rey theater where comedy acts concerts film festivals and other events take the stage Finally La Recova Contemporary Argentinean Grill beckons for a nightcap in its quiet upscale bar ldquowhere you can actually carry on a conversationrdquo Ahlenius says

Then to bed Where after a good nightrsquos rest you will surely want to get up and spend yet another great day in McAllen

by Laura Hill by staff photographer

Michael Conti

ldquoMcAllen is a beautiful multicultural city with plenty to do and see From shopping in the most popular stores in the nation or unique one-of-a-kind shops to fine dining and plenty of family outdoor activities ndash you can do it year round hererdquo

gErry garCia VPOFSPECIALPROJECTS

FORTHEMCALLENCHAMBER

SNAPSHOT

for music dinner and dancing head to downtown mcallenrsquos 17th street entertainment district

The Patio on Guerradiners enjoy the food and atmosphere at the patio on Guerra on 17th street in downtown mcallen

12 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 13

ThiNgS TO dO

Town Lakea boy takes his dog for a walk as he skateboards the trail along the new 4-acre town lake at firemanrsquos park a popular spot for canoeing kayaking fishing and more

ThiNgS TO dO

14 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 15 14 mc allen

nEW LAkE OPEnS AT FIREMAnrsquoS PARk

Ahh howrefreshing

ldquoWe did all the required dredging to transform the little pond into a recreational lake that is 15 feet at its deepest pointrdquo says Sally Gavlik director of the McAllen Parks amp Recreation Department ldquoIn these days of more and more people opting to remain close to home for staycations Town Lake at Firemanrsquos Park gives them a valid option for a different kind of local vacationrdquo

lET ThE FuN BEgiNTown Lake is situated right in the

middle of McAllen off Business Highway 83 between First and Second streets Swimming is prohibited due to park

irrigation regulations but a beach has been constructed to launch canoes kayaks and paddle boats A fishing pier is also in place

ldquoWe transferred fish to the lake from nearby Boeye Reservoir which has provided us with good stocks of bass perch and catfishrdquo Gavlik says ldquoTown Lake currently only has a catch-and-release program meaning you can catch fish but must release them back into the water At some point in the future when the fish population increases we plan to schedule times when people can take the fish homerdquo

The City of McAllen made a big splash in May 2012 when it officially opened Town Lake at Firemanrsquos Park What was once a small tract of land with a few basic

recreational amenities is now a 15-acre redevelopment that includes the four-acre Town Lake Crews used a water holding pond at the cityrsquos former water treatment facility to construct the new lake

14 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 15

TakE a hikEWalking and jogging are also good recreational

options around the waterrsquos perimeterldquoTown Lake actually ties into the well used Second

Street Trail People can come off the trail walk or jog along the lake and then get back onto the trailrdquo Gavlik says ldquoThe scenery includes wildflowers in a freshly seeded meadow while other park amenities are horseshoe pits two playgrounds and free picnic sites at the north end of Firemanrsquos Park at First Streetrdquo

There is also a covered pavilion area with sand volleyball courts a small concession building and three camping sites The campsites can be used during the day by anyone but only overnight by organized groups such as the Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts Group reservations must be made through the McAllen Parks amp Recreation Department

ldquoAnother park attraction is the former water treatment building which has been transformed into a rental facilityrdquo Gavlik says ldquoIt is now called The Old Pump House complete with new windows air conditioning uplighting tiling and carpeted floors Groups of 75 to 100 people can rent the facility for meetings small receptions or small social events The Old Pump House adds to the overall amenities of todayrsquos Firemenrsquos Parkrdquo

by Kevin Litwin by staff photographer Michael Conti

Fishinga group casts lines into town lake which enforces a catch-and-release program

WHackberryAve

TownLake

83

firemanrsquos park

N2

nd

Str

eet

16 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 17

children enjoy the playground at firemanrsquos park

16 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 17

l iVabil it ycommc allen 19

ThiNgS TO dO LoCAL FLAVoR

Palate Pleasersmcallen restaurants serVe up flaVorful foods

McAllen diners rejoice The city has a broad selection of distinctive restaurants and eateries appealing to just about every taste By Barbara Biehler

Asian

SENSaTiONal SuShi amp SPiCE

McAllen has several great spots for Japanese food such as sushi tempura and teppanyaki including kohnami kumori and yokorsquos Sushi Bar

Fans of Thai food should check out Thai red Chilirsquos for dishes like pad thai red curry chicken and sweet rice with mango

Indian

TaNdOOri aNyONETaste of india hits the spot

for diners looking for high quality authentic Indian food made from old family recipes and paired with excellent service

Tex-Mex and Mexican

SOmE likE iT SPiCy

Step into las Cazuelas grill for classic Mexican cuisine or visit Palenque Chicken for expertly prepared Mexican and Tex Mex dishes

Renowned regionally for homemade tamales deliarsquos uses fresh ingredients including pork chicken and beef

The republic of rio grande serves Mexican cuisine in an intimate setting order a traditional dish like the chicken fajitas or enchiladas suizas or enjoy a distinctive entree such as shrimp chipotle pesto pasta or a brick-oven pizza

check out more restaurants in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

ldquoDeliarsquos has the best tamales in town Probably even in the RGV The only place you can get the good old homemade flavor of real tamalesrdquo

Evila l YELPCOM

Argentine

SOuTh amEriCaN CuiSiNE

Relax in the elegant yet casual atmosphere of la Pampa argentinean Steak housewhile you dine on classic Argentine- cut steaks grilled chicken breasts marinated in Chimichurri or traditional de carne empanadas

Meanwhile la recova also offers a wide selection of Argentine-style favorites on its menu Favorite dishes at La Recova includes chorizo tuna carnitas duck confit and churrasco a classic top sirloin steak

Outdoor Dining

TrENdy amp TaSTy

If yoursquore in the mood for a USDA prime steak or succulent seafood drop by The Patio on guerra Dine on the outdoor patio and have a bottle of one of the restaurantrsquos award-winning wines

FridarsquosGrillandCantina located on 17th street offers traditional mexican favorites with modern flavors Go to fridarsquos to enjoy unique culinary dishes signature drinks and live music on the weekends

l iVabil it ycommc allen 19

ThiNgS TO dO ARTS amp CULTURE

Rave Reviewsmcallenrsquos arts scene remains robust With museums music and eVents

Arts patrons music lovers and history buffs enjoy many cultural attractions throughout McAllen The latest buzz McAllen Performing Arts Center will spring up near the McAllen Convention Center giving fans of live music theater and dance a fine new facility to anticipate

Live Entertainment

PErFOrmErS TakE ThE STagE

The 17th Street Entertainment district in downtown McAllen overflows with lounges restaurants and clubs For live music visit The old Ice House or Cine El Rey

The cityrsquos diverse culture is what influences much of the music performed by the valley Symphony Orchestra amp Chorale The Symphony was established in 1952 with the Chorale joining later in 1984 Similarly the South Texas lyric Opera brings the fine art of opera to the Rio Grande Valley with a yearly slate of productions and an annual opera gala and rio grande valley Broadway brings popular stage shows to town such as Disneyrsquos Beauty and the Beast and Monty Pythonrsquos Spamalot

Historic Sites

TakE a STEP BaCk iN TimE

The museum of South Texas history and the mcallen heritage Center are just two locations to learn about the rich history of this bicultural area

Quinta mazatlan a 1930s hacienda that embodies the Spanish Colonial Revival architecture of arches adobe and beams and provides an intimate look into South Texas history The 10000-square- foot mansion sits on a 15-acre plot hosting a mix of native and exotic plants and wildlife making up McAllenrsquos wing of the popular world Birding Center

Cine El Reyopened in 1947 the historic cine el rey theater now functions as

a music and performance venue showcasing a variety of live events and also shows spanish and english independent films the theater is located in downtown mcallenrsquos 17th street entertainment district

20 mc allen

ldquoCine El Rey hosts events as diverse as wrestling live bands films and comedy shows A huge stage is complimented by killer production value and a staff that really cares about all aspects of the experience Irsquom looking forward to a return triprdquo

Bill dykES YELP

visual Arts and Festivals

aCCESSiBlE arT FuN EvENTS

The international museum of art amp Science founded in 1969 promotes an appreciation for the arts and sciences through its exhibitions cultural events and many educational programs imaS is located at 1900 Nolana Ave

The mcallen art walk is a self-guided tour that gives art lovers the opportunity to explore the many art offerings in the city Itrsquos held every first Friday from September through May and is free and open to the public

on the first Saturday night of December folks enjoy the Candlelight Posada which includes food booths luminaries a parade live entertainment caroling and a live nativity scene

Chamber of Commerce Support

ChamBEr BaCkS ThE arTS

The mcallen Chamber of Commerce shows its love for the arts by managing the mcallen arts Council which publishes a quarterly magazine produces an annual fine arts exhibition and offers grants to local artists The Chamber also offers an outdoor concert series and coordinates the Public art Committeersquos acquisition program

20 mc allen

ThiNgS TO dO SPoRTS amp RECREATIoN

Soak Up Some Sunmcallen residents haVe plenty of Good reasons to Get outdoors

Great golf courses hiking and biking trails and a large well-maintained park system make McAllen the perfect place to enjoy outdoor fun By Carson OrsquoShoney

Golf

TEE iT uPWith nearly 20 courses in the

McAllen area golf is a popular attraction in the Rio Grande Valley

one of the most notable courses is the Palm view golf Course an 18-hole public course with a private feel With rolling fairways and Bermuda rough mounds the course is an often-used location for tournaments having hosted LPGA tournaments and Palm viewrsquos amateur golf Championship

mcallen Country Club provides a challenge with tree-lined fairways and small greens and also offers a swimming pool tennis courts a fitness center and other amenities

Every golf course in the area is bustling especially in the winter when ldquoWinter Texansrdquo come to the Rio Grande Valley The weather generally stays in the 70s in the coldest months making it a perfect place for winter golfing

Hiking Biking and Racing

ON ThE mOvE iN mCallEN

There are plenty of hiking and biking trails on the east and west sides of town such as the retama village Park Trail westside Park Trail and las Palmas Park Trail Visiting cyclists are welcome to meet up with Team mcallen Cycling a bike club thatrsquos been in the city for more than 25 years

Racing fans can enjoy the mcallen international motorplex and Event Center which hosts stock car races car shows and more The racetrack is a family-friendly place offering activities for children such as games face painting and crafts

Palm view Golf Courseirish cochran plays a round of golf at palm View Golf course an 18-hole public course often used for high profile tournaments

22 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 23

City Parks

OuTdOOr Family FuN

The mcallen Parks and recreation department currently oversees 25 city parks Ranging from historic parks established in the early 1900s to more modern facilities there are several options suitable for the whole family

archer Park McAllenrsquos oldest park opened in 1912 Serving as a historic landmark in the city it also plays host to many of the cityrsquos annual special events including the Candlelight Posada and movies in the Park

Spanning 38 acres Springfest Park is the largest park in McAllen Springfest hosts a variety of special events and is home to mcallenrsquos winter Polo league from January through March

check out more fun things to do in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

Spray and Ground Parkbesides its popular water feature mcallenrsquos new SprayandGroundParkhas a sand volleyball court skateboard area a half basketball court and just over half a mile of walking trails in addition there are athletic practice fields shaded areas picnic shelters and restroom facilities

22 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 23

ThiNgS TO dO SEE THE CITY

24 mc allen

The Irrigation Workerthe sun sets behind a sculpture ldquothe irrigation Workerrdquo which was created by artist douglas clark and is located on nolana and 25th

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

l iVabil it ycommc allen 25

LIvINGHERESchools health care education and neighborhoods in McAllen

26 mc allen 26 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 27 26 mc allen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 27

see more beautiful photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

Luxury Livingnewcomers have many beautiful home options in mcallen such as those offered in eight different communities by cantu construction a locally based award-winning builder

26 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 27 liVabil it ycommc allen 27

liviNg

TECH TOOLS FOSTER STUDEnT SUCCESS

Padding theCurriculum

McAllen Independent School District (ISD) is feeling the benefits of an ambitious technology plan that places an iPod or iPad in the hands of every teacher and student

mcallen independent school district students use system-issued ipads in class

28 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 29

EduCaTiNg FOr ThE 21ST CENTury

The initiative began with a meeting between Dr James Ponce McAllenrsquos superintendent of schools and a ldquocadrerdquo of about 35 teachers administrators and parents

The grouprsquos primary goal was to build a 21st-century classroom environment one that fosters creativity collaboration and entrepreneurship The group also wanted to find a way to harness the 247 educational potential of the Internet ndash and teach students the critical-thinking skills needed to process online content

ldquoItrsquos an environment where the teachers become the primary learners and the students are driven by their examplerdquo Ponce says ldquoSo we asked what tools we would need for this transformation of the way we teach and the way the kids learnrdquo

After much research the group chose iPods (for grades K-2) and iPads (for teachers and grades 3-12) because of their portability

ldquoIrsquove learned more from my fellow teachers than I have in many years just from sharing ideas for how to use the iPads in the classroomrdquo

CarOl aNN allEN LANGuAGEARTSTEACHER

ATMICHAELEFOSSuMMIDDLESCHOOL

relatively low cost and ease of use To implement the planrsquos first stage McAllen ISD issued 5800 of these devices to teachers and students when the rollout is complete it will cover more than 25000 students

Big BENEFiTS FOr TEaChErS aNd STudENTS

Both teachers and students are seeing benefits from the program

ldquoThe iPods help the kids be creative My students are organizing information in new waysrdquo says Ruth Whiddon who teaches first grade at Andrew Jackson Elementary School

For Carol Ann Allen International Baccalaureate coordinator and eighth-grade language arts teacher at Michael E Fossum Middle School the initiative is all about collaboration

ldquoIrsquove learned more from my fellow teachers than I have in many years just from sharing ideas for how to use the iPads in the classroomrdquo she says

Sandra Guerra who teaches seventh- and eighth-grade math

at Fossum says the iPads have changed both her teaching style and the way her students learn

Instead of mapping out the learning process step-by-step she now gives students their goal and lets them choose how to get there

ldquoWith this approach they own their learning and theyrsquove been more willing to learnrdquo Guerra says

The iPads have also been a game-changer for Guerrarsquos family

Her seventh-grade daughter is learning advanced science concepts because of independent iPad projects And because most of her childrenrsquos school materials are on their iPads itrsquos easier than ever for Guerra to check on their progress from home

That kind of scenario says Superintendent Ponce is at the heart of the initiative

ldquoThe entire school system and our community want to lead in this effort to build a 21st-century learning environmentrdquo he says ldquoThis is a direct investment in our children and their familiesrdquo

by Kathryn Royster

High-Tech Learningseventh-grade students use ipads to follow class lectures and take quizzes during a language arts class at michael e fossum middle school

PH

oT

o C

oU

RT

EST

Y o

F M

CA

LLE

N IN

DE

PE

ND

EN

T S

CH

oo

L D

IST

RIC

T

28 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 29

Higher Education

SOuTh TExaS COllEgE

McAllenrsquos South Texas College has more than 30000 students and offers numerous associate and bachelorrsquos degree programs as well as professional certifications in more than 40 areas The college also has online degree courses for students who work full time

liviNg EDUCATIoN

Set for SuccesscolleGe prep is a top priority in mcallen

Education in McAllen is defined by excellent options From elementary school through college McAllen includes numerous institutions designed to prepare students for success By Braxton Shoop

school yourself on more educational offerings at livabilitycommcallen

Public Schools

mCallEN iNdEPENdENT SChOOl diSTriCT

Established in 1915 the mcallen independent School district comprises three high schools seven middle schools and 20 elementary schools Among these schools the district offers an advanced placement college-level curriculum and a dual-enrollment program for students who would like to obtain high school and college credit simultaneously

In addition the district features an International Baccalaureate program that provides students with an advanced curriculum geared toward global standards

Local Inspiration

FOrmEr STudENT FliES high

one of McAllenrsquos successful students is astronaut michael Fossum a graduate of McAllen High School After receiving his commission from the US Air Force by Texas AampM University Fossum graduated Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base and in 1993 he started at NASA Throughout his NASA career Fossum was on crew for three spaceflights He commanded the space station during one of his flights helping him rank seventh on the all-time list for cumulative Extravehicular Activity time

Top-notch Learning Environmentuniversity of texas-pan american offers many undergraduate degrees more than 50 masterrsquos degrees and three doctoral degrees utpa has accreditations from organizations like the commission for collegiate nursing the examining board of nurse examiners for the state of texas and the engineering accreditation commission of the accreditation board for engineering and technology

30 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 31

Charter School

idEa aCadEmy

idEa academy is an innovative institution that offers a fully scaled curriculum for students in kindergarten and in the first second and sixth grades The school which opened in McAllen in 2012 will eventually add more grades each one including approximately 110 students While the school is public students must apply to fill the 460 available spots

To prepare its students to be collegiate scholars IDEA provides International Baccalaureate curriculum as well as the Road to College curriculum which begins in the sixth grade

ldquoWersquore very proud of the connection to our distinguished alumni like NASA astronaut Michael Fossum and we want our students to recognize the kind of education we provide here What he learned here helped catapult him into space and wersquore very proud of thatrdquo

NOrma zamOra-guErra MCALLENINDEPENDENTSCHOOL

DISTRICTCOMMuNITYINFORMATIONDIRECTOR

Michael E Fossum Middle Schoolnamed for astronaut michael e fossum the school is part of the mcallen independent school district

30 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 31

Please call 9566316109 for a representative today

2501 Buddy Owens Blvd McAllen TX 78504

9656316125 Fax

wwwrio-healthcom

RioHealth MedicalWe are here to meet all your

occupational medicine needs

bull Workplace injuries and workersrsquo compensation

bull On site and off site drug screening

bull Physicals

bull Orthopedics

bull Early return to work

bull 247 coverage

bull We accept all types of insurance

WorkplaceInjury

DANIEL J GUERRA MD Diplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

LEONEL G MORENO MDDiplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

HOMERO RIVAS MDDiplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

606 S Broadway bull McAllen TX bull (956) 682-4515 bull wwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

FAMILY PHYSICIANS

CLINICSince 1967

Mon-Fri 8 am-5 pm Sat 8 am-Noon

VALLEY NIGHT CLINIC

Since 1981

Open Every Night of the Year 6 pm-Midnight

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valley supports children of all abilities through child care

services early intervention and parenting support programs

Early Childhood intErvEntion ChildCarE sErviCEs ParEnts as tEaChErs

Easter seals rio Grande valley Programs for Children Birth to Five years

bullChild-Care servicesndashHigh-qualitychildcare sixweekstofiveyears

bullParents as teachers (Pat)ndashDevelopmental parentingsupportforchildrenbirthtofiveyears

bullEarly Childhood intervention (ECi) ndashConcerns indevelopmentforchildrenbirthtothreeyears

For more information about Easter seals

programs and services call (956) 631-9171 or visit wwweasterseals-rgvorg

32 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 33

liviNg HEALTH

Take a Deep Breath and Relaxresidents haVe access to top hospitals

McAllen residents receive quality care from the South Texas Health System Rio Grande Regional Hospital and the Doctors Hospital at Renaissance By Kevin Litwin

Health System

SOuTh TExaS hEalTh SySTEm

South Texas health System is the umbrella organization for a number of fine medical facilities including mcallen medical Center MMC has 441 beds and a staff of more than 400 physicians that represent 50 medical specialties

Also part of South Texas Health System is mcallen heart hospital which opened in 1996 as the first freestanding cardiology and cardiovascular hospital built in the United States It includes 60 beds and a 24-hour emergency center

Healthgrades has awarded McAllen Medical Center and McAllen Heart Hospital with a variety of honors in recent years and both earned a Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence in 2011

Hospital

riO graNdE rEgiONal hOSPiTal

rio grande regional hospital is an acute care medical facility with 320 beds and more than 500 physicians The hospital is the only area Diabetes Management Center accredited by the American Diabetes Association and is the arearsquos first facility to have a Pediatric Heart Program

RGRH also includes a 24-hour emergency room Womenrsquos Services department Level III trauma center and cardiovascular care The hospital is fully accredited by The Joint Commission and the College of American Pathologists and every year since 2007 has been named a Center of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery

32 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 33

Hospital

dOCTOrS hOSPiTal aT rENaiSSaNCE

The 506-bed doctors hospital at renaissance is an acute care facility It provides cardiology neurosurgery and endocrinology as well as a Pediatric Medical Tower that offers pediatric oncology and pediatric ICU services

Doctors Hospital has been ranked among the nationrsquos 100 Top Hospitals by Thomson Reuters and recently invested $32 million to establish an Electronic Medical Record System

DHR was the first in South Texas to acquire a PETCT scanner for diagnosing cancer and the first in the region to introduce da Vinci robotic surgical technology The hospital also oversees Renaissance Behavioral Center which provides treatment for people with mental health problems substance abuse or eating disorders

34 mc allen

COMMUNITyPROFILE COST OF liviNg

$44074Median Household Income

$129554Median Home Price

$689Median Rent for a Two-Bedroom Apartment

TraNSPOrTaTiON

Median Travel Time to Work

agE

TEmPEraTurE

January Average

July Average

EThNiCiTy

19 and Under

20-54

55 and over

White

Black

Hispanic

other

1645minutes

Closest Airport McAllen International Airport

955deg

482deg

South Texasrsquo Finest Gift Store Offers Gifts From Around the World

4300 N 10th St bull Ste C bull McAllen TX 78504 (956) 686-1264 bull ohkaysaolcom

Look for us on Facebook

gOlF COurSES

gOlF TEC

2901 N 10TH ST956-994-9631

mCallEN COuNTry CluB615 WICHITA AVE956-686-0923

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

The national Butterfly Center the national butterfly center dedicates 100 acres to the conservation and scientific study of wild butterflies in their natural habitats the wildlife center is open daily from 8 am until 5 pm september through march and from 9 am until 4 pm april through august

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

liviNg SEE THE CITY

36 mc allen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 37

BUSINESSInfo on McAllenrsquos top employers jobs and success stories

McAllen Convention Centerthe McAllenConventionCenter is located on 185 acres and includes a 60000-square-foot exhibit hall as well as more than 25000 square feet of meeting space in 16 breakout rooms

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

38 mc allen 38 mc allen

38 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 39

BuSiNESS oVERVIEW

McAllenrsquos in the MoneyCultural diversity location and innovation drive cityrsquos top business sectors

As the retail hub of South Texas McAllen is thriving The city draws a customer base of more than 10 million within a 200-mile radius and is represented by 40 of Americarsquos top 100 retailers

By Tiffany Williams

La Plaza MallPumping much of the life into this retail hub is la Plaza mall which annually attracts more than 18 million visitors its anchoring stores such as dillardrsquos and macyrsquos and sought-after retailers including BCBg-max azria and Coach average sales of more than $650 per square foot and are among the most profitable stores in their chains

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

Meetings amp Events

CONvENTiON CENTEr lurES viSiTOrS

The mcallen Convention Center also helps draw businesses to the area The 185-acre complex featuring a 60000-square-foot column-free exhibit hall more than 25000 square feet of meeting space and up to 16 breakout rooms offers bicultural themes and tropical accents that represent the cultural and natural diversity of McAllen

Retail

ShOPPiNg hOT SPOTS

This bicultural city which is located just five miles from the US-Mexico border also has access to three international bridges that flood with visitors and eager shoppers daily many of whom are spending at a rate twice the national average

In addition to La Plaza Mall shopping centers in the McAllen area include Trenton Crossing las Tiendas Plaza and La Plaza Mallrsquos 600sbquo000-square-foot sister shopping center Palms Crossing which hosts such big-name retailers as Barnes amp Noble and Babies rsquoRrsquo Us as well as specialty shops and restaurants Its appeal stems from its open-air design with lots of palm trees water fountains and seating areas

Major Manufacturers

madE FOr maNuFaCTuriNg

Ranked third in Texas in per-capita sales the McAllen area has some of the largest manufacturing and wholesale companies in the nation

valley Coca Cola Bottling Co Value Frozen Foods and Emerson Network Power are just a few who have put down roots here Tri-City Steel which provides a full scope of steel construction by fabricating and erecting structural steel buildings pre-engineered metal buildings stairs handrails and more Texas Citrus Exchange in Mission makes Texas rio red grapefruit juice

learn more about businesses in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

BuSiNESS

RESIDEnTS GET CREATIvE WITH BUSInESS vEnTURES

the BoxOutside

One of McAllenrsquos most innovative startups sprang from the mind of someone who wasnrsquot even interested in business Today Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar is one

of the arearsquos top entrepreneurs and is finding serious success

mcallen entrepreneur dalinda Gonzalez-alcantar founded eJucomm llc

liVabil it ycommc allen 43 42 mc allen

ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the worldrdquo

EllEry BuChaNaN FIBERIOPRESIDENTCEO

Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar the founder of eJucomm LLC simply wanted to make information in her school district more accessible to families The company was a way she could make it happen

She got the idea while working as a teacher at DeLeon Middle School in McAllen and was frustrated that families without computers andor Internet access had difficulty communicating with teachers and administrators So she decided to develop a smartphone application that would solve the problem

With no previous technical experience she researched code online at night and a year later was selling the app to various school districts

ldquoThe app enables Android and iPhone users to access information for things like grades and attendancerdquo Gonzalez-Alcantar says

The entrepreneur also faced unexpected challenges ndash for instance how to tailor individual apps to the roughly seven school districts and 40 campuses that now use them No longer teaching she has partnered with a chief technology officer so she can focus on sales and marketing

One of her biggest hurdles was finding legal fees to fund the startup and a $10000 McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant in 2011 helped pay for a licensing agreement and intellectual property protection for eJucomm to move forward

BaNaNa E-z SPliTAnother McAllen resident

Gerald Guerra faced a similar obstacle when developing a product called Banana E-Z Split A health insurance broker Guerra was inspired at his own kitchen table to create single serving packets with all three syrups

Banana E-Z SplitGerald Guerra inventor of the banana e-Z split single serving syrup packets poses with his daughters Victoria and kaitlyn enthusiastic taste testers for his product

liVabil it ycommc allen 43

To order please call or visit 956-668-0555 or wwwediblearrangementscom 5113-A N 10th St bull McAllen TX 78504

Offer valid at participating locations Offer expires 12312013 Cannot be combined with another offers Offer code must be used when placing order

Containers may vary EDIBLE ARRANGEMENTS and the Fruit Basket Logo Design are registered trademarks of Edible Arrangements LLC

copy2012 Edible Arrangements LLC All rights reserved Frachises available call (888) 727-4258 or visit wwweafranchisescom

DELICIOUSLYd e s i r a b l e

FREE PIECE OF DIPPED FRUIT

Code mctx1213

Living green is making sure the air in your home is healthy for your family to breathe Test your home for radon and build radon-resistant

Its easy Thats living healthy and green

Just call 866-730-green or visit wwwepagovradon

Living greenstarts from the ground up

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

(pineapple chocolate strawberry) needed for a banana split

The concept led to a 2011 McAllen Business Plan Competition grant to fund the necessary patents

ldquoI envisioned a product that could hang easily in refrigerated sections at big box storesrdquo Guerra says ldquoI have lined up a distributor and a broker with my ultimate goal being to have Banana E-Z Split available to customers in large grocery chains It is close to happeningrdquo

FiBEriO TEChNOlOgyAnother startup in McAllen

is already making waves globally FibeRio Technology Corporation another McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant recipient is thriving thanks to ground-breaking nanofiber-producing machinery The nanofibers can be used to make products ranging from diapers to

ballistics using a new way to spin microscopic nanofibers

The technology serves an array of industries that feature filtration textiles or biomedical applications

ldquoDr Karen Lozano at UT-Pan American discovered the process and I was contacted because I am an entrepreneur familiar with launching technology- based companies including nanotechnologyrdquo says FibeRio Technology presidentCEO Ellery Buchanan ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the world Plus we use local McAllen suppliers whenever possible including machine shops parts suppliers IT contractors and other business servicesrdquo

by Kevin Litwin by staff photographer

Michael Conti

FibeRio Technology Corporationnanomaterials processing research equipment is used at FibeRioTechnologyCorporation

FEldmaNrsquoS markET CENTErFeldmanrsquos Market Center features a broad selection of beer as well as wines liquors cigars and a gourmet deli In addition weekly beer and wine tastings are offered(956) 687-9463

PErFECT PawS rESOrTPerfect Paws Resort offers grooming services daycare and boarding to vaccinated dogs and cats that are at least 12 weeks old Boarding suites are climate controlled and under constant supervisionperfectpawsresortcom

mCCrEEry aviaTiON CO iNCMcCreery Aviation Co Inc is a place for pilots and their aircraft to receive top-notch treatment A fuel center flight planning room and hangar storage are availablemccreeryaviationcom

kiTikakE llCKitikake LLC offers gently- used vintage clothing for women from an array of top designers such as Lilly Pulitzer and Catherine Malandrino Vintage home deacutecor and dishes are also availablekitikakecom

krEidlEr FuNEral hOmEFounded owned and operated by the Kreidler family Kreidler Funeral Home has served McAllen for 100 years They offer traditional burial and graveside funeral services direct burials cremations memorial services and morekreidlerfuneralhomecom

Business Spotlight

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

visit ouradvertisersBorder Capital Bankwwwbordercapitalbankcom

City of McAllen Public Info Officewwwexploremcallennet

Courtyard by Marriottwwwmarriottcommtema

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valleywwweasterseals-rgvorg

Edible Arrangementswwwediblearrangementscom

Family Physicians Clinicwwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

Magic Valley Electric Cooperativewwwmagicvalleycoop

McAllen Economic Development Corporationwwwmcallenedcorg

McAllen Independent School Districtwwwmcallenisdorg

McAllen International Airportwwwmcallenairportcom

McAllen Realty

Mr Electricwwwmrelectriccom

Nuevo Santander Gallerywwwnuevosantandercom

OH KAYrsquoS

Preventative Care Institutewwwrgvpcicom

Quinta Mazatlanwwwquintamazatlancom

Rio Health Medicalwwwrio-healthcom

South Texas College wwwsouthtexascollegeedu

South Texas Health Systemwwwsouthtexashealthsystemcom

The Patio on Guerra wwwpatioonguerracom

Valley International Airportwwwflythevalleycom

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

BuSiNESS CHAMBER REPoRT

Whatrsquos the Big Ideachamberrsquos readiness tool kit assists entrepreneurs

The McAllen Chamber of Commerce has helped prepare 25 McAllen entrepreneurs in the continuing quest to launch their ideas ndash all since July 2011

The Chamber has a software package called VentureBusiness Readiness Assessment which is used by states such as oklahoma and Kentucky to assist startup companies The software helps an entrepreneur through the entire process of seeing whether they are truly ready to launch their startup

ldquoVentureBusiness Readiness Assessment is a way that the Chamber assists entrepreneurs who are trying to get funding for their products or projectsrdquo says Steve Ahlenius who serves as President and CEo of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce ldquoThe Chamber awards $50000 a year in innovation grants in $10000 increments and entrepreneurs are always looking for funding But they must earn that money by passing the various stages of the software tool kitrdquo

TEN hOurS TO COmPlETEAhlenius says the assessment

has several specific steps to make sure that a startup company has everything in place to ensure that it is successful

ldquoThe entrepreneurs contact us and set up an appointment to see me then they come to the Chamber office we sign them up and give them passwords to access the software at their conveniencerdquo he says ldquo[The program] takes about 10 hours to complete but doesnrsquot have to be finished in one sitting However the program must be eventually completed in order to qualify for our innovation grantrdquo

CaN iT BE madE QuiCklyThe software asks questions

such as Have you protected your intellectual property Is your product something that can be

made quickly Have you set a value on your idea and do you know how to do that If itrsquos a product that involves high-tech engineering do you have an engineer on your companyrsquos team

ldquoThe entrepreneur needs to know if his venture is worth 20 shares of stock or 200 shares ndash things like thatrdquo Ahlenius says ldquoMany factors go into launching a product or business and Venture Readiness points out a personrsquos strengths and weaknessesrdquo

a grEaT OvErviEwVicente Valle Martinez of

McAllen is an entrepreneur who contacted the Chamber in 2012 about his idea for connecting

people on the Internet who have similar educational experiences and higher learning interests

ldquoI have no background in business but heard one day about an innovation grant competition that the Chamber was sponsoringrdquo Martinez says ldquoSteve told me about the software package and it gave me a great overview of what I need to know before launching my ideardquo

Ahlenius says the various concepts the software package covers include credentials character capabilities commitment and circumstance

ldquoIt is an excellent self-awareness testrdquo he says ldquoItrsquos ideal for entrepreneursrdquo

by Kevin Litwin

the mcallen chamber of commerce on ash avenue

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

Ad Index 41 BorderCapitalBank

21 CityofMCallen puBliCinfooffiCe

4 CourtyardByMarriott

32 easterseals rioGrandeValley

44 ediBlearranGeMents

32 faMilyphysiCiansCliniC

2 MaGiCValley eleCtriCCooperatiVe

C3 MCalleneConoMiC deVelopMentCorporation

46 MCallenindependent sChooldistriCt

1 MCallen internationalairport

C4 MCallenrealty

48 MreleCtriC

46 nueVosantanderGallery

35 ohkayrsquos

34 preVentatiVe

Careinstitute

23 QuintaMazatlan

32 riohealthMediCal

31 southtexasColleGe

C2 southtexas

healthsysteM

18 thepatioonGuerra

44 Valley

internationalairport

ECONOMICPROFILE

3000+

2000- 2999

1999- 500

hOuSEhOld iNCOmE

TOP EmPlOyErS

$200000+

$150000-199999

$100000 and under

McAllen Independent School District

McAllen Medical Center South Texas College City of McAllen

Rio Grande Regional Hospital International Bank of Commerce

EduCaTiON lEvEl

High School Graduate

Associate Degree

Bachelorrsquos Degree

Masterrsquos Degree

TaxES

2City Sales and Use Tax

625State Sales Tax

825Total Sales Tax

SCOrECard

$36BAnnual Retail Sales

$28682Retail sales per capita

$3575MAnnual Hotel and Food Sales

15161Total Number of Firms

TraNSPOrTaTiON

mcallen-miller international airportwwwmcallenairportcom

metro mcallenwwwmcallennetmetro

amtrakwwwamtrakcom

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

everything you need every step of the way

Serving the rio grande valley Since 1989

Rachel Hardison-Oliva Broker

3321 N McColl Rd

McAllen TX 78501

(956) 687-7172 bull (956) 687-7178 Fax

Page 5: Livability McAllen, TX 2013

l iVabil it ycommc allen 5

MCALLEN2013EDITION vOLUME11

Texascontent director|LisaBattles

contributing Writers|BarbaraBiehlerLauraHillCarsonOrsquoShoneyKathrynRoysterBraxtonShoop

content coordinator|JessicaWalkerstaff Writer|KevinLitwin

proofreading manager|RavenPetty

lead designer|StaceyAllissenior Graphic designers|LauraGallagher

KrisSextonJakeShoresVikkiWilliamsGraphic designers|EricaLampleyKaraLeiby

KaceyPassmorecreative technology analyst|BeccaAry

lead photographer|MichaelContisenior photographers|JeffAdkinsBrianMcCord

staff photographers|ToddBennettMartinBCherry

color imaging technician | AlisonHunter

integrated media manager|ToddPottersales support project manager|SaraQuint

ad production manager|KatieMiddendorfad traffic assistants|KrystinLemmonPatriciaMoisan

Web project manager|DavidDayWeb development lead|YamelHallWeb developeri|NelsNoseworthy

Web designer ii|RichardStevensWeb product manager|JohnHood

digital project manager|JillRidenour

chairman|GregThurmanpresidentpublisher|BobSchwartzman

executive Vice president|RayLangensenior Vpsales|ToddPotter

senior Vpclient development|JeffHeefnersenior Vpoperations|CaseyHester

Vpsales|JarekSwekoskyVpcontent operations|NatashaLorens

audience development director|DeannaNelsoncreative services director|ChristinaCarden

distribution director|GarySmithphotography director|JeffreySOtto

Web services director|AllisonDavis

controller|ChrisDudleysenior accountant| LisaOwens

accounts payable coordinator|MariaMcFarlandaccounts receivable coordinator|DianaGuzman

system administrator|DanielCantrell

executive secretary|KristyDuncanhuman resources manager|PeggyBlake

receptionist|LindaBishop

Livability McAllen TXispublishedannuallybyJournalCommunicationsIncandisdistributed

throughtheMcAllen Chamber of Commerce anditsmemberbusinesses

Foradvertisinginformationortodirectquestionsorcommentsaboutthemagazinecontact

JournalCommunicationsIncat(615)771-0080orbyemailatinfojnlcomcom

Formoreinformationcontactmcallen chamber of commerce1200 ash avenue bull po box 790

mcallen tx 78505-0790phone (956) 682-2871 bull fax (956) 687-2917

wwwmcallenchambercom

visitLivability McAllen TXonlineatlivabilitycommcallen

copyCopyright2012JournalCommunicationsInc725CoolSpringsBlvdSuite400FranklinTN37067(615)771-0080AllrightsreservedNoportionofthis

magazinemaybereproducedinwholeorinpartwithoutwrittenconsent

Member TheAssociationofMagazineMedia

Member CustomContentCouncil

MemberMcAllenChamberofCommerce

GETTHEDIGITALMAGAZINE

livabilitycommcallen

Itrsquos loaded with links to more great info about McAllen Telling your communityrsquos unique story has never been so easy

TakE iT wiTh yOu

Easily share an interesting article stunning photo or advertisement of your business on Facebook Twitter or via email

CliCk arOuNd

Click on the web addresses in the copy to enjoy immediate access to each website

SPrEad ThE NEwS

Broadcast your communityrsquos positive image by placing the magazine on your website blog or newsletter

2013 | SPONSORED BY THE MCALLEN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

livabilitycommcallen

MCALLENTEXAS

McAllen in a DayThis happening Valley city has plenty to do and see

OUTSIDE THE BOXResidents get creative with business ventures

l iVabil it ycommc allen 5

CONTENTSlivabilitycommcallen

Visit the website for more great photos and stories about McAllen Texas

Livabilitycom Follow us livability Like us at facebookcomlivability Follow us at pinterestcomlivability

Things To Do Find the must-do attractions activities and dining in McAllen

LivingLearn about McAllenrsquos schools health care education and neighborhoods

BusinessGet info on top employers jobs and success stories in McAllen

digital magazine

Read it online or on your tablet and quickly share articles with friends

FaCtSGet data fast on population climate workforce cost of living and more

PhoTos amp viDeo

2013 | SPONSORED BY THE MCALLEN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

livabilitycommcallen

MCALLENTEXAS

McAllen in a DayThis happening Valley city has plenty to do and see

OUTSIDE THE BOXResidents get creative with business ventures

aT a glaNCE

Cultural diversity progressive business practices and a booming economy best characterize McAllen ndash one of the fastest growing metros in Texas and part of one of the fastest growing MSAs in the nation Its location near the US-Mexico border has made it a magnet for retail international trade tourism and manufacturing

aBuNdaNT liviNgMcAllenrsquos economic mix means

tangible benefits for residents beyond a strong job market They take their picks among diverse shopping and dining options that include national brands and unique independent retailers

The resulting tax base means the city can offer amenities such as a massive state-of-the-art library in-town bus service awesome parks and popular hiking and biking trails that are enjoyed year round thanks to a warm climate

With all this and affordable homes McAllen also consistently ranks among cities with the lowest cost of living in the United States

grEaT FOr BuSiNESSMcAllen is good for business

big and small More than 100 Fortune 500 companies have a presence within the McAllen MSA and the city has also been recently recognized by CNNMoney on its list of Best Places to Launch a Small Business

Key factors bringing expansions and entrepreneurs are an excellent quality of life numerous advanced medical facilities a comprehensive financial services community demonstrated logistics advantages to reach existing and new markets and a mostly young bicultural and bilingual population

Read on to discover why McAllen is one of Americarsquos best places to live

McAllen Texasa quick comprehensiVe oVerVieW of Whatrsquos Great about the community

Rio Granded

Rio Grande

83

281

281

83

777777

28181288281777777

ReynosaosR sas

Matamoros

Rio BravoBrownsvilleBrowrow sss

WeslacoHarlingenrlinng

Edinburg

Mission

Pharr

McAllen

HIDALGO

MEXICO

UNITEDSTATESS

FOr mOrE iNFOrmaTiON

McAllenChamberofCommerce1200 Ash Avenue McAllen TX 78501 Phone (956) 682-2871Fax (956) 687-2917

wwwmcallenchambercom

lOCaTiONMcAllen is in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas situated just 70 miles west of the Gulf of Mexico McAllen is the largest city in Hidalgo County

POPulaTiON

133821 (McAllen)

774769 (MSA)

aNNual raiNFall

23rdquo

diSTaNCES TO ThrEE majOr CiTiES NEarBy San Antonio 224 miles Austin 311 miles Fort WorthDallas 502 miles

TimE zONECentral

National Average 30rdquo

No3Mid-Size

US City for Jobs

- Forbes

ACCOLADE

McAllen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 7

Shopping

BrOwSE Or Buy

mcallenrsquos la Plaza mall draws more than 18 million visitors each year as the main shopping spot for residents in the Rio Grande Valley The 1200000-square-foot mall has more than 140 retailers such as Macyrsquos and Dillardrsquos as well as a variety of restaurants

Art Events

miNglE wiTh arTiSTS

The music after hours Outdoor Concert Series is held monthly to showcase bands from the Rio Grande Valley Meanwhile mcallenrsquos artwalk is a monthly self-guided tour that features art galleries vendors and museums

Sports

Play Ball

The mcallen Thunder and Edinburg roadrunners are baseball teams that play at Edinburg Baseball Stadium Both teams are members of the North American League an independent professional league not affiliated with Major League Baseball

Locally Grown

STOCk uP

You can find more than 20 varieties of citrus and other fresh fruits vegetables nuts and locally made products at klementrsquos grove Bellrsquos Farm to market Farmers market at Town lake and Farmers market at mcallenrsquos new library

THINGSTODOMcAllenrsquos must-do attractions activities and dining

Grab Your Binocularsmcallenrsquos many wildlife havens include QuintaMazatlan above an urban sanctuary for birds plants and other wildlife valleyNatureCenter which is the oldest nature center in the rio Grande Valley and the 2000-acre SantaAnaNationalWildlifeRefuge which has recorded 400 bird species and hundreds of butterfly species

8 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 9

Eatery

PiCk ThE PlaTTEr

The popular restaurant Costa messa has a new location on North 10th Street and its menu includes favorite items such as huge botana platters to share and choriqueso The eatery is open seven days a week from 11 am until 10 pm

Outdoors

gET iN ShaPE

Hiking and biking trail systems are located at various parks throughout McAllen Some of the arearsquos most popular trails can be found at las Palmas Park la vista Park los Encinos Park retama village Park Bill Schupp Park and westside Park

Pro Sports

FlaSh aNd viPErS

Cheer on the rio grande valley Flash a Professional Arena Soccer League team and catch the basketball action of the rio grande valley vipers 2010 NBA Development League Champions Both teams play at State Farm Arena in Hidalgo

ThiNgS TO dO

Happy Hour

PrOPOSE a TOaST

Enjoy dinner drinks and fun at the many businesses located within the 17th Street Entertainment district of downtown McAllen a revitalized area now bustling with interesting restaurants pubs clubs and lounges

Climb Aboardthe federal transit administration awarded mcallen $19 million to create an electric bus pilot program OLEvTechnologiesoversees the program which is retrofitting three diesel buses with electric motors passenger transport begins in 2013

8 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 9

THIS HAPPEnInG vALLEY CITY OFFERS PLEnTY TO DO SEE amp EAT

ThiNgS TO dO

mcallenin a Day

l iVabil it ycommc allen 11 10 mc allen

midNighT TO NOON iN mCallENWhere to stay McAllen has nearly 3600 hotel rooms

from luxurious traditional hotels to new motels with all the contemporary bells and whistles The Renaissance Casa de Palmas a four-star hotel on Main Street was built in 1918 and lavishly restored into a luxury property featuring Mission architecture that recalls McAllenrsquos past Or try the Spring Hill Suites just off the expressway for a more modern take

After a comfortable night start the morning off with breakfast at Jimmyrsquos Egg a new outpost of a longtime Oklahoma favorite Here enjoy nearly any kind of egg you can imagine for breakfast ndash or atop a burger at lunch Go further south of the cuisine border at Las Cazuelas Grill another popular new eatery for menu items such as Chilaquiles con Huevo or Molletes

Got 24 hours to spare We recommend a busy day well spent in McAllen where you can fill every available hour

with interesting sights delicious cuisine and a variety of fun activities

a birdrsquos-eye view of the cityrsquos revitalized 17the street entertainment district

l iVabil it ycommc allen 11

NB

icen

tenn

ialB

lvd

WHackberryAve

S23

rdS

tree

t

83

international museum of arts and sciences

mcallen public library

McAllen Public Librarym-th 9am - 9pmf-sat 9am - 6pmsun 1pm - 9pm

phone (956) 688-3300uhV students (with id) free

wwwmcallenlibrarynet

12 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 13

The hike and bike trail on Second Street and another on Bicentennial offer the chance for a leisurely 23-mile stroll around town ndash yoursquove got to work off that breakfast after all And then head over to the International Museum of Arts and Science a Smithsonian affiliated museum where a wide variety of changing art and science exhibits always offer something interesting

Another must-see is McAllenrsquos new public library which at a whopping 123000 square feet is the largest single-floor library in the US This former Walmart building underwent a total transformation into an aesthetically pleasing community resource thatrsquos steadily gaining attention worldwide for its colorful open and functional design Opened in December 2011 the facility has already won first place in the International Interior Design Associationrsquos 2012 Library Interior Design Competition

luNCh aNd laTErldquoWersquove got over 600 restaurants

hererdquo says Chamber President and CEO Steve Ahlenius So since itrsquos noon by now try the flatbread or a

salad at house wine amp bistro or go for a panini at Corner Bakery Cafe Or for Latin flavor head to KoKorsquos for delicious Mexican fare

In McAllen a day without shopping would be sad indeed La Plaza Mall is the most visited mall in the country and Palms Crossings at the McAllen Convention Center is home to several shops and restaurants such as Mimirsquos Cafe and Romanorsquos Macaroni Grill

ldquoAfter I finished shopping Irsquod spend the rest of the afternoon at Quinta Mazatlan (a historic home that also offers nature trails and legendary bird watching)rdquo Ahlenius says Another option is to test the waters by kayaking or catch-and-release fishing on Town Lake at Firemanrsquos Park

mCallEN aFTEr hOurSYoursquore not tired are you

Good because after freshening up back at your hotel itrsquos off to a night on the town Cajun cuisine at The Bayou Grill on North 10th St is a great option as are the authentic Mexican menus at Cabritos Nuevo Leon or La Jaiba Mexican Seafood Grill both on West Nolana

After dinner stroll the 17th Street Entertainment District to catch the flavor of McAllen after hours or catch a show at the historic Cine El Rey theater where comedy acts concerts film festivals and other events take the stage Finally La Recova Contemporary Argentinean Grill beckons for a nightcap in its quiet upscale bar ldquowhere you can actually carry on a conversationrdquo Ahlenius says

Then to bed Where after a good nightrsquos rest you will surely want to get up and spend yet another great day in McAllen

by Laura Hill by staff photographer

Michael Conti

ldquoMcAllen is a beautiful multicultural city with plenty to do and see From shopping in the most popular stores in the nation or unique one-of-a-kind shops to fine dining and plenty of family outdoor activities ndash you can do it year round hererdquo

gErry garCia VPOFSPECIALPROJECTS

FORTHEMCALLENCHAMBER

SNAPSHOT

for music dinner and dancing head to downtown mcallenrsquos 17th street entertainment district

The Patio on Guerradiners enjoy the food and atmosphere at the patio on Guerra on 17th street in downtown mcallen

12 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 13

ThiNgS TO dO

Town Lakea boy takes his dog for a walk as he skateboards the trail along the new 4-acre town lake at firemanrsquos park a popular spot for canoeing kayaking fishing and more

ThiNgS TO dO

14 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 15 14 mc allen

nEW LAkE OPEnS AT FIREMAnrsquoS PARk

Ahh howrefreshing

ldquoWe did all the required dredging to transform the little pond into a recreational lake that is 15 feet at its deepest pointrdquo says Sally Gavlik director of the McAllen Parks amp Recreation Department ldquoIn these days of more and more people opting to remain close to home for staycations Town Lake at Firemanrsquos Park gives them a valid option for a different kind of local vacationrdquo

lET ThE FuN BEgiNTown Lake is situated right in the

middle of McAllen off Business Highway 83 between First and Second streets Swimming is prohibited due to park

irrigation regulations but a beach has been constructed to launch canoes kayaks and paddle boats A fishing pier is also in place

ldquoWe transferred fish to the lake from nearby Boeye Reservoir which has provided us with good stocks of bass perch and catfishrdquo Gavlik says ldquoTown Lake currently only has a catch-and-release program meaning you can catch fish but must release them back into the water At some point in the future when the fish population increases we plan to schedule times when people can take the fish homerdquo

The City of McAllen made a big splash in May 2012 when it officially opened Town Lake at Firemanrsquos Park What was once a small tract of land with a few basic

recreational amenities is now a 15-acre redevelopment that includes the four-acre Town Lake Crews used a water holding pond at the cityrsquos former water treatment facility to construct the new lake

14 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 15

TakE a hikEWalking and jogging are also good recreational

options around the waterrsquos perimeterldquoTown Lake actually ties into the well used Second

Street Trail People can come off the trail walk or jog along the lake and then get back onto the trailrdquo Gavlik says ldquoThe scenery includes wildflowers in a freshly seeded meadow while other park amenities are horseshoe pits two playgrounds and free picnic sites at the north end of Firemanrsquos Park at First Streetrdquo

There is also a covered pavilion area with sand volleyball courts a small concession building and three camping sites The campsites can be used during the day by anyone but only overnight by organized groups such as the Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts Group reservations must be made through the McAllen Parks amp Recreation Department

ldquoAnother park attraction is the former water treatment building which has been transformed into a rental facilityrdquo Gavlik says ldquoIt is now called The Old Pump House complete with new windows air conditioning uplighting tiling and carpeted floors Groups of 75 to 100 people can rent the facility for meetings small receptions or small social events The Old Pump House adds to the overall amenities of todayrsquos Firemenrsquos Parkrdquo

by Kevin Litwin by staff photographer Michael Conti

Fishinga group casts lines into town lake which enforces a catch-and-release program

WHackberryAve

TownLake

83

firemanrsquos park

N2

nd

Str

eet

16 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 17

children enjoy the playground at firemanrsquos park

16 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 17

l iVabil it ycommc allen 19

ThiNgS TO dO LoCAL FLAVoR

Palate Pleasersmcallen restaurants serVe up flaVorful foods

McAllen diners rejoice The city has a broad selection of distinctive restaurants and eateries appealing to just about every taste By Barbara Biehler

Asian

SENSaTiONal SuShi amp SPiCE

McAllen has several great spots for Japanese food such as sushi tempura and teppanyaki including kohnami kumori and yokorsquos Sushi Bar

Fans of Thai food should check out Thai red Chilirsquos for dishes like pad thai red curry chicken and sweet rice with mango

Indian

TaNdOOri aNyONETaste of india hits the spot

for diners looking for high quality authentic Indian food made from old family recipes and paired with excellent service

Tex-Mex and Mexican

SOmE likE iT SPiCy

Step into las Cazuelas grill for classic Mexican cuisine or visit Palenque Chicken for expertly prepared Mexican and Tex Mex dishes

Renowned regionally for homemade tamales deliarsquos uses fresh ingredients including pork chicken and beef

The republic of rio grande serves Mexican cuisine in an intimate setting order a traditional dish like the chicken fajitas or enchiladas suizas or enjoy a distinctive entree such as shrimp chipotle pesto pasta or a brick-oven pizza

check out more restaurants in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

ldquoDeliarsquos has the best tamales in town Probably even in the RGV The only place you can get the good old homemade flavor of real tamalesrdquo

Evila l YELPCOM

Argentine

SOuTh amEriCaN CuiSiNE

Relax in the elegant yet casual atmosphere of la Pampa argentinean Steak housewhile you dine on classic Argentine- cut steaks grilled chicken breasts marinated in Chimichurri or traditional de carne empanadas

Meanwhile la recova also offers a wide selection of Argentine-style favorites on its menu Favorite dishes at La Recova includes chorizo tuna carnitas duck confit and churrasco a classic top sirloin steak

Outdoor Dining

TrENdy amp TaSTy

If yoursquore in the mood for a USDA prime steak or succulent seafood drop by The Patio on guerra Dine on the outdoor patio and have a bottle of one of the restaurantrsquos award-winning wines

FridarsquosGrillandCantina located on 17th street offers traditional mexican favorites with modern flavors Go to fridarsquos to enjoy unique culinary dishes signature drinks and live music on the weekends

l iVabil it ycommc allen 19

ThiNgS TO dO ARTS amp CULTURE

Rave Reviewsmcallenrsquos arts scene remains robust With museums music and eVents

Arts patrons music lovers and history buffs enjoy many cultural attractions throughout McAllen The latest buzz McAllen Performing Arts Center will spring up near the McAllen Convention Center giving fans of live music theater and dance a fine new facility to anticipate

Live Entertainment

PErFOrmErS TakE ThE STagE

The 17th Street Entertainment district in downtown McAllen overflows with lounges restaurants and clubs For live music visit The old Ice House or Cine El Rey

The cityrsquos diverse culture is what influences much of the music performed by the valley Symphony Orchestra amp Chorale The Symphony was established in 1952 with the Chorale joining later in 1984 Similarly the South Texas lyric Opera brings the fine art of opera to the Rio Grande Valley with a yearly slate of productions and an annual opera gala and rio grande valley Broadway brings popular stage shows to town such as Disneyrsquos Beauty and the Beast and Monty Pythonrsquos Spamalot

Historic Sites

TakE a STEP BaCk iN TimE

The museum of South Texas history and the mcallen heritage Center are just two locations to learn about the rich history of this bicultural area

Quinta mazatlan a 1930s hacienda that embodies the Spanish Colonial Revival architecture of arches adobe and beams and provides an intimate look into South Texas history The 10000-square- foot mansion sits on a 15-acre plot hosting a mix of native and exotic plants and wildlife making up McAllenrsquos wing of the popular world Birding Center

Cine El Reyopened in 1947 the historic cine el rey theater now functions as

a music and performance venue showcasing a variety of live events and also shows spanish and english independent films the theater is located in downtown mcallenrsquos 17th street entertainment district

20 mc allen

ldquoCine El Rey hosts events as diverse as wrestling live bands films and comedy shows A huge stage is complimented by killer production value and a staff that really cares about all aspects of the experience Irsquom looking forward to a return triprdquo

Bill dykES YELP

visual Arts and Festivals

aCCESSiBlE arT FuN EvENTS

The international museum of art amp Science founded in 1969 promotes an appreciation for the arts and sciences through its exhibitions cultural events and many educational programs imaS is located at 1900 Nolana Ave

The mcallen art walk is a self-guided tour that gives art lovers the opportunity to explore the many art offerings in the city Itrsquos held every first Friday from September through May and is free and open to the public

on the first Saturday night of December folks enjoy the Candlelight Posada which includes food booths luminaries a parade live entertainment caroling and a live nativity scene

Chamber of Commerce Support

ChamBEr BaCkS ThE arTS

The mcallen Chamber of Commerce shows its love for the arts by managing the mcallen arts Council which publishes a quarterly magazine produces an annual fine arts exhibition and offers grants to local artists The Chamber also offers an outdoor concert series and coordinates the Public art Committeersquos acquisition program

20 mc allen

ThiNgS TO dO SPoRTS amp RECREATIoN

Soak Up Some Sunmcallen residents haVe plenty of Good reasons to Get outdoors

Great golf courses hiking and biking trails and a large well-maintained park system make McAllen the perfect place to enjoy outdoor fun By Carson OrsquoShoney

Golf

TEE iT uPWith nearly 20 courses in the

McAllen area golf is a popular attraction in the Rio Grande Valley

one of the most notable courses is the Palm view golf Course an 18-hole public course with a private feel With rolling fairways and Bermuda rough mounds the course is an often-used location for tournaments having hosted LPGA tournaments and Palm viewrsquos amateur golf Championship

mcallen Country Club provides a challenge with tree-lined fairways and small greens and also offers a swimming pool tennis courts a fitness center and other amenities

Every golf course in the area is bustling especially in the winter when ldquoWinter Texansrdquo come to the Rio Grande Valley The weather generally stays in the 70s in the coldest months making it a perfect place for winter golfing

Hiking Biking and Racing

ON ThE mOvE iN mCallEN

There are plenty of hiking and biking trails on the east and west sides of town such as the retama village Park Trail westside Park Trail and las Palmas Park Trail Visiting cyclists are welcome to meet up with Team mcallen Cycling a bike club thatrsquos been in the city for more than 25 years

Racing fans can enjoy the mcallen international motorplex and Event Center which hosts stock car races car shows and more The racetrack is a family-friendly place offering activities for children such as games face painting and crafts

Palm view Golf Courseirish cochran plays a round of golf at palm View Golf course an 18-hole public course often used for high profile tournaments

22 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 23

City Parks

OuTdOOr Family FuN

The mcallen Parks and recreation department currently oversees 25 city parks Ranging from historic parks established in the early 1900s to more modern facilities there are several options suitable for the whole family

archer Park McAllenrsquos oldest park opened in 1912 Serving as a historic landmark in the city it also plays host to many of the cityrsquos annual special events including the Candlelight Posada and movies in the Park

Spanning 38 acres Springfest Park is the largest park in McAllen Springfest hosts a variety of special events and is home to mcallenrsquos winter Polo league from January through March

check out more fun things to do in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

Spray and Ground Parkbesides its popular water feature mcallenrsquos new SprayandGroundParkhas a sand volleyball court skateboard area a half basketball court and just over half a mile of walking trails in addition there are athletic practice fields shaded areas picnic shelters and restroom facilities

22 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 23

ThiNgS TO dO SEE THE CITY

24 mc allen

The Irrigation Workerthe sun sets behind a sculpture ldquothe irrigation Workerrdquo which was created by artist douglas clark and is located on nolana and 25th

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

l iVabil it ycommc allen 25

LIvINGHERESchools health care education and neighborhoods in McAllen

26 mc allen 26 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 27 26 mc allen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 27

see more beautiful photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

Luxury Livingnewcomers have many beautiful home options in mcallen such as those offered in eight different communities by cantu construction a locally based award-winning builder

26 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 27 liVabil it ycommc allen 27

liviNg

TECH TOOLS FOSTER STUDEnT SUCCESS

Padding theCurriculum

McAllen Independent School District (ISD) is feeling the benefits of an ambitious technology plan that places an iPod or iPad in the hands of every teacher and student

mcallen independent school district students use system-issued ipads in class

28 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 29

EduCaTiNg FOr ThE 21ST CENTury

The initiative began with a meeting between Dr James Ponce McAllenrsquos superintendent of schools and a ldquocadrerdquo of about 35 teachers administrators and parents

The grouprsquos primary goal was to build a 21st-century classroom environment one that fosters creativity collaboration and entrepreneurship The group also wanted to find a way to harness the 247 educational potential of the Internet ndash and teach students the critical-thinking skills needed to process online content

ldquoItrsquos an environment where the teachers become the primary learners and the students are driven by their examplerdquo Ponce says ldquoSo we asked what tools we would need for this transformation of the way we teach and the way the kids learnrdquo

After much research the group chose iPods (for grades K-2) and iPads (for teachers and grades 3-12) because of their portability

ldquoIrsquove learned more from my fellow teachers than I have in many years just from sharing ideas for how to use the iPads in the classroomrdquo

CarOl aNN allEN LANGuAGEARTSTEACHER

ATMICHAELEFOSSuMMIDDLESCHOOL

relatively low cost and ease of use To implement the planrsquos first stage McAllen ISD issued 5800 of these devices to teachers and students when the rollout is complete it will cover more than 25000 students

Big BENEFiTS FOr TEaChErS aNd STudENTS

Both teachers and students are seeing benefits from the program

ldquoThe iPods help the kids be creative My students are organizing information in new waysrdquo says Ruth Whiddon who teaches first grade at Andrew Jackson Elementary School

For Carol Ann Allen International Baccalaureate coordinator and eighth-grade language arts teacher at Michael E Fossum Middle School the initiative is all about collaboration

ldquoIrsquove learned more from my fellow teachers than I have in many years just from sharing ideas for how to use the iPads in the classroomrdquo she says

Sandra Guerra who teaches seventh- and eighth-grade math

at Fossum says the iPads have changed both her teaching style and the way her students learn

Instead of mapping out the learning process step-by-step she now gives students their goal and lets them choose how to get there

ldquoWith this approach they own their learning and theyrsquove been more willing to learnrdquo Guerra says

The iPads have also been a game-changer for Guerrarsquos family

Her seventh-grade daughter is learning advanced science concepts because of independent iPad projects And because most of her childrenrsquos school materials are on their iPads itrsquos easier than ever for Guerra to check on their progress from home

That kind of scenario says Superintendent Ponce is at the heart of the initiative

ldquoThe entire school system and our community want to lead in this effort to build a 21st-century learning environmentrdquo he says ldquoThis is a direct investment in our children and their familiesrdquo

by Kathryn Royster

High-Tech Learningseventh-grade students use ipads to follow class lectures and take quizzes during a language arts class at michael e fossum middle school

PH

oT

o C

oU

RT

EST

Y o

F M

CA

LLE

N IN

DE

PE

ND

EN

T S

CH

oo

L D

IST

RIC

T

28 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 29

Higher Education

SOuTh TExaS COllEgE

McAllenrsquos South Texas College has more than 30000 students and offers numerous associate and bachelorrsquos degree programs as well as professional certifications in more than 40 areas The college also has online degree courses for students who work full time

liviNg EDUCATIoN

Set for SuccesscolleGe prep is a top priority in mcallen

Education in McAllen is defined by excellent options From elementary school through college McAllen includes numerous institutions designed to prepare students for success By Braxton Shoop

school yourself on more educational offerings at livabilitycommcallen

Public Schools

mCallEN iNdEPENdENT SChOOl diSTriCT

Established in 1915 the mcallen independent School district comprises three high schools seven middle schools and 20 elementary schools Among these schools the district offers an advanced placement college-level curriculum and a dual-enrollment program for students who would like to obtain high school and college credit simultaneously

In addition the district features an International Baccalaureate program that provides students with an advanced curriculum geared toward global standards

Local Inspiration

FOrmEr STudENT FliES high

one of McAllenrsquos successful students is astronaut michael Fossum a graduate of McAllen High School After receiving his commission from the US Air Force by Texas AampM University Fossum graduated Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base and in 1993 he started at NASA Throughout his NASA career Fossum was on crew for three spaceflights He commanded the space station during one of his flights helping him rank seventh on the all-time list for cumulative Extravehicular Activity time

Top-notch Learning Environmentuniversity of texas-pan american offers many undergraduate degrees more than 50 masterrsquos degrees and three doctoral degrees utpa has accreditations from organizations like the commission for collegiate nursing the examining board of nurse examiners for the state of texas and the engineering accreditation commission of the accreditation board for engineering and technology

30 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 31

Charter School

idEa aCadEmy

idEa academy is an innovative institution that offers a fully scaled curriculum for students in kindergarten and in the first second and sixth grades The school which opened in McAllen in 2012 will eventually add more grades each one including approximately 110 students While the school is public students must apply to fill the 460 available spots

To prepare its students to be collegiate scholars IDEA provides International Baccalaureate curriculum as well as the Road to College curriculum which begins in the sixth grade

ldquoWersquore very proud of the connection to our distinguished alumni like NASA astronaut Michael Fossum and we want our students to recognize the kind of education we provide here What he learned here helped catapult him into space and wersquore very proud of thatrdquo

NOrma zamOra-guErra MCALLENINDEPENDENTSCHOOL

DISTRICTCOMMuNITYINFORMATIONDIRECTOR

Michael E Fossum Middle Schoolnamed for astronaut michael e fossum the school is part of the mcallen independent school district

30 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 31

Please call 9566316109 for a representative today

2501 Buddy Owens Blvd McAllen TX 78504

9656316125 Fax

wwwrio-healthcom

RioHealth MedicalWe are here to meet all your

occupational medicine needs

bull Workplace injuries and workersrsquo compensation

bull On site and off site drug screening

bull Physicals

bull Orthopedics

bull Early return to work

bull 247 coverage

bull We accept all types of insurance

WorkplaceInjury

DANIEL J GUERRA MD Diplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

LEONEL G MORENO MDDiplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

HOMERO RIVAS MDDiplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

606 S Broadway bull McAllen TX bull (956) 682-4515 bull wwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

FAMILY PHYSICIANS

CLINICSince 1967

Mon-Fri 8 am-5 pm Sat 8 am-Noon

VALLEY NIGHT CLINIC

Since 1981

Open Every Night of the Year 6 pm-Midnight

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valley supports children of all abilities through child care

services early intervention and parenting support programs

Early Childhood intErvEntion ChildCarE sErviCEs ParEnts as tEaChErs

Easter seals rio Grande valley Programs for Children Birth to Five years

bullChild-Care servicesndashHigh-qualitychildcare sixweekstofiveyears

bullParents as teachers (Pat)ndashDevelopmental parentingsupportforchildrenbirthtofiveyears

bullEarly Childhood intervention (ECi) ndashConcerns indevelopmentforchildrenbirthtothreeyears

For more information about Easter seals

programs and services call (956) 631-9171 or visit wwweasterseals-rgvorg

32 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 33

liviNg HEALTH

Take a Deep Breath and Relaxresidents haVe access to top hospitals

McAllen residents receive quality care from the South Texas Health System Rio Grande Regional Hospital and the Doctors Hospital at Renaissance By Kevin Litwin

Health System

SOuTh TExaS hEalTh SySTEm

South Texas health System is the umbrella organization for a number of fine medical facilities including mcallen medical Center MMC has 441 beds and a staff of more than 400 physicians that represent 50 medical specialties

Also part of South Texas Health System is mcallen heart hospital which opened in 1996 as the first freestanding cardiology and cardiovascular hospital built in the United States It includes 60 beds and a 24-hour emergency center

Healthgrades has awarded McAllen Medical Center and McAllen Heart Hospital with a variety of honors in recent years and both earned a Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence in 2011

Hospital

riO graNdE rEgiONal hOSPiTal

rio grande regional hospital is an acute care medical facility with 320 beds and more than 500 physicians The hospital is the only area Diabetes Management Center accredited by the American Diabetes Association and is the arearsquos first facility to have a Pediatric Heart Program

RGRH also includes a 24-hour emergency room Womenrsquos Services department Level III trauma center and cardiovascular care The hospital is fully accredited by The Joint Commission and the College of American Pathologists and every year since 2007 has been named a Center of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery

32 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 33

Hospital

dOCTOrS hOSPiTal aT rENaiSSaNCE

The 506-bed doctors hospital at renaissance is an acute care facility It provides cardiology neurosurgery and endocrinology as well as a Pediatric Medical Tower that offers pediatric oncology and pediatric ICU services

Doctors Hospital has been ranked among the nationrsquos 100 Top Hospitals by Thomson Reuters and recently invested $32 million to establish an Electronic Medical Record System

DHR was the first in South Texas to acquire a PETCT scanner for diagnosing cancer and the first in the region to introduce da Vinci robotic surgical technology The hospital also oversees Renaissance Behavioral Center which provides treatment for people with mental health problems substance abuse or eating disorders

34 mc allen

COMMUNITyPROFILE COST OF liviNg

$44074Median Household Income

$129554Median Home Price

$689Median Rent for a Two-Bedroom Apartment

TraNSPOrTaTiON

Median Travel Time to Work

agE

TEmPEraTurE

January Average

July Average

EThNiCiTy

19 and Under

20-54

55 and over

White

Black

Hispanic

other

1645minutes

Closest Airport McAllen International Airport

955deg

482deg

South Texasrsquo Finest Gift Store Offers Gifts From Around the World

4300 N 10th St bull Ste C bull McAllen TX 78504 (956) 686-1264 bull ohkaysaolcom

Look for us on Facebook

gOlF COurSES

gOlF TEC

2901 N 10TH ST956-994-9631

mCallEN COuNTry CluB615 WICHITA AVE956-686-0923

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

The national Butterfly Center the national butterfly center dedicates 100 acres to the conservation and scientific study of wild butterflies in their natural habitats the wildlife center is open daily from 8 am until 5 pm september through march and from 9 am until 4 pm april through august

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

liviNg SEE THE CITY

36 mc allen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 37

BUSINESSInfo on McAllenrsquos top employers jobs and success stories

McAllen Convention Centerthe McAllenConventionCenter is located on 185 acres and includes a 60000-square-foot exhibit hall as well as more than 25000 square feet of meeting space in 16 breakout rooms

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

38 mc allen 38 mc allen

38 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 39

BuSiNESS oVERVIEW

McAllenrsquos in the MoneyCultural diversity location and innovation drive cityrsquos top business sectors

As the retail hub of South Texas McAllen is thriving The city draws a customer base of more than 10 million within a 200-mile radius and is represented by 40 of Americarsquos top 100 retailers

By Tiffany Williams

La Plaza MallPumping much of the life into this retail hub is la Plaza mall which annually attracts more than 18 million visitors its anchoring stores such as dillardrsquos and macyrsquos and sought-after retailers including BCBg-max azria and Coach average sales of more than $650 per square foot and are among the most profitable stores in their chains

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

Meetings amp Events

CONvENTiON CENTEr lurES viSiTOrS

The mcallen Convention Center also helps draw businesses to the area The 185-acre complex featuring a 60000-square-foot column-free exhibit hall more than 25000 square feet of meeting space and up to 16 breakout rooms offers bicultural themes and tropical accents that represent the cultural and natural diversity of McAllen

Retail

ShOPPiNg hOT SPOTS

This bicultural city which is located just five miles from the US-Mexico border also has access to three international bridges that flood with visitors and eager shoppers daily many of whom are spending at a rate twice the national average

In addition to La Plaza Mall shopping centers in the McAllen area include Trenton Crossing las Tiendas Plaza and La Plaza Mallrsquos 600sbquo000-square-foot sister shopping center Palms Crossing which hosts such big-name retailers as Barnes amp Noble and Babies rsquoRrsquo Us as well as specialty shops and restaurants Its appeal stems from its open-air design with lots of palm trees water fountains and seating areas

Major Manufacturers

madE FOr maNuFaCTuriNg

Ranked third in Texas in per-capita sales the McAllen area has some of the largest manufacturing and wholesale companies in the nation

valley Coca Cola Bottling Co Value Frozen Foods and Emerson Network Power are just a few who have put down roots here Tri-City Steel which provides a full scope of steel construction by fabricating and erecting structural steel buildings pre-engineered metal buildings stairs handrails and more Texas Citrus Exchange in Mission makes Texas rio red grapefruit juice

learn more about businesses in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

BuSiNESS

RESIDEnTS GET CREATIvE WITH BUSInESS vEnTURES

the BoxOutside

One of McAllenrsquos most innovative startups sprang from the mind of someone who wasnrsquot even interested in business Today Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar is one

of the arearsquos top entrepreneurs and is finding serious success

mcallen entrepreneur dalinda Gonzalez-alcantar founded eJucomm llc

liVabil it ycommc allen 43 42 mc allen

ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the worldrdquo

EllEry BuChaNaN FIBERIOPRESIDENTCEO

Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar the founder of eJucomm LLC simply wanted to make information in her school district more accessible to families The company was a way she could make it happen

She got the idea while working as a teacher at DeLeon Middle School in McAllen and was frustrated that families without computers andor Internet access had difficulty communicating with teachers and administrators So she decided to develop a smartphone application that would solve the problem

With no previous technical experience she researched code online at night and a year later was selling the app to various school districts

ldquoThe app enables Android and iPhone users to access information for things like grades and attendancerdquo Gonzalez-Alcantar says

The entrepreneur also faced unexpected challenges ndash for instance how to tailor individual apps to the roughly seven school districts and 40 campuses that now use them No longer teaching she has partnered with a chief technology officer so she can focus on sales and marketing

One of her biggest hurdles was finding legal fees to fund the startup and a $10000 McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant in 2011 helped pay for a licensing agreement and intellectual property protection for eJucomm to move forward

BaNaNa E-z SPliTAnother McAllen resident

Gerald Guerra faced a similar obstacle when developing a product called Banana E-Z Split A health insurance broker Guerra was inspired at his own kitchen table to create single serving packets with all three syrups

Banana E-Z SplitGerald Guerra inventor of the banana e-Z split single serving syrup packets poses with his daughters Victoria and kaitlyn enthusiastic taste testers for his product

liVabil it ycommc allen 43

To order please call or visit 956-668-0555 or wwwediblearrangementscom 5113-A N 10th St bull McAllen TX 78504

Offer valid at participating locations Offer expires 12312013 Cannot be combined with another offers Offer code must be used when placing order

Containers may vary EDIBLE ARRANGEMENTS and the Fruit Basket Logo Design are registered trademarks of Edible Arrangements LLC

copy2012 Edible Arrangements LLC All rights reserved Frachises available call (888) 727-4258 or visit wwweafranchisescom

DELICIOUSLYd e s i r a b l e

FREE PIECE OF DIPPED FRUIT

Code mctx1213

Living green is making sure the air in your home is healthy for your family to breathe Test your home for radon and build radon-resistant

Its easy Thats living healthy and green

Just call 866-730-green or visit wwwepagovradon

Living greenstarts from the ground up

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

(pineapple chocolate strawberry) needed for a banana split

The concept led to a 2011 McAllen Business Plan Competition grant to fund the necessary patents

ldquoI envisioned a product that could hang easily in refrigerated sections at big box storesrdquo Guerra says ldquoI have lined up a distributor and a broker with my ultimate goal being to have Banana E-Z Split available to customers in large grocery chains It is close to happeningrdquo

FiBEriO TEChNOlOgyAnother startup in McAllen

is already making waves globally FibeRio Technology Corporation another McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant recipient is thriving thanks to ground-breaking nanofiber-producing machinery The nanofibers can be used to make products ranging from diapers to

ballistics using a new way to spin microscopic nanofibers

The technology serves an array of industries that feature filtration textiles or biomedical applications

ldquoDr Karen Lozano at UT-Pan American discovered the process and I was contacted because I am an entrepreneur familiar with launching technology- based companies including nanotechnologyrdquo says FibeRio Technology presidentCEO Ellery Buchanan ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the world Plus we use local McAllen suppliers whenever possible including machine shops parts suppliers IT contractors and other business servicesrdquo

by Kevin Litwin by staff photographer

Michael Conti

FibeRio Technology Corporationnanomaterials processing research equipment is used at FibeRioTechnologyCorporation

FEldmaNrsquoS markET CENTErFeldmanrsquos Market Center features a broad selection of beer as well as wines liquors cigars and a gourmet deli In addition weekly beer and wine tastings are offered(956) 687-9463

PErFECT PawS rESOrTPerfect Paws Resort offers grooming services daycare and boarding to vaccinated dogs and cats that are at least 12 weeks old Boarding suites are climate controlled and under constant supervisionperfectpawsresortcom

mCCrEEry aviaTiON CO iNCMcCreery Aviation Co Inc is a place for pilots and their aircraft to receive top-notch treatment A fuel center flight planning room and hangar storage are availablemccreeryaviationcom

kiTikakE llCKitikake LLC offers gently- used vintage clothing for women from an array of top designers such as Lilly Pulitzer and Catherine Malandrino Vintage home deacutecor and dishes are also availablekitikakecom

krEidlEr FuNEral hOmEFounded owned and operated by the Kreidler family Kreidler Funeral Home has served McAllen for 100 years They offer traditional burial and graveside funeral services direct burials cremations memorial services and morekreidlerfuneralhomecom

Business Spotlight

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

visit ouradvertisersBorder Capital Bankwwwbordercapitalbankcom

City of McAllen Public Info Officewwwexploremcallennet

Courtyard by Marriottwwwmarriottcommtema

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valleywwweasterseals-rgvorg

Edible Arrangementswwwediblearrangementscom

Family Physicians Clinicwwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

Magic Valley Electric Cooperativewwwmagicvalleycoop

McAllen Economic Development Corporationwwwmcallenedcorg

McAllen Independent School Districtwwwmcallenisdorg

McAllen International Airportwwwmcallenairportcom

McAllen Realty

Mr Electricwwwmrelectriccom

Nuevo Santander Gallerywwwnuevosantandercom

OH KAYrsquoS

Preventative Care Institutewwwrgvpcicom

Quinta Mazatlanwwwquintamazatlancom

Rio Health Medicalwwwrio-healthcom

South Texas College wwwsouthtexascollegeedu

South Texas Health Systemwwwsouthtexashealthsystemcom

The Patio on Guerra wwwpatioonguerracom

Valley International Airportwwwflythevalleycom

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

BuSiNESS CHAMBER REPoRT

Whatrsquos the Big Ideachamberrsquos readiness tool kit assists entrepreneurs

The McAllen Chamber of Commerce has helped prepare 25 McAllen entrepreneurs in the continuing quest to launch their ideas ndash all since July 2011

The Chamber has a software package called VentureBusiness Readiness Assessment which is used by states such as oklahoma and Kentucky to assist startup companies The software helps an entrepreneur through the entire process of seeing whether they are truly ready to launch their startup

ldquoVentureBusiness Readiness Assessment is a way that the Chamber assists entrepreneurs who are trying to get funding for their products or projectsrdquo says Steve Ahlenius who serves as President and CEo of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce ldquoThe Chamber awards $50000 a year in innovation grants in $10000 increments and entrepreneurs are always looking for funding But they must earn that money by passing the various stages of the software tool kitrdquo

TEN hOurS TO COmPlETEAhlenius says the assessment

has several specific steps to make sure that a startup company has everything in place to ensure that it is successful

ldquoThe entrepreneurs contact us and set up an appointment to see me then they come to the Chamber office we sign them up and give them passwords to access the software at their conveniencerdquo he says ldquo[The program] takes about 10 hours to complete but doesnrsquot have to be finished in one sitting However the program must be eventually completed in order to qualify for our innovation grantrdquo

CaN iT BE madE QuiCklyThe software asks questions

such as Have you protected your intellectual property Is your product something that can be

made quickly Have you set a value on your idea and do you know how to do that If itrsquos a product that involves high-tech engineering do you have an engineer on your companyrsquos team

ldquoThe entrepreneur needs to know if his venture is worth 20 shares of stock or 200 shares ndash things like thatrdquo Ahlenius says ldquoMany factors go into launching a product or business and Venture Readiness points out a personrsquos strengths and weaknessesrdquo

a grEaT OvErviEwVicente Valle Martinez of

McAllen is an entrepreneur who contacted the Chamber in 2012 about his idea for connecting

people on the Internet who have similar educational experiences and higher learning interests

ldquoI have no background in business but heard one day about an innovation grant competition that the Chamber was sponsoringrdquo Martinez says ldquoSteve told me about the software package and it gave me a great overview of what I need to know before launching my ideardquo

Ahlenius says the various concepts the software package covers include credentials character capabilities commitment and circumstance

ldquoIt is an excellent self-awareness testrdquo he says ldquoItrsquos ideal for entrepreneursrdquo

by Kevin Litwin

the mcallen chamber of commerce on ash avenue

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

Ad Index 41 BorderCapitalBank

21 CityofMCallen puBliCinfooffiCe

4 CourtyardByMarriott

32 easterseals rioGrandeValley

44 ediBlearranGeMents

32 faMilyphysiCiansCliniC

2 MaGiCValley eleCtriCCooperatiVe

C3 MCalleneConoMiC deVelopMentCorporation

46 MCallenindependent sChooldistriCt

1 MCallen internationalairport

C4 MCallenrealty

48 MreleCtriC

46 nueVosantanderGallery

35 ohkayrsquos

34 preVentatiVe

Careinstitute

23 QuintaMazatlan

32 riohealthMediCal

31 southtexasColleGe

C2 southtexas

healthsysteM

18 thepatioonGuerra

44 Valley

internationalairport

ECONOMICPROFILE

3000+

2000- 2999

1999- 500

hOuSEhOld iNCOmE

TOP EmPlOyErS

$200000+

$150000-199999

$100000 and under

McAllen Independent School District

McAllen Medical Center South Texas College City of McAllen

Rio Grande Regional Hospital International Bank of Commerce

EduCaTiON lEvEl

High School Graduate

Associate Degree

Bachelorrsquos Degree

Masterrsquos Degree

TaxES

2City Sales and Use Tax

625State Sales Tax

825Total Sales Tax

SCOrECard

$36BAnnual Retail Sales

$28682Retail sales per capita

$3575MAnnual Hotel and Food Sales

15161Total Number of Firms

TraNSPOrTaTiON

mcallen-miller international airportwwwmcallenairportcom

metro mcallenwwwmcallennetmetro

amtrakwwwamtrakcom

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

everything you need every step of the way

Serving the rio grande valley Since 1989

Rachel Hardison-Oliva Broker

3321 N McColl Rd

McAllen TX 78501

(956) 687-7172 bull (956) 687-7178 Fax

Page 6: Livability McAllen, TX 2013

MCALLEN2013EDITION vOLUME11

Texascontent director|LisaBattles

contributing Writers|BarbaraBiehlerLauraHillCarsonOrsquoShoneyKathrynRoysterBraxtonShoop

content coordinator|JessicaWalkerstaff Writer|KevinLitwin

proofreading manager|RavenPetty

lead designer|StaceyAllissenior Graphic designers|LauraGallagher

KrisSextonJakeShoresVikkiWilliamsGraphic designers|EricaLampleyKaraLeiby

KaceyPassmorecreative technology analyst|BeccaAry

lead photographer|MichaelContisenior photographers|JeffAdkinsBrianMcCord

staff photographers|ToddBennettMartinBCherry

color imaging technician | AlisonHunter

integrated media manager|ToddPottersales support project manager|SaraQuint

ad production manager|KatieMiddendorfad traffic assistants|KrystinLemmonPatriciaMoisan

Web project manager|DavidDayWeb development lead|YamelHallWeb developeri|NelsNoseworthy

Web designer ii|RichardStevensWeb product manager|JohnHood

digital project manager|JillRidenour

chairman|GregThurmanpresidentpublisher|BobSchwartzman

executive Vice president|RayLangensenior Vpsales|ToddPotter

senior Vpclient development|JeffHeefnersenior Vpoperations|CaseyHester

Vpsales|JarekSwekoskyVpcontent operations|NatashaLorens

audience development director|DeannaNelsoncreative services director|ChristinaCarden

distribution director|GarySmithphotography director|JeffreySOtto

Web services director|AllisonDavis

controller|ChrisDudleysenior accountant| LisaOwens

accounts payable coordinator|MariaMcFarlandaccounts receivable coordinator|DianaGuzman

system administrator|DanielCantrell

executive secretary|KristyDuncanhuman resources manager|PeggyBlake

receptionist|LindaBishop

Livability McAllen TXispublishedannuallybyJournalCommunicationsIncandisdistributed

throughtheMcAllen Chamber of Commerce anditsmemberbusinesses

Foradvertisinginformationortodirectquestionsorcommentsaboutthemagazinecontact

JournalCommunicationsIncat(615)771-0080orbyemailatinfojnlcomcom

Formoreinformationcontactmcallen chamber of commerce1200 ash avenue bull po box 790

mcallen tx 78505-0790phone (956) 682-2871 bull fax (956) 687-2917

wwwmcallenchambercom

visitLivability McAllen TXonlineatlivabilitycommcallen

copyCopyright2012JournalCommunicationsInc725CoolSpringsBlvdSuite400FranklinTN37067(615)771-0080AllrightsreservedNoportionofthis

magazinemaybereproducedinwholeorinpartwithoutwrittenconsent

Member TheAssociationofMagazineMedia

Member CustomContentCouncil

MemberMcAllenChamberofCommerce

GETTHEDIGITALMAGAZINE

livabilitycommcallen

Itrsquos loaded with links to more great info about McAllen Telling your communityrsquos unique story has never been so easy

TakE iT wiTh yOu

Easily share an interesting article stunning photo or advertisement of your business on Facebook Twitter or via email

CliCk arOuNd

Click on the web addresses in the copy to enjoy immediate access to each website

SPrEad ThE NEwS

Broadcast your communityrsquos positive image by placing the magazine on your website blog or newsletter

2013 | SPONSORED BY THE MCALLEN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

livabilitycommcallen

MCALLENTEXAS

McAllen in a DayThis happening Valley city has plenty to do and see

OUTSIDE THE BOXResidents get creative with business ventures

l iVabil it ycommc allen 5

CONTENTSlivabilitycommcallen

Visit the website for more great photos and stories about McAllen Texas

Livabilitycom Follow us livability Like us at facebookcomlivability Follow us at pinterestcomlivability

Things To Do Find the must-do attractions activities and dining in McAllen

LivingLearn about McAllenrsquos schools health care education and neighborhoods

BusinessGet info on top employers jobs and success stories in McAllen

digital magazine

Read it online or on your tablet and quickly share articles with friends

FaCtSGet data fast on population climate workforce cost of living and more

PhoTos amp viDeo

2013 | SPONSORED BY THE MCALLEN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

livabilitycommcallen

MCALLENTEXAS

McAllen in a DayThis happening Valley city has plenty to do and see

OUTSIDE THE BOXResidents get creative with business ventures

aT a glaNCE

Cultural diversity progressive business practices and a booming economy best characterize McAllen ndash one of the fastest growing metros in Texas and part of one of the fastest growing MSAs in the nation Its location near the US-Mexico border has made it a magnet for retail international trade tourism and manufacturing

aBuNdaNT liviNgMcAllenrsquos economic mix means

tangible benefits for residents beyond a strong job market They take their picks among diverse shopping and dining options that include national brands and unique independent retailers

The resulting tax base means the city can offer amenities such as a massive state-of-the-art library in-town bus service awesome parks and popular hiking and biking trails that are enjoyed year round thanks to a warm climate

With all this and affordable homes McAllen also consistently ranks among cities with the lowest cost of living in the United States

grEaT FOr BuSiNESSMcAllen is good for business

big and small More than 100 Fortune 500 companies have a presence within the McAllen MSA and the city has also been recently recognized by CNNMoney on its list of Best Places to Launch a Small Business

Key factors bringing expansions and entrepreneurs are an excellent quality of life numerous advanced medical facilities a comprehensive financial services community demonstrated logistics advantages to reach existing and new markets and a mostly young bicultural and bilingual population

Read on to discover why McAllen is one of Americarsquos best places to live

McAllen Texasa quick comprehensiVe oVerVieW of Whatrsquos Great about the community

Rio Granded

Rio Grande

83

281

281

83

777777

28181288281777777

ReynosaosR sas

Matamoros

Rio BravoBrownsvilleBrowrow sss

WeslacoHarlingenrlinng

Edinburg

Mission

Pharr

McAllen

HIDALGO

MEXICO

UNITEDSTATESS

FOr mOrE iNFOrmaTiON

McAllenChamberofCommerce1200 Ash Avenue McAllen TX 78501 Phone (956) 682-2871Fax (956) 687-2917

wwwmcallenchambercom

lOCaTiONMcAllen is in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas situated just 70 miles west of the Gulf of Mexico McAllen is the largest city in Hidalgo County

POPulaTiON

133821 (McAllen)

774769 (MSA)

aNNual raiNFall

23rdquo

diSTaNCES TO ThrEE majOr CiTiES NEarBy San Antonio 224 miles Austin 311 miles Fort WorthDallas 502 miles

TimE zONECentral

National Average 30rdquo

No3Mid-Size

US City for Jobs

- Forbes

ACCOLADE

McAllen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 7

Shopping

BrOwSE Or Buy

mcallenrsquos la Plaza mall draws more than 18 million visitors each year as the main shopping spot for residents in the Rio Grande Valley The 1200000-square-foot mall has more than 140 retailers such as Macyrsquos and Dillardrsquos as well as a variety of restaurants

Art Events

miNglE wiTh arTiSTS

The music after hours Outdoor Concert Series is held monthly to showcase bands from the Rio Grande Valley Meanwhile mcallenrsquos artwalk is a monthly self-guided tour that features art galleries vendors and museums

Sports

Play Ball

The mcallen Thunder and Edinburg roadrunners are baseball teams that play at Edinburg Baseball Stadium Both teams are members of the North American League an independent professional league not affiliated with Major League Baseball

Locally Grown

STOCk uP

You can find more than 20 varieties of citrus and other fresh fruits vegetables nuts and locally made products at klementrsquos grove Bellrsquos Farm to market Farmers market at Town lake and Farmers market at mcallenrsquos new library

THINGSTODOMcAllenrsquos must-do attractions activities and dining

Grab Your Binocularsmcallenrsquos many wildlife havens include QuintaMazatlan above an urban sanctuary for birds plants and other wildlife valleyNatureCenter which is the oldest nature center in the rio Grande Valley and the 2000-acre SantaAnaNationalWildlifeRefuge which has recorded 400 bird species and hundreds of butterfly species

8 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 9

Eatery

PiCk ThE PlaTTEr

The popular restaurant Costa messa has a new location on North 10th Street and its menu includes favorite items such as huge botana platters to share and choriqueso The eatery is open seven days a week from 11 am until 10 pm

Outdoors

gET iN ShaPE

Hiking and biking trail systems are located at various parks throughout McAllen Some of the arearsquos most popular trails can be found at las Palmas Park la vista Park los Encinos Park retama village Park Bill Schupp Park and westside Park

Pro Sports

FlaSh aNd viPErS

Cheer on the rio grande valley Flash a Professional Arena Soccer League team and catch the basketball action of the rio grande valley vipers 2010 NBA Development League Champions Both teams play at State Farm Arena in Hidalgo

ThiNgS TO dO

Happy Hour

PrOPOSE a TOaST

Enjoy dinner drinks and fun at the many businesses located within the 17th Street Entertainment district of downtown McAllen a revitalized area now bustling with interesting restaurants pubs clubs and lounges

Climb Aboardthe federal transit administration awarded mcallen $19 million to create an electric bus pilot program OLEvTechnologiesoversees the program which is retrofitting three diesel buses with electric motors passenger transport begins in 2013

8 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 9

THIS HAPPEnInG vALLEY CITY OFFERS PLEnTY TO DO SEE amp EAT

ThiNgS TO dO

mcallenin a Day

l iVabil it ycommc allen 11 10 mc allen

midNighT TO NOON iN mCallENWhere to stay McAllen has nearly 3600 hotel rooms

from luxurious traditional hotels to new motels with all the contemporary bells and whistles The Renaissance Casa de Palmas a four-star hotel on Main Street was built in 1918 and lavishly restored into a luxury property featuring Mission architecture that recalls McAllenrsquos past Or try the Spring Hill Suites just off the expressway for a more modern take

After a comfortable night start the morning off with breakfast at Jimmyrsquos Egg a new outpost of a longtime Oklahoma favorite Here enjoy nearly any kind of egg you can imagine for breakfast ndash or atop a burger at lunch Go further south of the cuisine border at Las Cazuelas Grill another popular new eatery for menu items such as Chilaquiles con Huevo or Molletes

Got 24 hours to spare We recommend a busy day well spent in McAllen where you can fill every available hour

with interesting sights delicious cuisine and a variety of fun activities

a birdrsquos-eye view of the cityrsquos revitalized 17the street entertainment district

l iVabil it ycommc allen 11

NB

icen

tenn

ialB

lvd

WHackberryAve

S23

rdS

tree

t

83

international museum of arts and sciences

mcallen public library

McAllen Public Librarym-th 9am - 9pmf-sat 9am - 6pmsun 1pm - 9pm

phone (956) 688-3300uhV students (with id) free

wwwmcallenlibrarynet

12 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 13

The hike and bike trail on Second Street and another on Bicentennial offer the chance for a leisurely 23-mile stroll around town ndash yoursquove got to work off that breakfast after all And then head over to the International Museum of Arts and Science a Smithsonian affiliated museum where a wide variety of changing art and science exhibits always offer something interesting

Another must-see is McAllenrsquos new public library which at a whopping 123000 square feet is the largest single-floor library in the US This former Walmart building underwent a total transformation into an aesthetically pleasing community resource thatrsquos steadily gaining attention worldwide for its colorful open and functional design Opened in December 2011 the facility has already won first place in the International Interior Design Associationrsquos 2012 Library Interior Design Competition

luNCh aNd laTErldquoWersquove got over 600 restaurants

hererdquo says Chamber President and CEO Steve Ahlenius So since itrsquos noon by now try the flatbread or a

salad at house wine amp bistro or go for a panini at Corner Bakery Cafe Or for Latin flavor head to KoKorsquos for delicious Mexican fare

In McAllen a day without shopping would be sad indeed La Plaza Mall is the most visited mall in the country and Palms Crossings at the McAllen Convention Center is home to several shops and restaurants such as Mimirsquos Cafe and Romanorsquos Macaroni Grill

ldquoAfter I finished shopping Irsquod spend the rest of the afternoon at Quinta Mazatlan (a historic home that also offers nature trails and legendary bird watching)rdquo Ahlenius says Another option is to test the waters by kayaking or catch-and-release fishing on Town Lake at Firemanrsquos Park

mCallEN aFTEr hOurSYoursquore not tired are you

Good because after freshening up back at your hotel itrsquos off to a night on the town Cajun cuisine at The Bayou Grill on North 10th St is a great option as are the authentic Mexican menus at Cabritos Nuevo Leon or La Jaiba Mexican Seafood Grill both on West Nolana

After dinner stroll the 17th Street Entertainment District to catch the flavor of McAllen after hours or catch a show at the historic Cine El Rey theater where comedy acts concerts film festivals and other events take the stage Finally La Recova Contemporary Argentinean Grill beckons for a nightcap in its quiet upscale bar ldquowhere you can actually carry on a conversationrdquo Ahlenius says

Then to bed Where after a good nightrsquos rest you will surely want to get up and spend yet another great day in McAllen

by Laura Hill by staff photographer

Michael Conti

ldquoMcAllen is a beautiful multicultural city with plenty to do and see From shopping in the most popular stores in the nation or unique one-of-a-kind shops to fine dining and plenty of family outdoor activities ndash you can do it year round hererdquo

gErry garCia VPOFSPECIALPROJECTS

FORTHEMCALLENCHAMBER

SNAPSHOT

for music dinner and dancing head to downtown mcallenrsquos 17th street entertainment district

The Patio on Guerradiners enjoy the food and atmosphere at the patio on Guerra on 17th street in downtown mcallen

12 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 13

ThiNgS TO dO

Town Lakea boy takes his dog for a walk as he skateboards the trail along the new 4-acre town lake at firemanrsquos park a popular spot for canoeing kayaking fishing and more

ThiNgS TO dO

14 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 15 14 mc allen

nEW LAkE OPEnS AT FIREMAnrsquoS PARk

Ahh howrefreshing

ldquoWe did all the required dredging to transform the little pond into a recreational lake that is 15 feet at its deepest pointrdquo says Sally Gavlik director of the McAllen Parks amp Recreation Department ldquoIn these days of more and more people opting to remain close to home for staycations Town Lake at Firemanrsquos Park gives them a valid option for a different kind of local vacationrdquo

lET ThE FuN BEgiNTown Lake is situated right in the

middle of McAllen off Business Highway 83 between First and Second streets Swimming is prohibited due to park

irrigation regulations but a beach has been constructed to launch canoes kayaks and paddle boats A fishing pier is also in place

ldquoWe transferred fish to the lake from nearby Boeye Reservoir which has provided us with good stocks of bass perch and catfishrdquo Gavlik says ldquoTown Lake currently only has a catch-and-release program meaning you can catch fish but must release them back into the water At some point in the future when the fish population increases we plan to schedule times when people can take the fish homerdquo

The City of McAllen made a big splash in May 2012 when it officially opened Town Lake at Firemanrsquos Park What was once a small tract of land with a few basic

recreational amenities is now a 15-acre redevelopment that includes the four-acre Town Lake Crews used a water holding pond at the cityrsquos former water treatment facility to construct the new lake

14 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 15

TakE a hikEWalking and jogging are also good recreational

options around the waterrsquos perimeterldquoTown Lake actually ties into the well used Second

Street Trail People can come off the trail walk or jog along the lake and then get back onto the trailrdquo Gavlik says ldquoThe scenery includes wildflowers in a freshly seeded meadow while other park amenities are horseshoe pits two playgrounds and free picnic sites at the north end of Firemanrsquos Park at First Streetrdquo

There is also a covered pavilion area with sand volleyball courts a small concession building and three camping sites The campsites can be used during the day by anyone but only overnight by organized groups such as the Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts Group reservations must be made through the McAllen Parks amp Recreation Department

ldquoAnother park attraction is the former water treatment building which has been transformed into a rental facilityrdquo Gavlik says ldquoIt is now called The Old Pump House complete with new windows air conditioning uplighting tiling and carpeted floors Groups of 75 to 100 people can rent the facility for meetings small receptions or small social events The Old Pump House adds to the overall amenities of todayrsquos Firemenrsquos Parkrdquo

by Kevin Litwin by staff photographer Michael Conti

Fishinga group casts lines into town lake which enforces a catch-and-release program

WHackberryAve

TownLake

83

firemanrsquos park

N2

nd

Str

eet

16 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 17

children enjoy the playground at firemanrsquos park

16 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 17

l iVabil it ycommc allen 19

ThiNgS TO dO LoCAL FLAVoR

Palate Pleasersmcallen restaurants serVe up flaVorful foods

McAllen diners rejoice The city has a broad selection of distinctive restaurants and eateries appealing to just about every taste By Barbara Biehler

Asian

SENSaTiONal SuShi amp SPiCE

McAllen has several great spots for Japanese food such as sushi tempura and teppanyaki including kohnami kumori and yokorsquos Sushi Bar

Fans of Thai food should check out Thai red Chilirsquos for dishes like pad thai red curry chicken and sweet rice with mango

Indian

TaNdOOri aNyONETaste of india hits the spot

for diners looking for high quality authentic Indian food made from old family recipes and paired with excellent service

Tex-Mex and Mexican

SOmE likE iT SPiCy

Step into las Cazuelas grill for classic Mexican cuisine or visit Palenque Chicken for expertly prepared Mexican and Tex Mex dishes

Renowned regionally for homemade tamales deliarsquos uses fresh ingredients including pork chicken and beef

The republic of rio grande serves Mexican cuisine in an intimate setting order a traditional dish like the chicken fajitas or enchiladas suizas or enjoy a distinctive entree such as shrimp chipotle pesto pasta or a brick-oven pizza

check out more restaurants in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

ldquoDeliarsquos has the best tamales in town Probably even in the RGV The only place you can get the good old homemade flavor of real tamalesrdquo

Evila l YELPCOM

Argentine

SOuTh amEriCaN CuiSiNE

Relax in the elegant yet casual atmosphere of la Pampa argentinean Steak housewhile you dine on classic Argentine- cut steaks grilled chicken breasts marinated in Chimichurri or traditional de carne empanadas

Meanwhile la recova also offers a wide selection of Argentine-style favorites on its menu Favorite dishes at La Recova includes chorizo tuna carnitas duck confit and churrasco a classic top sirloin steak

Outdoor Dining

TrENdy amp TaSTy

If yoursquore in the mood for a USDA prime steak or succulent seafood drop by The Patio on guerra Dine on the outdoor patio and have a bottle of one of the restaurantrsquos award-winning wines

FridarsquosGrillandCantina located on 17th street offers traditional mexican favorites with modern flavors Go to fridarsquos to enjoy unique culinary dishes signature drinks and live music on the weekends

l iVabil it ycommc allen 19

ThiNgS TO dO ARTS amp CULTURE

Rave Reviewsmcallenrsquos arts scene remains robust With museums music and eVents

Arts patrons music lovers and history buffs enjoy many cultural attractions throughout McAllen The latest buzz McAllen Performing Arts Center will spring up near the McAllen Convention Center giving fans of live music theater and dance a fine new facility to anticipate

Live Entertainment

PErFOrmErS TakE ThE STagE

The 17th Street Entertainment district in downtown McAllen overflows with lounges restaurants and clubs For live music visit The old Ice House or Cine El Rey

The cityrsquos diverse culture is what influences much of the music performed by the valley Symphony Orchestra amp Chorale The Symphony was established in 1952 with the Chorale joining later in 1984 Similarly the South Texas lyric Opera brings the fine art of opera to the Rio Grande Valley with a yearly slate of productions and an annual opera gala and rio grande valley Broadway brings popular stage shows to town such as Disneyrsquos Beauty and the Beast and Monty Pythonrsquos Spamalot

Historic Sites

TakE a STEP BaCk iN TimE

The museum of South Texas history and the mcallen heritage Center are just two locations to learn about the rich history of this bicultural area

Quinta mazatlan a 1930s hacienda that embodies the Spanish Colonial Revival architecture of arches adobe and beams and provides an intimate look into South Texas history The 10000-square- foot mansion sits on a 15-acre plot hosting a mix of native and exotic plants and wildlife making up McAllenrsquos wing of the popular world Birding Center

Cine El Reyopened in 1947 the historic cine el rey theater now functions as

a music and performance venue showcasing a variety of live events and also shows spanish and english independent films the theater is located in downtown mcallenrsquos 17th street entertainment district

20 mc allen

ldquoCine El Rey hosts events as diverse as wrestling live bands films and comedy shows A huge stage is complimented by killer production value and a staff that really cares about all aspects of the experience Irsquom looking forward to a return triprdquo

Bill dykES YELP

visual Arts and Festivals

aCCESSiBlE arT FuN EvENTS

The international museum of art amp Science founded in 1969 promotes an appreciation for the arts and sciences through its exhibitions cultural events and many educational programs imaS is located at 1900 Nolana Ave

The mcallen art walk is a self-guided tour that gives art lovers the opportunity to explore the many art offerings in the city Itrsquos held every first Friday from September through May and is free and open to the public

on the first Saturday night of December folks enjoy the Candlelight Posada which includes food booths luminaries a parade live entertainment caroling and a live nativity scene

Chamber of Commerce Support

ChamBEr BaCkS ThE arTS

The mcallen Chamber of Commerce shows its love for the arts by managing the mcallen arts Council which publishes a quarterly magazine produces an annual fine arts exhibition and offers grants to local artists The Chamber also offers an outdoor concert series and coordinates the Public art Committeersquos acquisition program

20 mc allen

ThiNgS TO dO SPoRTS amp RECREATIoN

Soak Up Some Sunmcallen residents haVe plenty of Good reasons to Get outdoors

Great golf courses hiking and biking trails and a large well-maintained park system make McAllen the perfect place to enjoy outdoor fun By Carson OrsquoShoney

Golf

TEE iT uPWith nearly 20 courses in the

McAllen area golf is a popular attraction in the Rio Grande Valley

one of the most notable courses is the Palm view golf Course an 18-hole public course with a private feel With rolling fairways and Bermuda rough mounds the course is an often-used location for tournaments having hosted LPGA tournaments and Palm viewrsquos amateur golf Championship

mcallen Country Club provides a challenge with tree-lined fairways and small greens and also offers a swimming pool tennis courts a fitness center and other amenities

Every golf course in the area is bustling especially in the winter when ldquoWinter Texansrdquo come to the Rio Grande Valley The weather generally stays in the 70s in the coldest months making it a perfect place for winter golfing

Hiking Biking and Racing

ON ThE mOvE iN mCallEN

There are plenty of hiking and biking trails on the east and west sides of town such as the retama village Park Trail westside Park Trail and las Palmas Park Trail Visiting cyclists are welcome to meet up with Team mcallen Cycling a bike club thatrsquos been in the city for more than 25 years

Racing fans can enjoy the mcallen international motorplex and Event Center which hosts stock car races car shows and more The racetrack is a family-friendly place offering activities for children such as games face painting and crafts

Palm view Golf Courseirish cochran plays a round of golf at palm View Golf course an 18-hole public course often used for high profile tournaments

22 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 23

City Parks

OuTdOOr Family FuN

The mcallen Parks and recreation department currently oversees 25 city parks Ranging from historic parks established in the early 1900s to more modern facilities there are several options suitable for the whole family

archer Park McAllenrsquos oldest park opened in 1912 Serving as a historic landmark in the city it also plays host to many of the cityrsquos annual special events including the Candlelight Posada and movies in the Park

Spanning 38 acres Springfest Park is the largest park in McAllen Springfest hosts a variety of special events and is home to mcallenrsquos winter Polo league from January through March

check out more fun things to do in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

Spray and Ground Parkbesides its popular water feature mcallenrsquos new SprayandGroundParkhas a sand volleyball court skateboard area a half basketball court and just over half a mile of walking trails in addition there are athletic practice fields shaded areas picnic shelters and restroom facilities

22 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 23

ThiNgS TO dO SEE THE CITY

24 mc allen

The Irrigation Workerthe sun sets behind a sculpture ldquothe irrigation Workerrdquo which was created by artist douglas clark and is located on nolana and 25th

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

l iVabil it ycommc allen 25

LIvINGHERESchools health care education and neighborhoods in McAllen

26 mc allen 26 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 27 26 mc allen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 27

see more beautiful photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

Luxury Livingnewcomers have many beautiful home options in mcallen such as those offered in eight different communities by cantu construction a locally based award-winning builder

26 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 27 liVabil it ycommc allen 27

liviNg

TECH TOOLS FOSTER STUDEnT SUCCESS

Padding theCurriculum

McAllen Independent School District (ISD) is feeling the benefits of an ambitious technology plan that places an iPod or iPad in the hands of every teacher and student

mcallen independent school district students use system-issued ipads in class

28 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 29

EduCaTiNg FOr ThE 21ST CENTury

The initiative began with a meeting between Dr James Ponce McAllenrsquos superintendent of schools and a ldquocadrerdquo of about 35 teachers administrators and parents

The grouprsquos primary goal was to build a 21st-century classroom environment one that fosters creativity collaboration and entrepreneurship The group also wanted to find a way to harness the 247 educational potential of the Internet ndash and teach students the critical-thinking skills needed to process online content

ldquoItrsquos an environment where the teachers become the primary learners and the students are driven by their examplerdquo Ponce says ldquoSo we asked what tools we would need for this transformation of the way we teach and the way the kids learnrdquo

After much research the group chose iPods (for grades K-2) and iPads (for teachers and grades 3-12) because of their portability

ldquoIrsquove learned more from my fellow teachers than I have in many years just from sharing ideas for how to use the iPads in the classroomrdquo

CarOl aNN allEN LANGuAGEARTSTEACHER

ATMICHAELEFOSSuMMIDDLESCHOOL

relatively low cost and ease of use To implement the planrsquos first stage McAllen ISD issued 5800 of these devices to teachers and students when the rollout is complete it will cover more than 25000 students

Big BENEFiTS FOr TEaChErS aNd STudENTS

Both teachers and students are seeing benefits from the program

ldquoThe iPods help the kids be creative My students are organizing information in new waysrdquo says Ruth Whiddon who teaches first grade at Andrew Jackson Elementary School

For Carol Ann Allen International Baccalaureate coordinator and eighth-grade language arts teacher at Michael E Fossum Middle School the initiative is all about collaboration

ldquoIrsquove learned more from my fellow teachers than I have in many years just from sharing ideas for how to use the iPads in the classroomrdquo she says

Sandra Guerra who teaches seventh- and eighth-grade math

at Fossum says the iPads have changed both her teaching style and the way her students learn

Instead of mapping out the learning process step-by-step she now gives students their goal and lets them choose how to get there

ldquoWith this approach they own their learning and theyrsquove been more willing to learnrdquo Guerra says

The iPads have also been a game-changer for Guerrarsquos family

Her seventh-grade daughter is learning advanced science concepts because of independent iPad projects And because most of her childrenrsquos school materials are on their iPads itrsquos easier than ever for Guerra to check on their progress from home

That kind of scenario says Superintendent Ponce is at the heart of the initiative

ldquoThe entire school system and our community want to lead in this effort to build a 21st-century learning environmentrdquo he says ldquoThis is a direct investment in our children and their familiesrdquo

by Kathryn Royster

High-Tech Learningseventh-grade students use ipads to follow class lectures and take quizzes during a language arts class at michael e fossum middle school

PH

oT

o C

oU

RT

EST

Y o

F M

CA

LLE

N IN

DE

PE

ND

EN

T S

CH

oo

L D

IST

RIC

T

28 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 29

Higher Education

SOuTh TExaS COllEgE

McAllenrsquos South Texas College has more than 30000 students and offers numerous associate and bachelorrsquos degree programs as well as professional certifications in more than 40 areas The college also has online degree courses for students who work full time

liviNg EDUCATIoN

Set for SuccesscolleGe prep is a top priority in mcallen

Education in McAllen is defined by excellent options From elementary school through college McAllen includes numerous institutions designed to prepare students for success By Braxton Shoop

school yourself on more educational offerings at livabilitycommcallen

Public Schools

mCallEN iNdEPENdENT SChOOl diSTriCT

Established in 1915 the mcallen independent School district comprises three high schools seven middle schools and 20 elementary schools Among these schools the district offers an advanced placement college-level curriculum and a dual-enrollment program for students who would like to obtain high school and college credit simultaneously

In addition the district features an International Baccalaureate program that provides students with an advanced curriculum geared toward global standards

Local Inspiration

FOrmEr STudENT FliES high

one of McAllenrsquos successful students is astronaut michael Fossum a graduate of McAllen High School After receiving his commission from the US Air Force by Texas AampM University Fossum graduated Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base and in 1993 he started at NASA Throughout his NASA career Fossum was on crew for three spaceflights He commanded the space station during one of his flights helping him rank seventh on the all-time list for cumulative Extravehicular Activity time

Top-notch Learning Environmentuniversity of texas-pan american offers many undergraduate degrees more than 50 masterrsquos degrees and three doctoral degrees utpa has accreditations from organizations like the commission for collegiate nursing the examining board of nurse examiners for the state of texas and the engineering accreditation commission of the accreditation board for engineering and technology

30 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 31

Charter School

idEa aCadEmy

idEa academy is an innovative institution that offers a fully scaled curriculum for students in kindergarten and in the first second and sixth grades The school which opened in McAllen in 2012 will eventually add more grades each one including approximately 110 students While the school is public students must apply to fill the 460 available spots

To prepare its students to be collegiate scholars IDEA provides International Baccalaureate curriculum as well as the Road to College curriculum which begins in the sixth grade

ldquoWersquore very proud of the connection to our distinguished alumni like NASA astronaut Michael Fossum and we want our students to recognize the kind of education we provide here What he learned here helped catapult him into space and wersquore very proud of thatrdquo

NOrma zamOra-guErra MCALLENINDEPENDENTSCHOOL

DISTRICTCOMMuNITYINFORMATIONDIRECTOR

Michael E Fossum Middle Schoolnamed for astronaut michael e fossum the school is part of the mcallen independent school district

30 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 31

Please call 9566316109 for a representative today

2501 Buddy Owens Blvd McAllen TX 78504

9656316125 Fax

wwwrio-healthcom

RioHealth MedicalWe are here to meet all your

occupational medicine needs

bull Workplace injuries and workersrsquo compensation

bull On site and off site drug screening

bull Physicals

bull Orthopedics

bull Early return to work

bull 247 coverage

bull We accept all types of insurance

WorkplaceInjury

DANIEL J GUERRA MD Diplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

LEONEL G MORENO MDDiplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

HOMERO RIVAS MDDiplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

606 S Broadway bull McAllen TX bull (956) 682-4515 bull wwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

FAMILY PHYSICIANS

CLINICSince 1967

Mon-Fri 8 am-5 pm Sat 8 am-Noon

VALLEY NIGHT CLINIC

Since 1981

Open Every Night of the Year 6 pm-Midnight

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valley supports children of all abilities through child care

services early intervention and parenting support programs

Early Childhood intErvEntion ChildCarE sErviCEs ParEnts as tEaChErs

Easter seals rio Grande valley Programs for Children Birth to Five years

bullChild-Care servicesndashHigh-qualitychildcare sixweekstofiveyears

bullParents as teachers (Pat)ndashDevelopmental parentingsupportforchildrenbirthtofiveyears

bullEarly Childhood intervention (ECi) ndashConcerns indevelopmentforchildrenbirthtothreeyears

For more information about Easter seals

programs and services call (956) 631-9171 or visit wwweasterseals-rgvorg

32 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 33

liviNg HEALTH

Take a Deep Breath and Relaxresidents haVe access to top hospitals

McAllen residents receive quality care from the South Texas Health System Rio Grande Regional Hospital and the Doctors Hospital at Renaissance By Kevin Litwin

Health System

SOuTh TExaS hEalTh SySTEm

South Texas health System is the umbrella organization for a number of fine medical facilities including mcallen medical Center MMC has 441 beds and a staff of more than 400 physicians that represent 50 medical specialties

Also part of South Texas Health System is mcallen heart hospital which opened in 1996 as the first freestanding cardiology and cardiovascular hospital built in the United States It includes 60 beds and a 24-hour emergency center

Healthgrades has awarded McAllen Medical Center and McAllen Heart Hospital with a variety of honors in recent years and both earned a Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence in 2011

Hospital

riO graNdE rEgiONal hOSPiTal

rio grande regional hospital is an acute care medical facility with 320 beds and more than 500 physicians The hospital is the only area Diabetes Management Center accredited by the American Diabetes Association and is the arearsquos first facility to have a Pediatric Heart Program

RGRH also includes a 24-hour emergency room Womenrsquos Services department Level III trauma center and cardiovascular care The hospital is fully accredited by The Joint Commission and the College of American Pathologists and every year since 2007 has been named a Center of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery

32 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 33

Hospital

dOCTOrS hOSPiTal aT rENaiSSaNCE

The 506-bed doctors hospital at renaissance is an acute care facility It provides cardiology neurosurgery and endocrinology as well as a Pediatric Medical Tower that offers pediatric oncology and pediatric ICU services

Doctors Hospital has been ranked among the nationrsquos 100 Top Hospitals by Thomson Reuters and recently invested $32 million to establish an Electronic Medical Record System

DHR was the first in South Texas to acquire a PETCT scanner for diagnosing cancer and the first in the region to introduce da Vinci robotic surgical technology The hospital also oversees Renaissance Behavioral Center which provides treatment for people with mental health problems substance abuse or eating disorders

34 mc allen

COMMUNITyPROFILE COST OF liviNg

$44074Median Household Income

$129554Median Home Price

$689Median Rent for a Two-Bedroom Apartment

TraNSPOrTaTiON

Median Travel Time to Work

agE

TEmPEraTurE

January Average

July Average

EThNiCiTy

19 and Under

20-54

55 and over

White

Black

Hispanic

other

1645minutes

Closest Airport McAllen International Airport

955deg

482deg

South Texasrsquo Finest Gift Store Offers Gifts From Around the World

4300 N 10th St bull Ste C bull McAllen TX 78504 (956) 686-1264 bull ohkaysaolcom

Look for us on Facebook

gOlF COurSES

gOlF TEC

2901 N 10TH ST956-994-9631

mCallEN COuNTry CluB615 WICHITA AVE956-686-0923

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

The national Butterfly Center the national butterfly center dedicates 100 acres to the conservation and scientific study of wild butterflies in their natural habitats the wildlife center is open daily from 8 am until 5 pm september through march and from 9 am until 4 pm april through august

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

liviNg SEE THE CITY

36 mc allen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 37

BUSINESSInfo on McAllenrsquos top employers jobs and success stories

McAllen Convention Centerthe McAllenConventionCenter is located on 185 acres and includes a 60000-square-foot exhibit hall as well as more than 25000 square feet of meeting space in 16 breakout rooms

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

38 mc allen 38 mc allen

38 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 39

BuSiNESS oVERVIEW

McAllenrsquos in the MoneyCultural diversity location and innovation drive cityrsquos top business sectors

As the retail hub of South Texas McAllen is thriving The city draws a customer base of more than 10 million within a 200-mile radius and is represented by 40 of Americarsquos top 100 retailers

By Tiffany Williams

La Plaza MallPumping much of the life into this retail hub is la Plaza mall which annually attracts more than 18 million visitors its anchoring stores such as dillardrsquos and macyrsquos and sought-after retailers including BCBg-max azria and Coach average sales of more than $650 per square foot and are among the most profitable stores in their chains

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

Meetings amp Events

CONvENTiON CENTEr lurES viSiTOrS

The mcallen Convention Center also helps draw businesses to the area The 185-acre complex featuring a 60000-square-foot column-free exhibit hall more than 25000 square feet of meeting space and up to 16 breakout rooms offers bicultural themes and tropical accents that represent the cultural and natural diversity of McAllen

Retail

ShOPPiNg hOT SPOTS

This bicultural city which is located just five miles from the US-Mexico border also has access to three international bridges that flood with visitors and eager shoppers daily many of whom are spending at a rate twice the national average

In addition to La Plaza Mall shopping centers in the McAllen area include Trenton Crossing las Tiendas Plaza and La Plaza Mallrsquos 600sbquo000-square-foot sister shopping center Palms Crossing which hosts such big-name retailers as Barnes amp Noble and Babies rsquoRrsquo Us as well as specialty shops and restaurants Its appeal stems from its open-air design with lots of palm trees water fountains and seating areas

Major Manufacturers

madE FOr maNuFaCTuriNg

Ranked third in Texas in per-capita sales the McAllen area has some of the largest manufacturing and wholesale companies in the nation

valley Coca Cola Bottling Co Value Frozen Foods and Emerson Network Power are just a few who have put down roots here Tri-City Steel which provides a full scope of steel construction by fabricating and erecting structural steel buildings pre-engineered metal buildings stairs handrails and more Texas Citrus Exchange in Mission makes Texas rio red grapefruit juice

learn more about businesses in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

BuSiNESS

RESIDEnTS GET CREATIvE WITH BUSInESS vEnTURES

the BoxOutside

One of McAllenrsquos most innovative startups sprang from the mind of someone who wasnrsquot even interested in business Today Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar is one

of the arearsquos top entrepreneurs and is finding serious success

mcallen entrepreneur dalinda Gonzalez-alcantar founded eJucomm llc

liVabil it ycommc allen 43 42 mc allen

ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the worldrdquo

EllEry BuChaNaN FIBERIOPRESIDENTCEO

Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar the founder of eJucomm LLC simply wanted to make information in her school district more accessible to families The company was a way she could make it happen

She got the idea while working as a teacher at DeLeon Middle School in McAllen and was frustrated that families without computers andor Internet access had difficulty communicating with teachers and administrators So she decided to develop a smartphone application that would solve the problem

With no previous technical experience she researched code online at night and a year later was selling the app to various school districts

ldquoThe app enables Android and iPhone users to access information for things like grades and attendancerdquo Gonzalez-Alcantar says

The entrepreneur also faced unexpected challenges ndash for instance how to tailor individual apps to the roughly seven school districts and 40 campuses that now use them No longer teaching she has partnered with a chief technology officer so she can focus on sales and marketing

One of her biggest hurdles was finding legal fees to fund the startup and a $10000 McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant in 2011 helped pay for a licensing agreement and intellectual property protection for eJucomm to move forward

BaNaNa E-z SPliTAnother McAllen resident

Gerald Guerra faced a similar obstacle when developing a product called Banana E-Z Split A health insurance broker Guerra was inspired at his own kitchen table to create single serving packets with all three syrups

Banana E-Z SplitGerald Guerra inventor of the banana e-Z split single serving syrup packets poses with his daughters Victoria and kaitlyn enthusiastic taste testers for his product

liVabil it ycommc allen 43

To order please call or visit 956-668-0555 or wwwediblearrangementscom 5113-A N 10th St bull McAllen TX 78504

Offer valid at participating locations Offer expires 12312013 Cannot be combined with another offers Offer code must be used when placing order

Containers may vary EDIBLE ARRANGEMENTS and the Fruit Basket Logo Design are registered trademarks of Edible Arrangements LLC

copy2012 Edible Arrangements LLC All rights reserved Frachises available call (888) 727-4258 or visit wwweafranchisescom

DELICIOUSLYd e s i r a b l e

FREE PIECE OF DIPPED FRUIT

Code mctx1213

Living green is making sure the air in your home is healthy for your family to breathe Test your home for radon and build radon-resistant

Its easy Thats living healthy and green

Just call 866-730-green or visit wwwepagovradon

Living greenstarts from the ground up

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

(pineapple chocolate strawberry) needed for a banana split

The concept led to a 2011 McAllen Business Plan Competition grant to fund the necessary patents

ldquoI envisioned a product that could hang easily in refrigerated sections at big box storesrdquo Guerra says ldquoI have lined up a distributor and a broker with my ultimate goal being to have Banana E-Z Split available to customers in large grocery chains It is close to happeningrdquo

FiBEriO TEChNOlOgyAnother startup in McAllen

is already making waves globally FibeRio Technology Corporation another McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant recipient is thriving thanks to ground-breaking nanofiber-producing machinery The nanofibers can be used to make products ranging from diapers to

ballistics using a new way to spin microscopic nanofibers

The technology serves an array of industries that feature filtration textiles or biomedical applications

ldquoDr Karen Lozano at UT-Pan American discovered the process and I was contacted because I am an entrepreneur familiar with launching technology- based companies including nanotechnologyrdquo says FibeRio Technology presidentCEO Ellery Buchanan ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the world Plus we use local McAllen suppliers whenever possible including machine shops parts suppliers IT contractors and other business servicesrdquo

by Kevin Litwin by staff photographer

Michael Conti

FibeRio Technology Corporationnanomaterials processing research equipment is used at FibeRioTechnologyCorporation

FEldmaNrsquoS markET CENTErFeldmanrsquos Market Center features a broad selection of beer as well as wines liquors cigars and a gourmet deli In addition weekly beer and wine tastings are offered(956) 687-9463

PErFECT PawS rESOrTPerfect Paws Resort offers grooming services daycare and boarding to vaccinated dogs and cats that are at least 12 weeks old Boarding suites are climate controlled and under constant supervisionperfectpawsresortcom

mCCrEEry aviaTiON CO iNCMcCreery Aviation Co Inc is a place for pilots and their aircraft to receive top-notch treatment A fuel center flight planning room and hangar storage are availablemccreeryaviationcom

kiTikakE llCKitikake LLC offers gently- used vintage clothing for women from an array of top designers such as Lilly Pulitzer and Catherine Malandrino Vintage home deacutecor and dishes are also availablekitikakecom

krEidlEr FuNEral hOmEFounded owned and operated by the Kreidler family Kreidler Funeral Home has served McAllen for 100 years They offer traditional burial and graveside funeral services direct burials cremations memorial services and morekreidlerfuneralhomecom

Business Spotlight

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

visit ouradvertisersBorder Capital Bankwwwbordercapitalbankcom

City of McAllen Public Info Officewwwexploremcallennet

Courtyard by Marriottwwwmarriottcommtema

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valleywwweasterseals-rgvorg

Edible Arrangementswwwediblearrangementscom

Family Physicians Clinicwwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

Magic Valley Electric Cooperativewwwmagicvalleycoop

McAllen Economic Development Corporationwwwmcallenedcorg

McAllen Independent School Districtwwwmcallenisdorg

McAllen International Airportwwwmcallenairportcom

McAllen Realty

Mr Electricwwwmrelectriccom

Nuevo Santander Gallerywwwnuevosantandercom

OH KAYrsquoS

Preventative Care Institutewwwrgvpcicom

Quinta Mazatlanwwwquintamazatlancom

Rio Health Medicalwwwrio-healthcom

South Texas College wwwsouthtexascollegeedu

South Texas Health Systemwwwsouthtexashealthsystemcom

The Patio on Guerra wwwpatioonguerracom

Valley International Airportwwwflythevalleycom

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

BuSiNESS CHAMBER REPoRT

Whatrsquos the Big Ideachamberrsquos readiness tool kit assists entrepreneurs

The McAllen Chamber of Commerce has helped prepare 25 McAllen entrepreneurs in the continuing quest to launch their ideas ndash all since July 2011

The Chamber has a software package called VentureBusiness Readiness Assessment which is used by states such as oklahoma and Kentucky to assist startup companies The software helps an entrepreneur through the entire process of seeing whether they are truly ready to launch their startup

ldquoVentureBusiness Readiness Assessment is a way that the Chamber assists entrepreneurs who are trying to get funding for their products or projectsrdquo says Steve Ahlenius who serves as President and CEo of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce ldquoThe Chamber awards $50000 a year in innovation grants in $10000 increments and entrepreneurs are always looking for funding But they must earn that money by passing the various stages of the software tool kitrdquo

TEN hOurS TO COmPlETEAhlenius says the assessment

has several specific steps to make sure that a startup company has everything in place to ensure that it is successful

ldquoThe entrepreneurs contact us and set up an appointment to see me then they come to the Chamber office we sign them up and give them passwords to access the software at their conveniencerdquo he says ldquo[The program] takes about 10 hours to complete but doesnrsquot have to be finished in one sitting However the program must be eventually completed in order to qualify for our innovation grantrdquo

CaN iT BE madE QuiCklyThe software asks questions

such as Have you protected your intellectual property Is your product something that can be

made quickly Have you set a value on your idea and do you know how to do that If itrsquos a product that involves high-tech engineering do you have an engineer on your companyrsquos team

ldquoThe entrepreneur needs to know if his venture is worth 20 shares of stock or 200 shares ndash things like thatrdquo Ahlenius says ldquoMany factors go into launching a product or business and Venture Readiness points out a personrsquos strengths and weaknessesrdquo

a grEaT OvErviEwVicente Valle Martinez of

McAllen is an entrepreneur who contacted the Chamber in 2012 about his idea for connecting

people on the Internet who have similar educational experiences and higher learning interests

ldquoI have no background in business but heard one day about an innovation grant competition that the Chamber was sponsoringrdquo Martinez says ldquoSteve told me about the software package and it gave me a great overview of what I need to know before launching my ideardquo

Ahlenius says the various concepts the software package covers include credentials character capabilities commitment and circumstance

ldquoIt is an excellent self-awareness testrdquo he says ldquoItrsquos ideal for entrepreneursrdquo

by Kevin Litwin

the mcallen chamber of commerce on ash avenue

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

Ad Index 41 BorderCapitalBank

21 CityofMCallen puBliCinfooffiCe

4 CourtyardByMarriott

32 easterseals rioGrandeValley

44 ediBlearranGeMents

32 faMilyphysiCiansCliniC

2 MaGiCValley eleCtriCCooperatiVe

C3 MCalleneConoMiC deVelopMentCorporation

46 MCallenindependent sChooldistriCt

1 MCallen internationalairport

C4 MCallenrealty

48 MreleCtriC

46 nueVosantanderGallery

35 ohkayrsquos

34 preVentatiVe

Careinstitute

23 QuintaMazatlan

32 riohealthMediCal

31 southtexasColleGe

C2 southtexas

healthsysteM

18 thepatioonGuerra

44 Valley

internationalairport

ECONOMICPROFILE

3000+

2000- 2999

1999- 500

hOuSEhOld iNCOmE

TOP EmPlOyErS

$200000+

$150000-199999

$100000 and under

McAllen Independent School District

McAllen Medical Center South Texas College City of McAllen

Rio Grande Regional Hospital International Bank of Commerce

EduCaTiON lEvEl

High School Graduate

Associate Degree

Bachelorrsquos Degree

Masterrsquos Degree

TaxES

2City Sales and Use Tax

625State Sales Tax

825Total Sales Tax

SCOrECard

$36BAnnual Retail Sales

$28682Retail sales per capita

$3575MAnnual Hotel and Food Sales

15161Total Number of Firms

TraNSPOrTaTiON

mcallen-miller international airportwwwmcallenairportcom

metro mcallenwwwmcallennetmetro

amtrakwwwamtrakcom

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

everything you need every step of the way

Serving the rio grande valley Since 1989

Rachel Hardison-Oliva Broker

3321 N McColl Rd

McAllen TX 78501

(956) 687-7172 bull (956) 687-7178 Fax

Page 7: Livability McAllen, TX 2013

CONTENTSlivabilitycommcallen

Visit the website for more great photos and stories about McAllen Texas

Livabilitycom Follow us livability Like us at facebookcomlivability Follow us at pinterestcomlivability

Things To Do Find the must-do attractions activities and dining in McAllen

LivingLearn about McAllenrsquos schools health care education and neighborhoods

BusinessGet info on top employers jobs and success stories in McAllen

digital magazine

Read it online or on your tablet and quickly share articles with friends

FaCtSGet data fast on population climate workforce cost of living and more

PhoTos amp viDeo

2013 | SPONSORED BY THE MCALLEN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

livabilitycommcallen

MCALLENTEXAS

McAllen in a DayThis happening Valley city has plenty to do and see

OUTSIDE THE BOXResidents get creative with business ventures

aT a glaNCE

Cultural diversity progressive business practices and a booming economy best characterize McAllen ndash one of the fastest growing metros in Texas and part of one of the fastest growing MSAs in the nation Its location near the US-Mexico border has made it a magnet for retail international trade tourism and manufacturing

aBuNdaNT liviNgMcAllenrsquos economic mix means

tangible benefits for residents beyond a strong job market They take their picks among diverse shopping and dining options that include national brands and unique independent retailers

The resulting tax base means the city can offer amenities such as a massive state-of-the-art library in-town bus service awesome parks and popular hiking and biking trails that are enjoyed year round thanks to a warm climate

With all this and affordable homes McAllen also consistently ranks among cities with the lowest cost of living in the United States

grEaT FOr BuSiNESSMcAllen is good for business

big and small More than 100 Fortune 500 companies have a presence within the McAllen MSA and the city has also been recently recognized by CNNMoney on its list of Best Places to Launch a Small Business

Key factors bringing expansions and entrepreneurs are an excellent quality of life numerous advanced medical facilities a comprehensive financial services community demonstrated logistics advantages to reach existing and new markets and a mostly young bicultural and bilingual population

Read on to discover why McAllen is one of Americarsquos best places to live

McAllen Texasa quick comprehensiVe oVerVieW of Whatrsquos Great about the community

Rio Granded

Rio Grande

83

281

281

83

777777

28181288281777777

ReynosaosR sas

Matamoros

Rio BravoBrownsvilleBrowrow sss

WeslacoHarlingenrlinng

Edinburg

Mission

Pharr

McAllen

HIDALGO

MEXICO

UNITEDSTATESS

FOr mOrE iNFOrmaTiON

McAllenChamberofCommerce1200 Ash Avenue McAllen TX 78501 Phone (956) 682-2871Fax (956) 687-2917

wwwmcallenchambercom

lOCaTiONMcAllen is in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas situated just 70 miles west of the Gulf of Mexico McAllen is the largest city in Hidalgo County

POPulaTiON

133821 (McAllen)

774769 (MSA)

aNNual raiNFall

23rdquo

diSTaNCES TO ThrEE majOr CiTiES NEarBy San Antonio 224 miles Austin 311 miles Fort WorthDallas 502 miles

TimE zONECentral

National Average 30rdquo

No3Mid-Size

US City for Jobs

- Forbes

ACCOLADE

McAllen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 7

Shopping

BrOwSE Or Buy

mcallenrsquos la Plaza mall draws more than 18 million visitors each year as the main shopping spot for residents in the Rio Grande Valley The 1200000-square-foot mall has more than 140 retailers such as Macyrsquos and Dillardrsquos as well as a variety of restaurants

Art Events

miNglE wiTh arTiSTS

The music after hours Outdoor Concert Series is held monthly to showcase bands from the Rio Grande Valley Meanwhile mcallenrsquos artwalk is a monthly self-guided tour that features art galleries vendors and museums

Sports

Play Ball

The mcallen Thunder and Edinburg roadrunners are baseball teams that play at Edinburg Baseball Stadium Both teams are members of the North American League an independent professional league not affiliated with Major League Baseball

Locally Grown

STOCk uP

You can find more than 20 varieties of citrus and other fresh fruits vegetables nuts and locally made products at klementrsquos grove Bellrsquos Farm to market Farmers market at Town lake and Farmers market at mcallenrsquos new library

THINGSTODOMcAllenrsquos must-do attractions activities and dining

Grab Your Binocularsmcallenrsquos many wildlife havens include QuintaMazatlan above an urban sanctuary for birds plants and other wildlife valleyNatureCenter which is the oldest nature center in the rio Grande Valley and the 2000-acre SantaAnaNationalWildlifeRefuge which has recorded 400 bird species and hundreds of butterfly species

8 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 9

Eatery

PiCk ThE PlaTTEr

The popular restaurant Costa messa has a new location on North 10th Street and its menu includes favorite items such as huge botana platters to share and choriqueso The eatery is open seven days a week from 11 am until 10 pm

Outdoors

gET iN ShaPE

Hiking and biking trail systems are located at various parks throughout McAllen Some of the arearsquos most popular trails can be found at las Palmas Park la vista Park los Encinos Park retama village Park Bill Schupp Park and westside Park

Pro Sports

FlaSh aNd viPErS

Cheer on the rio grande valley Flash a Professional Arena Soccer League team and catch the basketball action of the rio grande valley vipers 2010 NBA Development League Champions Both teams play at State Farm Arena in Hidalgo

ThiNgS TO dO

Happy Hour

PrOPOSE a TOaST

Enjoy dinner drinks and fun at the many businesses located within the 17th Street Entertainment district of downtown McAllen a revitalized area now bustling with interesting restaurants pubs clubs and lounges

Climb Aboardthe federal transit administration awarded mcallen $19 million to create an electric bus pilot program OLEvTechnologiesoversees the program which is retrofitting three diesel buses with electric motors passenger transport begins in 2013

8 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 9

THIS HAPPEnInG vALLEY CITY OFFERS PLEnTY TO DO SEE amp EAT

ThiNgS TO dO

mcallenin a Day

l iVabil it ycommc allen 11 10 mc allen

midNighT TO NOON iN mCallENWhere to stay McAllen has nearly 3600 hotel rooms

from luxurious traditional hotels to new motels with all the contemporary bells and whistles The Renaissance Casa de Palmas a four-star hotel on Main Street was built in 1918 and lavishly restored into a luxury property featuring Mission architecture that recalls McAllenrsquos past Or try the Spring Hill Suites just off the expressway for a more modern take

After a comfortable night start the morning off with breakfast at Jimmyrsquos Egg a new outpost of a longtime Oklahoma favorite Here enjoy nearly any kind of egg you can imagine for breakfast ndash or atop a burger at lunch Go further south of the cuisine border at Las Cazuelas Grill another popular new eatery for menu items such as Chilaquiles con Huevo or Molletes

Got 24 hours to spare We recommend a busy day well spent in McAllen where you can fill every available hour

with interesting sights delicious cuisine and a variety of fun activities

a birdrsquos-eye view of the cityrsquos revitalized 17the street entertainment district

l iVabil it ycommc allen 11

NB

icen

tenn

ialB

lvd

WHackberryAve

S23

rdS

tree

t

83

international museum of arts and sciences

mcallen public library

McAllen Public Librarym-th 9am - 9pmf-sat 9am - 6pmsun 1pm - 9pm

phone (956) 688-3300uhV students (with id) free

wwwmcallenlibrarynet

12 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 13

The hike and bike trail on Second Street and another on Bicentennial offer the chance for a leisurely 23-mile stroll around town ndash yoursquove got to work off that breakfast after all And then head over to the International Museum of Arts and Science a Smithsonian affiliated museum where a wide variety of changing art and science exhibits always offer something interesting

Another must-see is McAllenrsquos new public library which at a whopping 123000 square feet is the largest single-floor library in the US This former Walmart building underwent a total transformation into an aesthetically pleasing community resource thatrsquos steadily gaining attention worldwide for its colorful open and functional design Opened in December 2011 the facility has already won first place in the International Interior Design Associationrsquos 2012 Library Interior Design Competition

luNCh aNd laTErldquoWersquove got over 600 restaurants

hererdquo says Chamber President and CEO Steve Ahlenius So since itrsquos noon by now try the flatbread or a

salad at house wine amp bistro or go for a panini at Corner Bakery Cafe Or for Latin flavor head to KoKorsquos for delicious Mexican fare

In McAllen a day without shopping would be sad indeed La Plaza Mall is the most visited mall in the country and Palms Crossings at the McAllen Convention Center is home to several shops and restaurants such as Mimirsquos Cafe and Romanorsquos Macaroni Grill

ldquoAfter I finished shopping Irsquod spend the rest of the afternoon at Quinta Mazatlan (a historic home that also offers nature trails and legendary bird watching)rdquo Ahlenius says Another option is to test the waters by kayaking or catch-and-release fishing on Town Lake at Firemanrsquos Park

mCallEN aFTEr hOurSYoursquore not tired are you

Good because after freshening up back at your hotel itrsquos off to a night on the town Cajun cuisine at The Bayou Grill on North 10th St is a great option as are the authentic Mexican menus at Cabritos Nuevo Leon or La Jaiba Mexican Seafood Grill both on West Nolana

After dinner stroll the 17th Street Entertainment District to catch the flavor of McAllen after hours or catch a show at the historic Cine El Rey theater where comedy acts concerts film festivals and other events take the stage Finally La Recova Contemporary Argentinean Grill beckons for a nightcap in its quiet upscale bar ldquowhere you can actually carry on a conversationrdquo Ahlenius says

Then to bed Where after a good nightrsquos rest you will surely want to get up and spend yet another great day in McAllen

by Laura Hill by staff photographer

Michael Conti

ldquoMcAllen is a beautiful multicultural city with plenty to do and see From shopping in the most popular stores in the nation or unique one-of-a-kind shops to fine dining and plenty of family outdoor activities ndash you can do it year round hererdquo

gErry garCia VPOFSPECIALPROJECTS

FORTHEMCALLENCHAMBER

SNAPSHOT

for music dinner and dancing head to downtown mcallenrsquos 17th street entertainment district

The Patio on Guerradiners enjoy the food and atmosphere at the patio on Guerra on 17th street in downtown mcallen

12 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 13

ThiNgS TO dO

Town Lakea boy takes his dog for a walk as he skateboards the trail along the new 4-acre town lake at firemanrsquos park a popular spot for canoeing kayaking fishing and more

ThiNgS TO dO

14 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 15 14 mc allen

nEW LAkE OPEnS AT FIREMAnrsquoS PARk

Ahh howrefreshing

ldquoWe did all the required dredging to transform the little pond into a recreational lake that is 15 feet at its deepest pointrdquo says Sally Gavlik director of the McAllen Parks amp Recreation Department ldquoIn these days of more and more people opting to remain close to home for staycations Town Lake at Firemanrsquos Park gives them a valid option for a different kind of local vacationrdquo

lET ThE FuN BEgiNTown Lake is situated right in the

middle of McAllen off Business Highway 83 between First and Second streets Swimming is prohibited due to park

irrigation regulations but a beach has been constructed to launch canoes kayaks and paddle boats A fishing pier is also in place

ldquoWe transferred fish to the lake from nearby Boeye Reservoir which has provided us with good stocks of bass perch and catfishrdquo Gavlik says ldquoTown Lake currently only has a catch-and-release program meaning you can catch fish but must release them back into the water At some point in the future when the fish population increases we plan to schedule times when people can take the fish homerdquo

The City of McAllen made a big splash in May 2012 when it officially opened Town Lake at Firemanrsquos Park What was once a small tract of land with a few basic

recreational amenities is now a 15-acre redevelopment that includes the four-acre Town Lake Crews used a water holding pond at the cityrsquos former water treatment facility to construct the new lake

14 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 15

TakE a hikEWalking and jogging are also good recreational

options around the waterrsquos perimeterldquoTown Lake actually ties into the well used Second

Street Trail People can come off the trail walk or jog along the lake and then get back onto the trailrdquo Gavlik says ldquoThe scenery includes wildflowers in a freshly seeded meadow while other park amenities are horseshoe pits two playgrounds and free picnic sites at the north end of Firemanrsquos Park at First Streetrdquo

There is also a covered pavilion area with sand volleyball courts a small concession building and three camping sites The campsites can be used during the day by anyone but only overnight by organized groups such as the Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts Group reservations must be made through the McAllen Parks amp Recreation Department

ldquoAnother park attraction is the former water treatment building which has been transformed into a rental facilityrdquo Gavlik says ldquoIt is now called The Old Pump House complete with new windows air conditioning uplighting tiling and carpeted floors Groups of 75 to 100 people can rent the facility for meetings small receptions or small social events The Old Pump House adds to the overall amenities of todayrsquos Firemenrsquos Parkrdquo

by Kevin Litwin by staff photographer Michael Conti

Fishinga group casts lines into town lake which enforces a catch-and-release program

WHackberryAve

TownLake

83

firemanrsquos park

N2

nd

Str

eet

16 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 17

children enjoy the playground at firemanrsquos park

16 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 17

l iVabil it ycommc allen 19

ThiNgS TO dO LoCAL FLAVoR

Palate Pleasersmcallen restaurants serVe up flaVorful foods

McAllen diners rejoice The city has a broad selection of distinctive restaurants and eateries appealing to just about every taste By Barbara Biehler

Asian

SENSaTiONal SuShi amp SPiCE

McAllen has several great spots for Japanese food such as sushi tempura and teppanyaki including kohnami kumori and yokorsquos Sushi Bar

Fans of Thai food should check out Thai red Chilirsquos for dishes like pad thai red curry chicken and sweet rice with mango

Indian

TaNdOOri aNyONETaste of india hits the spot

for diners looking for high quality authentic Indian food made from old family recipes and paired with excellent service

Tex-Mex and Mexican

SOmE likE iT SPiCy

Step into las Cazuelas grill for classic Mexican cuisine or visit Palenque Chicken for expertly prepared Mexican and Tex Mex dishes

Renowned regionally for homemade tamales deliarsquos uses fresh ingredients including pork chicken and beef

The republic of rio grande serves Mexican cuisine in an intimate setting order a traditional dish like the chicken fajitas or enchiladas suizas or enjoy a distinctive entree such as shrimp chipotle pesto pasta or a brick-oven pizza

check out more restaurants in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

ldquoDeliarsquos has the best tamales in town Probably even in the RGV The only place you can get the good old homemade flavor of real tamalesrdquo

Evila l YELPCOM

Argentine

SOuTh amEriCaN CuiSiNE

Relax in the elegant yet casual atmosphere of la Pampa argentinean Steak housewhile you dine on classic Argentine- cut steaks grilled chicken breasts marinated in Chimichurri or traditional de carne empanadas

Meanwhile la recova also offers a wide selection of Argentine-style favorites on its menu Favorite dishes at La Recova includes chorizo tuna carnitas duck confit and churrasco a classic top sirloin steak

Outdoor Dining

TrENdy amp TaSTy

If yoursquore in the mood for a USDA prime steak or succulent seafood drop by The Patio on guerra Dine on the outdoor patio and have a bottle of one of the restaurantrsquos award-winning wines

FridarsquosGrillandCantina located on 17th street offers traditional mexican favorites with modern flavors Go to fridarsquos to enjoy unique culinary dishes signature drinks and live music on the weekends

l iVabil it ycommc allen 19

ThiNgS TO dO ARTS amp CULTURE

Rave Reviewsmcallenrsquos arts scene remains robust With museums music and eVents

Arts patrons music lovers and history buffs enjoy many cultural attractions throughout McAllen The latest buzz McAllen Performing Arts Center will spring up near the McAllen Convention Center giving fans of live music theater and dance a fine new facility to anticipate

Live Entertainment

PErFOrmErS TakE ThE STagE

The 17th Street Entertainment district in downtown McAllen overflows with lounges restaurants and clubs For live music visit The old Ice House or Cine El Rey

The cityrsquos diverse culture is what influences much of the music performed by the valley Symphony Orchestra amp Chorale The Symphony was established in 1952 with the Chorale joining later in 1984 Similarly the South Texas lyric Opera brings the fine art of opera to the Rio Grande Valley with a yearly slate of productions and an annual opera gala and rio grande valley Broadway brings popular stage shows to town such as Disneyrsquos Beauty and the Beast and Monty Pythonrsquos Spamalot

Historic Sites

TakE a STEP BaCk iN TimE

The museum of South Texas history and the mcallen heritage Center are just two locations to learn about the rich history of this bicultural area

Quinta mazatlan a 1930s hacienda that embodies the Spanish Colonial Revival architecture of arches adobe and beams and provides an intimate look into South Texas history The 10000-square- foot mansion sits on a 15-acre plot hosting a mix of native and exotic plants and wildlife making up McAllenrsquos wing of the popular world Birding Center

Cine El Reyopened in 1947 the historic cine el rey theater now functions as

a music and performance venue showcasing a variety of live events and also shows spanish and english independent films the theater is located in downtown mcallenrsquos 17th street entertainment district

20 mc allen

ldquoCine El Rey hosts events as diverse as wrestling live bands films and comedy shows A huge stage is complimented by killer production value and a staff that really cares about all aspects of the experience Irsquom looking forward to a return triprdquo

Bill dykES YELP

visual Arts and Festivals

aCCESSiBlE arT FuN EvENTS

The international museum of art amp Science founded in 1969 promotes an appreciation for the arts and sciences through its exhibitions cultural events and many educational programs imaS is located at 1900 Nolana Ave

The mcallen art walk is a self-guided tour that gives art lovers the opportunity to explore the many art offerings in the city Itrsquos held every first Friday from September through May and is free and open to the public

on the first Saturday night of December folks enjoy the Candlelight Posada which includes food booths luminaries a parade live entertainment caroling and a live nativity scene

Chamber of Commerce Support

ChamBEr BaCkS ThE arTS

The mcallen Chamber of Commerce shows its love for the arts by managing the mcallen arts Council which publishes a quarterly magazine produces an annual fine arts exhibition and offers grants to local artists The Chamber also offers an outdoor concert series and coordinates the Public art Committeersquos acquisition program

20 mc allen

ThiNgS TO dO SPoRTS amp RECREATIoN

Soak Up Some Sunmcallen residents haVe plenty of Good reasons to Get outdoors

Great golf courses hiking and biking trails and a large well-maintained park system make McAllen the perfect place to enjoy outdoor fun By Carson OrsquoShoney

Golf

TEE iT uPWith nearly 20 courses in the

McAllen area golf is a popular attraction in the Rio Grande Valley

one of the most notable courses is the Palm view golf Course an 18-hole public course with a private feel With rolling fairways and Bermuda rough mounds the course is an often-used location for tournaments having hosted LPGA tournaments and Palm viewrsquos amateur golf Championship

mcallen Country Club provides a challenge with tree-lined fairways and small greens and also offers a swimming pool tennis courts a fitness center and other amenities

Every golf course in the area is bustling especially in the winter when ldquoWinter Texansrdquo come to the Rio Grande Valley The weather generally stays in the 70s in the coldest months making it a perfect place for winter golfing

Hiking Biking and Racing

ON ThE mOvE iN mCallEN

There are plenty of hiking and biking trails on the east and west sides of town such as the retama village Park Trail westside Park Trail and las Palmas Park Trail Visiting cyclists are welcome to meet up with Team mcallen Cycling a bike club thatrsquos been in the city for more than 25 years

Racing fans can enjoy the mcallen international motorplex and Event Center which hosts stock car races car shows and more The racetrack is a family-friendly place offering activities for children such as games face painting and crafts

Palm view Golf Courseirish cochran plays a round of golf at palm View Golf course an 18-hole public course often used for high profile tournaments

22 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 23

City Parks

OuTdOOr Family FuN

The mcallen Parks and recreation department currently oversees 25 city parks Ranging from historic parks established in the early 1900s to more modern facilities there are several options suitable for the whole family

archer Park McAllenrsquos oldest park opened in 1912 Serving as a historic landmark in the city it also plays host to many of the cityrsquos annual special events including the Candlelight Posada and movies in the Park

Spanning 38 acres Springfest Park is the largest park in McAllen Springfest hosts a variety of special events and is home to mcallenrsquos winter Polo league from January through March

check out more fun things to do in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

Spray and Ground Parkbesides its popular water feature mcallenrsquos new SprayandGroundParkhas a sand volleyball court skateboard area a half basketball court and just over half a mile of walking trails in addition there are athletic practice fields shaded areas picnic shelters and restroom facilities

22 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 23

ThiNgS TO dO SEE THE CITY

24 mc allen

The Irrigation Workerthe sun sets behind a sculpture ldquothe irrigation Workerrdquo which was created by artist douglas clark and is located on nolana and 25th

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

l iVabil it ycommc allen 25

LIvINGHERESchools health care education and neighborhoods in McAllen

26 mc allen 26 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 27 26 mc allen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 27

see more beautiful photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

Luxury Livingnewcomers have many beautiful home options in mcallen such as those offered in eight different communities by cantu construction a locally based award-winning builder

26 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 27 liVabil it ycommc allen 27

liviNg

TECH TOOLS FOSTER STUDEnT SUCCESS

Padding theCurriculum

McAllen Independent School District (ISD) is feeling the benefits of an ambitious technology plan that places an iPod or iPad in the hands of every teacher and student

mcallen independent school district students use system-issued ipads in class

28 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 29

EduCaTiNg FOr ThE 21ST CENTury

The initiative began with a meeting between Dr James Ponce McAllenrsquos superintendent of schools and a ldquocadrerdquo of about 35 teachers administrators and parents

The grouprsquos primary goal was to build a 21st-century classroom environment one that fosters creativity collaboration and entrepreneurship The group also wanted to find a way to harness the 247 educational potential of the Internet ndash and teach students the critical-thinking skills needed to process online content

ldquoItrsquos an environment where the teachers become the primary learners and the students are driven by their examplerdquo Ponce says ldquoSo we asked what tools we would need for this transformation of the way we teach and the way the kids learnrdquo

After much research the group chose iPods (for grades K-2) and iPads (for teachers and grades 3-12) because of their portability

ldquoIrsquove learned more from my fellow teachers than I have in many years just from sharing ideas for how to use the iPads in the classroomrdquo

CarOl aNN allEN LANGuAGEARTSTEACHER

ATMICHAELEFOSSuMMIDDLESCHOOL

relatively low cost and ease of use To implement the planrsquos first stage McAllen ISD issued 5800 of these devices to teachers and students when the rollout is complete it will cover more than 25000 students

Big BENEFiTS FOr TEaChErS aNd STudENTS

Both teachers and students are seeing benefits from the program

ldquoThe iPods help the kids be creative My students are organizing information in new waysrdquo says Ruth Whiddon who teaches first grade at Andrew Jackson Elementary School

For Carol Ann Allen International Baccalaureate coordinator and eighth-grade language arts teacher at Michael E Fossum Middle School the initiative is all about collaboration

ldquoIrsquove learned more from my fellow teachers than I have in many years just from sharing ideas for how to use the iPads in the classroomrdquo she says

Sandra Guerra who teaches seventh- and eighth-grade math

at Fossum says the iPads have changed both her teaching style and the way her students learn

Instead of mapping out the learning process step-by-step she now gives students their goal and lets them choose how to get there

ldquoWith this approach they own their learning and theyrsquove been more willing to learnrdquo Guerra says

The iPads have also been a game-changer for Guerrarsquos family

Her seventh-grade daughter is learning advanced science concepts because of independent iPad projects And because most of her childrenrsquos school materials are on their iPads itrsquos easier than ever for Guerra to check on their progress from home

That kind of scenario says Superintendent Ponce is at the heart of the initiative

ldquoThe entire school system and our community want to lead in this effort to build a 21st-century learning environmentrdquo he says ldquoThis is a direct investment in our children and their familiesrdquo

by Kathryn Royster

High-Tech Learningseventh-grade students use ipads to follow class lectures and take quizzes during a language arts class at michael e fossum middle school

PH

oT

o C

oU

RT

EST

Y o

F M

CA

LLE

N IN

DE

PE

ND

EN

T S

CH

oo

L D

IST

RIC

T

28 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 29

Higher Education

SOuTh TExaS COllEgE

McAllenrsquos South Texas College has more than 30000 students and offers numerous associate and bachelorrsquos degree programs as well as professional certifications in more than 40 areas The college also has online degree courses for students who work full time

liviNg EDUCATIoN

Set for SuccesscolleGe prep is a top priority in mcallen

Education in McAllen is defined by excellent options From elementary school through college McAllen includes numerous institutions designed to prepare students for success By Braxton Shoop

school yourself on more educational offerings at livabilitycommcallen

Public Schools

mCallEN iNdEPENdENT SChOOl diSTriCT

Established in 1915 the mcallen independent School district comprises three high schools seven middle schools and 20 elementary schools Among these schools the district offers an advanced placement college-level curriculum and a dual-enrollment program for students who would like to obtain high school and college credit simultaneously

In addition the district features an International Baccalaureate program that provides students with an advanced curriculum geared toward global standards

Local Inspiration

FOrmEr STudENT FliES high

one of McAllenrsquos successful students is astronaut michael Fossum a graduate of McAllen High School After receiving his commission from the US Air Force by Texas AampM University Fossum graduated Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base and in 1993 he started at NASA Throughout his NASA career Fossum was on crew for three spaceflights He commanded the space station during one of his flights helping him rank seventh on the all-time list for cumulative Extravehicular Activity time

Top-notch Learning Environmentuniversity of texas-pan american offers many undergraduate degrees more than 50 masterrsquos degrees and three doctoral degrees utpa has accreditations from organizations like the commission for collegiate nursing the examining board of nurse examiners for the state of texas and the engineering accreditation commission of the accreditation board for engineering and technology

30 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 31

Charter School

idEa aCadEmy

idEa academy is an innovative institution that offers a fully scaled curriculum for students in kindergarten and in the first second and sixth grades The school which opened in McAllen in 2012 will eventually add more grades each one including approximately 110 students While the school is public students must apply to fill the 460 available spots

To prepare its students to be collegiate scholars IDEA provides International Baccalaureate curriculum as well as the Road to College curriculum which begins in the sixth grade

ldquoWersquore very proud of the connection to our distinguished alumni like NASA astronaut Michael Fossum and we want our students to recognize the kind of education we provide here What he learned here helped catapult him into space and wersquore very proud of thatrdquo

NOrma zamOra-guErra MCALLENINDEPENDENTSCHOOL

DISTRICTCOMMuNITYINFORMATIONDIRECTOR

Michael E Fossum Middle Schoolnamed for astronaut michael e fossum the school is part of the mcallen independent school district

30 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 31

Please call 9566316109 for a representative today

2501 Buddy Owens Blvd McAllen TX 78504

9656316125 Fax

wwwrio-healthcom

RioHealth MedicalWe are here to meet all your

occupational medicine needs

bull Workplace injuries and workersrsquo compensation

bull On site and off site drug screening

bull Physicals

bull Orthopedics

bull Early return to work

bull 247 coverage

bull We accept all types of insurance

WorkplaceInjury

DANIEL J GUERRA MD Diplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

LEONEL G MORENO MDDiplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

HOMERO RIVAS MDDiplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

606 S Broadway bull McAllen TX bull (956) 682-4515 bull wwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

FAMILY PHYSICIANS

CLINICSince 1967

Mon-Fri 8 am-5 pm Sat 8 am-Noon

VALLEY NIGHT CLINIC

Since 1981

Open Every Night of the Year 6 pm-Midnight

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valley supports children of all abilities through child care

services early intervention and parenting support programs

Early Childhood intErvEntion ChildCarE sErviCEs ParEnts as tEaChErs

Easter seals rio Grande valley Programs for Children Birth to Five years

bullChild-Care servicesndashHigh-qualitychildcare sixweekstofiveyears

bullParents as teachers (Pat)ndashDevelopmental parentingsupportforchildrenbirthtofiveyears

bullEarly Childhood intervention (ECi) ndashConcerns indevelopmentforchildrenbirthtothreeyears

For more information about Easter seals

programs and services call (956) 631-9171 or visit wwweasterseals-rgvorg

32 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 33

liviNg HEALTH

Take a Deep Breath and Relaxresidents haVe access to top hospitals

McAllen residents receive quality care from the South Texas Health System Rio Grande Regional Hospital and the Doctors Hospital at Renaissance By Kevin Litwin

Health System

SOuTh TExaS hEalTh SySTEm

South Texas health System is the umbrella organization for a number of fine medical facilities including mcallen medical Center MMC has 441 beds and a staff of more than 400 physicians that represent 50 medical specialties

Also part of South Texas Health System is mcallen heart hospital which opened in 1996 as the first freestanding cardiology and cardiovascular hospital built in the United States It includes 60 beds and a 24-hour emergency center

Healthgrades has awarded McAllen Medical Center and McAllen Heart Hospital with a variety of honors in recent years and both earned a Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence in 2011

Hospital

riO graNdE rEgiONal hOSPiTal

rio grande regional hospital is an acute care medical facility with 320 beds and more than 500 physicians The hospital is the only area Diabetes Management Center accredited by the American Diabetes Association and is the arearsquos first facility to have a Pediatric Heart Program

RGRH also includes a 24-hour emergency room Womenrsquos Services department Level III trauma center and cardiovascular care The hospital is fully accredited by The Joint Commission and the College of American Pathologists and every year since 2007 has been named a Center of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery

32 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 33

Hospital

dOCTOrS hOSPiTal aT rENaiSSaNCE

The 506-bed doctors hospital at renaissance is an acute care facility It provides cardiology neurosurgery and endocrinology as well as a Pediatric Medical Tower that offers pediatric oncology and pediatric ICU services

Doctors Hospital has been ranked among the nationrsquos 100 Top Hospitals by Thomson Reuters and recently invested $32 million to establish an Electronic Medical Record System

DHR was the first in South Texas to acquire a PETCT scanner for diagnosing cancer and the first in the region to introduce da Vinci robotic surgical technology The hospital also oversees Renaissance Behavioral Center which provides treatment for people with mental health problems substance abuse or eating disorders

34 mc allen

COMMUNITyPROFILE COST OF liviNg

$44074Median Household Income

$129554Median Home Price

$689Median Rent for a Two-Bedroom Apartment

TraNSPOrTaTiON

Median Travel Time to Work

agE

TEmPEraTurE

January Average

July Average

EThNiCiTy

19 and Under

20-54

55 and over

White

Black

Hispanic

other

1645minutes

Closest Airport McAllen International Airport

955deg

482deg

South Texasrsquo Finest Gift Store Offers Gifts From Around the World

4300 N 10th St bull Ste C bull McAllen TX 78504 (956) 686-1264 bull ohkaysaolcom

Look for us on Facebook

gOlF COurSES

gOlF TEC

2901 N 10TH ST956-994-9631

mCallEN COuNTry CluB615 WICHITA AVE956-686-0923

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

The national Butterfly Center the national butterfly center dedicates 100 acres to the conservation and scientific study of wild butterflies in their natural habitats the wildlife center is open daily from 8 am until 5 pm september through march and from 9 am until 4 pm april through august

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

liviNg SEE THE CITY

36 mc allen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 37

BUSINESSInfo on McAllenrsquos top employers jobs and success stories

McAllen Convention Centerthe McAllenConventionCenter is located on 185 acres and includes a 60000-square-foot exhibit hall as well as more than 25000 square feet of meeting space in 16 breakout rooms

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

38 mc allen 38 mc allen

38 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 39

BuSiNESS oVERVIEW

McAllenrsquos in the MoneyCultural diversity location and innovation drive cityrsquos top business sectors

As the retail hub of South Texas McAllen is thriving The city draws a customer base of more than 10 million within a 200-mile radius and is represented by 40 of Americarsquos top 100 retailers

By Tiffany Williams

La Plaza MallPumping much of the life into this retail hub is la Plaza mall which annually attracts more than 18 million visitors its anchoring stores such as dillardrsquos and macyrsquos and sought-after retailers including BCBg-max azria and Coach average sales of more than $650 per square foot and are among the most profitable stores in their chains

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

Meetings amp Events

CONvENTiON CENTEr lurES viSiTOrS

The mcallen Convention Center also helps draw businesses to the area The 185-acre complex featuring a 60000-square-foot column-free exhibit hall more than 25000 square feet of meeting space and up to 16 breakout rooms offers bicultural themes and tropical accents that represent the cultural and natural diversity of McAllen

Retail

ShOPPiNg hOT SPOTS

This bicultural city which is located just five miles from the US-Mexico border also has access to three international bridges that flood with visitors and eager shoppers daily many of whom are spending at a rate twice the national average

In addition to La Plaza Mall shopping centers in the McAllen area include Trenton Crossing las Tiendas Plaza and La Plaza Mallrsquos 600sbquo000-square-foot sister shopping center Palms Crossing which hosts such big-name retailers as Barnes amp Noble and Babies rsquoRrsquo Us as well as specialty shops and restaurants Its appeal stems from its open-air design with lots of palm trees water fountains and seating areas

Major Manufacturers

madE FOr maNuFaCTuriNg

Ranked third in Texas in per-capita sales the McAllen area has some of the largest manufacturing and wholesale companies in the nation

valley Coca Cola Bottling Co Value Frozen Foods and Emerson Network Power are just a few who have put down roots here Tri-City Steel which provides a full scope of steel construction by fabricating and erecting structural steel buildings pre-engineered metal buildings stairs handrails and more Texas Citrus Exchange in Mission makes Texas rio red grapefruit juice

learn more about businesses in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

BuSiNESS

RESIDEnTS GET CREATIvE WITH BUSInESS vEnTURES

the BoxOutside

One of McAllenrsquos most innovative startups sprang from the mind of someone who wasnrsquot even interested in business Today Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar is one

of the arearsquos top entrepreneurs and is finding serious success

mcallen entrepreneur dalinda Gonzalez-alcantar founded eJucomm llc

liVabil it ycommc allen 43 42 mc allen

ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the worldrdquo

EllEry BuChaNaN FIBERIOPRESIDENTCEO

Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar the founder of eJucomm LLC simply wanted to make information in her school district more accessible to families The company was a way she could make it happen

She got the idea while working as a teacher at DeLeon Middle School in McAllen and was frustrated that families without computers andor Internet access had difficulty communicating with teachers and administrators So she decided to develop a smartphone application that would solve the problem

With no previous technical experience she researched code online at night and a year later was selling the app to various school districts

ldquoThe app enables Android and iPhone users to access information for things like grades and attendancerdquo Gonzalez-Alcantar says

The entrepreneur also faced unexpected challenges ndash for instance how to tailor individual apps to the roughly seven school districts and 40 campuses that now use them No longer teaching she has partnered with a chief technology officer so she can focus on sales and marketing

One of her biggest hurdles was finding legal fees to fund the startup and a $10000 McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant in 2011 helped pay for a licensing agreement and intellectual property protection for eJucomm to move forward

BaNaNa E-z SPliTAnother McAllen resident

Gerald Guerra faced a similar obstacle when developing a product called Banana E-Z Split A health insurance broker Guerra was inspired at his own kitchen table to create single serving packets with all three syrups

Banana E-Z SplitGerald Guerra inventor of the banana e-Z split single serving syrup packets poses with his daughters Victoria and kaitlyn enthusiastic taste testers for his product

liVabil it ycommc allen 43

To order please call or visit 956-668-0555 or wwwediblearrangementscom 5113-A N 10th St bull McAllen TX 78504

Offer valid at participating locations Offer expires 12312013 Cannot be combined with another offers Offer code must be used when placing order

Containers may vary EDIBLE ARRANGEMENTS and the Fruit Basket Logo Design are registered trademarks of Edible Arrangements LLC

copy2012 Edible Arrangements LLC All rights reserved Frachises available call (888) 727-4258 or visit wwweafranchisescom

DELICIOUSLYd e s i r a b l e

FREE PIECE OF DIPPED FRUIT

Code mctx1213

Living green is making sure the air in your home is healthy for your family to breathe Test your home for radon and build radon-resistant

Its easy Thats living healthy and green

Just call 866-730-green or visit wwwepagovradon

Living greenstarts from the ground up

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

(pineapple chocolate strawberry) needed for a banana split

The concept led to a 2011 McAllen Business Plan Competition grant to fund the necessary patents

ldquoI envisioned a product that could hang easily in refrigerated sections at big box storesrdquo Guerra says ldquoI have lined up a distributor and a broker with my ultimate goal being to have Banana E-Z Split available to customers in large grocery chains It is close to happeningrdquo

FiBEriO TEChNOlOgyAnother startup in McAllen

is already making waves globally FibeRio Technology Corporation another McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant recipient is thriving thanks to ground-breaking nanofiber-producing machinery The nanofibers can be used to make products ranging from diapers to

ballistics using a new way to spin microscopic nanofibers

The technology serves an array of industries that feature filtration textiles or biomedical applications

ldquoDr Karen Lozano at UT-Pan American discovered the process and I was contacted because I am an entrepreneur familiar with launching technology- based companies including nanotechnologyrdquo says FibeRio Technology presidentCEO Ellery Buchanan ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the world Plus we use local McAllen suppliers whenever possible including machine shops parts suppliers IT contractors and other business servicesrdquo

by Kevin Litwin by staff photographer

Michael Conti

FibeRio Technology Corporationnanomaterials processing research equipment is used at FibeRioTechnologyCorporation

FEldmaNrsquoS markET CENTErFeldmanrsquos Market Center features a broad selection of beer as well as wines liquors cigars and a gourmet deli In addition weekly beer and wine tastings are offered(956) 687-9463

PErFECT PawS rESOrTPerfect Paws Resort offers grooming services daycare and boarding to vaccinated dogs and cats that are at least 12 weeks old Boarding suites are climate controlled and under constant supervisionperfectpawsresortcom

mCCrEEry aviaTiON CO iNCMcCreery Aviation Co Inc is a place for pilots and their aircraft to receive top-notch treatment A fuel center flight planning room and hangar storage are availablemccreeryaviationcom

kiTikakE llCKitikake LLC offers gently- used vintage clothing for women from an array of top designers such as Lilly Pulitzer and Catherine Malandrino Vintage home deacutecor and dishes are also availablekitikakecom

krEidlEr FuNEral hOmEFounded owned and operated by the Kreidler family Kreidler Funeral Home has served McAllen for 100 years They offer traditional burial and graveside funeral services direct burials cremations memorial services and morekreidlerfuneralhomecom

Business Spotlight

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

visit ouradvertisersBorder Capital Bankwwwbordercapitalbankcom

City of McAllen Public Info Officewwwexploremcallennet

Courtyard by Marriottwwwmarriottcommtema

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valleywwweasterseals-rgvorg

Edible Arrangementswwwediblearrangementscom

Family Physicians Clinicwwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

Magic Valley Electric Cooperativewwwmagicvalleycoop

McAllen Economic Development Corporationwwwmcallenedcorg

McAllen Independent School Districtwwwmcallenisdorg

McAllen International Airportwwwmcallenairportcom

McAllen Realty

Mr Electricwwwmrelectriccom

Nuevo Santander Gallerywwwnuevosantandercom

OH KAYrsquoS

Preventative Care Institutewwwrgvpcicom

Quinta Mazatlanwwwquintamazatlancom

Rio Health Medicalwwwrio-healthcom

South Texas College wwwsouthtexascollegeedu

South Texas Health Systemwwwsouthtexashealthsystemcom

The Patio on Guerra wwwpatioonguerracom

Valley International Airportwwwflythevalleycom

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

BuSiNESS CHAMBER REPoRT

Whatrsquos the Big Ideachamberrsquos readiness tool kit assists entrepreneurs

The McAllen Chamber of Commerce has helped prepare 25 McAllen entrepreneurs in the continuing quest to launch their ideas ndash all since July 2011

The Chamber has a software package called VentureBusiness Readiness Assessment which is used by states such as oklahoma and Kentucky to assist startup companies The software helps an entrepreneur through the entire process of seeing whether they are truly ready to launch their startup

ldquoVentureBusiness Readiness Assessment is a way that the Chamber assists entrepreneurs who are trying to get funding for their products or projectsrdquo says Steve Ahlenius who serves as President and CEo of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce ldquoThe Chamber awards $50000 a year in innovation grants in $10000 increments and entrepreneurs are always looking for funding But they must earn that money by passing the various stages of the software tool kitrdquo

TEN hOurS TO COmPlETEAhlenius says the assessment

has several specific steps to make sure that a startup company has everything in place to ensure that it is successful

ldquoThe entrepreneurs contact us and set up an appointment to see me then they come to the Chamber office we sign them up and give them passwords to access the software at their conveniencerdquo he says ldquo[The program] takes about 10 hours to complete but doesnrsquot have to be finished in one sitting However the program must be eventually completed in order to qualify for our innovation grantrdquo

CaN iT BE madE QuiCklyThe software asks questions

such as Have you protected your intellectual property Is your product something that can be

made quickly Have you set a value on your idea and do you know how to do that If itrsquos a product that involves high-tech engineering do you have an engineer on your companyrsquos team

ldquoThe entrepreneur needs to know if his venture is worth 20 shares of stock or 200 shares ndash things like thatrdquo Ahlenius says ldquoMany factors go into launching a product or business and Venture Readiness points out a personrsquos strengths and weaknessesrdquo

a grEaT OvErviEwVicente Valle Martinez of

McAllen is an entrepreneur who contacted the Chamber in 2012 about his idea for connecting

people on the Internet who have similar educational experiences and higher learning interests

ldquoI have no background in business but heard one day about an innovation grant competition that the Chamber was sponsoringrdquo Martinez says ldquoSteve told me about the software package and it gave me a great overview of what I need to know before launching my ideardquo

Ahlenius says the various concepts the software package covers include credentials character capabilities commitment and circumstance

ldquoIt is an excellent self-awareness testrdquo he says ldquoItrsquos ideal for entrepreneursrdquo

by Kevin Litwin

the mcallen chamber of commerce on ash avenue

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

Ad Index 41 BorderCapitalBank

21 CityofMCallen puBliCinfooffiCe

4 CourtyardByMarriott

32 easterseals rioGrandeValley

44 ediBlearranGeMents

32 faMilyphysiCiansCliniC

2 MaGiCValley eleCtriCCooperatiVe

C3 MCalleneConoMiC deVelopMentCorporation

46 MCallenindependent sChooldistriCt

1 MCallen internationalairport

C4 MCallenrealty

48 MreleCtriC

46 nueVosantanderGallery

35 ohkayrsquos

34 preVentatiVe

Careinstitute

23 QuintaMazatlan

32 riohealthMediCal

31 southtexasColleGe

C2 southtexas

healthsysteM

18 thepatioonGuerra

44 Valley

internationalairport

ECONOMICPROFILE

3000+

2000- 2999

1999- 500

hOuSEhOld iNCOmE

TOP EmPlOyErS

$200000+

$150000-199999

$100000 and under

McAllen Independent School District

McAllen Medical Center South Texas College City of McAllen

Rio Grande Regional Hospital International Bank of Commerce

EduCaTiON lEvEl

High School Graduate

Associate Degree

Bachelorrsquos Degree

Masterrsquos Degree

TaxES

2City Sales and Use Tax

625State Sales Tax

825Total Sales Tax

SCOrECard

$36BAnnual Retail Sales

$28682Retail sales per capita

$3575MAnnual Hotel and Food Sales

15161Total Number of Firms

TraNSPOrTaTiON

mcallen-miller international airportwwwmcallenairportcom

metro mcallenwwwmcallennetmetro

amtrakwwwamtrakcom

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

everything you need every step of the way

Serving the rio grande valley Since 1989

Rachel Hardison-Oliva Broker

3321 N McColl Rd

McAllen TX 78501

(956) 687-7172 bull (956) 687-7178 Fax

Page 8: Livability McAllen, TX 2013

aT a glaNCE

Cultural diversity progressive business practices and a booming economy best characterize McAllen ndash one of the fastest growing metros in Texas and part of one of the fastest growing MSAs in the nation Its location near the US-Mexico border has made it a magnet for retail international trade tourism and manufacturing

aBuNdaNT liviNgMcAllenrsquos economic mix means

tangible benefits for residents beyond a strong job market They take their picks among diverse shopping and dining options that include national brands and unique independent retailers

The resulting tax base means the city can offer amenities such as a massive state-of-the-art library in-town bus service awesome parks and popular hiking and biking trails that are enjoyed year round thanks to a warm climate

With all this and affordable homes McAllen also consistently ranks among cities with the lowest cost of living in the United States

grEaT FOr BuSiNESSMcAllen is good for business

big and small More than 100 Fortune 500 companies have a presence within the McAllen MSA and the city has also been recently recognized by CNNMoney on its list of Best Places to Launch a Small Business

Key factors bringing expansions and entrepreneurs are an excellent quality of life numerous advanced medical facilities a comprehensive financial services community demonstrated logistics advantages to reach existing and new markets and a mostly young bicultural and bilingual population

Read on to discover why McAllen is one of Americarsquos best places to live

McAllen Texasa quick comprehensiVe oVerVieW of Whatrsquos Great about the community

Rio Granded

Rio Grande

83

281

281

83

777777

28181288281777777

ReynosaosR sas

Matamoros

Rio BravoBrownsvilleBrowrow sss

WeslacoHarlingenrlinng

Edinburg

Mission

Pharr

McAllen

HIDALGO

MEXICO

UNITEDSTATESS

FOr mOrE iNFOrmaTiON

McAllenChamberofCommerce1200 Ash Avenue McAllen TX 78501 Phone (956) 682-2871Fax (956) 687-2917

wwwmcallenchambercom

lOCaTiONMcAllen is in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas situated just 70 miles west of the Gulf of Mexico McAllen is the largest city in Hidalgo County

POPulaTiON

133821 (McAllen)

774769 (MSA)

aNNual raiNFall

23rdquo

diSTaNCES TO ThrEE majOr CiTiES NEarBy San Antonio 224 miles Austin 311 miles Fort WorthDallas 502 miles

TimE zONECentral

National Average 30rdquo

No3Mid-Size

US City for Jobs

- Forbes

ACCOLADE

McAllen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 7

Shopping

BrOwSE Or Buy

mcallenrsquos la Plaza mall draws more than 18 million visitors each year as the main shopping spot for residents in the Rio Grande Valley The 1200000-square-foot mall has more than 140 retailers such as Macyrsquos and Dillardrsquos as well as a variety of restaurants

Art Events

miNglE wiTh arTiSTS

The music after hours Outdoor Concert Series is held monthly to showcase bands from the Rio Grande Valley Meanwhile mcallenrsquos artwalk is a monthly self-guided tour that features art galleries vendors and museums

Sports

Play Ball

The mcallen Thunder and Edinburg roadrunners are baseball teams that play at Edinburg Baseball Stadium Both teams are members of the North American League an independent professional league not affiliated with Major League Baseball

Locally Grown

STOCk uP

You can find more than 20 varieties of citrus and other fresh fruits vegetables nuts and locally made products at klementrsquos grove Bellrsquos Farm to market Farmers market at Town lake and Farmers market at mcallenrsquos new library

THINGSTODOMcAllenrsquos must-do attractions activities and dining

Grab Your Binocularsmcallenrsquos many wildlife havens include QuintaMazatlan above an urban sanctuary for birds plants and other wildlife valleyNatureCenter which is the oldest nature center in the rio Grande Valley and the 2000-acre SantaAnaNationalWildlifeRefuge which has recorded 400 bird species and hundreds of butterfly species

8 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 9

Eatery

PiCk ThE PlaTTEr

The popular restaurant Costa messa has a new location on North 10th Street and its menu includes favorite items such as huge botana platters to share and choriqueso The eatery is open seven days a week from 11 am until 10 pm

Outdoors

gET iN ShaPE

Hiking and biking trail systems are located at various parks throughout McAllen Some of the arearsquos most popular trails can be found at las Palmas Park la vista Park los Encinos Park retama village Park Bill Schupp Park and westside Park

Pro Sports

FlaSh aNd viPErS

Cheer on the rio grande valley Flash a Professional Arena Soccer League team and catch the basketball action of the rio grande valley vipers 2010 NBA Development League Champions Both teams play at State Farm Arena in Hidalgo

ThiNgS TO dO

Happy Hour

PrOPOSE a TOaST

Enjoy dinner drinks and fun at the many businesses located within the 17th Street Entertainment district of downtown McAllen a revitalized area now bustling with interesting restaurants pubs clubs and lounges

Climb Aboardthe federal transit administration awarded mcallen $19 million to create an electric bus pilot program OLEvTechnologiesoversees the program which is retrofitting three diesel buses with electric motors passenger transport begins in 2013

8 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 9

THIS HAPPEnInG vALLEY CITY OFFERS PLEnTY TO DO SEE amp EAT

ThiNgS TO dO

mcallenin a Day

l iVabil it ycommc allen 11 10 mc allen

midNighT TO NOON iN mCallENWhere to stay McAllen has nearly 3600 hotel rooms

from luxurious traditional hotels to new motels with all the contemporary bells and whistles The Renaissance Casa de Palmas a four-star hotel on Main Street was built in 1918 and lavishly restored into a luxury property featuring Mission architecture that recalls McAllenrsquos past Or try the Spring Hill Suites just off the expressway for a more modern take

After a comfortable night start the morning off with breakfast at Jimmyrsquos Egg a new outpost of a longtime Oklahoma favorite Here enjoy nearly any kind of egg you can imagine for breakfast ndash or atop a burger at lunch Go further south of the cuisine border at Las Cazuelas Grill another popular new eatery for menu items such as Chilaquiles con Huevo or Molletes

Got 24 hours to spare We recommend a busy day well spent in McAllen where you can fill every available hour

with interesting sights delicious cuisine and a variety of fun activities

a birdrsquos-eye view of the cityrsquos revitalized 17the street entertainment district

l iVabil it ycommc allen 11

NB

icen

tenn

ialB

lvd

WHackberryAve

S23

rdS

tree

t

83

international museum of arts and sciences

mcallen public library

McAllen Public Librarym-th 9am - 9pmf-sat 9am - 6pmsun 1pm - 9pm

phone (956) 688-3300uhV students (with id) free

wwwmcallenlibrarynet

12 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 13

The hike and bike trail on Second Street and another on Bicentennial offer the chance for a leisurely 23-mile stroll around town ndash yoursquove got to work off that breakfast after all And then head over to the International Museum of Arts and Science a Smithsonian affiliated museum where a wide variety of changing art and science exhibits always offer something interesting

Another must-see is McAllenrsquos new public library which at a whopping 123000 square feet is the largest single-floor library in the US This former Walmart building underwent a total transformation into an aesthetically pleasing community resource thatrsquos steadily gaining attention worldwide for its colorful open and functional design Opened in December 2011 the facility has already won first place in the International Interior Design Associationrsquos 2012 Library Interior Design Competition

luNCh aNd laTErldquoWersquove got over 600 restaurants

hererdquo says Chamber President and CEO Steve Ahlenius So since itrsquos noon by now try the flatbread or a

salad at house wine amp bistro or go for a panini at Corner Bakery Cafe Or for Latin flavor head to KoKorsquos for delicious Mexican fare

In McAllen a day without shopping would be sad indeed La Plaza Mall is the most visited mall in the country and Palms Crossings at the McAllen Convention Center is home to several shops and restaurants such as Mimirsquos Cafe and Romanorsquos Macaroni Grill

ldquoAfter I finished shopping Irsquod spend the rest of the afternoon at Quinta Mazatlan (a historic home that also offers nature trails and legendary bird watching)rdquo Ahlenius says Another option is to test the waters by kayaking or catch-and-release fishing on Town Lake at Firemanrsquos Park

mCallEN aFTEr hOurSYoursquore not tired are you

Good because after freshening up back at your hotel itrsquos off to a night on the town Cajun cuisine at The Bayou Grill on North 10th St is a great option as are the authentic Mexican menus at Cabritos Nuevo Leon or La Jaiba Mexican Seafood Grill both on West Nolana

After dinner stroll the 17th Street Entertainment District to catch the flavor of McAllen after hours or catch a show at the historic Cine El Rey theater where comedy acts concerts film festivals and other events take the stage Finally La Recova Contemporary Argentinean Grill beckons for a nightcap in its quiet upscale bar ldquowhere you can actually carry on a conversationrdquo Ahlenius says

Then to bed Where after a good nightrsquos rest you will surely want to get up and spend yet another great day in McAllen

by Laura Hill by staff photographer

Michael Conti

ldquoMcAllen is a beautiful multicultural city with plenty to do and see From shopping in the most popular stores in the nation or unique one-of-a-kind shops to fine dining and plenty of family outdoor activities ndash you can do it year round hererdquo

gErry garCia VPOFSPECIALPROJECTS

FORTHEMCALLENCHAMBER

SNAPSHOT

for music dinner and dancing head to downtown mcallenrsquos 17th street entertainment district

The Patio on Guerradiners enjoy the food and atmosphere at the patio on Guerra on 17th street in downtown mcallen

12 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 13

ThiNgS TO dO

Town Lakea boy takes his dog for a walk as he skateboards the trail along the new 4-acre town lake at firemanrsquos park a popular spot for canoeing kayaking fishing and more

ThiNgS TO dO

14 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 15 14 mc allen

nEW LAkE OPEnS AT FIREMAnrsquoS PARk

Ahh howrefreshing

ldquoWe did all the required dredging to transform the little pond into a recreational lake that is 15 feet at its deepest pointrdquo says Sally Gavlik director of the McAllen Parks amp Recreation Department ldquoIn these days of more and more people opting to remain close to home for staycations Town Lake at Firemanrsquos Park gives them a valid option for a different kind of local vacationrdquo

lET ThE FuN BEgiNTown Lake is situated right in the

middle of McAllen off Business Highway 83 between First and Second streets Swimming is prohibited due to park

irrigation regulations but a beach has been constructed to launch canoes kayaks and paddle boats A fishing pier is also in place

ldquoWe transferred fish to the lake from nearby Boeye Reservoir which has provided us with good stocks of bass perch and catfishrdquo Gavlik says ldquoTown Lake currently only has a catch-and-release program meaning you can catch fish but must release them back into the water At some point in the future when the fish population increases we plan to schedule times when people can take the fish homerdquo

The City of McAllen made a big splash in May 2012 when it officially opened Town Lake at Firemanrsquos Park What was once a small tract of land with a few basic

recreational amenities is now a 15-acre redevelopment that includes the four-acre Town Lake Crews used a water holding pond at the cityrsquos former water treatment facility to construct the new lake

14 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 15

TakE a hikEWalking and jogging are also good recreational

options around the waterrsquos perimeterldquoTown Lake actually ties into the well used Second

Street Trail People can come off the trail walk or jog along the lake and then get back onto the trailrdquo Gavlik says ldquoThe scenery includes wildflowers in a freshly seeded meadow while other park amenities are horseshoe pits two playgrounds and free picnic sites at the north end of Firemanrsquos Park at First Streetrdquo

There is also a covered pavilion area with sand volleyball courts a small concession building and three camping sites The campsites can be used during the day by anyone but only overnight by organized groups such as the Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts Group reservations must be made through the McAllen Parks amp Recreation Department

ldquoAnother park attraction is the former water treatment building which has been transformed into a rental facilityrdquo Gavlik says ldquoIt is now called The Old Pump House complete with new windows air conditioning uplighting tiling and carpeted floors Groups of 75 to 100 people can rent the facility for meetings small receptions or small social events The Old Pump House adds to the overall amenities of todayrsquos Firemenrsquos Parkrdquo

by Kevin Litwin by staff photographer Michael Conti

Fishinga group casts lines into town lake which enforces a catch-and-release program

WHackberryAve

TownLake

83

firemanrsquos park

N2

nd

Str

eet

16 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 17

children enjoy the playground at firemanrsquos park

16 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 17

l iVabil it ycommc allen 19

ThiNgS TO dO LoCAL FLAVoR

Palate Pleasersmcallen restaurants serVe up flaVorful foods

McAllen diners rejoice The city has a broad selection of distinctive restaurants and eateries appealing to just about every taste By Barbara Biehler

Asian

SENSaTiONal SuShi amp SPiCE

McAllen has several great spots for Japanese food such as sushi tempura and teppanyaki including kohnami kumori and yokorsquos Sushi Bar

Fans of Thai food should check out Thai red Chilirsquos for dishes like pad thai red curry chicken and sweet rice with mango

Indian

TaNdOOri aNyONETaste of india hits the spot

for diners looking for high quality authentic Indian food made from old family recipes and paired with excellent service

Tex-Mex and Mexican

SOmE likE iT SPiCy

Step into las Cazuelas grill for classic Mexican cuisine or visit Palenque Chicken for expertly prepared Mexican and Tex Mex dishes

Renowned regionally for homemade tamales deliarsquos uses fresh ingredients including pork chicken and beef

The republic of rio grande serves Mexican cuisine in an intimate setting order a traditional dish like the chicken fajitas or enchiladas suizas or enjoy a distinctive entree such as shrimp chipotle pesto pasta or a brick-oven pizza

check out more restaurants in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

ldquoDeliarsquos has the best tamales in town Probably even in the RGV The only place you can get the good old homemade flavor of real tamalesrdquo

Evila l YELPCOM

Argentine

SOuTh amEriCaN CuiSiNE

Relax in the elegant yet casual atmosphere of la Pampa argentinean Steak housewhile you dine on classic Argentine- cut steaks grilled chicken breasts marinated in Chimichurri or traditional de carne empanadas

Meanwhile la recova also offers a wide selection of Argentine-style favorites on its menu Favorite dishes at La Recova includes chorizo tuna carnitas duck confit and churrasco a classic top sirloin steak

Outdoor Dining

TrENdy amp TaSTy

If yoursquore in the mood for a USDA prime steak or succulent seafood drop by The Patio on guerra Dine on the outdoor patio and have a bottle of one of the restaurantrsquos award-winning wines

FridarsquosGrillandCantina located on 17th street offers traditional mexican favorites with modern flavors Go to fridarsquos to enjoy unique culinary dishes signature drinks and live music on the weekends

l iVabil it ycommc allen 19

ThiNgS TO dO ARTS amp CULTURE

Rave Reviewsmcallenrsquos arts scene remains robust With museums music and eVents

Arts patrons music lovers and history buffs enjoy many cultural attractions throughout McAllen The latest buzz McAllen Performing Arts Center will spring up near the McAllen Convention Center giving fans of live music theater and dance a fine new facility to anticipate

Live Entertainment

PErFOrmErS TakE ThE STagE

The 17th Street Entertainment district in downtown McAllen overflows with lounges restaurants and clubs For live music visit The old Ice House or Cine El Rey

The cityrsquos diverse culture is what influences much of the music performed by the valley Symphony Orchestra amp Chorale The Symphony was established in 1952 with the Chorale joining later in 1984 Similarly the South Texas lyric Opera brings the fine art of opera to the Rio Grande Valley with a yearly slate of productions and an annual opera gala and rio grande valley Broadway brings popular stage shows to town such as Disneyrsquos Beauty and the Beast and Monty Pythonrsquos Spamalot

Historic Sites

TakE a STEP BaCk iN TimE

The museum of South Texas history and the mcallen heritage Center are just two locations to learn about the rich history of this bicultural area

Quinta mazatlan a 1930s hacienda that embodies the Spanish Colonial Revival architecture of arches adobe and beams and provides an intimate look into South Texas history The 10000-square- foot mansion sits on a 15-acre plot hosting a mix of native and exotic plants and wildlife making up McAllenrsquos wing of the popular world Birding Center

Cine El Reyopened in 1947 the historic cine el rey theater now functions as

a music and performance venue showcasing a variety of live events and also shows spanish and english independent films the theater is located in downtown mcallenrsquos 17th street entertainment district

20 mc allen

ldquoCine El Rey hosts events as diverse as wrestling live bands films and comedy shows A huge stage is complimented by killer production value and a staff that really cares about all aspects of the experience Irsquom looking forward to a return triprdquo

Bill dykES YELP

visual Arts and Festivals

aCCESSiBlE arT FuN EvENTS

The international museum of art amp Science founded in 1969 promotes an appreciation for the arts and sciences through its exhibitions cultural events and many educational programs imaS is located at 1900 Nolana Ave

The mcallen art walk is a self-guided tour that gives art lovers the opportunity to explore the many art offerings in the city Itrsquos held every first Friday from September through May and is free and open to the public

on the first Saturday night of December folks enjoy the Candlelight Posada which includes food booths luminaries a parade live entertainment caroling and a live nativity scene

Chamber of Commerce Support

ChamBEr BaCkS ThE arTS

The mcallen Chamber of Commerce shows its love for the arts by managing the mcallen arts Council which publishes a quarterly magazine produces an annual fine arts exhibition and offers grants to local artists The Chamber also offers an outdoor concert series and coordinates the Public art Committeersquos acquisition program

20 mc allen

ThiNgS TO dO SPoRTS amp RECREATIoN

Soak Up Some Sunmcallen residents haVe plenty of Good reasons to Get outdoors

Great golf courses hiking and biking trails and a large well-maintained park system make McAllen the perfect place to enjoy outdoor fun By Carson OrsquoShoney

Golf

TEE iT uPWith nearly 20 courses in the

McAllen area golf is a popular attraction in the Rio Grande Valley

one of the most notable courses is the Palm view golf Course an 18-hole public course with a private feel With rolling fairways and Bermuda rough mounds the course is an often-used location for tournaments having hosted LPGA tournaments and Palm viewrsquos amateur golf Championship

mcallen Country Club provides a challenge with tree-lined fairways and small greens and also offers a swimming pool tennis courts a fitness center and other amenities

Every golf course in the area is bustling especially in the winter when ldquoWinter Texansrdquo come to the Rio Grande Valley The weather generally stays in the 70s in the coldest months making it a perfect place for winter golfing

Hiking Biking and Racing

ON ThE mOvE iN mCallEN

There are plenty of hiking and biking trails on the east and west sides of town such as the retama village Park Trail westside Park Trail and las Palmas Park Trail Visiting cyclists are welcome to meet up with Team mcallen Cycling a bike club thatrsquos been in the city for more than 25 years

Racing fans can enjoy the mcallen international motorplex and Event Center which hosts stock car races car shows and more The racetrack is a family-friendly place offering activities for children such as games face painting and crafts

Palm view Golf Courseirish cochran plays a round of golf at palm View Golf course an 18-hole public course often used for high profile tournaments

22 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 23

City Parks

OuTdOOr Family FuN

The mcallen Parks and recreation department currently oversees 25 city parks Ranging from historic parks established in the early 1900s to more modern facilities there are several options suitable for the whole family

archer Park McAllenrsquos oldest park opened in 1912 Serving as a historic landmark in the city it also plays host to many of the cityrsquos annual special events including the Candlelight Posada and movies in the Park

Spanning 38 acres Springfest Park is the largest park in McAllen Springfest hosts a variety of special events and is home to mcallenrsquos winter Polo league from January through March

check out more fun things to do in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

Spray and Ground Parkbesides its popular water feature mcallenrsquos new SprayandGroundParkhas a sand volleyball court skateboard area a half basketball court and just over half a mile of walking trails in addition there are athletic practice fields shaded areas picnic shelters and restroom facilities

22 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 23

ThiNgS TO dO SEE THE CITY

24 mc allen

The Irrigation Workerthe sun sets behind a sculpture ldquothe irrigation Workerrdquo which was created by artist douglas clark and is located on nolana and 25th

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

l iVabil it ycommc allen 25

LIvINGHERESchools health care education and neighborhoods in McAllen

26 mc allen 26 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 27 26 mc allen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 27

see more beautiful photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

Luxury Livingnewcomers have many beautiful home options in mcallen such as those offered in eight different communities by cantu construction a locally based award-winning builder

26 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 27 liVabil it ycommc allen 27

liviNg

TECH TOOLS FOSTER STUDEnT SUCCESS

Padding theCurriculum

McAllen Independent School District (ISD) is feeling the benefits of an ambitious technology plan that places an iPod or iPad in the hands of every teacher and student

mcallen independent school district students use system-issued ipads in class

28 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 29

EduCaTiNg FOr ThE 21ST CENTury

The initiative began with a meeting between Dr James Ponce McAllenrsquos superintendent of schools and a ldquocadrerdquo of about 35 teachers administrators and parents

The grouprsquos primary goal was to build a 21st-century classroom environment one that fosters creativity collaboration and entrepreneurship The group also wanted to find a way to harness the 247 educational potential of the Internet ndash and teach students the critical-thinking skills needed to process online content

ldquoItrsquos an environment where the teachers become the primary learners and the students are driven by their examplerdquo Ponce says ldquoSo we asked what tools we would need for this transformation of the way we teach and the way the kids learnrdquo

After much research the group chose iPods (for grades K-2) and iPads (for teachers and grades 3-12) because of their portability

ldquoIrsquove learned more from my fellow teachers than I have in many years just from sharing ideas for how to use the iPads in the classroomrdquo

CarOl aNN allEN LANGuAGEARTSTEACHER

ATMICHAELEFOSSuMMIDDLESCHOOL

relatively low cost and ease of use To implement the planrsquos first stage McAllen ISD issued 5800 of these devices to teachers and students when the rollout is complete it will cover more than 25000 students

Big BENEFiTS FOr TEaChErS aNd STudENTS

Both teachers and students are seeing benefits from the program

ldquoThe iPods help the kids be creative My students are organizing information in new waysrdquo says Ruth Whiddon who teaches first grade at Andrew Jackson Elementary School

For Carol Ann Allen International Baccalaureate coordinator and eighth-grade language arts teacher at Michael E Fossum Middle School the initiative is all about collaboration

ldquoIrsquove learned more from my fellow teachers than I have in many years just from sharing ideas for how to use the iPads in the classroomrdquo she says

Sandra Guerra who teaches seventh- and eighth-grade math

at Fossum says the iPads have changed both her teaching style and the way her students learn

Instead of mapping out the learning process step-by-step she now gives students their goal and lets them choose how to get there

ldquoWith this approach they own their learning and theyrsquove been more willing to learnrdquo Guerra says

The iPads have also been a game-changer for Guerrarsquos family

Her seventh-grade daughter is learning advanced science concepts because of independent iPad projects And because most of her childrenrsquos school materials are on their iPads itrsquos easier than ever for Guerra to check on their progress from home

That kind of scenario says Superintendent Ponce is at the heart of the initiative

ldquoThe entire school system and our community want to lead in this effort to build a 21st-century learning environmentrdquo he says ldquoThis is a direct investment in our children and their familiesrdquo

by Kathryn Royster

High-Tech Learningseventh-grade students use ipads to follow class lectures and take quizzes during a language arts class at michael e fossum middle school

PH

oT

o C

oU

RT

EST

Y o

F M

CA

LLE

N IN

DE

PE

ND

EN

T S

CH

oo

L D

IST

RIC

T

28 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 29

Higher Education

SOuTh TExaS COllEgE

McAllenrsquos South Texas College has more than 30000 students and offers numerous associate and bachelorrsquos degree programs as well as professional certifications in more than 40 areas The college also has online degree courses for students who work full time

liviNg EDUCATIoN

Set for SuccesscolleGe prep is a top priority in mcallen

Education in McAllen is defined by excellent options From elementary school through college McAllen includes numerous institutions designed to prepare students for success By Braxton Shoop

school yourself on more educational offerings at livabilitycommcallen

Public Schools

mCallEN iNdEPENdENT SChOOl diSTriCT

Established in 1915 the mcallen independent School district comprises three high schools seven middle schools and 20 elementary schools Among these schools the district offers an advanced placement college-level curriculum and a dual-enrollment program for students who would like to obtain high school and college credit simultaneously

In addition the district features an International Baccalaureate program that provides students with an advanced curriculum geared toward global standards

Local Inspiration

FOrmEr STudENT FliES high

one of McAllenrsquos successful students is astronaut michael Fossum a graduate of McAllen High School After receiving his commission from the US Air Force by Texas AampM University Fossum graduated Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base and in 1993 he started at NASA Throughout his NASA career Fossum was on crew for three spaceflights He commanded the space station during one of his flights helping him rank seventh on the all-time list for cumulative Extravehicular Activity time

Top-notch Learning Environmentuniversity of texas-pan american offers many undergraduate degrees more than 50 masterrsquos degrees and three doctoral degrees utpa has accreditations from organizations like the commission for collegiate nursing the examining board of nurse examiners for the state of texas and the engineering accreditation commission of the accreditation board for engineering and technology

30 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 31

Charter School

idEa aCadEmy

idEa academy is an innovative institution that offers a fully scaled curriculum for students in kindergarten and in the first second and sixth grades The school which opened in McAllen in 2012 will eventually add more grades each one including approximately 110 students While the school is public students must apply to fill the 460 available spots

To prepare its students to be collegiate scholars IDEA provides International Baccalaureate curriculum as well as the Road to College curriculum which begins in the sixth grade

ldquoWersquore very proud of the connection to our distinguished alumni like NASA astronaut Michael Fossum and we want our students to recognize the kind of education we provide here What he learned here helped catapult him into space and wersquore very proud of thatrdquo

NOrma zamOra-guErra MCALLENINDEPENDENTSCHOOL

DISTRICTCOMMuNITYINFORMATIONDIRECTOR

Michael E Fossum Middle Schoolnamed for astronaut michael e fossum the school is part of the mcallen independent school district

30 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 31

Please call 9566316109 for a representative today

2501 Buddy Owens Blvd McAllen TX 78504

9656316125 Fax

wwwrio-healthcom

RioHealth MedicalWe are here to meet all your

occupational medicine needs

bull Workplace injuries and workersrsquo compensation

bull On site and off site drug screening

bull Physicals

bull Orthopedics

bull Early return to work

bull 247 coverage

bull We accept all types of insurance

WorkplaceInjury

DANIEL J GUERRA MD Diplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

LEONEL G MORENO MDDiplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

HOMERO RIVAS MDDiplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

606 S Broadway bull McAllen TX bull (956) 682-4515 bull wwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

FAMILY PHYSICIANS

CLINICSince 1967

Mon-Fri 8 am-5 pm Sat 8 am-Noon

VALLEY NIGHT CLINIC

Since 1981

Open Every Night of the Year 6 pm-Midnight

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valley supports children of all abilities through child care

services early intervention and parenting support programs

Early Childhood intErvEntion ChildCarE sErviCEs ParEnts as tEaChErs

Easter seals rio Grande valley Programs for Children Birth to Five years

bullChild-Care servicesndashHigh-qualitychildcare sixweekstofiveyears

bullParents as teachers (Pat)ndashDevelopmental parentingsupportforchildrenbirthtofiveyears

bullEarly Childhood intervention (ECi) ndashConcerns indevelopmentforchildrenbirthtothreeyears

For more information about Easter seals

programs and services call (956) 631-9171 or visit wwweasterseals-rgvorg

32 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 33

liviNg HEALTH

Take a Deep Breath and Relaxresidents haVe access to top hospitals

McAllen residents receive quality care from the South Texas Health System Rio Grande Regional Hospital and the Doctors Hospital at Renaissance By Kevin Litwin

Health System

SOuTh TExaS hEalTh SySTEm

South Texas health System is the umbrella organization for a number of fine medical facilities including mcallen medical Center MMC has 441 beds and a staff of more than 400 physicians that represent 50 medical specialties

Also part of South Texas Health System is mcallen heart hospital which opened in 1996 as the first freestanding cardiology and cardiovascular hospital built in the United States It includes 60 beds and a 24-hour emergency center

Healthgrades has awarded McAllen Medical Center and McAllen Heart Hospital with a variety of honors in recent years and both earned a Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence in 2011

Hospital

riO graNdE rEgiONal hOSPiTal

rio grande regional hospital is an acute care medical facility with 320 beds and more than 500 physicians The hospital is the only area Diabetes Management Center accredited by the American Diabetes Association and is the arearsquos first facility to have a Pediatric Heart Program

RGRH also includes a 24-hour emergency room Womenrsquos Services department Level III trauma center and cardiovascular care The hospital is fully accredited by The Joint Commission and the College of American Pathologists and every year since 2007 has been named a Center of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery

32 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 33

Hospital

dOCTOrS hOSPiTal aT rENaiSSaNCE

The 506-bed doctors hospital at renaissance is an acute care facility It provides cardiology neurosurgery and endocrinology as well as a Pediatric Medical Tower that offers pediatric oncology and pediatric ICU services

Doctors Hospital has been ranked among the nationrsquos 100 Top Hospitals by Thomson Reuters and recently invested $32 million to establish an Electronic Medical Record System

DHR was the first in South Texas to acquire a PETCT scanner for diagnosing cancer and the first in the region to introduce da Vinci robotic surgical technology The hospital also oversees Renaissance Behavioral Center which provides treatment for people with mental health problems substance abuse or eating disorders

34 mc allen

COMMUNITyPROFILE COST OF liviNg

$44074Median Household Income

$129554Median Home Price

$689Median Rent for a Two-Bedroom Apartment

TraNSPOrTaTiON

Median Travel Time to Work

agE

TEmPEraTurE

January Average

July Average

EThNiCiTy

19 and Under

20-54

55 and over

White

Black

Hispanic

other

1645minutes

Closest Airport McAllen International Airport

955deg

482deg

South Texasrsquo Finest Gift Store Offers Gifts From Around the World

4300 N 10th St bull Ste C bull McAllen TX 78504 (956) 686-1264 bull ohkaysaolcom

Look for us on Facebook

gOlF COurSES

gOlF TEC

2901 N 10TH ST956-994-9631

mCallEN COuNTry CluB615 WICHITA AVE956-686-0923

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

The national Butterfly Center the national butterfly center dedicates 100 acres to the conservation and scientific study of wild butterflies in their natural habitats the wildlife center is open daily from 8 am until 5 pm september through march and from 9 am until 4 pm april through august

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

liviNg SEE THE CITY

36 mc allen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 37

BUSINESSInfo on McAllenrsquos top employers jobs and success stories

McAllen Convention Centerthe McAllenConventionCenter is located on 185 acres and includes a 60000-square-foot exhibit hall as well as more than 25000 square feet of meeting space in 16 breakout rooms

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

38 mc allen 38 mc allen

38 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 39

BuSiNESS oVERVIEW

McAllenrsquos in the MoneyCultural diversity location and innovation drive cityrsquos top business sectors

As the retail hub of South Texas McAllen is thriving The city draws a customer base of more than 10 million within a 200-mile radius and is represented by 40 of Americarsquos top 100 retailers

By Tiffany Williams

La Plaza MallPumping much of the life into this retail hub is la Plaza mall which annually attracts more than 18 million visitors its anchoring stores such as dillardrsquos and macyrsquos and sought-after retailers including BCBg-max azria and Coach average sales of more than $650 per square foot and are among the most profitable stores in their chains

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

Meetings amp Events

CONvENTiON CENTEr lurES viSiTOrS

The mcallen Convention Center also helps draw businesses to the area The 185-acre complex featuring a 60000-square-foot column-free exhibit hall more than 25000 square feet of meeting space and up to 16 breakout rooms offers bicultural themes and tropical accents that represent the cultural and natural diversity of McAllen

Retail

ShOPPiNg hOT SPOTS

This bicultural city which is located just five miles from the US-Mexico border also has access to three international bridges that flood with visitors and eager shoppers daily many of whom are spending at a rate twice the national average

In addition to La Plaza Mall shopping centers in the McAllen area include Trenton Crossing las Tiendas Plaza and La Plaza Mallrsquos 600sbquo000-square-foot sister shopping center Palms Crossing which hosts such big-name retailers as Barnes amp Noble and Babies rsquoRrsquo Us as well as specialty shops and restaurants Its appeal stems from its open-air design with lots of palm trees water fountains and seating areas

Major Manufacturers

madE FOr maNuFaCTuriNg

Ranked third in Texas in per-capita sales the McAllen area has some of the largest manufacturing and wholesale companies in the nation

valley Coca Cola Bottling Co Value Frozen Foods and Emerson Network Power are just a few who have put down roots here Tri-City Steel which provides a full scope of steel construction by fabricating and erecting structural steel buildings pre-engineered metal buildings stairs handrails and more Texas Citrus Exchange in Mission makes Texas rio red grapefruit juice

learn more about businesses in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

BuSiNESS

RESIDEnTS GET CREATIvE WITH BUSInESS vEnTURES

the BoxOutside

One of McAllenrsquos most innovative startups sprang from the mind of someone who wasnrsquot even interested in business Today Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar is one

of the arearsquos top entrepreneurs and is finding serious success

mcallen entrepreneur dalinda Gonzalez-alcantar founded eJucomm llc

liVabil it ycommc allen 43 42 mc allen

ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the worldrdquo

EllEry BuChaNaN FIBERIOPRESIDENTCEO

Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar the founder of eJucomm LLC simply wanted to make information in her school district more accessible to families The company was a way she could make it happen

She got the idea while working as a teacher at DeLeon Middle School in McAllen and was frustrated that families without computers andor Internet access had difficulty communicating with teachers and administrators So she decided to develop a smartphone application that would solve the problem

With no previous technical experience she researched code online at night and a year later was selling the app to various school districts

ldquoThe app enables Android and iPhone users to access information for things like grades and attendancerdquo Gonzalez-Alcantar says

The entrepreneur also faced unexpected challenges ndash for instance how to tailor individual apps to the roughly seven school districts and 40 campuses that now use them No longer teaching she has partnered with a chief technology officer so she can focus on sales and marketing

One of her biggest hurdles was finding legal fees to fund the startup and a $10000 McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant in 2011 helped pay for a licensing agreement and intellectual property protection for eJucomm to move forward

BaNaNa E-z SPliTAnother McAllen resident

Gerald Guerra faced a similar obstacle when developing a product called Banana E-Z Split A health insurance broker Guerra was inspired at his own kitchen table to create single serving packets with all three syrups

Banana E-Z SplitGerald Guerra inventor of the banana e-Z split single serving syrup packets poses with his daughters Victoria and kaitlyn enthusiastic taste testers for his product

liVabil it ycommc allen 43

To order please call or visit 956-668-0555 or wwwediblearrangementscom 5113-A N 10th St bull McAllen TX 78504

Offer valid at participating locations Offer expires 12312013 Cannot be combined with another offers Offer code must be used when placing order

Containers may vary EDIBLE ARRANGEMENTS and the Fruit Basket Logo Design are registered trademarks of Edible Arrangements LLC

copy2012 Edible Arrangements LLC All rights reserved Frachises available call (888) 727-4258 or visit wwweafranchisescom

DELICIOUSLYd e s i r a b l e

FREE PIECE OF DIPPED FRUIT

Code mctx1213

Living green is making sure the air in your home is healthy for your family to breathe Test your home for radon and build radon-resistant

Its easy Thats living healthy and green

Just call 866-730-green or visit wwwepagovradon

Living greenstarts from the ground up

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

(pineapple chocolate strawberry) needed for a banana split

The concept led to a 2011 McAllen Business Plan Competition grant to fund the necessary patents

ldquoI envisioned a product that could hang easily in refrigerated sections at big box storesrdquo Guerra says ldquoI have lined up a distributor and a broker with my ultimate goal being to have Banana E-Z Split available to customers in large grocery chains It is close to happeningrdquo

FiBEriO TEChNOlOgyAnother startup in McAllen

is already making waves globally FibeRio Technology Corporation another McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant recipient is thriving thanks to ground-breaking nanofiber-producing machinery The nanofibers can be used to make products ranging from diapers to

ballistics using a new way to spin microscopic nanofibers

The technology serves an array of industries that feature filtration textiles or biomedical applications

ldquoDr Karen Lozano at UT-Pan American discovered the process and I was contacted because I am an entrepreneur familiar with launching technology- based companies including nanotechnologyrdquo says FibeRio Technology presidentCEO Ellery Buchanan ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the world Plus we use local McAllen suppliers whenever possible including machine shops parts suppliers IT contractors and other business servicesrdquo

by Kevin Litwin by staff photographer

Michael Conti

FibeRio Technology Corporationnanomaterials processing research equipment is used at FibeRioTechnologyCorporation

FEldmaNrsquoS markET CENTErFeldmanrsquos Market Center features a broad selection of beer as well as wines liquors cigars and a gourmet deli In addition weekly beer and wine tastings are offered(956) 687-9463

PErFECT PawS rESOrTPerfect Paws Resort offers grooming services daycare and boarding to vaccinated dogs and cats that are at least 12 weeks old Boarding suites are climate controlled and under constant supervisionperfectpawsresortcom

mCCrEEry aviaTiON CO iNCMcCreery Aviation Co Inc is a place for pilots and their aircraft to receive top-notch treatment A fuel center flight planning room and hangar storage are availablemccreeryaviationcom

kiTikakE llCKitikake LLC offers gently- used vintage clothing for women from an array of top designers such as Lilly Pulitzer and Catherine Malandrino Vintage home deacutecor and dishes are also availablekitikakecom

krEidlEr FuNEral hOmEFounded owned and operated by the Kreidler family Kreidler Funeral Home has served McAllen for 100 years They offer traditional burial and graveside funeral services direct burials cremations memorial services and morekreidlerfuneralhomecom

Business Spotlight

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

visit ouradvertisersBorder Capital Bankwwwbordercapitalbankcom

City of McAllen Public Info Officewwwexploremcallennet

Courtyard by Marriottwwwmarriottcommtema

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valleywwweasterseals-rgvorg

Edible Arrangementswwwediblearrangementscom

Family Physicians Clinicwwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

Magic Valley Electric Cooperativewwwmagicvalleycoop

McAllen Economic Development Corporationwwwmcallenedcorg

McAllen Independent School Districtwwwmcallenisdorg

McAllen International Airportwwwmcallenairportcom

McAllen Realty

Mr Electricwwwmrelectriccom

Nuevo Santander Gallerywwwnuevosantandercom

OH KAYrsquoS

Preventative Care Institutewwwrgvpcicom

Quinta Mazatlanwwwquintamazatlancom

Rio Health Medicalwwwrio-healthcom

South Texas College wwwsouthtexascollegeedu

South Texas Health Systemwwwsouthtexashealthsystemcom

The Patio on Guerra wwwpatioonguerracom

Valley International Airportwwwflythevalleycom

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

BuSiNESS CHAMBER REPoRT

Whatrsquos the Big Ideachamberrsquos readiness tool kit assists entrepreneurs

The McAllen Chamber of Commerce has helped prepare 25 McAllen entrepreneurs in the continuing quest to launch their ideas ndash all since July 2011

The Chamber has a software package called VentureBusiness Readiness Assessment which is used by states such as oklahoma and Kentucky to assist startup companies The software helps an entrepreneur through the entire process of seeing whether they are truly ready to launch their startup

ldquoVentureBusiness Readiness Assessment is a way that the Chamber assists entrepreneurs who are trying to get funding for their products or projectsrdquo says Steve Ahlenius who serves as President and CEo of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce ldquoThe Chamber awards $50000 a year in innovation grants in $10000 increments and entrepreneurs are always looking for funding But they must earn that money by passing the various stages of the software tool kitrdquo

TEN hOurS TO COmPlETEAhlenius says the assessment

has several specific steps to make sure that a startup company has everything in place to ensure that it is successful

ldquoThe entrepreneurs contact us and set up an appointment to see me then they come to the Chamber office we sign them up and give them passwords to access the software at their conveniencerdquo he says ldquo[The program] takes about 10 hours to complete but doesnrsquot have to be finished in one sitting However the program must be eventually completed in order to qualify for our innovation grantrdquo

CaN iT BE madE QuiCklyThe software asks questions

such as Have you protected your intellectual property Is your product something that can be

made quickly Have you set a value on your idea and do you know how to do that If itrsquos a product that involves high-tech engineering do you have an engineer on your companyrsquos team

ldquoThe entrepreneur needs to know if his venture is worth 20 shares of stock or 200 shares ndash things like thatrdquo Ahlenius says ldquoMany factors go into launching a product or business and Venture Readiness points out a personrsquos strengths and weaknessesrdquo

a grEaT OvErviEwVicente Valle Martinez of

McAllen is an entrepreneur who contacted the Chamber in 2012 about his idea for connecting

people on the Internet who have similar educational experiences and higher learning interests

ldquoI have no background in business but heard one day about an innovation grant competition that the Chamber was sponsoringrdquo Martinez says ldquoSteve told me about the software package and it gave me a great overview of what I need to know before launching my ideardquo

Ahlenius says the various concepts the software package covers include credentials character capabilities commitment and circumstance

ldquoIt is an excellent self-awareness testrdquo he says ldquoItrsquos ideal for entrepreneursrdquo

by Kevin Litwin

the mcallen chamber of commerce on ash avenue

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

Ad Index 41 BorderCapitalBank

21 CityofMCallen puBliCinfooffiCe

4 CourtyardByMarriott

32 easterseals rioGrandeValley

44 ediBlearranGeMents

32 faMilyphysiCiansCliniC

2 MaGiCValley eleCtriCCooperatiVe

C3 MCalleneConoMiC deVelopMentCorporation

46 MCallenindependent sChooldistriCt

1 MCallen internationalairport

C4 MCallenrealty

48 MreleCtriC

46 nueVosantanderGallery

35 ohkayrsquos

34 preVentatiVe

Careinstitute

23 QuintaMazatlan

32 riohealthMediCal

31 southtexasColleGe

C2 southtexas

healthsysteM

18 thepatioonGuerra

44 Valley

internationalairport

ECONOMICPROFILE

3000+

2000- 2999

1999- 500

hOuSEhOld iNCOmE

TOP EmPlOyErS

$200000+

$150000-199999

$100000 and under

McAllen Independent School District

McAllen Medical Center South Texas College City of McAllen

Rio Grande Regional Hospital International Bank of Commerce

EduCaTiON lEvEl

High School Graduate

Associate Degree

Bachelorrsquos Degree

Masterrsquos Degree

TaxES

2City Sales and Use Tax

625State Sales Tax

825Total Sales Tax

SCOrECard

$36BAnnual Retail Sales

$28682Retail sales per capita

$3575MAnnual Hotel and Food Sales

15161Total Number of Firms

TraNSPOrTaTiON

mcallen-miller international airportwwwmcallenairportcom

metro mcallenwwwmcallennetmetro

amtrakwwwamtrakcom

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

everything you need every step of the way

Serving the rio grande valley Since 1989

Rachel Hardison-Oliva Broker

3321 N McColl Rd

McAllen TX 78501

(956) 687-7172 bull (956) 687-7178 Fax

Page 9: Livability McAllen, TX 2013

Shopping

BrOwSE Or Buy

mcallenrsquos la Plaza mall draws more than 18 million visitors each year as the main shopping spot for residents in the Rio Grande Valley The 1200000-square-foot mall has more than 140 retailers such as Macyrsquos and Dillardrsquos as well as a variety of restaurants

Art Events

miNglE wiTh arTiSTS

The music after hours Outdoor Concert Series is held monthly to showcase bands from the Rio Grande Valley Meanwhile mcallenrsquos artwalk is a monthly self-guided tour that features art galleries vendors and museums

Sports

Play Ball

The mcallen Thunder and Edinburg roadrunners are baseball teams that play at Edinburg Baseball Stadium Both teams are members of the North American League an independent professional league not affiliated with Major League Baseball

Locally Grown

STOCk uP

You can find more than 20 varieties of citrus and other fresh fruits vegetables nuts and locally made products at klementrsquos grove Bellrsquos Farm to market Farmers market at Town lake and Farmers market at mcallenrsquos new library

THINGSTODOMcAllenrsquos must-do attractions activities and dining

Grab Your Binocularsmcallenrsquos many wildlife havens include QuintaMazatlan above an urban sanctuary for birds plants and other wildlife valleyNatureCenter which is the oldest nature center in the rio Grande Valley and the 2000-acre SantaAnaNationalWildlifeRefuge which has recorded 400 bird species and hundreds of butterfly species

8 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 9

Eatery

PiCk ThE PlaTTEr

The popular restaurant Costa messa has a new location on North 10th Street and its menu includes favorite items such as huge botana platters to share and choriqueso The eatery is open seven days a week from 11 am until 10 pm

Outdoors

gET iN ShaPE

Hiking and biking trail systems are located at various parks throughout McAllen Some of the arearsquos most popular trails can be found at las Palmas Park la vista Park los Encinos Park retama village Park Bill Schupp Park and westside Park

Pro Sports

FlaSh aNd viPErS

Cheer on the rio grande valley Flash a Professional Arena Soccer League team and catch the basketball action of the rio grande valley vipers 2010 NBA Development League Champions Both teams play at State Farm Arena in Hidalgo

ThiNgS TO dO

Happy Hour

PrOPOSE a TOaST

Enjoy dinner drinks and fun at the many businesses located within the 17th Street Entertainment district of downtown McAllen a revitalized area now bustling with interesting restaurants pubs clubs and lounges

Climb Aboardthe federal transit administration awarded mcallen $19 million to create an electric bus pilot program OLEvTechnologiesoversees the program which is retrofitting three diesel buses with electric motors passenger transport begins in 2013

8 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 9

THIS HAPPEnInG vALLEY CITY OFFERS PLEnTY TO DO SEE amp EAT

ThiNgS TO dO

mcallenin a Day

l iVabil it ycommc allen 11 10 mc allen

midNighT TO NOON iN mCallENWhere to stay McAllen has nearly 3600 hotel rooms

from luxurious traditional hotels to new motels with all the contemporary bells and whistles The Renaissance Casa de Palmas a four-star hotel on Main Street was built in 1918 and lavishly restored into a luxury property featuring Mission architecture that recalls McAllenrsquos past Or try the Spring Hill Suites just off the expressway for a more modern take

After a comfortable night start the morning off with breakfast at Jimmyrsquos Egg a new outpost of a longtime Oklahoma favorite Here enjoy nearly any kind of egg you can imagine for breakfast ndash or atop a burger at lunch Go further south of the cuisine border at Las Cazuelas Grill another popular new eatery for menu items such as Chilaquiles con Huevo or Molletes

Got 24 hours to spare We recommend a busy day well spent in McAllen where you can fill every available hour

with interesting sights delicious cuisine and a variety of fun activities

a birdrsquos-eye view of the cityrsquos revitalized 17the street entertainment district

l iVabil it ycommc allen 11

NB

icen

tenn

ialB

lvd

WHackberryAve

S23

rdS

tree

t

83

international museum of arts and sciences

mcallen public library

McAllen Public Librarym-th 9am - 9pmf-sat 9am - 6pmsun 1pm - 9pm

phone (956) 688-3300uhV students (with id) free

wwwmcallenlibrarynet

12 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 13

The hike and bike trail on Second Street and another on Bicentennial offer the chance for a leisurely 23-mile stroll around town ndash yoursquove got to work off that breakfast after all And then head over to the International Museum of Arts and Science a Smithsonian affiliated museum where a wide variety of changing art and science exhibits always offer something interesting

Another must-see is McAllenrsquos new public library which at a whopping 123000 square feet is the largest single-floor library in the US This former Walmart building underwent a total transformation into an aesthetically pleasing community resource thatrsquos steadily gaining attention worldwide for its colorful open and functional design Opened in December 2011 the facility has already won first place in the International Interior Design Associationrsquos 2012 Library Interior Design Competition

luNCh aNd laTErldquoWersquove got over 600 restaurants

hererdquo says Chamber President and CEO Steve Ahlenius So since itrsquos noon by now try the flatbread or a

salad at house wine amp bistro or go for a panini at Corner Bakery Cafe Or for Latin flavor head to KoKorsquos for delicious Mexican fare

In McAllen a day without shopping would be sad indeed La Plaza Mall is the most visited mall in the country and Palms Crossings at the McAllen Convention Center is home to several shops and restaurants such as Mimirsquos Cafe and Romanorsquos Macaroni Grill

ldquoAfter I finished shopping Irsquod spend the rest of the afternoon at Quinta Mazatlan (a historic home that also offers nature trails and legendary bird watching)rdquo Ahlenius says Another option is to test the waters by kayaking or catch-and-release fishing on Town Lake at Firemanrsquos Park

mCallEN aFTEr hOurSYoursquore not tired are you

Good because after freshening up back at your hotel itrsquos off to a night on the town Cajun cuisine at The Bayou Grill on North 10th St is a great option as are the authentic Mexican menus at Cabritos Nuevo Leon or La Jaiba Mexican Seafood Grill both on West Nolana

After dinner stroll the 17th Street Entertainment District to catch the flavor of McAllen after hours or catch a show at the historic Cine El Rey theater where comedy acts concerts film festivals and other events take the stage Finally La Recova Contemporary Argentinean Grill beckons for a nightcap in its quiet upscale bar ldquowhere you can actually carry on a conversationrdquo Ahlenius says

Then to bed Where after a good nightrsquos rest you will surely want to get up and spend yet another great day in McAllen

by Laura Hill by staff photographer

Michael Conti

ldquoMcAllen is a beautiful multicultural city with plenty to do and see From shopping in the most popular stores in the nation or unique one-of-a-kind shops to fine dining and plenty of family outdoor activities ndash you can do it year round hererdquo

gErry garCia VPOFSPECIALPROJECTS

FORTHEMCALLENCHAMBER

SNAPSHOT

for music dinner and dancing head to downtown mcallenrsquos 17th street entertainment district

The Patio on Guerradiners enjoy the food and atmosphere at the patio on Guerra on 17th street in downtown mcallen

12 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 13

ThiNgS TO dO

Town Lakea boy takes his dog for a walk as he skateboards the trail along the new 4-acre town lake at firemanrsquos park a popular spot for canoeing kayaking fishing and more

ThiNgS TO dO

14 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 15 14 mc allen

nEW LAkE OPEnS AT FIREMAnrsquoS PARk

Ahh howrefreshing

ldquoWe did all the required dredging to transform the little pond into a recreational lake that is 15 feet at its deepest pointrdquo says Sally Gavlik director of the McAllen Parks amp Recreation Department ldquoIn these days of more and more people opting to remain close to home for staycations Town Lake at Firemanrsquos Park gives them a valid option for a different kind of local vacationrdquo

lET ThE FuN BEgiNTown Lake is situated right in the

middle of McAllen off Business Highway 83 between First and Second streets Swimming is prohibited due to park

irrigation regulations but a beach has been constructed to launch canoes kayaks and paddle boats A fishing pier is also in place

ldquoWe transferred fish to the lake from nearby Boeye Reservoir which has provided us with good stocks of bass perch and catfishrdquo Gavlik says ldquoTown Lake currently only has a catch-and-release program meaning you can catch fish but must release them back into the water At some point in the future when the fish population increases we plan to schedule times when people can take the fish homerdquo

The City of McAllen made a big splash in May 2012 when it officially opened Town Lake at Firemanrsquos Park What was once a small tract of land with a few basic

recreational amenities is now a 15-acre redevelopment that includes the four-acre Town Lake Crews used a water holding pond at the cityrsquos former water treatment facility to construct the new lake

14 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 15

TakE a hikEWalking and jogging are also good recreational

options around the waterrsquos perimeterldquoTown Lake actually ties into the well used Second

Street Trail People can come off the trail walk or jog along the lake and then get back onto the trailrdquo Gavlik says ldquoThe scenery includes wildflowers in a freshly seeded meadow while other park amenities are horseshoe pits two playgrounds and free picnic sites at the north end of Firemanrsquos Park at First Streetrdquo

There is also a covered pavilion area with sand volleyball courts a small concession building and three camping sites The campsites can be used during the day by anyone but only overnight by organized groups such as the Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts Group reservations must be made through the McAllen Parks amp Recreation Department

ldquoAnother park attraction is the former water treatment building which has been transformed into a rental facilityrdquo Gavlik says ldquoIt is now called The Old Pump House complete with new windows air conditioning uplighting tiling and carpeted floors Groups of 75 to 100 people can rent the facility for meetings small receptions or small social events The Old Pump House adds to the overall amenities of todayrsquos Firemenrsquos Parkrdquo

by Kevin Litwin by staff photographer Michael Conti

Fishinga group casts lines into town lake which enforces a catch-and-release program

WHackberryAve

TownLake

83

firemanrsquos park

N2

nd

Str

eet

16 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 17

children enjoy the playground at firemanrsquos park

16 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 17

l iVabil it ycommc allen 19

ThiNgS TO dO LoCAL FLAVoR

Palate Pleasersmcallen restaurants serVe up flaVorful foods

McAllen diners rejoice The city has a broad selection of distinctive restaurants and eateries appealing to just about every taste By Barbara Biehler

Asian

SENSaTiONal SuShi amp SPiCE

McAllen has several great spots for Japanese food such as sushi tempura and teppanyaki including kohnami kumori and yokorsquos Sushi Bar

Fans of Thai food should check out Thai red Chilirsquos for dishes like pad thai red curry chicken and sweet rice with mango

Indian

TaNdOOri aNyONETaste of india hits the spot

for diners looking for high quality authentic Indian food made from old family recipes and paired with excellent service

Tex-Mex and Mexican

SOmE likE iT SPiCy

Step into las Cazuelas grill for classic Mexican cuisine or visit Palenque Chicken for expertly prepared Mexican and Tex Mex dishes

Renowned regionally for homemade tamales deliarsquos uses fresh ingredients including pork chicken and beef

The republic of rio grande serves Mexican cuisine in an intimate setting order a traditional dish like the chicken fajitas or enchiladas suizas or enjoy a distinctive entree such as shrimp chipotle pesto pasta or a brick-oven pizza

check out more restaurants in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

ldquoDeliarsquos has the best tamales in town Probably even in the RGV The only place you can get the good old homemade flavor of real tamalesrdquo

Evila l YELPCOM

Argentine

SOuTh amEriCaN CuiSiNE

Relax in the elegant yet casual atmosphere of la Pampa argentinean Steak housewhile you dine on classic Argentine- cut steaks grilled chicken breasts marinated in Chimichurri or traditional de carne empanadas

Meanwhile la recova also offers a wide selection of Argentine-style favorites on its menu Favorite dishes at La Recova includes chorizo tuna carnitas duck confit and churrasco a classic top sirloin steak

Outdoor Dining

TrENdy amp TaSTy

If yoursquore in the mood for a USDA prime steak or succulent seafood drop by The Patio on guerra Dine on the outdoor patio and have a bottle of one of the restaurantrsquos award-winning wines

FridarsquosGrillandCantina located on 17th street offers traditional mexican favorites with modern flavors Go to fridarsquos to enjoy unique culinary dishes signature drinks and live music on the weekends

l iVabil it ycommc allen 19

ThiNgS TO dO ARTS amp CULTURE

Rave Reviewsmcallenrsquos arts scene remains robust With museums music and eVents

Arts patrons music lovers and history buffs enjoy many cultural attractions throughout McAllen The latest buzz McAllen Performing Arts Center will spring up near the McAllen Convention Center giving fans of live music theater and dance a fine new facility to anticipate

Live Entertainment

PErFOrmErS TakE ThE STagE

The 17th Street Entertainment district in downtown McAllen overflows with lounges restaurants and clubs For live music visit The old Ice House or Cine El Rey

The cityrsquos diverse culture is what influences much of the music performed by the valley Symphony Orchestra amp Chorale The Symphony was established in 1952 with the Chorale joining later in 1984 Similarly the South Texas lyric Opera brings the fine art of opera to the Rio Grande Valley with a yearly slate of productions and an annual opera gala and rio grande valley Broadway brings popular stage shows to town such as Disneyrsquos Beauty and the Beast and Monty Pythonrsquos Spamalot

Historic Sites

TakE a STEP BaCk iN TimE

The museum of South Texas history and the mcallen heritage Center are just two locations to learn about the rich history of this bicultural area

Quinta mazatlan a 1930s hacienda that embodies the Spanish Colonial Revival architecture of arches adobe and beams and provides an intimate look into South Texas history The 10000-square- foot mansion sits on a 15-acre plot hosting a mix of native and exotic plants and wildlife making up McAllenrsquos wing of the popular world Birding Center

Cine El Reyopened in 1947 the historic cine el rey theater now functions as

a music and performance venue showcasing a variety of live events and also shows spanish and english independent films the theater is located in downtown mcallenrsquos 17th street entertainment district

20 mc allen

ldquoCine El Rey hosts events as diverse as wrestling live bands films and comedy shows A huge stage is complimented by killer production value and a staff that really cares about all aspects of the experience Irsquom looking forward to a return triprdquo

Bill dykES YELP

visual Arts and Festivals

aCCESSiBlE arT FuN EvENTS

The international museum of art amp Science founded in 1969 promotes an appreciation for the arts and sciences through its exhibitions cultural events and many educational programs imaS is located at 1900 Nolana Ave

The mcallen art walk is a self-guided tour that gives art lovers the opportunity to explore the many art offerings in the city Itrsquos held every first Friday from September through May and is free and open to the public

on the first Saturday night of December folks enjoy the Candlelight Posada which includes food booths luminaries a parade live entertainment caroling and a live nativity scene

Chamber of Commerce Support

ChamBEr BaCkS ThE arTS

The mcallen Chamber of Commerce shows its love for the arts by managing the mcallen arts Council which publishes a quarterly magazine produces an annual fine arts exhibition and offers grants to local artists The Chamber also offers an outdoor concert series and coordinates the Public art Committeersquos acquisition program

20 mc allen

ThiNgS TO dO SPoRTS amp RECREATIoN

Soak Up Some Sunmcallen residents haVe plenty of Good reasons to Get outdoors

Great golf courses hiking and biking trails and a large well-maintained park system make McAllen the perfect place to enjoy outdoor fun By Carson OrsquoShoney

Golf

TEE iT uPWith nearly 20 courses in the

McAllen area golf is a popular attraction in the Rio Grande Valley

one of the most notable courses is the Palm view golf Course an 18-hole public course with a private feel With rolling fairways and Bermuda rough mounds the course is an often-used location for tournaments having hosted LPGA tournaments and Palm viewrsquos amateur golf Championship

mcallen Country Club provides a challenge with tree-lined fairways and small greens and also offers a swimming pool tennis courts a fitness center and other amenities

Every golf course in the area is bustling especially in the winter when ldquoWinter Texansrdquo come to the Rio Grande Valley The weather generally stays in the 70s in the coldest months making it a perfect place for winter golfing

Hiking Biking and Racing

ON ThE mOvE iN mCallEN

There are plenty of hiking and biking trails on the east and west sides of town such as the retama village Park Trail westside Park Trail and las Palmas Park Trail Visiting cyclists are welcome to meet up with Team mcallen Cycling a bike club thatrsquos been in the city for more than 25 years

Racing fans can enjoy the mcallen international motorplex and Event Center which hosts stock car races car shows and more The racetrack is a family-friendly place offering activities for children such as games face painting and crafts

Palm view Golf Courseirish cochran plays a round of golf at palm View Golf course an 18-hole public course often used for high profile tournaments

22 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 23

City Parks

OuTdOOr Family FuN

The mcallen Parks and recreation department currently oversees 25 city parks Ranging from historic parks established in the early 1900s to more modern facilities there are several options suitable for the whole family

archer Park McAllenrsquos oldest park opened in 1912 Serving as a historic landmark in the city it also plays host to many of the cityrsquos annual special events including the Candlelight Posada and movies in the Park

Spanning 38 acres Springfest Park is the largest park in McAllen Springfest hosts a variety of special events and is home to mcallenrsquos winter Polo league from January through March

check out more fun things to do in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

Spray and Ground Parkbesides its popular water feature mcallenrsquos new SprayandGroundParkhas a sand volleyball court skateboard area a half basketball court and just over half a mile of walking trails in addition there are athletic practice fields shaded areas picnic shelters and restroom facilities

22 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 23

ThiNgS TO dO SEE THE CITY

24 mc allen

The Irrigation Workerthe sun sets behind a sculpture ldquothe irrigation Workerrdquo which was created by artist douglas clark and is located on nolana and 25th

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

l iVabil it ycommc allen 25

LIvINGHERESchools health care education and neighborhoods in McAllen

26 mc allen 26 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 27 26 mc allen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 27

see more beautiful photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

Luxury Livingnewcomers have many beautiful home options in mcallen such as those offered in eight different communities by cantu construction a locally based award-winning builder

26 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 27 liVabil it ycommc allen 27

liviNg

TECH TOOLS FOSTER STUDEnT SUCCESS

Padding theCurriculum

McAllen Independent School District (ISD) is feeling the benefits of an ambitious technology plan that places an iPod or iPad in the hands of every teacher and student

mcallen independent school district students use system-issued ipads in class

28 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 29

EduCaTiNg FOr ThE 21ST CENTury

The initiative began with a meeting between Dr James Ponce McAllenrsquos superintendent of schools and a ldquocadrerdquo of about 35 teachers administrators and parents

The grouprsquos primary goal was to build a 21st-century classroom environment one that fosters creativity collaboration and entrepreneurship The group also wanted to find a way to harness the 247 educational potential of the Internet ndash and teach students the critical-thinking skills needed to process online content

ldquoItrsquos an environment where the teachers become the primary learners and the students are driven by their examplerdquo Ponce says ldquoSo we asked what tools we would need for this transformation of the way we teach and the way the kids learnrdquo

After much research the group chose iPods (for grades K-2) and iPads (for teachers and grades 3-12) because of their portability

ldquoIrsquove learned more from my fellow teachers than I have in many years just from sharing ideas for how to use the iPads in the classroomrdquo

CarOl aNN allEN LANGuAGEARTSTEACHER

ATMICHAELEFOSSuMMIDDLESCHOOL

relatively low cost and ease of use To implement the planrsquos first stage McAllen ISD issued 5800 of these devices to teachers and students when the rollout is complete it will cover more than 25000 students

Big BENEFiTS FOr TEaChErS aNd STudENTS

Both teachers and students are seeing benefits from the program

ldquoThe iPods help the kids be creative My students are organizing information in new waysrdquo says Ruth Whiddon who teaches first grade at Andrew Jackson Elementary School

For Carol Ann Allen International Baccalaureate coordinator and eighth-grade language arts teacher at Michael E Fossum Middle School the initiative is all about collaboration

ldquoIrsquove learned more from my fellow teachers than I have in many years just from sharing ideas for how to use the iPads in the classroomrdquo she says

Sandra Guerra who teaches seventh- and eighth-grade math

at Fossum says the iPads have changed both her teaching style and the way her students learn

Instead of mapping out the learning process step-by-step she now gives students their goal and lets them choose how to get there

ldquoWith this approach they own their learning and theyrsquove been more willing to learnrdquo Guerra says

The iPads have also been a game-changer for Guerrarsquos family

Her seventh-grade daughter is learning advanced science concepts because of independent iPad projects And because most of her childrenrsquos school materials are on their iPads itrsquos easier than ever for Guerra to check on their progress from home

That kind of scenario says Superintendent Ponce is at the heart of the initiative

ldquoThe entire school system and our community want to lead in this effort to build a 21st-century learning environmentrdquo he says ldquoThis is a direct investment in our children and their familiesrdquo

by Kathryn Royster

High-Tech Learningseventh-grade students use ipads to follow class lectures and take quizzes during a language arts class at michael e fossum middle school

PH

oT

o C

oU

RT

EST

Y o

F M

CA

LLE

N IN

DE

PE

ND

EN

T S

CH

oo

L D

IST

RIC

T

28 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 29

Higher Education

SOuTh TExaS COllEgE

McAllenrsquos South Texas College has more than 30000 students and offers numerous associate and bachelorrsquos degree programs as well as professional certifications in more than 40 areas The college also has online degree courses for students who work full time

liviNg EDUCATIoN

Set for SuccesscolleGe prep is a top priority in mcallen

Education in McAllen is defined by excellent options From elementary school through college McAllen includes numerous institutions designed to prepare students for success By Braxton Shoop

school yourself on more educational offerings at livabilitycommcallen

Public Schools

mCallEN iNdEPENdENT SChOOl diSTriCT

Established in 1915 the mcallen independent School district comprises three high schools seven middle schools and 20 elementary schools Among these schools the district offers an advanced placement college-level curriculum and a dual-enrollment program for students who would like to obtain high school and college credit simultaneously

In addition the district features an International Baccalaureate program that provides students with an advanced curriculum geared toward global standards

Local Inspiration

FOrmEr STudENT FliES high

one of McAllenrsquos successful students is astronaut michael Fossum a graduate of McAllen High School After receiving his commission from the US Air Force by Texas AampM University Fossum graduated Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base and in 1993 he started at NASA Throughout his NASA career Fossum was on crew for three spaceflights He commanded the space station during one of his flights helping him rank seventh on the all-time list for cumulative Extravehicular Activity time

Top-notch Learning Environmentuniversity of texas-pan american offers many undergraduate degrees more than 50 masterrsquos degrees and three doctoral degrees utpa has accreditations from organizations like the commission for collegiate nursing the examining board of nurse examiners for the state of texas and the engineering accreditation commission of the accreditation board for engineering and technology

30 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 31

Charter School

idEa aCadEmy

idEa academy is an innovative institution that offers a fully scaled curriculum for students in kindergarten and in the first second and sixth grades The school which opened in McAllen in 2012 will eventually add more grades each one including approximately 110 students While the school is public students must apply to fill the 460 available spots

To prepare its students to be collegiate scholars IDEA provides International Baccalaureate curriculum as well as the Road to College curriculum which begins in the sixth grade

ldquoWersquore very proud of the connection to our distinguished alumni like NASA astronaut Michael Fossum and we want our students to recognize the kind of education we provide here What he learned here helped catapult him into space and wersquore very proud of thatrdquo

NOrma zamOra-guErra MCALLENINDEPENDENTSCHOOL

DISTRICTCOMMuNITYINFORMATIONDIRECTOR

Michael E Fossum Middle Schoolnamed for astronaut michael e fossum the school is part of the mcallen independent school district

30 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 31

Please call 9566316109 for a representative today

2501 Buddy Owens Blvd McAllen TX 78504

9656316125 Fax

wwwrio-healthcom

RioHealth MedicalWe are here to meet all your

occupational medicine needs

bull Workplace injuries and workersrsquo compensation

bull On site and off site drug screening

bull Physicals

bull Orthopedics

bull Early return to work

bull 247 coverage

bull We accept all types of insurance

WorkplaceInjury

DANIEL J GUERRA MD Diplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

LEONEL G MORENO MDDiplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

HOMERO RIVAS MDDiplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

606 S Broadway bull McAllen TX bull (956) 682-4515 bull wwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

FAMILY PHYSICIANS

CLINICSince 1967

Mon-Fri 8 am-5 pm Sat 8 am-Noon

VALLEY NIGHT CLINIC

Since 1981

Open Every Night of the Year 6 pm-Midnight

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valley supports children of all abilities through child care

services early intervention and parenting support programs

Early Childhood intErvEntion ChildCarE sErviCEs ParEnts as tEaChErs

Easter seals rio Grande valley Programs for Children Birth to Five years

bullChild-Care servicesndashHigh-qualitychildcare sixweekstofiveyears

bullParents as teachers (Pat)ndashDevelopmental parentingsupportforchildrenbirthtofiveyears

bullEarly Childhood intervention (ECi) ndashConcerns indevelopmentforchildrenbirthtothreeyears

For more information about Easter seals

programs and services call (956) 631-9171 or visit wwweasterseals-rgvorg

32 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 33

liviNg HEALTH

Take a Deep Breath and Relaxresidents haVe access to top hospitals

McAllen residents receive quality care from the South Texas Health System Rio Grande Regional Hospital and the Doctors Hospital at Renaissance By Kevin Litwin

Health System

SOuTh TExaS hEalTh SySTEm

South Texas health System is the umbrella organization for a number of fine medical facilities including mcallen medical Center MMC has 441 beds and a staff of more than 400 physicians that represent 50 medical specialties

Also part of South Texas Health System is mcallen heart hospital which opened in 1996 as the first freestanding cardiology and cardiovascular hospital built in the United States It includes 60 beds and a 24-hour emergency center

Healthgrades has awarded McAllen Medical Center and McAllen Heart Hospital with a variety of honors in recent years and both earned a Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence in 2011

Hospital

riO graNdE rEgiONal hOSPiTal

rio grande regional hospital is an acute care medical facility with 320 beds and more than 500 physicians The hospital is the only area Diabetes Management Center accredited by the American Diabetes Association and is the arearsquos first facility to have a Pediatric Heart Program

RGRH also includes a 24-hour emergency room Womenrsquos Services department Level III trauma center and cardiovascular care The hospital is fully accredited by The Joint Commission and the College of American Pathologists and every year since 2007 has been named a Center of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery

32 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 33

Hospital

dOCTOrS hOSPiTal aT rENaiSSaNCE

The 506-bed doctors hospital at renaissance is an acute care facility It provides cardiology neurosurgery and endocrinology as well as a Pediatric Medical Tower that offers pediatric oncology and pediatric ICU services

Doctors Hospital has been ranked among the nationrsquos 100 Top Hospitals by Thomson Reuters and recently invested $32 million to establish an Electronic Medical Record System

DHR was the first in South Texas to acquire a PETCT scanner for diagnosing cancer and the first in the region to introduce da Vinci robotic surgical technology The hospital also oversees Renaissance Behavioral Center which provides treatment for people with mental health problems substance abuse or eating disorders

34 mc allen

COMMUNITyPROFILE COST OF liviNg

$44074Median Household Income

$129554Median Home Price

$689Median Rent for a Two-Bedroom Apartment

TraNSPOrTaTiON

Median Travel Time to Work

agE

TEmPEraTurE

January Average

July Average

EThNiCiTy

19 and Under

20-54

55 and over

White

Black

Hispanic

other

1645minutes

Closest Airport McAllen International Airport

955deg

482deg

South Texasrsquo Finest Gift Store Offers Gifts From Around the World

4300 N 10th St bull Ste C bull McAllen TX 78504 (956) 686-1264 bull ohkaysaolcom

Look for us on Facebook

gOlF COurSES

gOlF TEC

2901 N 10TH ST956-994-9631

mCallEN COuNTry CluB615 WICHITA AVE956-686-0923

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

The national Butterfly Center the national butterfly center dedicates 100 acres to the conservation and scientific study of wild butterflies in their natural habitats the wildlife center is open daily from 8 am until 5 pm september through march and from 9 am until 4 pm april through august

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

liviNg SEE THE CITY

36 mc allen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 37

BUSINESSInfo on McAllenrsquos top employers jobs and success stories

McAllen Convention Centerthe McAllenConventionCenter is located on 185 acres and includes a 60000-square-foot exhibit hall as well as more than 25000 square feet of meeting space in 16 breakout rooms

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

38 mc allen 38 mc allen

38 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 39

BuSiNESS oVERVIEW

McAllenrsquos in the MoneyCultural diversity location and innovation drive cityrsquos top business sectors

As the retail hub of South Texas McAllen is thriving The city draws a customer base of more than 10 million within a 200-mile radius and is represented by 40 of Americarsquos top 100 retailers

By Tiffany Williams

La Plaza MallPumping much of the life into this retail hub is la Plaza mall which annually attracts more than 18 million visitors its anchoring stores such as dillardrsquos and macyrsquos and sought-after retailers including BCBg-max azria and Coach average sales of more than $650 per square foot and are among the most profitable stores in their chains

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

Meetings amp Events

CONvENTiON CENTEr lurES viSiTOrS

The mcallen Convention Center also helps draw businesses to the area The 185-acre complex featuring a 60000-square-foot column-free exhibit hall more than 25000 square feet of meeting space and up to 16 breakout rooms offers bicultural themes and tropical accents that represent the cultural and natural diversity of McAllen

Retail

ShOPPiNg hOT SPOTS

This bicultural city which is located just five miles from the US-Mexico border also has access to three international bridges that flood with visitors and eager shoppers daily many of whom are spending at a rate twice the national average

In addition to La Plaza Mall shopping centers in the McAllen area include Trenton Crossing las Tiendas Plaza and La Plaza Mallrsquos 600sbquo000-square-foot sister shopping center Palms Crossing which hosts such big-name retailers as Barnes amp Noble and Babies rsquoRrsquo Us as well as specialty shops and restaurants Its appeal stems from its open-air design with lots of palm trees water fountains and seating areas

Major Manufacturers

madE FOr maNuFaCTuriNg

Ranked third in Texas in per-capita sales the McAllen area has some of the largest manufacturing and wholesale companies in the nation

valley Coca Cola Bottling Co Value Frozen Foods and Emerson Network Power are just a few who have put down roots here Tri-City Steel which provides a full scope of steel construction by fabricating and erecting structural steel buildings pre-engineered metal buildings stairs handrails and more Texas Citrus Exchange in Mission makes Texas rio red grapefruit juice

learn more about businesses in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

BuSiNESS

RESIDEnTS GET CREATIvE WITH BUSInESS vEnTURES

the BoxOutside

One of McAllenrsquos most innovative startups sprang from the mind of someone who wasnrsquot even interested in business Today Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar is one

of the arearsquos top entrepreneurs and is finding serious success

mcallen entrepreneur dalinda Gonzalez-alcantar founded eJucomm llc

liVabil it ycommc allen 43 42 mc allen

ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the worldrdquo

EllEry BuChaNaN FIBERIOPRESIDENTCEO

Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar the founder of eJucomm LLC simply wanted to make information in her school district more accessible to families The company was a way she could make it happen

She got the idea while working as a teacher at DeLeon Middle School in McAllen and was frustrated that families without computers andor Internet access had difficulty communicating with teachers and administrators So she decided to develop a smartphone application that would solve the problem

With no previous technical experience she researched code online at night and a year later was selling the app to various school districts

ldquoThe app enables Android and iPhone users to access information for things like grades and attendancerdquo Gonzalez-Alcantar says

The entrepreneur also faced unexpected challenges ndash for instance how to tailor individual apps to the roughly seven school districts and 40 campuses that now use them No longer teaching she has partnered with a chief technology officer so she can focus on sales and marketing

One of her biggest hurdles was finding legal fees to fund the startup and a $10000 McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant in 2011 helped pay for a licensing agreement and intellectual property protection for eJucomm to move forward

BaNaNa E-z SPliTAnother McAllen resident

Gerald Guerra faced a similar obstacle when developing a product called Banana E-Z Split A health insurance broker Guerra was inspired at his own kitchen table to create single serving packets with all three syrups

Banana E-Z SplitGerald Guerra inventor of the banana e-Z split single serving syrup packets poses with his daughters Victoria and kaitlyn enthusiastic taste testers for his product

liVabil it ycommc allen 43

To order please call or visit 956-668-0555 or wwwediblearrangementscom 5113-A N 10th St bull McAllen TX 78504

Offer valid at participating locations Offer expires 12312013 Cannot be combined with another offers Offer code must be used when placing order

Containers may vary EDIBLE ARRANGEMENTS and the Fruit Basket Logo Design are registered trademarks of Edible Arrangements LLC

copy2012 Edible Arrangements LLC All rights reserved Frachises available call (888) 727-4258 or visit wwweafranchisescom

DELICIOUSLYd e s i r a b l e

FREE PIECE OF DIPPED FRUIT

Code mctx1213

Living green is making sure the air in your home is healthy for your family to breathe Test your home for radon and build radon-resistant

Its easy Thats living healthy and green

Just call 866-730-green or visit wwwepagovradon

Living greenstarts from the ground up

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

(pineapple chocolate strawberry) needed for a banana split

The concept led to a 2011 McAllen Business Plan Competition grant to fund the necessary patents

ldquoI envisioned a product that could hang easily in refrigerated sections at big box storesrdquo Guerra says ldquoI have lined up a distributor and a broker with my ultimate goal being to have Banana E-Z Split available to customers in large grocery chains It is close to happeningrdquo

FiBEriO TEChNOlOgyAnother startup in McAllen

is already making waves globally FibeRio Technology Corporation another McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant recipient is thriving thanks to ground-breaking nanofiber-producing machinery The nanofibers can be used to make products ranging from diapers to

ballistics using a new way to spin microscopic nanofibers

The technology serves an array of industries that feature filtration textiles or biomedical applications

ldquoDr Karen Lozano at UT-Pan American discovered the process and I was contacted because I am an entrepreneur familiar with launching technology- based companies including nanotechnologyrdquo says FibeRio Technology presidentCEO Ellery Buchanan ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the world Plus we use local McAllen suppliers whenever possible including machine shops parts suppliers IT contractors and other business servicesrdquo

by Kevin Litwin by staff photographer

Michael Conti

FibeRio Technology Corporationnanomaterials processing research equipment is used at FibeRioTechnologyCorporation

FEldmaNrsquoS markET CENTErFeldmanrsquos Market Center features a broad selection of beer as well as wines liquors cigars and a gourmet deli In addition weekly beer and wine tastings are offered(956) 687-9463

PErFECT PawS rESOrTPerfect Paws Resort offers grooming services daycare and boarding to vaccinated dogs and cats that are at least 12 weeks old Boarding suites are climate controlled and under constant supervisionperfectpawsresortcom

mCCrEEry aviaTiON CO iNCMcCreery Aviation Co Inc is a place for pilots and their aircraft to receive top-notch treatment A fuel center flight planning room and hangar storage are availablemccreeryaviationcom

kiTikakE llCKitikake LLC offers gently- used vintage clothing for women from an array of top designers such as Lilly Pulitzer and Catherine Malandrino Vintage home deacutecor and dishes are also availablekitikakecom

krEidlEr FuNEral hOmEFounded owned and operated by the Kreidler family Kreidler Funeral Home has served McAllen for 100 years They offer traditional burial and graveside funeral services direct burials cremations memorial services and morekreidlerfuneralhomecom

Business Spotlight

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

visit ouradvertisersBorder Capital Bankwwwbordercapitalbankcom

City of McAllen Public Info Officewwwexploremcallennet

Courtyard by Marriottwwwmarriottcommtema

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valleywwweasterseals-rgvorg

Edible Arrangementswwwediblearrangementscom

Family Physicians Clinicwwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

Magic Valley Electric Cooperativewwwmagicvalleycoop

McAllen Economic Development Corporationwwwmcallenedcorg

McAllen Independent School Districtwwwmcallenisdorg

McAllen International Airportwwwmcallenairportcom

McAllen Realty

Mr Electricwwwmrelectriccom

Nuevo Santander Gallerywwwnuevosantandercom

OH KAYrsquoS

Preventative Care Institutewwwrgvpcicom

Quinta Mazatlanwwwquintamazatlancom

Rio Health Medicalwwwrio-healthcom

South Texas College wwwsouthtexascollegeedu

South Texas Health Systemwwwsouthtexashealthsystemcom

The Patio on Guerra wwwpatioonguerracom

Valley International Airportwwwflythevalleycom

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

BuSiNESS CHAMBER REPoRT

Whatrsquos the Big Ideachamberrsquos readiness tool kit assists entrepreneurs

The McAllen Chamber of Commerce has helped prepare 25 McAllen entrepreneurs in the continuing quest to launch their ideas ndash all since July 2011

The Chamber has a software package called VentureBusiness Readiness Assessment which is used by states such as oklahoma and Kentucky to assist startup companies The software helps an entrepreneur through the entire process of seeing whether they are truly ready to launch their startup

ldquoVentureBusiness Readiness Assessment is a way that the Chamber assists entrepreneurs who are trying to get funding for their products or projectsrdquo says Steve Ahlenius who serves as President and CEo of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce ldquoThe Chamber awards $50000 a year in innovation grants in $10000 increments and entrepreneurs are always looking for funding But they must earn that money by passing the various stages of the software tool kitrdquo

TEN hOurS TO COmPlETEAhlenius says the assessment

has several specific steps to make sure that a startup company has everything in place to ensure that it is successful

ldquoThe entrepreneurs contact us and set up an appointment to see me then they come to the Chamber office we sign them up and give them passwords to access the software at their conveniencerdquo he says ldquo[The program] takes about 10 hours to complete but doesnrsquot have to be finished in one sitting However the program must be eventually completed in order to qualify for our innovation grantrdquo

CaN iT BE madE QuiCklyThe software asks questions

such as Have you protected your intellectual property Is your product something that can be

made quickly Have you set a value on your idea and do you know how to do that If itrsquos a product that involves high-tech engineering do you have an engineer on your companyrsquos team

ldquoThe entrepreneur needs to know if his venture is worth 20 shares of stock or 200 shares ndash things like thatrdquo Ahlenius says ldquoMany factors go into launching a product or business and Venture Readiness points out a personrsquos strengths and weaknessesrdquo

a grEaT OvErviEwVicente Valle Martinez of

McAllen is an entrepreneur who contacted the Chamber in 2012 about his idea for connecting

people on the Internet who have similar educational experiences and higher learning interests

ldquoI have no background in business but heard one day about an innovation grant competition that the Chamber was sponsoringrdquo Martinez says ldquoSteve told me about the software package and it gave me a great overview of what I need to know before launching my ideardquo

Ahlenius says the various concepts the software package covers include credentials character capabilities commitment and circumstance

ldquoIt is an excellent self-awareness testrdquo he says ldquoItrsquos ideal for entrepreneursrdquo

by Kevin Litwin

the mcallen chamber of commerce on ash avenue

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

Ad Index 41 BorderCapitalBank

21 CityofMCallen puBliCinfooffiCe

4 CourtyardByMarriott

32 easterseals rioGrandeValley

44 ediBlearranGeMents

32 faMilyphysiCiansCliniC

2 MaGiCValley eleCtriCCooperatiVe

C3 MCalleneConoMiC deVelopMentCorporation

46 MCallenindependent sChooldistriCt

1 MCallen internationalairport

C4 MCallenrealty

48 MreleCtriC

46 nueVosantanderGallery

35 ohkayrsquos

34 preVentatiVe

Careinstitute

23 QuintaMazatlan

32 riohealthMediCal

31 southtexasColleGe

C2 southtexas

healthsysteM

18 thepatioonGuerra

44 Valley

internationalairport

ECONOMICPROFILE

3000+

2000- 2999

1999- 500

hOuSEhOld iNCOmE

TOP EmPlOyErS

$200000+

$150000-199999

$100000 and under

McAllen Independent School District

McAllen Medical Center South Texas College City of McAllen

Rio Grande Regional Hospital International Bank of Commerce

EduCaTiON lEvEl

High School Graduate

Associate Degree

Bachelorrsquos Degree

Masterrsquos Degree

TaxES

2City Sales and Use Tax

625State Sales Tax

825Total Sales Tax

SCOrECard

$36BAnnual Retail Sales

$28682Retail sales per capita

$3575MAnnual Hotel and Food Sales

15161Total Number of Firms

TraNSPOrTaTiON

mcallen-miller international airportwwwmcallenairportcom

metro mcallenwwwmcallennetmetro

amtrakwwwamtrakcom

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

everything you need every step of the way

Serving the rio grande valley Since 1989

Rachel Hardison-Oliva Broker

3321 N McColl Rd

McAllen TX 78501

(956) 687-7172 bull (956) 687-7178 Fax

Page 10: Livability McAllen, TX 2013

Eatery

PiCk ThE PlaTTEr

The popular restaurant Costa messa has a new location on North 10th Street and its menu includes favorite items such as huge botana platters to share and choriqueso The eatery is open seven days a week from 11 am until 10 pm

Outdoors

gET iN ShaPE

Hiking and biking trail systems are located at various parks throughout McAllen Some of the arearsquos most popular trails can be found at las Palmas Park la vista Park los Encinos Park retama village Park Bill Schupp Park and westside Park

Pro Sports

FlaSh aNd viPErS

Cheer on the rio grande valley Flash a Professional Arena Soccer League team and catch the basketball action of the rio grande valley vipers 2010 NBA Development League Champions Both teams play at State Farm Arena in Hidalgo

ThiNgS TO dO

Happy Hour

PrOPOSE a TOaST

Enjoy dinner drinks and fun at the many businesses located within the 17th Street Entertainment district of downtown McAllen a revitalized area now bustling with interesting restaurants pubs clubs and lounges

Climb Aboardthe federal transit administration awarded mcallen $19 million to create an electric bus pilot program OLEvTechnologiesoversees the program which is retrofitting three diesel buses with electric motors passenger transport begins in 2013

8 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 9

THIS HAPPEnInG vALLEY CITY OFFERS PLEnTY TO DO SEE amp EAT

ThiNgS TO dO

mcallenin a Day

l iVabil it ycommc allen 11 10 mc allen

midNighT TO NOON iN mCallENWhere to stay McAllen has nearly 3600 hotel rooms

from luxurious traditional hotels to new motels with all the contemporary bells and whistles The Renaissance Casa de Palmas a four-star hotel on Main Street was built in 1918 and lavishly restored into a luxury property featuring Mission architecture that recalls McAllenrsquos past Or try the Spring Hill Suites just off the expressway for a more modern take

After a comfortable night start the morning off with breakfast at Jimmyrsquos Egg a new outpost of a longtime Oklahoma favorite Here enjoy nearly any kind of egg you can imagine for breakfast ndash or atop a burger at lunch Go further south of the cuisine border at Las Cazuelas Grill another popular new eatery for menu items such as Chilaquiles con Huevo or Molletes

Got 24 hours to spare We recommend a busy day well spent in McAllen where you can fill every available hour

with interesting sights delicious cuisine and a variety of fun activities

a birdrsquos-eye view of the cityrsquos revitalized 17the street entertainment district

l iVabil it ycommc allen 11

NB

icen

tenn

ialB

lvd

WHackberryAve

S23

rdS

tree

t

83

international museum of arts and sciences

mcallen public library

McAllen Public Librarym-th 9am - 9pmf-sat 9am - 6pmsun 1pm - 9pm

phone (956) 688-3300uhV students (with id) free

wwwmcallenlibrarynet

12 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 13

The hike and bike trail on Second Street and another on Bicentennial offer the chance for a leisurely 23-mile stroll around town ndash yoursquove got to work off that breakfast after all And then head over to the International Museum of Arts and Science a Smithsonian affiliated museum where a wide variety of changing art and science exhibits always offer something interesting

Another must-see is McAllenrsquos new public library which at a whopping 123000 square feet is the largest single-floor library in the US This former Walmart building underwent a total transformation into an aesthetically pleasing community resource thatrsquos steadily gaining attention worldwide for its colorful open and functional design Opened in December 2011 the facility has already won first place in the International Interior Design Associationrsquos 2012 Library Interior Design Competition

luNCh aNd laTErldquoWersquove got over 600 restaurants

hererdquo says Chamber President and CEO Steve Ahlenius So since itrsquos noon by now try the flatbread or a

salad at house wine amp bistro or go for a panini at Corner Bakery Cafe Or for Latin flavor head to KoKorsquos for delicious Mexican fare

In McAllen a day without shopping would be sad indeed La Plaza Mall is the most visited mall in the country and Palms Crossings at the McAllen Convention Center is home to several shops and restaurants such as Mimirsquos Cafe and Romanorsquos Macaroni Grill

ldquoAfter I finished shopping Irsquod spend the rest of the afternoon at Quinta Mazatlan (a historic home that also offers nature trails and legendary bird watching)rdquo Ahlenius says Another option is to test the waters by kayaking or catch-and-release fishing on Town Lake at Firemanrsquos Park

mCallEN aFTEr hOurSYoursquore not tired are you

Good because after freshening up back at your hotel itrsquos off to a night on the town Cajun cuisine at The Bayou Grill on North 10th St is a great option as are the authentic Mexican menus at Cabritos Nuevo Leon or La Jaiba Mexican Seafood Grill both on West Nolana

After dinner stroll the 17th Street Entertainment District to catch the flavor of McAllen after hours or catch a show at the historic Cine El Rey theater where comedy acts concerts film festivals and other events take the stage Finally La Recova Contemporary Argentinean Grill beckons for a nightcap in its quiet upscale bar ldquowhere you can actually carry on a conversationrdquo Ahlenius says

Then to bed Where after a good nightrsquos rest you will surely want to get up and spend yet another great day in McAllen

by Laura Hill by staff photographer

Michael Conti

ldquoMcAllen is a beautiful multicultural city with plenty to do and see From shopping in the most popular stores in the nation or unique one-of-a-kind shops to fine dining and plenty of family outdoor activities ndash you can do it year round hererdquo

gErry garCia VPOFSPECIALPROJECTS

FORTHEMCALLENCHAMBER

SNAPSHOT

for music dinner and dancing head to downtown mcallenrsquos 17th street entertainment district

The Patio on Guerradiners enjoy the food and atmosphere at the patio on Guerra on 17th street in downtown mcallen

12 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 13

ThiNgS TO dO

Town Lakea boy takes his dog for a walk as he skateboards the trail along the new 4-acre town lake at firemanrsquos park a popular spot for canoeing kayaking fishing and more

ThiNgS TO dO

14 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 15 14 mc allen

nEW LAkE OPEnS AT FIREMAnrsquoS PARk

Ahh howrefreshing

ldquoWe did all the required dredging to transform the little pond into a recreational lake that is 15 feet at its deepest pointrdquo says Sally Gavlik director of the McAllen Parks amp Recreation Department ldquoIn these days of more and more people opting to remain close to home for staycations Town Lake at Firemanrsquos Park gives them a valid option for a different kind of local vacationrdquo

lET ThE FuN BEgiNTown Lake is situated right in the

middle of McAllen off Business Highway 83 between First and Second streets Swimming is prohibited due to park

irrigation regulations but a beach has been constructed to launch canoes kayaks and paddle boats A fishing pier is also in place

ldquoWe transferred fish to the lake from nearby Boeye Reservoir which has provided us with good stocks of bass perch and catfishrdquo Gavlik says ldquoTown Lake currently only has a catch-and-release program meaning you can catch fish but must release them back into the water At some point in the future when the fish population increases we plan to schedule times when people can take the fish homerdquo

The City of McAllen made a big splash in May 2012 when it officially opened Town Lake at Firemanrsquos Park What was once a small tract of land with a few basic

recreational amenities is now a 15-acre redevelopment that includes the four-acre Town Lake Crews used a water holding pond at the cityrsquos former water treatment facility to construct the new lake

14 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 15

TakE a hikEWalking and jogging are also good recreational

options around the waterrsquos perimeterldquoTown Lake actually ties into the well used Second

Street Trail People can come off the trail walk or jog along the lake and then get back onto the trailrdquo Gavlik says ldquoThe scenery includes wildflowers in a freshly seeded meadow while other park amenities are horseshoe pits two playgrounds and free picnic sites at the north end of Firemanrsquos Park at First Streetrdquo

There is also a covered pavilion area with sand volleyball courts a small concession building and three camping sites The campsites can be used during the day by anyone but only overnight by organized groups such as the Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts Group reservations must be made through the McAllen Parks amp Recreation Department

ldquoAnother park attraction is the former water treatment building which has been transformed into a rental facilityrdquo Gavlik says ldquoIt is now called The Old Pump House complete with new windows air conditioning uplighting tiling and carpeted floors Groups of 75 to 100 people can rent the facility for meetings small receptions or small social events The Old Pump House adds to the overall amenities of todayrsquos Firemenrsquos Parkrdquo

by Kevin Litwin by staff photographer Michael Conti

Fishinga group casts lines into town lake which enforces a catch-and-release program

WHackberryAve

TownLake

83

firemanrsquos park

N2

nd

Str

eet

16 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 17

children enjoy the playground at firemanrsquos park

16 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 17

l iVabil it ycommc allen 19

ThiNgS TO dO LoCAL FLAVoR

Palate Pleasersmcallen restaurants serVe up flaVorful foods

McAllen diners rejoice The city has a broad selection of distinctive restaurants and eateries appealing to just about every taste By Barbara Biehler

Asian

SENSaTiONal SuShi amp SPiCE

McAllen has several great spots for Japanese food such as sushi tempura and teppanyaki including kohnami kumori and yokorsquos Sushi Bar

Fans of Thai food should check out Thai red Chilirsquos for dishes like pad thai red curry chicken and sweet rice with mango

Indian

TaNdOOri aNyONETaste of india hits the spot

for diners looking for high quality authentic Indian food made from old family recipes and paired with excellent service

Tex-Mex and Mexican

SOmE likE iT SPiCy

Step into las Cazuelas grill for classic Mexican cuisine or visit Palenque Chicken for expertly prepared Mexican and Tex Mex dishes

Renowned regionally for homemade tamales deliarsquos uses fresh ingredients including pork chicken and beef

The republic of rio grande serves Mexican cuisine in an intimate setting order a traditional dish like the chicken fajitas or enchiladas suizas or enjoy a distinctive entree such as shrimp chipotle pesto pasta or a brick-oven pizza

check out more restaurants in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

ldquoDeliarsquos has the best tamales in town Probably even in the RGV The only place you can get the good old homemade flavor of real tamalesrdquo

Evila l YELPCOM

Argentine

SOuTh amEriCaN CuiSiNE

Relax in the elegant yet casual atmosphere of la Pampa argentinean Steak housewhile you dine on classic Argentine- cut steaks grilled chicken breasts marinated in Chimichurri or traditional de carne empanadas

Meanwhile la recova also offers a wide selection of Argentine-style favorites on its menu Favorite dishes at La Recova includes chorizo tuna carnitas duck confit and churrasco a classic top sirloin steak

Outdoor Dining

TrENdy amp TaSTy

If yoursquore in the mood for a USDA prime steak or succulent seafood drop by The Patio on guerra Dine on the outdoor patio and have a bottle of one of the restaurantrsquos award-winning wines

FridarsquosGrillandCantina located on 17th street offers traditional mexican favorites with modern flavors Go to fridarsquos to enjoy unique culinary dishes signature drinks and live music on the weekends

l iVabil it ycommc allen 19

ThiNgS TO dO ARTS amp CULTURE

Rave Reviewsmcallenrsquos arts scene remains robust With museums music and eVents

Arts patrons music lovers and history buffs enjoy many cultural attractions throughout McAllen The latest buzz McAllen Performing Arts Center will spring up near the McAllen Convention Center giving fans of live music theater and dance a fine new facility to anticipate

Live Entertainment

PErFOrmErS TakE ThE STagE

The 17th Street Entertainment district in downtown McAllen overflows with lounges restaurants and clubs For live music visit The old Ice House or Cine El Rey

The cityrsquos diverse culture is what influences much of the music performed by the valley Symphony Orchestra amp Chorale The Symphony was established in 1952 with the Chorale joining later in 1984 Similarly the South Texas lyric Opera brings the fine art of opera to the Rio Grande Valley with a yearly slate of productions and an annual opera gala and rio grande valley Broadway brings popular stage shows to town such as Disneyrsquos Beauty and the Beast and Monty Pythonrsquos Spamalot

Historic Sites

TakE a STEP BaCk iN TimE

The museum of South Texas history and the mcallen heritage Center are just two locations to learn about the rich history of this bicultural area

Quinta mazatlan a 1930s hacienda that embodies the Spanish Colonial Revival architecture of arches adobe and beams and provides an intimate look into South Texas history The 10000-square- foot mansion sits on a 15-acre plot hosting a mix of native and exotic plants and wildlife making up McAllenrsquos wing of the popular world Birding Center

Cine El Reyopened in 1947 the historic cine el rey theater now functions as

a music and performance venue showcasing a variety of live events and also shows spanish and english independent films the theater is located in downtown mcallenrsquos 17th street entertainment district

20 mc allen

ldquoCine El Rey hosts events as diverse as wrestling live bands films and comedy shows A huge stage is complimented by killer production value and a staff that really cares about all aspects of the experience Irsquom looking forward to a return triprdquo

Bill dykES YELP

visual Arts and Festivals

aCCESSiBlE arT FuN EvENTS

The international museum of art amp Science founded in 1969 promotes an appreciation for the arts and sciences through its exhibitions cultural events and many educational programs imaS is located at 1900 Nolana Ave

The mcallen art walk is a self-guided tour that gives art lovers the opportunity to explore the many art offerings in the city Itrsquos held every first Friday from September through May and is free and open to the public

on the first Saturday night of December folks enjoy the Candlelight Posada which includes food booths luminaries a parade live entertainment caroling and a live nativity scene

Chamber of Commerce Support

ChamBEr BaCkS ThE arTS

The mcallen Chamber of Commerce shows its love for the arts by managing the mcallen arts Council which publishes a quarterly magazine produces an annual fine arts exhibition and offers grants to local artists The Chamber also offers an outdoor concert series and coordinates the Public art Committeersquos acquisition program

20 mc allen

ThiNgS TO dO SPoRTS amp RECREATIoN

Soak Up Some Sunmcallen residents haVe plenty of Good reasons to Get outdoors

Great golf courses hiking and biking trails and a large well-maintained park system make McAllen the perfect place to enjoy outdoor fun By Carson OrsquoShoney

Golf

TEE iT uPWith nearly 20 courses in the

McAllen area golf is a popular attraction in the Rio Grande Valley

one of the most notable courses is the Palm view golf Course an 18-hole public course with a private feel With rolling fairways and Bermuda rough mounds the course is an often-used location for tournaments having hosted LPGA tournaments and Palm viewrsquos amateur golf Championship

mcallen Country Club provides a challenge with tree-lined fairways and small greens and also offers a swimming pool tennis courts a fitness center and other amenities

Every golf course in the area is bustling especially in the winter when ldquoWinter Texansrdquo come to the Rio Grande Valley The weather generally stays in the 70s in the coldest months making it a perfect place for winter golfing

Hiking Biking and Racing

ON ThE mOvE iN mCallEN

There are plenty of hiking and biking trails on the east and west sides of town such as the retama village Park Trail westside Park Trail and las Palmas Park Trail Visiting cyclists are welcome to meet up with Team mcallen Cycling a bike club thatrsquos been in the city for more than 25 years

Racing fans can enjoy the mcallen international motorplex and Event Center which hosts stock car races car shows and more The racetrack is a family-friendly place offering activities for children such as games face painting and crafts

Palm view Golf Courseirish cochran plays a round of golf at palm View Golf course an 18-hole public course often used for high profile tournaments

22 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 23

City Parks

OuTdOOr Family FuN

The mcallen Parks and recreation department currently oversees 25 city parks Ranging from historic parks established in the early 1900s to more modern facilities there are several options suitable for the whole family

archer Park McAllenrsquos oldest park opened in 1912 Serving as a historic landmark in the city it also plays host to many of the cityrsquos annual special events including the Candlelight Posada and movies in the Park

Spanning 38 acres Springfest Park is the largest park in McAllen Springfest hosts a variety of special events and is home to mcallenrsquos winter Polo league from January through March

check out more fun things to do in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

Spray and Ground Parkbesides its popular water feature mcallenrsquos new SprayandGroundParkhas a sand volleyball court skateboard area a half basketball court and just over half a mile of walking trails in addition there are athletic practice fields shaded areas picnic shelters and restroom facilities

22 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 23

ThiNgS TO dO SEE THE CITY

24 mc allen

The Irrigation Workerthe sun sets behind a sculpture ldquothe irrigation Workerrdquo which was created by artist douglas clark and is located on nolana and 25th

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

l iVabil it ycommc allen 25

LIvINGHERESchools health care education and neighborhoods in McAllen

26 mc allen 26 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 27 26 mc allen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 27

see more beautiful photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

Luxury Livingnewcomers have many beautiful home options in mcallen such as those offered in eight different communities by cantu construction a locally based award-winning builder

26 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 27 liVabil it ycommc allen 27

liviNg

TECH TOOLS FOSTER STUDEnT SUCCESS

Padding theCurriculum

McAllen Independent School District (ISD) is feeling the benefits of an ambitious technology plan that places an iPod or iPad in the hands of every teacher and student

mcallen independent school district students use system-issued ipads in class

28 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 29

EduCaTiNg FOr ThE 21ST CENTury

The initiative began with a meeting between Dr James Ponce McAllenrsquos superintendent of schools and a ldquocadrerdquo of about 35 teachers administrators and parents

The grouprsquos primary goal was to build a 21st-century classroom environment one that fosters creativity collaboration and entrepreneurship The group also wanted to find a way to harness the 247 educational potential of the Internet ndash and teach students the critical-thinking skills needed to process online content

ldquoItrsquos an environment where the teachers become the primary learners and the students are driven by their examplerdquo Ponce says ldquoSo we asked what tools we would need for this transformation of the way we teach and the way the kids learnrdquo

After much research the group chose iPods (for grades K-2) and iPads (for teachers and grades 3-12) because of their portability

ldquoIrsquove learned more from my fellow teachers than I have in many years just from sharing ideas for how to use the iPads in the classroomrdquo

CarOl aNN allEN LANGuAGEARTSTEACHER

ATMICHAELEFOSSuMMIDDLESCHOOL

relatively low cost and ease of use To implement the planrsquos first stage McAllen ISD issued 5800 of these devices to teachers and students when the rollout is complete it will cover more than 25000 students

Big BENEFiTS FOr TEaChErS aNd STudENTS

Both teachers and students are seeing benefits from the program

ldquoThe iPods help the kids be creative My students are organizing information in new waysrdquo says Ruth Whiddon who teaches first grade at Andrew Jackson Elementary School

For Carol Ann Allen International Baccalaureate coordinator and eighth-grade language arts teacher at Michael E Fossum Middle School the initiative is all about collaboration

ldquoIrsquove learned more from my fellow teachers than I have in many years just from sharing ideas for how to use the iPads in the classroomrdquo she says

Sandra Guerra who teaches seventh- and eighth-grade math

at Fossum says the iPads have changed both her teaching style and the way her students learn

Instead of mapping out the learning process step-by-step she now gives students their goal and lets them choose how to get there

ldquoWith this approach they own their learning and theyrsquove been more willing to learnrdquo Guerra says

The iPads have also been a game-changer for Guerrarsquos family

Her seventh-grade daughter is learning advanced science concepts because of independent iPad projects And because most of her childrenrsquos school materials are on their iPads itrsquos easier than ever for Guerra to check on their progress from home

That kind of scenario says Superintendent Ponce is at the heart of the initiative

ldquoThe entire school system and our community want to lead in this effort to build a 21st-century learning environmentrdquo he says ldquoThis is a direct investment in our children and their familiesrdquo

by Kathryn Royster

High-Tech Learningseventh-grade students use ipads to follow class lectures and take quizzes during a language arts class at michael e fossum middle school

PH

oT

o C

oU

RT

EST

Y o

F M

CA

LLE

N IN

DE

PE

ND

EN

T S

CH

oo

L D

IST

RIC

T

28 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 29

Higher Education

SOuTh TExaS COllEgE

McAllenrsquos South Texas College has more than 30000 students and offers numerous associate and bachelorrsquos degree programs as well as professional certifications in more than 40 areas The college also has online degree courses for students who work full time

liviNg EDUCATIoN

Set for SuccesscolleGe prep is a top priority in mcallen

Education in McAllen is defined by excellent options From elementary school through college McAllen includes numerous institutions designed to prepare students for success By Braxton Shoop

school yourself on more educational offerings at livabilitycommcallen

Public Schools

mCallEN iNdEPENdENT SChOOl diSTriCT

Established in 1915 the mcallen independent School district comprises three high schools seven middle schools and 20 elementary schools Among these schools the district offers an advanced placement college-level curriculum and a dual-enrollment program for students who would like to obtain high school and college credit simultaneously

In addition the district features an International Baccalaureate program that provides students with an advanced curriculum geared toward global standards

Local Inspiration

FOrmEr STudENT FliES high

one of McAllenrsquos successful students is astronaut michael Fossum a graduate of McAllen High School After receiving his commission from the US Air Force by Texas AampM University Fossum graduated Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base and in 1993 he started at NASA Throughout his NASA career Fossum was on crew for three spaceflights He commanded the space station during one of his flights helping him rank seventh on the all-time list for cumulative Extravehicular Activity time

Top-notch Learning Environmentuniversity of texas-pan american offers many undergraduate degrees more than 50 masterrsquos degrees and three doctoral degrees utpa has accreditations from organizations like the commission for collegiate nursing the examining board of nurse examiners for the state of texas and the engineering accreditation commission of the accreditation board for engineering and technology

30 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 31

Charter School

idEa aCadEmy

idEa academy is an innovative institution that offers a fully scaled curriculum for students in kindergarten and in the first second and sixth grades The school which opened in McAllen in 2012 will eventually add more grades each one including approximately 110 students While the school is public students must apply to fill the 460 available spots

To prepare its students to be collegiate scholars IDEA provides International Baccalaureate curriculum as well as the Road to College curriculum which begins in the sixth grade

ldquoWersquore very proud of the connection to our distinguished alumni like NASA astronaut Michael Fossum and we want our students to recognize the kind of education we provide here What he learned here helped catapult him into space and wersquore very proud of thatrdquo

NOrma zamOra-guErra MCALLENINDEPENDENTSCHOOL

DISTRICTCOMMuNITYINFORMATIONDIRECTOR

Michael E Fossum Middle Schoolnamed for astronaut michael e fossum the school is part of the mcallen independent school district

30 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 31

Please call 9566316109 for a representative today

2501 Buddy Owens Blvd McAllen TX 78504

9656316125 Fax

wwwrio-healthcom

RioHealth MedicalWe are here to meet all your

occupational medicine needs

bull Workplace injuries and workersrsquo compensation

bull On site and off site drug screening

bull Physicals

bull Orthopedics

bull Early return to work

bull 247 coverage

bull We accept all types of insurance

WorkplaceInjury

DANIEL J GUERRA MD Diplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

LEONEL G MORENO MDDiplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

HOMERO RIVAS MDDiplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

606 S Broadway bull McAllen TX bull (956) 682-4515 bull wwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

FAMILY PHYSICIANS

CLINICSince 1967

Mon-Fri 8 am-5 pm Sat 8 am-Noon

VALLEY NIGHT CLINIC

Since 1981

Open Every Night of the Year 6 pm-Midnight

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valley supports children of all abilities through child care

services early intervention and parenting support programs

Early Childhood intErvEntion ChildCarE sErviCEs ParEnts as tEaChErs

Easter seals rio Grande valley Programs for Children Birth to Five years

bullChild-Care servicesndashHigh-qualitychildcare sixweekstofiveyears

bullParents as teachers (Pat)ndashDevelopmental parentingsupportforchildrenbirthtofiveyears

bullEarly Childhood intervention (ECi) ndashConcerns indevelopmentforchildrenbirthtothreeyears

For more information about Easter seals

programs and services call (956) 631-9171 or visit wwweasterseals-rgvorg

32 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 33

liviNg HEALTH

Take a Deep Breath and Relaxresidents haVe access to top hospitals

McAllen residents receive quality care from the South Texas Health System Rio Grande Regional Hospital and the Doctors Hospital at Renaissance By Kevin Litwin

Health System

SOuTh TExaS hEalTh SySTEm

South Texas health System is the umbrella organization for a number of fine medical facilities including mcallen medical Center MMC has 441 beds and a staff of more than 400 physicians that represent 50 medical specialties

Also part of South Texas Health System is mcallen heart hospital which opened in 1996 as the first freestanding cardiology and cardiovascular hospital built in the United States It includes 60 beds and a 24-hour emergency center

Healthgrades has awarded McAllen Medical Center and McAllen Heart Hospital with a variety of honors in recent years and both earned a Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence in 2011

Hospital

riO graNdE rEgiONal hOSPiTal

rio grande regional hospital is an acute care medical facility with 320 beds and more than 500 physicians The hospital is the only area Diabetes Management Center accredited by the American Diabetes Association and is the arearsquos first facility to have a Pediatric Heart Program

RGRH also includes a 24-hour emergency room Womenrsquos Services department Level III trauma center and cardiovascular care The hospital is fully accredited by The Joint Commission and the College of American Pathologists and every year since 2007 has been named a Center of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery

32 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 33

Hospital

dOCTOrS hOSPiTal aT rENaiSSaNCE

The 506-bed doctors hospital at renaissance is an acute care facility It provides cardiology neurosurgery and endocrinology as well as a Pediatric Medical Tower that offers pediatric oncology and pediatric ICU services

Doctors Hospital has been ranked among the nationrsquos 100 Top Hospitals by Thomson Reuters and recently invested $32 million to establish an Electronic Medical Record System

DHR was the first in South Texas to acquire a PETCT scanner for diagnosing cancer and the first in the region to introduce da Vinci robotic surgical technology The hospital also oversees Renaissance Behavioral Center which provides treatment for people with mental health problems substance abuse or eating disorders

34 mc allen

COMMUNITyPROFILE COST OF liviNg

$44074Median Household Income

$129554Median Home Price

$689Median Rent for a Two-Bedroom Apartment

TraNSPOrTaTiON

Median Travel Time to Work

agE

TEmPEraTurE

January Average

July Average

EThNiCiTy

19 and Under

20-54

55 and over

White

Black

Hispanic

other

1645minutes

Closest Airport McAllen International Airport

955deg

482deg

South Texasrsquo Finest Gift Store Offers Gifts From Around the World

4300 N 10th St bull Ste C bull McAllen TX 78504 (956) 686-1264 bull ohkaysaolcom

Look for us on Facebook

gOlF COurSES

gOlF TEC

2901 N 10TH ST956-994-9631

mCallEN COuNTry CluB615 WICHITA AVE956-686-0923

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

The national Butterfly Center the national butterfly center dedicates 100 acres to the conservation and scientific study of wild butterflies in their natural habitats the wildlife center is open daily from 8 am until 5 pm september through march and from 9 am until 4 pm april through august

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

liviNg SEE THE CITY

36 mc allen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 37

BUSINESSInfo on McAllenrsquos top employers jobs and success stories

McAllen Convention Centerthe McAllenConventionCenter is located on 185 acres and includes a 60000-square-foot exhibit hall as well as more than 25000 square feet of meeting space in 16 breakout rooms

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

38 mc allen 38 mc allen

38 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 39

BuSiNESS oVERVIEW

McAllenrsquos in the MoneyCultural diversity location and innovation drive cityrsquos top business sectors

As the retail hub of South Texas McAllen is thriving The city draws a customer base of more than 10 million within a 200-mile radius and is represented by 40 of Americarsquos top 100 retailers

By Tiffany Williams

La Plaza MallPumping much of the life into this retail hub is la Plaza mall which annually attracts more than 18 million visitors its anchoring stores such as dillardrsquos and macyrsquos and sought-after retailers including BCBg-max azria and Coach average sales of more than $650 per square foot and are among the most profitable stores in their chains

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

Meetings amp Events

CONvENTiON CENTEr lurES viSiTOrS

The mcallen Convention Center also helps draw businesses to the area The 185-acre complex featuring a 60000-square-foot column-free exhibit hall more than 25000 square feet of meeting space and up to 16 breakout rooms offers bicultural themes and tropical accents that represent the cultural and natural diversity of McAllen

Retail

ShOPPiNg hOT SPOTS

This bicultural city which is located just five miles from the US-Mexico border also has access to three international bridges that flood with visitors and eager shoppers daily many of whom are spending at a rate twice the national average

In addition to La Plaza Mall shopping centers in the McAllen area include Trenton Crossing las Tiendas Plaza and La Plaza Mallrsquos 600sbquo000-square-foot sister shopping center Palms Crossing which hosts such big-name retailers as Barnes amp Noble and Babies rsquoRrsquo Us as well as specialty shops and restaurants Its appeal stems from its open-air design with lots of palm trees water fountains and seating areas

Major Manufacturers

madE FOr maNuFaCTuriNg

Ranked third in Texas in per-capita sales the McAllen area has some of the largest manufacturing and wholesale companies in the nation

valley Coca Cola Bottling Co Value Frozen Foods and Emerson Network Power are just a few who have put down roots here Tri-City Steel which provides a full scope of steel construction by fabricating and erecting structural steel buildings pre-engineered metal buildings stairs handrails and more Texas Citrus Exchange in Mission makes Texas rio red grapefruit juice

learn more about businesses in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

BuSiNESS

RESIDEnTS GET CREATIvE WITH BUSInESS vEnTURES

the BoxOutside

One of McAllenrsquos most innovative startups sprang from the mind of someone who wasnrsquot even interested in business Today Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar is one

of the arearsquos top entrepreneurs and is finding serious success

mcallen entrepreneur dalinda Gonzalez-alcantar founded eJucomm llc

liVabil it ycommc allen 43 42 mc allen

ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the worldrdquo

EllEry BuChaNaN FIBERIOPRESIDENTCEO

Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar the founder of eJucomm LLC simply wanted to make information in her school district more accessible to families The company was a way she could make it happen

She got the idea while working as a teacher at DeLeon Middle School in McAllen and was frustrated that families without computers andor Internet access had difficulty communicating with teachers and administrators So she decided to develop a smartphone application that would solve the problem

With no previous technical experience she researched code online at night and a year later was selling the app to various school districts

ldquoThe app enables Android and iPhone users to access information for things like grades and attendancerdquo Gonzalez-Alcantar says

The entrepreneur also faced unexpected challenges ndash for instance how to tailor individual apps to the roughly seven school districts and 40 campuses that now use them No longer teaching she has partnered with a chief technology officer so she can focus on sales and marketing

One of her biggest hurdles was finding legal fees to fund the startup and a $10000 McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant in 2011 helped pay for a licensing agreement and intellectual property protection for eJucomm to move forward

BaNaNa E-z SPliTAnother McAllen resident

Gerald Guerra faced a similar obstacle when developing a product called Banana E-Z Split A health insurance broker Guerra was inspired at his own kitchen table to create single serving packets with all three syrups

Banana E-Z SplitGerald Guerra inventor of the banana e-Z split single serving syrup packets poses with his daughters Victoria and kaitlyn enthusiastic taste testers for his product

liVabil it ycommc allen 43

To order please call or visit 956-668-0555 or wwwediblearrangementscom 5113-A N 10th St bull McAllen TX 78504

Offer valid at participating locations Offer expires 12312013 Cannot be combined with another offers Offer code must be used when placing order

Containers may vary EDIBLE ARRANGEMENTS and the Fruit Basket Logo Design are registered trademarks of Edible Arrangements LLC

copy2012 Edible Arrangements LLC All rights reserved Frachises available call (888) 727-4258 or visit wwweafranchisescom

DELICIOUSLYd e s i r a b l e

FREE PIECE OF DIPPED FRUIT

Code mctx1213

Living green is making sure the air in your home is healthy for your family to breathe Test your home for radon and build radon-resistant

Its easy Thats living healthy and green

Just call 866-730-green or visit wwwepagovradon

Living greenstarts from the ground up

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

(pineapple chocolate strawberry) needed for a banana split

The concept led to a 2011 McAllen Business Plan Competition grant to fund the necessary patents

ldquoI envisioned a product that could hang easily in refrigerated sections at big box storesrdquo Guerra says ldquoI have lined up a distributor and a broker with my ultimate goal being to have Banana E-Z Split available to customers in large grocery chains It is close to happeningrdquo

FiBEriO TEChNOlOgyAnother startup in McAllen

is already making waves globally FibeRio Technology Corporation another McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant recipient is thriving thanks to ground-breaking nanofiber-producing machinery The nanofibers can be used to make products ranging from diapers to

ballistics using a new way to spin microscopic nanofibers

The technology serves an array of industries that feature filtration textiles or biomedical applications

ldquoDr Karen Lozano at UT-Pan American discovered the process and I was contacted because I am an entrepreneur familiar with launching technology- based companies including nanotechnologyrdquo says FibeRio Technology presidentCEO Ellery Buchanan ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the world Plus we use local McAllen suppliers whenever possible including machine shops parts suppliers IT contractors and other business servicesrdquo

by Kevin Litwin by staff photographer

Michael Conti

FibeRio Technology Corporationnanomaterials processing research equipment is used at FibeRioTechnologyCorporation

FEldmaNrsquoS markET CENTErFeldmanrsquos Market Center features a broad selection of beer as well as wines liquors cigars and a gourmet deli In addition weekly beer and wine tastings are offered(956) 687-9463

PErFECT PawS rESOrTPerfect Paws Resort offers grooming services daycare and boarding to vaccinated dogs and cats that are at least 12 weeks old Boarding suites are climate controlled and under constant supervisionperfectpawsresortcom

mCCrEEry aviaTiON CO iNCMcCreery Aviation Co Inc is a place for pilots and their aircraft to receive top-notch treatment A fuel center flight planning room and hangar storage are availablemccreeryaviationcom

kiTikakE llCKitikake LLC offers gently- used vintage clothing for women from an array of top designers such as Lilly Pulitzer and Catherine Malandrino Vintage home deacutecor and dishes are also availablekitikakecom

krEidlEr FuNEral hOmEFounded owned and operated by the Kreidler family Kreidler Funeral Home has served McAllen for 100 years They offer traditional burial and graveside funeral services direct burials cremations memorial services and morekreidlerfuneralhomecom

Business Spotlight

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

visit ouradvertisersBorder Capital Bankwwwbordercapitalbankcom

City of McAllen Public Info Officewwwexploremcallennet

Courtyard by Marriottwwwmarriottcommtema

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valleywwweasterseals-rgvorg

Edible Arrangementswwwediblearrangementscom

Family Physicians Clinicwwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

Magic Valley Electric Cooperativewwwmagicvalleycoop

McAllen Economic Development Corporationwwwmcallenedcorg

McAllen Independent School Districtwwwmcallenisdorg

McAllen International Airportwwwmcallenairportcom

McAllen Realty

Mr Electricwwwmrelectriccom

Nuevo Santander Gallerywwwnuevosantandercom

OH KAYrsquoS

Preventative Care Institutewwwrgvpcicom

Quinta Mazatlanwwwquintamazatlancom

Rio Health Medicalwwwrio-healthcom

South Texas College wwwsouthtexascollegeedu

South Texas Health Systemwwwsouthtexashealthsystemcom

The Patio on Guerra wwwpatioonguerracom

Valley International Airportwwwflythevalleycom

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

BuSiNESS CHAMBER REPoRT

Whatrsquos the Big Ideachamberrsquos readiness tool kit assists entrepreneurs

The McAllen Chamber of Commerce has helped prepare 25 McAllen entrepreneurs in the continuing quest to launch their ideas ndash all since July 2011

The Chamber has a software package called VentureBusiness Readiness Assessment which is used by states such as oklahoma and Kentucky to assist startup companies The software helps an entrepreneur through the entire process of seeing whether they are truly ready to launch their startup

ldquoVentureBusiness Readiness Assessment is a way that the Chamber assists entrepreneurs who are trying to get funding for their products or projectsrdquo says Steve Ahlenius who serves as President and CEo of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce ldquoThe Chamber awards $50000 a year in innovation grants in $10000 increments and entrepreneurs are always looking for funding But they must earn that money by passing the various stages of the software tool kitrdquo

TEN hOurS TO COmPlETEAhlenius says the assessment

has several specific steps to make sure that a startup company has everything in place to ensure that it is successful

ldquoThe entrepreneurs contact us and set up an appointment to see me then they come to the Chamber office we sign them up and give them passwords to access the software at their conveniencerdquo he says ldquo[The program] takes about 10 hours to complete but doesnrsquot have to be finished in one sitting However the program must be eventually completed in order to qualify for our innovation grantrdquo

CaN iT BE madE QuiCklyThe software asks questions

such as Have you protected your intellectual property Is your product something that can be

made quickly Have you set a value on your idea and do you know how to do that If itrsquos a product that involves high-tech engineering do you have an engineer on your companyrsquos team

ldquoThe entrepreneur needs to know if his venture is worth 20 shares of stock or 200 shares ndash things like thatrdquo Ahlenius says ldquoMany factors go into launching a product or business and Venture Readiness points out a personrsquos strengths and weaknessesrdquo

a grEaT OvErviEwVicente Valle Martinez of

McAllen is an entrepreneur who contacted the Chamber in 2012 about his idea for connecting

people on the Internet who have similar educational experiences and higher learning interests

ldquoI have no background in business but heard one day about an innovation grant competition that the Chamber was sponsoringrdquo Martinez says ldquoSteve told me about the software package and it gave me a great overview of what I need to know before launching my ideardquo

Ahlenius says the various concepts the software package covers include credentials character capabilities commitment and circumstance

ldquoIt is an excellent self-awareness testrdquo he says ldquoItrsquos ideal for entrepreneursrdquo

by Kevin Litwin

the mcallen chamber of commerce on ash avenue

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

Ad Index 41 BorderCapitalBank

21 CityofMCallen puBliCinfooffiCe

4 CourtyardByMarriott

32 easterseals rioGrandeValley

44 ediBlearranGeMents

32 faMilyphysiCiansCliniC

2 MaGiCValley eleCtriCCooperatiVe

C3 MCalleneConoMiC deVelopMentCorporation

46 MCallenindependent sChooldistriCt

1 MCallen internationalairport

C4 MCallenrealty

48 MreleCtriC

46 nueVosantanderGallery

35 ohkayrsquos

34 preVentatiVe

Careinstitute

23 QuintaMazatlan

32 riohealthMediCal

31 southtexasColleGe

C2 southtexas

healthsysteM

18 thepatioonGuerra

44 Valley

internationalairport

ECONOMICPROFILE

3000+

2000- 2999

1999- 500

hOuSEhOld iNCOmE

TOP EmPlOyErS

$200000+

$150000-199999

$100000 and under

McAllen Independent School District

McAllen Medical Center South Texas College City of McAllen

Rio Grande Regional Hospital International Bank of Commerce

EduCaTiON lEvEl

High School Graduate

Associate Degree

Bachelorrsquos Degree

Masterrsquos Degree

TaxES

2City Sales and Use Tax

625State Sales Tax

825Total Sales Tax

SCOrECard

$36BAnnual Retail Sales

$28682Retail sales per capita

$3575MAnnual Hotel and Food Sales

15161Total Number of Firms

TraNSPOrTaTiON

mcallen-miller international airportwwwmcallenairportcom

metro mcallenwwwmcallennetmetro

amtrakwwwamtrakcom

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

everything you need every step of the way

Serving the rio grande valley Since 1989

Rachel Hardison-Oliva Broker

3321 N McColl Rd

McAllen TX 78501

(956) 687-7172 bull (956) 687-7178 Fax

Page 11: Livability McAllen, TX 2013

THIS HAPPEnInG vALLEY CITY OFFERS PLEnTY TO DO SEE amp EAT

ThiNgS TO dO

mcallenin a Day

l iVabil it ycommc allen 11 10 mc allen

midNighT TO NOON iN mCallENWhere to stay McAllen has nearly 3600 hotel rooms

from luxurious traditional hotels to new motels with all the contemporary bells and whistles The Renaissance Casa de Palmas a four-star hotel on Main Street was built in 1918 and lavishly restored into a luxury property featuring Mission architecture that recalls McAllenrsquos past Or try the Spring Hill Suites just off the expressway for a more modern take

After a comfortable night start the morning off with breakfast at Jimmyrsquos Egg a new outpost of a longtime Oklahoma favorite Here enjoy nearly any kind of egg you can imagine for breakfast ndash or atop a burger at lunch Go further south of the cuisine border at Las Cazuelas Grill another popular new eatery for menu items such as Chilaquiles con Huevo or Molletes

Got 24 hours to spare We recommend a busy day well spent in McAllen where you can fill every available hour

with interesting sights delicious cuisine and a variety of fun activities

a birdrsquos-eye view of the cityrsquos revitalized 17the street entertainment district

l iVabil it ycommc allen 11

NB

icen

tenn

ialB

lvd

WHackberryAve

S23

rdS

tree

t

83

international museum of arts and sciences

mcallen public library

McAllen Public Librarym-th 9am - 9pmf-sat 9am - 6pmsun 1pm - 9pm

phone (956) 688-3300uhV students (with id) free

wwwmcallenlibrarynet

12 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 13

The hike and bike trail on Second Street and another on Bicentennial offer the chance for a leisurely 23-mile stroll around town ndash yoursquove got to work off that breakfast after all And then head over to the International Museum of Arts and Science a Smithsonian affiliated museum where a wide variety of changing art and science exhibits always offer something interesting

Another must-see is McAllenrsquos new public library which at a whopping 123000 square feet is the largest single-floor library in the US This former Walmart building underwent a total transformation into an aesthetically pleasing community resource thatrsquos steadily gaining attention worldwide for its colorful open and functional design Opened in December 2011 the facility has already won first place in the International Interior Design Associationrsquos 2012 Library Interior Design Competition

luNCh aNd laTErldquoWersquove got over 600 restaurants

hererdquo says Chamber President and CEO Steve Ahlenius So since itrsquos noon by now try the flatbread or a

salad at house wine amp bistro or go for a panini at Corner Bakery Cafe Or for Latin flavor head to KoKorsquos for delicious Mexican fare

In McAllen a day without shopping would be sad indeed La Plaza Mall is the most visited mall in the country and Palms Crossings at the McAllen Convention Center is home to several shops and restaurants such as Mimirsquos Cafe and Romanorsquos Macaroni Grill

ldquoAfter I finished shopping Irsquod spend the rest of the afternoon at Quinta Mazatlan (a historic home that also offers nature trails and legendary bird watching)rdquo Ahlenius says Another option is to test the waters by kayaking or catch-and-release fishing on Town Lake at Firemanrsquos Park

mCallEN aFTEr hOurSYoursquore not tired are you

Good because after freshening up back at your hotel itrsquos off to a night on the town Cajun cuisine at The Bayou Grill on North 10th St is a great option as are the authentic Mexican menus at Cabritos Nuevo Leon or La Jaiba Mexican Seafood Grill both on West Nolana

After dinner stroll the 17th Street Entertainment District to catch the flavor of McAllen after hours or catch a show at the historic Cine El Rey theater where comedy acts concerts film festivals and other events take the stage Finally La Recova Contemporary Argentinean Grill beckons for a nightcap in its quiet upscale bar ldquowhere you can actually carry on a conversationrdquo Ahlenius says

Then to bed Where after a good nightrsquos rest you will surely want to get up and spend yet another great day in McAllen

by Laura Hill by staff photographer

Michael Conti

ldquoMcAllen is a beautiful multicultural city with plenty to do and see From shopping in the most popular stores in the nation or unique one-of-a-kind shops to fine dining and plenty of family outdoor activities ndash you can do it year round hererdquo

gErry garCia VPOFSPECIALPROJECTS

FORTHEMCALLENCHAMBER

SNAPSHOT

for music dinner and dancing head to downtown mcallenrsquos 17th street entertainment district

The Patio on Guerradiners enjoy the food and atmosphere at the patio on Guerra on 17th street in downtown mcallen

12 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 13

ThiNgS TO dO

Town Lakea boy takes his dog for a walk as he skateboards the trail along the new 4-acre town lake at firemanrsquos park a popular spot for canoeing kayaking fishing and more

ThiNgS TO dO

14 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 15 14 mc allen

nEW LAkE OPEnS AT FIREMAnrsquoS PARk

Ahh howrefreshing

ldquoWe did all the required dredging to transform the little pond into a recreational lake that is 15 feet at its deepest pointrdquo says Sally Gavlik director of the McAllen Parks amp Recreation Department ldquoIn these days of more and more people opting to remain close to home for staycations Town Lake at Firemanrsquos Park gives them a valid option for a different kind of local vacationrdquo

lET ThE FuN BEgiNTown Lake is situated right in the

middle of McAllen off Business Highway 83 between First and Second streets Swimming is prohibited due to park

irrigation regulations but a beach has been constructed to launch canoes kayaks and paddle boats A fishing pier is also in place

ldquoWe transferred fish to the lake from nearby Boeye Reservoir which has provided us with good stocks of bass perch and catfishrdquo Gavlik says ldquoTown Lake currently only has a catch-and-release program meaning you can catch fish but must release them back into the water At some point in the future when the fish population increases we plan to schedule times when people can take the fish homerdquo

The City of McAllen made a big splash in May 2012 when it officially opened Town Lake at Firemanrsquos Park What was once a small tract of land with a few basic

recreational amenities is now a 15-acre redevelopment that includes the four-acre Town Lake Crews used a water holding pond at the cityrsquos former water treatment facility to construct the new lake

14 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 15

TakE a hikEWalking and jogging are also good recreational

options around the waterrsquos perimeterldquoTown Lake actually ties into the well used Second

Street Trail People can come off the trail walk or jog along the lake and then get back onto the trailrdquo Gavlik says ldquoThe scenery includes wildflowers in a freshly seeded meadow while other park amenities are horseshoe pits two playgrounds and free picnic sites at the north end of Firemanrsquos Park at First Streetrdquo

There is also a covered pavilion area with sand volleyball courts a small concession building and three camping sites The campsites can be used during the day by anyone but only overnight by organized groups such as the Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts Group reservations must be made through the McAllen Parks amp Recreation Department

ldquoAnother park attraction is the former water treatment building which has been transformed into a rental facilityrdquo Gavlik says ldquoIt is now called The Old Pump House complete with new windows air conditioning uplighting tiling and carpeted floors Groups of 75 to 100 people can rent the facility for meetings small receptions or small social events The Old Pump House adds to the overall amenities of todayrsquos Firemenrsquos Parkrdquo

by Kevin Litwin by staff photographer Michael Conti

Fishinga group casts lines into town lake which enforces a catch-and-release program

WHackberryAve

TownLake

83

firemanrsquos park

N2

nd

Str

eet

16 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 17

children enjoy the playground at firemanrsquos park

16 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 17

l iVabil it ycommc allen 19

ThiNgS TO dO LoCAL FLAVoR

Palate Pleasersmcallen restaurants serVe up flaVorful foods

McAllen diners rejoice The city has a broad selection of distinctive restaurants and eateries appealing to just about every taste By Barbara Biehler

Asian

SENSaTiONal SuShi amp SPiCE

McAllen has several great spots for Japanese food such as sushi tempura and teppanyaki including kohnami kumori and yokorsquos Sushi Bar

Fans of Thai food should check out Thai red Chilirsquos for dishes like pad thai red curry chicken and sweet rice with mango

Indian

TaNdOOri aNyONETaste of india hits the spot

for diners looking for high quality authentic Indian food made from old family recipes and paired with excellent service

Tex-Mex and Mexican

SOmE likE iT SPiCy

Step into las Cazuelas grill for classic Mexican cuisine or visit Palenque Chicken for expertly prepared Mexican and Tex Mex dishes

Renowned regionally for homemade tamales deliarsquos uses fresh ingredients including pork chicken and beef

The republic of rio grande serves Mexican cuisine in an intimate setting order a traditional dish like the chicken fajitas or enchiladas suizas or enjoy a distinctive entree such as shrimp chipotle pesto pasta or a brick-oven pizza

check out more restaurants in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

ldquoDeliarsquos has the best tamales in town Probably even in the RGV The only place you can get the good old homemade flavor of real tamalesrdquo

Evila l YELPCOM

Argentine

SOuTh amEriCaN CuiSiNE

Relax in the elegant yet casual atmosphere of la Pampa argentinean Steak housewhile you dine on classic Argentine- cut steaks grilled chicken breasts marinated in Chimichurri or traditional de carne empanadas

Meanwhile la recova also offers a wide selection of Argentine-style favorites on its menu Favorite dishes at La Recova includes chorizo tuna carnitas duck confit and churrasco a classic top sirloin steak

Outdoor Dining

TrENdy amp TaSTy

If yoursquore in the mood for a USDA prime steak or succulent seafood drop by The Patio on guerra Dine on the outdoor patio and have a bottle of one of the restaurantrsquos award-winning wines

FridarsquosGrillandCantina located on 17th street offers traditional mexican favorites with modern flavors Go to fridarsquos to enjoy unique culinary dishes signature drinks and live music on the weekends

l iVabil it ycommc allen 19

ThiNgS TO dO ARTS amp CULTURE

Rave Reviewsmcallenrsquos arts scene remains robust With museums music and eVents

Arts patrons music lovers and history buffs enjoy many cultural attractions throughout McAllen The latest buzz McAllen Performing Arts Center will spring up near the McAllen Convention Center giving fans of live music theater and dance a fine new facility to anticipate

Live Entertainment

PErFOrmErS TakE ThE STagE

The 17th Street Entertainment district in downtown McAllen overflows with lounges restaurants and clubs For live music visit The old Ice House or Cine El Rey

The cityrsquos diverse culture is what influences much of the music performed by the valley Symphony Orchestra amp Chorale The Symphony was established in 1952 with the Chorale joining later in 1984 Similarly the South Texas lyric Opera brings the fine art of opera to the Rio Grande Valley with a yearly slate of productions and an annual opera gala and rio grande valley Broadway brings popular stage shows to town such as Disneyrsquos Beauty and the Beast and Monty Pythonrsquos Spamalot

Historic Sites

TakE a STEP BaCk iN TimE

The museum of South Texas history and the mcallen heritage Center are just two locations to learn about the rich history of this bicultural area

Quinta mazatlan a 1930s hacienda that embodies the Spanish Colonial Revival architecture of arches adobe and beams and provides an intimate look into South Texas history The 10000-square- foot mansion sits on a 15-acre plot hosting a mix of native and exotic plants and wildlife making up McAllenrsquos wing of the popular world Birding Center

Cine El Reyopened in 1947 the historic cine el rey theater now functions as

a music and performance venue showcasing a variety of live events and also shows spanish and english independent films the theater is located in downtown mcallenrsquos 17th street entertainment district

20 mc allen

ldquoCine El Rey hosts events as diverse as wrestling live bands films and comedy shows A huge stage is complimented by killer production value and a staff that really cares about all aspects of the experience Irsquom looking forward to a return triprdquo

Bill dykES YELP

visual Arts and Festivals

aCCESSiBlE arT FuN EvENTS

The international museum of art amp Science founded in 1969 promotes an appreciation for the arts and sciences through its exhibitions cultural events and many educational programs imaS is located at 1900 Nolana Ave

The mcallen art walk is a self-guided tour that gives art lovers the opportunity to explore the many art offerings in the city Itrsquos held every first Friday from September through May and is free and open to the public

on the first Saturday night of December folks enjoy the Candlelight Posada which includes food booths luminaries a parade live entertainment caroling and a live nativity scene

Chamber of Commerce Support

ChamBEr BaCkS ThE arTS

The mcallen Chamber of Commerce shows its love for the arts by managing the mcallen arts Council which publishes a quarterly magazine produces an annual fine arts exhibition and offers grants to local artists The Chamber also offers an outdoor concert series and coordinates the Public art Committeersquos acquisition program

20 mc allen

ThiNgS TO dO SPoRTS amp RECREATIoN

Soak Up Some Sunmcallen residents haVe plenty of Good reasons to Get outdoors

Great golf courses hiking and biking trails and a large well-maintained park system make McAllen the perfect place to enjoy outdoor fun By Carson OrsquoShoney

Golf

TEE iT uPWith nearly 20 courses in the

McAllen area golf is a popular attraction in the Rio Grande Valley

one of the most notable courses is the Palm view golf Course an 18-hole public course with a private feel With rolling fairways and Bermuda rough mounds the course is an often-used location for tournaments having hosted LPGA tournaments and Palm viewrsquos amateur golf Championship

mcallen Country Club provides a challenge with tree-lined fairways and small greens and also offers a swimming pool tennis courts a fitness center and other amenities

Every golf course in the area is bustling especially in the winter when ldquoWinter Texansrdquo come to the Rio Grande Valley The weather generally stays in the 70s in the coldest months making it a perfect place for winter golfing

Hiking Biking and Racing

ON ThE mOvE iN mCallEN

There are plenty of hiking and biking trails on the east and west sides of town such as the retama village Park Trail westside Park Trail and las Palmas Park Trail Visiting cyclists are welcome to meet up with Team mcallen Cycling a bike club thatrsquos been in the city for more than 25 years

Racing fans can enjoy the mcallen international motorplex and Event Center which hosts stock car races car shows and more The racetrack is a family-friendly place offering activities for children such as games face painting and crafts

Palm view Golf Courseirish cochran plays a round of golf at palm View Golf course an 18-hole public course often used for high profile tournaments

22 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 23

City Parks

OuTdOOr Family FuN

The mcallen Parks and recreation department currently oversees 25 city parks Ranging from historic parks established in the early 1900s to more modern facilities there are several options suitable for the whole family

archer Park McAllenrsquos oldest park opened in 1912 Serving as a historic landmark in the city it also plays host to many of the cityrsquos annual special events including the Candlelight Posada and movies in the Park

Spanning 38 acres Springfest Park is the largest park in McAllen Springfest hosts a variety of special events and is home to mcallenrsquos winter Polo league from January through March

check out more fun things to do in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

Spray and Ground Parkbesides its popular water feature mcallenrsquos new SprayandGroundParkhas a sand volleyball court skateboard area a half basketball court and just over half a mile of walking trails in addition there are athletic practice fields shaded areas picnic shelters and restroom facilities

22 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 23

ThiNgS TO dO SEE THE CITY

24 mc allen

The Irrigation Workerthe sun sets behind a sculpture ldquothe irrigation Workerrdquo which was created by artist douglas clark and is located on nolana and 25th

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

l iVabil it ycommc allen 25

LIvINGHERESchools health care education and neighborhoods in McAllen

26 mc allen 26 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 27 26 mc allen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 27

see more beautiful photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

Luxury Livingnewcomers have many beautiful home options in mcallen such as those offered in eight different communities by cantu construction a locally based award-winning builder

26 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 27 liVabil it ycommc allen 27

liviNg

TECH TOOLS FOSTER STUDEnT SUCCESS

Padding theCurriculum

McAllen Independent School District (ISD) is feeling the benefits of an ambitious technology plan that places an iPod or iPad in the hands of every teacher and student

mcallen independent school district students use system-issued ipads in class

28 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 29

EduCaTiNg FOr ThE 21ST CENTury

The initiative began with a meeting between Dr James Ponce McAllenrsquos superintendent of schools and a ldquocadrerdquo of about 35 teachers administrators and parents

The grouprsquos primary goal was to build a 21st-century classroom environment one that fosters creativity collaboration and entrepreneurship The group also wanted to find a way to harness the 247 educational potential of the Internet ndash and teach students the critical-thinking skills needed to process online content

ldquoItrsquos an environment where the teachers become the primary learners and the students are driven by their examplerdquo Ponce says ldquoSo we asked what tools we would need for this transformation of the way we teach and the way the kids learnrdquo

After much research the group chose iPods (for grades K-2) and iPads (for teachers and grades 3-12) because of their portability

ldquoIrsquove learned more from my fellow teachers than I have in many years just from sharing ideas for how to use the iPads in the classroomrdquo

CarOl aNN allEN LANGuAGEARTSTEACHER

ATMICHAELEFOSSuMMIDDLESCHOOL

relatively low cost and ease of use To implement the planrsquos first stage McAllen ISD issued 5800 of these devices to teachers and students when the rollout is complete it will cover more than 25000 students

Big BENEFiTS FOr TEaChErS aNd STudENTS

Both teachers and students are seeing benefits from the program

ldquoThe iPods help the kids be creative My students are organizing information in new waysrdquo says Ruth Whiddon who teaches first grade at Andrew Jackson Elementary School

For Carol Ann Allen International Baccalaureate coordinator and eighth-grade language arts teacher at Michael E Fossum Middle School the initiative is all about collaboration

ldquoIrsquove learned more from my fellow teachers than I have in many years just from sharing ideas for how to use the iPads in the classroomrdquo she says

Sandra Guerra who teaches seventh- and eighth-grade math

at Fossum says the iPads have changed both her teaching style and the way her students learn

Instead of mapping out the learning process step-by-step she now gives students their goal and lets them choose how to get there

ldquoWith this approach they own their learning and theyrsquove been more willing to learnrdquo Guerra says

The iPads have also been a game-changer for Guerrarsquos family

Her seventh-grade daughter is learning advanced science concepts because of independent iPad projects And because most of her childrenrsquos school materials are on their iPads itrsquos easier than ever for Guerra to check on their progress from home

That kind of scenario says Superintendent Ponce is at the heart of the initiative

ldquoThe entire school system and our community want to lead in this effort to build a 21st-century learning environmentrdquo he says ldquoThis is a direct investment in our children and their familiesrdquo

by Kathryn Royster

High-Tech Learningseventh-grade students use ipads to follow class lectures and take quizzes during a language arts class at michael e fossum middle school

PH

oT

o C

oU

RT

EST

Y o

F M

CA

LLE

N IN

DE

PE

ND

EN

T S

CH

oo

L D

IST

RIC

T

28 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 29

Higher Education

SOuTh TExaS COllEgE

McAllenrsquos South Texas College has more than 30000 students and offers numerous associate and bachelorrsquos degree programs as well as professional certifications in more than 40 areas The college also has online degree courses for students who work full time

liviNg EDUCATIoN

Set for SuccesscolleGe prep is a top priority in mcallen

Education in McAllen is defined by excellent options From elementary school through college McAllen includes numerous institutions designed to prepare students for success By Braxton Shoop

school yourself on more educational offerings at livabilitycommcallen

Public Schools

mCallEN iNdEPENdENT SChOOl diSTriCT

Established in 1915 the mcallen independent School district comprises three high schools seven middle schools and 20 elementary schools Among these schools the district offers an advanced placement college-level curriculum and a dual-enrollment program for students who would like to obtain high school and college credit simultaneously

In addition the district features an International Baccalaureate program that provides students with an advanced curriculum geared toward global standards

Local Inspiration

FOrmEr STudENT FliES high

one of McAllenrsquos successful students is astronaut michael Fossum a graduate of McAllen High School After receiving his commission from the US Air Force by Texas AampM University Fossum graduated Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base and in 1993 he started at NASA Throughout his NASA career Fossum was on crew for three spaceflights He commanded the space station during one of his flights helping him rank seventh on the all-time list for cumulative Extravehicular Activity time

Top-notch Learning Environmentuniversity of texas-pan american offers many undergraduate degrees more than 50 masterrsquos degrees and three doctoral degrees utpa has accreditations from organizations like the commission for collegiate nursing the examining board of nurse examiners for the state of texas and the engineering accreditation commission of the accreditation board for engineering and technology

30 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 31

Charter School

idEa aCadEmy

idEa academy is an innovative institution that offers a fully scaled curriculum for students in kindergarten and in the first second and sixth grades The school which opened in McAllen in 2012 will eventually add more grades each one including approximately 110 students While the school is public students must apply to fill the 460 available spots

To prepare its students to be collegiate scholars IDEA provides International Baccalaureate curriculum as well as the Road to College curriculum which begins in the sixth grade

ldquoWersquore very proud of the connection to our distinguished alumni like NASA astronaut Michael Fossum and we want our students to recognize the kind of education we provide here What he learned here helped catapult him into space and wersquore very proud of thatrdquo

NOrma zamOra-guErra MCALLENINDEPENDENTSCHOOL

DISTRICTCOMMuNITYINFORMATIONDIRECTOR

Michael E Fossum Middle Schoolnamed for astronaut michael e fossum the school is part of the mcallen independent school district

30 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 31

Please call 9566316109 for a representative today

2501 Buddy Owens Blvd McAllen TX 78504

9656316125 Fax

wwwrio-healthcom

RioHealth MedicalWe are here to meet all your

occupational medicine needs

bull Workplace injuries and workersrsquo compensation

bull On site and off site drug screening

bull Physicals

bull Orthopedics

bull Early return to work

bull 247 coverage

bull We accept all types of insurance

WorkplaceInjury

DANIEL J GUERRA MD Diplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

LEONEL G MORENO MDDiplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

HOMERO RIVAS MDDiplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

606 S Broadway bull McAllen TX bull (956) 682-4515 bull wwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

FAMILY PHYSICIANS

CLINICSince 1967

Mon-Fri 8 am-5 pm Sat 8 am-Noon

VALLEY NIGHT CLINIC

Since 1981

Open Every Night of the Year 6 pm-Midnight

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valley supports children of all abilities through child care

services early intervention and parenting support programs

Early Childhood intErvEntion ChildCarE sErviCEs ParEnts as tEaChErs

Easter seals rio Grande valley Programs for Children Birth to Five years

bullChild-Care servicesndashHigh-qualitychildcare sixweekstofiveyears

bullParents as teachers (Pat)ndashDevelopmental parentingsupportforchildrenbirthtofiveyears

bullEarly Childhood intervention (ECi) ndashConcerns indevelopmentforchildrenbirthtothreeyears

For more information about Easter seals

programs and services call (956) 631-9171 or visit wwweasterseals-rgvorg

32 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 33

liviNg HEALTH

Take a Deep Breath and Relaxresidents haVe access to top hospitals

McAllen residents receive quality care from the South Texas Health System Rio Grande Regional Hospital and the Doctors Hospital at Renaissance By Kevin Litwin

Health System

SOuTh TExaS hEalTh SySTEm

South Texas health System is the umbrella organization for a number of fine medical facilities including mcallen medical Center MMC has 441 beds and a staff of more than 400 physicians that represent 50 medical specialties

Also part of South Texas Health System is mcallen heart hospital which opened in 1996 as the first freestanding cardiology and cardiovascular hospital built in the United States It includes 60 beds and a 24-hour emergency center

Healthgrades has awarded McAllen Medical Center and McAllen Heart Hospital with a variety of honors in recent years and both earned a Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence in 2011

Hospital

riO graNdE rEgiONal hOSPiTal

rio grande regional hospital is an acute care medical facility with 320 beds and more than 500 physicians The hospital is the only area Diabetes Management Center accredited by the American Diabetes Association and is the arearsquos first facility to have a Pediatric Heart Program

RGRH also includes a 24-hour emergency room Womenrsquos Services department Level III trauma center and cardiovascular care The hospital is fully accredited by The Joint Commission and the College of American Pathologists and every year since 2007 has been named a Center of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery

32 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 33

Hospital

dOCTOrS hOSPiTal aT rENaiSSaNCE

The 506-bed doctors hospital at renaissance is an acute care facility It provides cardiology neurosurgery and endocrinology as well as a Pediatric Medical Tower that offers pediatric oncology and pediatric ICU services

Doctors Hospital has been ranked among the nationrsquos 100 Top Hospitals by Thomson Reuters and recently invested $32 million to establish an Electronic Medical Record System

DHR was the first in South Texas to acquire a PETCT scanner for diagnosing cancer and the first in the region to introduce da Vinci robotic surgical technology The hospital also oversees Renaissance Behavioral Center which provides treatment for people with mental health problems substance abuse or eating disorders

34 mc allen

COMMUNITyPROFILE COST OF liviNg

$44074Median Household Income

$129554Median Home Price

$689Median Rent for a Two-Bedroom Apartment

TraNSPOrTaTiON

Median Travel Time to Work

agE

TEmPEraTurE

January Average

July Average

EThNiCiTy

19 and Under

20-54

55 and over

White

Black

Hispanic

other

1645minutes

Closest Airport McAllen International Airport

955deg

482deg

South Texasrsquo Finest Gift Store Offers Gifts From Around the World

4300 N 10th St bull Ste C bull McAllen TX 78504 (956) 686-1264 bull ohkaysaolcom

Look for us on Facebook

gOlF COurSES

gOlF TEC

2901 N 10TH ST956-994-9631

mCallEN COuNTry CluB615 WICHITA AVE956-686-0923

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

The national Butterfly Center the national butterfly center dedicates 100 acres to the conservation and scientific study of wild butterflies in their natural habitats the wildlife center is open daily from 8 am until 5 pm september through march and from 9 am until 4 pm april through august

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

liviNg SEE THE CITY

36 mc allen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 37

BUSINESSInfo on McAllenrsquos top employers jobs and success stories

McAllen Convention Centerthe McAllenConventionCenter is located on 185 acres and includes a 60000-square-foot exhibit hall as well as more than 25000 square feet of meeting space in 16 breakout rooms

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

38 mc allen 38 mc allen

38 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 39

BuSiNESS oVERVIEW

McAllenrsquos in the MoneyCultural diversity location and innovation drive cityrsquos top business sectors

As the retail hub of South Texas McAllen is thriving The city draws a customer base of more than 10 million within a 200-mile radius and is represented by 40 of Americarsquos top 100 retailers

By Tiffany Williams

La Plaza MallPumping much of the life into this retail hub is la Plaza mall which annually attracts more than 18 million visitors its anchoring stores such as dillardrsquos and macyrsquos and sought-after retailers including BCBg-max azria and Coach average sales of more than $650 per square foot and are among the most profitable stores in their chains

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

Meetings amp Events

CONvENTiON CENTEr lurES viSiTOrS

The mcallen Convention Center also helps draw businesses to the area The 185-acre complex featuring a 60000-square-foot column-free exhibit hall more than 25000 square feet of meeting space and up to 16 breakout rooms offers bicultural themes and tropical accents that represent the cultural and natural diversity of McAllen

Retail

ShOPPiNg hOT SPOTS

This bicultural city which is located just five miles from the US-Mexico border also has access to three international bridges that flood with visitors and eager shoppers daily many of whom are spending at a rate twice the national average

In addition to La Plaza Mall shopping centers in the McAllen area include Trenton Crossing las Tiendas Plaza and La Plaza Mallrsquos 600sbquo000-square-foot sister shopping center Palms Crossing which hosts such big-name retailers as Barnes amp Noble and Babies rsquoRrsquo Us as well as specialty shops and restaurants Its appeal stems from its open-air design with lots of palm trees water fountains and seating areas

Major Manufacturers

madE FOr maNuFaCTuriNg

Ranked third in Texas in per-capita sales the McAllen area has some of the largest manufacturing and wholesale companies in the nation

valley Coca Cola Bottling Co Value Frozen Foods and Emerson Network Power are just a few who have put down roots here Tri-City Steel which provides a full scope of steel construction by fabricating and erecting structural steel buildings pre-engineered metal buildings stairs handrails and more Texas Citrus Exchange in Mission makes Texas rio red grapefruit juice

learn more about businesses in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

BuSiNESS

RESIDEnTS GET CREATIvE WITH BUSInESS vEnTURES

the BoxOutside

One of McAllenrsquos most innovative startups sprang from the mind of someone who wasnrsquot even interested in business Today Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar is one

of the arearsquos top entrepreneurs and is finding serious success

mcallen entrepreneur dalinda Gonzalez-alcantar founded eJucomm llc

liVabil it ycommc allen 43 42 mc allen

ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the worldrdquo

EllEry BuChaNaN FIBERIOPRESIDENTCEO

Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar the founder of eJucomm LLC simply wanted to make information in her school district more accessible to families The company was a way she could make it happen

She got the idea while working as a teacher at DeLeon Middle School in McAllen and was frustrated that families without computers andor Internet access had difficulty communicating with teachers and administrators So she decided to develop a smartphone application that would solve the problem

With no previous technical experience she researched code online at night and a year later was selling the app to various school districts

ldquoThe app enables Android and iPhone users to access information for things like grades and attendancerdquo Gonzalez-Alcantar says

The entrepreneur also faced unexpected challenges ndash for instance how to tailor individual apps to the roughly seven school districts and 40 campuses that now use them No longer teaching she has partnered with a chief technology officer so she can focus on sales and marketing

One of her biggest hurdles was finding legal fees to fund the startup and a $10000 McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant in 2011 helped pay for a licensing agreement and intellectual property protection for eJucomm to move forward

BaNaNa E-z SPliTAnother McAllen resident

Gerald Guerra faced a similar obstacle when developing a product called Banana E-Z Split A health insurance broker Guerra was inspired at his own kitchen table to create single serving packets with all three syrups

Banana E-Z SplitGerald Guerra inventor of the banana e-Z split single serving syrup packets poses with his daughters Victoria and kaitlyn enthusiastic taste testers for his product

liVabil it ycommc allen 43

To order please call or visit 956-668-0555 or wwwediblearrangementscom 5113-A N 10th St bull McAllen TX 78504

Offer valid at participating locations Offer expires 12312013 Cannot be combined with another offers Offer code must be used when placing order

Containers may vary EDIBLE ARRANGEMENTS and the Fruit Basket Logo Design are registered trademarks of Edible Arrangements LLC

copy2012 Edible Arrangements LLC All rights reserved Frachises available call (888) 727-4258 or visit wwweafranchisescom

DELICIOUSLYd e s i r a b l e

FREE PIECE OF DIPPED FRUIT

Code mctx1213

Living green is making sure the air in your home is healthy for your family to breathe Test your home for radon and build radon-resistant

Its easy Thats living healthy and green

Just call 866-730-green or visit wwwepagovradon

Living greenstarts from the ground up

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

(pineapple chocolate strawberry) needed for a banana split

The concept led to a 2011 McAllen Business Plan Competition grant to fund the necessary patents

ldquoI envisioned a product that could hang easily in refrigerated sections at big box storesrdquo Guerra says ldquoI have lined up a distributor and a broker with my ultimate goal being to have Banana E-Z Split available to customers in large grocery chains It is close to happeningrdquo

FiBEriO TEChNOlOgyAnother startup in McAllen

is already making waves globally FibeRio Technology Corporation another McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant recipient is thriving thanks to ground-breaking nanofiber-producing machinery The nanofibers can be used to make products ranging from diapers to

ballistics using a new way to spin microscopic nanofibers

The technology serves an array of industries that feature filtration textiles or biomedical applications

ldquoDr Karen Lozano at UT-Pan American discovered the process and I was contacted because I am an entrepreneur familiar with launching technology- based companies including nanotechnologyrdquo says FibeRio Technology presidentCEO Ellery Buchanan ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the world Plus we use local McAllen suppliers whenever possible including machine shops parts suppliers IT contractors and other business servicesrdquo

by Kevin Litwin by staff photographer

Michael Conti

FibeRio Technology Corporationnanomaterials processing research equipment is used at FibeRioTechnologyCorporation

FEldmaNrsquoS markET CENTErFeldmanrsquos Market Center features a broad selection of beer as well as wines liquors cigars and a gourmet deli In addition weekly beer and wine tastings are offered(956) 687-9463

PErFECT PawS rESOrTPerfect Paws Resort offers grooming services daycare and boarding to vaccinated dogs and cats that are at least 12 weeks old Boarding suites are climate controlled and under constant supervisionperfectpawsresortcom

mCCrEEry aviaTiON CO iNCMcCreery Aviation Co Inc is a place for pilots and their aircraft to receive top-notch treatment A fuel center flight planning room and hangar storage are availablemccreeryaviationcom

kiTikakE llCKitikake LLC offers gently- used vintage clothing for women from an array of top designers such as Lilly Pulitzer and Catherine Malandrino Vintage home deacutecor and dishes are also availablekitikakecom

krEidlEr FuNEral hOmEFounded owned and operated by the Kreidler family Kreidler Funeral Home has served McAllen for 100 years They offer traditional burial and graveside funeral services direct burials cremations memorial services and morekreidlerfuneralhomecom

Business Spotlight

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

visit ouradvertisersBorder Capital Bankwwwbordercapitalbankcom

City of McAllen Public Info Officewwwexploremcallennet

Courtyard by Marriottwwwmarriottcommtema

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valleywwweasterseals-rgvorg

Edible Arrangementswwwediblearrangementscom

Family Physicians Clinicwwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

Magic Valley Electric Cooperativewwwmagicvalleycoop

McAllen Economic Development Corporationwwwmcallenedcorg

McAllen Independent School Districtwwwmcallenisdorg

McAllen International Airportwwwmcallenairportcom

McAllen Realty

Mr Electricwwwmrelectriccom

Nuevo Santander Gallerywwwnuevosantandercom

OH KAYrsquoS

Preventative Care Institutewwwrgvpcicom

Quinta Mazatlanwwwquintamazatlancom

Rio Health Medicalwwwrio-healthcom

South Texas College wwwsouthtexascollegeedu

South Texas Health Systemwwwsouthtexashealthsystemcom

The Patio on Guerra wwwpatioonguerracom

Valley International Airportwwwflythevalleycom

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

BuSiNESS CHAMBER REPoRT

Whatrsquos the Big Ideachamberrsquos readiness tool kit assists entrepreneurs

The McAllen Chamber of Commerce has helped prepare 25 McAllen entrepreneurs in the continuing quest to launch their ideas ndash all since July 2011

The Chamber has a software package called VentureBusiness Readiness Assessment which is used by states such as oklahoma and Kentucky to assist startup companies The software helps an entrepreneur through the entire process of seeing whether they are truly ready to launch their startup

ldquoVentureBusiness Readiness Assessment is a way that the Chamber assists entrepreneurs who are trying to get funding for their products or projectsrdquo says Steve Ahlenius who serves as President and CEo of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce ldquoThe Chamber awards $50000 a year in innovation grants in $10000 increments and entrepreneurs are always looking for funding But they must earn that money by passing the various stages of the software tool kitrdquo

TEN hOurS TO COmPlETEAhlenius says the assessment

has several specific steps to make sure that a startup company has everything in place to ensure that it is successful

ldquoThe entrepreneurs contact us and set up an appointment to see me then they come to the Chamber office we sign them up and give them passwords to access the software at their conveniencerdquo he says ldquo[The program] takes about 10 hours to complete but doesnrsquot have to be finished in one sitting However the program must be eventually completed in order to qualify for our innovation grantrdquo

CaN iT BE madE QuiCklyThe software asks questions

such as Have you protected your intellectual property Is your product something that can be

made quickly Have you set a value on your idea and do you know how to do that If itrsquos a product that involves high-tech engineering do you have an engineer on your companyrsquos team

ldquoThe entrepreneur needs to know if his venture is worth 20 shares of stock or 200 shares ndash things like thatrdquo Ahlenius says ldquoMany factors go into launching a product or business and Venture Readiness points out a personrsquos strengths and weaknessesrdquo

a grEaT OvErviEwVicente Valle Martinez of

McAllen is an entrepreneur who contacted the Chamber in 2012 about his idea for connecting

people on the Internet who have similar educational experiences and higher learning interests

ldquoI have no background in business but heard one day about an innovation grant competition that the Chamber was sponsoringrdquo Martinez says ldquoSteve told me about the software package and it gave me a great overview of what I need to know before launching my ideardquo

Ahlenius says the various concepts the software package covers include credentials character capabilities commitment and circumstance

ldquoIt is an excellent self-awareness testrdquo he says ldquoItrsquos ideal for entrepreneursrdquo

by Kevin Litwin

the mcallen chamber of commerce on ash avenue

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

Ad Index 41 BorderCapitalBank

21 CityofMCallen puBliCinfooffiCe

4 CourtyardByMarriott

32 easterseals rioGrandeValley

44 ediBlearranGeMents

32 faMilyphysiCiansCliniC

2 MaGiCValley eleCtriCCooperatiVe

C3 MCalleneConoMiC deVelopMentCorporation

46 MCallenindependent sChooldistriCt

1 MCallen internationalairport

C4 MCallenrealty

48 MreleCtriC

46 nueVosantanderGallery

35 ohkayrsquos

34 preVentatiVe

Careinstitute

23 QuintaMazatlan

32 riohealthMediCal

31 southtexasColleGe

C2 southtexas

healthsysteM

18 thepatioonGuerra

44 Valley

internationalairport

ECONOMICPROFILE

3000+

2000- 2999

1999- 500

hOuSEhOld iNCOmE

TOP EmPlOyErS

$200000+

$150000-199999

$100000 and under

McAllen Independent School District

McAllen Medical Center South Texas College City of McAllen

Rio Grande Regional Hospital International Bank of Commerce

EduCaTiON lEvEl

High School Graduate

Associate Degree

Bachelorrsquos Degree

Masterrsquos Degree

TaxES

2City Sales and Use Tax

625State Sales Tax

825Total Sales Tax

SCOrECard

$36BAnnual Retail Sales

$28682Retail sales per capita

$3575MAnnual Hotel and Food Sales

15161Total Number of Firms

TraNSPOrTaTiON

mcallen-miller international airportwwwmcallenairportcom

metro mcallenwwwmcallennetmetro

amtrakwwwamtrakcom

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

everything you need every step of the way

Serving the rio grande valley Since 1989

Rachel Hardison-Oliva Broker

3321 N McColl Rd

McAllen TX 78501

(956) 687-7172 bull (956) 687-7178 Fax

Page 12: Livability McAllen, TX 2013

midNighT TO NOON iN mCallENWhere to stay McAllen has nearly 3600 hotel rooms

from luxurious traditional hotels to new motels with all the contemporary bells and whistles The Renaissance Casa de Palmas a four-star hotel on Main Street was built in 1918 and lavishly restored into a luxury property featuring Mission architecture that recalls McAllenrsquos past Or try the Spring Hill Suites just off the expressway for a more modern take

After a comfortable night start the morning off with breakfast at Jimmyrsquos Egg a new outpost of a longtime Oklahoma favorite Here enjoy nearly any kind of egg you can imagine for breakfast ndash or atop a burger at lunch Go further south of the cuisine border at Las Cazuelas Grill another popular new eatery for menu items such as Chilaquiles con Huevo or Molletes

Got 24 hours to spare We recommend a busy day well spent in McAllen where you can fill every available hour

with interesting sights delicious cuisine and a variety of fun activities

a birdrsquos-eye view of the cityrsquos revitalized 17the street entertainment district

l iVabil it ycommc allen 11

NB

icen

tenn

ialB

lvd

WHackberryAve

S23

rdS

tree

t

83

international museum of arts and sciences

mcallen public library

McAllen Public Librarym-th 9am - 9pmf-sat 9am - 6pmsun 1pm - 9pm

phone (956) 688-3300uhV students (with id) free

wwwmcallenlibrarynet

12 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 13

The hike and bike trail on Second Street and another on Bicentennial offer the chance for a leisurely 23-mile stroll around town ndash yoursquove got to work off that breakfast after all And then head over to the International Museum of Arts and Science a Smithsonian affiliated museum where a wide variety of changing art and science exhibits always offer something interesting

Another must-see is McAllenrsquos new public library which at a whopping 123000 square feet is the largest single-floor library in the US This former Walmart building underwent a total transformation into an aesthetically pleasing community resource thatrsquos steadily gaining attention worldwide for its colorful open and functional design Opened in December 2011 the facility has already won first place in the International Interior Design Associationrsquos 2012 Library Interior Design Competition

luNCh aNd laTErldquoWersquove got over 600 restaurants

hererdquo says Chamber President and CEO Steve Ahlenius So since itrsquos noon by now try the flatbread or a

salad at house wine amp bistro or go for a panini at Corner Bakery Cafe Or for Latin flavor head to KoKorsquos for delicious Mexican fare

In McAllen a day without shopping would be sad indeed La Plaza Mall is the most visited mall in the country and Palms Crossings at the McAllen Convention Center is home to several shops and restaurants such as Mimirsquos Cafe and Romanorsquos Macaroni Grill

ldquoAfter I finished shopping Irsquod spend the rest of the afternoon at Quinta Mazatlan (a historic home that also offers nature trails and legendary bird watching)rdquo Ahlenius says Another option is to test the waters by kayaking or catch-and-release fishing on Town Lake at Firemanrsquos Park

mCallEN aFTEr hOurSYoursquore not tired are you

Good because after freshening up back at your hotel itrsquos off to a night on the town Cajun cuisine at The Bayou Grill on North 10th St is a great option as are the authentic Mexican menus at Cabritos Nuevo Leon or La Jaiba Mexican Seafood Grill both on West Nolana

After dinner stroll the 17th Street Entertainment District to catch the flavor of McAllen after hours or catch a show at the historic Cine El Rey theater where comedy acts concerts film festivals and other events take the stage Finally La Recova Contemporary Argentinean Grill beckons for a nightcap in its quiet upscale bar ldquowhere you can actually carry on a conversationrdquo Ahlenius says

Then to bed Where after a good nightrsquos rest you will surely want to get up and spend yet another great day in McAllen

by Laura Hill by staff photographer

Michael Conti

ldquoMcAllen is a beautiful multicultural city with plenty to do and see From shopping in the most popular stores in the nation or unique one-of-a-kind shops to fine dining and plenty of family outdoor activities ndash you can do it year round hererdquo

gErry garCia VPOFSPECIALPROJECTS

FORTHEMCALLENCHAMBER

SNAPSHOT

for music dinner and dancing head to downtown mcallenrsquos 17th street entertainment district

The Patio on Guerradiners enjoy the food and atmosphere at the patio on Guerra on 17th street in downtown mcallen

12 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 13

ThiNgS TO dO

Town Lakea boy takes his dog for a walk as he skateboards the trail along the new 4-acre town lake at firemanrsquos park a popular spot for canoeing kayaking fishing and more

ThiNgS TO dO

14 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 15 14 mc allen

nEW LAkE OPEnS AT FIREMAnrsquoS PARk

Ahh howrefreshing

ldquoWe did all the required dredging to transform the little pond into a recreational lake that is 15 feet at its deepest pointrdquo says Sally Gavlik director of the McAllen Parks amp Recreation Department ldquoIn these days of more and more people opting to remain close to home for staycations Town Lake at Firemanrsquos Park gives them a valid option for a different kind of local vacationrdquo

lET ThE FuN BEgiNTown Lake is situated right in the

middle of McAllen off Business Highway 83 between First and Second streets Swimming is prohibited due to park

irrigation regulations but a beach has been constructed to launch canoes kayaks and paddle boats A fishing pier is also in place

ldquoWe transferred fish to the lake from nearby Boeye Reservoir which has provided us with good stocks of bass perch and catfishrdquo Gavlik says ldquoTown Lake currently only has a catch-and-release program meaning you can catch fish but must release them back into the water At some point in the future when the fish population increases we plan to schedule times when people can take the fish homerdquo

The City of McAllen made a big splash in May 2012 when it officially opened Town Lake at Firemanrsquos Park What was once a small tract of land with a few basic

recreational amenities is now a 15-acre redevelopment that includes the four-acre Town Lake Crews used a water holding pond at the cityrsquos former water treatment facility to construct the new lake

14 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 15

TakE a hikEWalking and jogging are also good recreational

options around the waterrsquos perimeterldquoTown Lake actually ties into the well used Second

Street Trail People can come off the trail walk or jog along the lake and then get back onto the trailrdquo Gavlik says ldquoThe scenery includes wildflowers in a freshly seeded meadow while other park amenities are horseshoe pits two playgrounds and free picnic sites at the north end of Firemanrsquos Park at First Streetrdquo

There is also a covered pavilion area with sand volleyball courts a small concession building and three camping sites The campsites can be used during the day by anyone but only overnight by organized groups such as the Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts Group reservations must be made through the McAllen Parks amp Recreation Department

ldquoAnother park attraction is the former water treatment building which has been transformed into a rental facilityrdquo Gavlik says ldquoIt is now called The Old Pump House complete with new windows air conditioning uplighting tiling and carpeted floors Groups of 75 to 100 people can rent the facility for meetings small receptions or small social events The Old Pump House adds to the overall amenities of todayrsquos Firemenrsquos Parkrdquo

by Kevin Litwin by staff photographer Michael Conti

Fishinga group casts lines into town lake which enforces a catch-and-release program

WHackberryAve

TownLake

83

firemanrsquos park

N2

nd

Str

eet

16 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 17

children enjoy the playground at firemanrsquos park

16 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 17

l iVabil it ycommc allen 19

ThiNgS TO dO LoCAL FLAVoR

Palate Pleasersmcallen restaurants serVe up flaVorful foods

McAllen diners rejoice The city has a broad selection of distinctive restaurants and eateries appealing to just about every taste By Barbara Biehler

Asian

SENSaTiONal SuShi amp SPiCE

McAllen has several great spots for Japanese food such as sushi tempura and teppanyaki including kohnami kumori and yokorsquos Sushi Bar

Fans of Thai food should check out Thai red Chilirsquos for dishes like pad thai red curry chicken and sweet rice with mango

Indian

TaNdOOri aNyONETaste of india hits the spot

for diners looking for high quality authentic Indian food made from old family recipes and paired with excellent service

Tex-Mex and Mexican

SOmE likE iT SPiCy

Step into las Cazuelas grill for classic Mexican cuisine or visit Palenque Chicken for expertly prepared Mexican and Tex Mex dishes

Renowned regionally for homemade tamales deliarsquos uses fresh ingredients including pork chicken and beef

The republic of rio grande serves Mexican cuisine in an intimate setting order a traditional dish like the chicken fajitas or enchiladas suizas or enjoy a distinctive entree such as shrimp chipotle pesto pasta or a brick-oven pizza

check out more restaurants in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

ldquoDeliarsquos has the best tamales in town Probably even in the RGV The only place you can get the good old homemade flavor of real tamalesrdquo

Evila l YELPCOM

Argentine

SOuTh amEriCaN CuiSiNE

Relax in the elegant yet casual atmosphere of la Pampa argentinean Steak housewhile you dine on classic Argentine- cut steaks grilled chicken breasts marinated in Chimichurri or traditional de carne empanadas

Meanwhile la recova also offers a wide selection of Argentine-style favorites on its menu Favorite dishes at La Recova includes chorizo tuna carnitas duck confit and churrasco a classic top sirloin steak

Outdoor Dining

TrENdy amp TaSTy

If yoursquore in the mood for a USDA prime steak or succulent seafood drop by The Patio on guerra Dine on the outdoor patio and have a bottle of one of the restaurantrsquos award-winning wines

FridarsquosGrillandCantina located on 17th street offers traditional mexican favorites with modern flavors Go to fridarsquos to enjoy unique culinary dishes signature drinks and live music on the weekends

l iVabil it ycommc allen 19

ThiNgS TO dO ARTS amp CULTURE

Rave Reviewsmcallenrsquos arts scene remains robust With museums music and eVents

Arts patrons music lovers and history buffs enjoy many cultural attractions throughout McAllen The latest buzz McAllen Performing Arts Center will spring up near the McAllen Convention Center giving fans of live music theater and dance a fine new facility to anticipate

Live Entertainment

PErFOrmErS TakE ThE STagE

The 17th Street Entertainment district in downtown McAllen overflows with lounges restaurants and clubs For live music visit The old Ice House or Cine El Rey

The cityrsquos diverse culture is what influences much of the music performed by the valley Symphony Orchestra amp Chorale The Symphony was established in 1952 with the Chorale joining later in 1984 Similarly the South Texas lyric Opera brings the fine art of opera to the Rio Grande Valley with a yearly slate of productions and an annual opera gala and rio grande valley Broadway brings popular stage shows to town such as Disneyrsquos Beauty and the Beast and Monty Pythonrsquos Spamalot

Historic Sites

TakE a STEP BaCk iN TimE

The museum of South Texas history and the mcallen heritage Center are just two locations to learn about the rich history of this bicultural area

Quinta mazatlan a 1930s hacienda that embodies the Spanish Colonial Revival architecture of arches adobe and beams and provides an intimate look into South Texas history The 10000-square- foot mansion sits on a 15-acre plot hosting a mix of native and exotic plants and wildlife making up McAllenrsquos wing of the popular world Birding Center

Cine El Reyopened in 1947 the historic cine el rey theater now functions as

a music and performance venue showcasing a variety of live events and also shows spanish and english independent films the theater is located in downtown mcallenrsquos 17th street entertainment district

20 mc allen

ldquoCine El Rey hosts events as diverse as wrestling live bands films and comedy shows A huge stage is complimented by killer production value and a staff that really cares about all aspects of the experience Irsquom looking forward to a return triprdquo

Bill dykES YELP

visual Arts and Festivals

aCCESSiBlE arT FuN EvENTS

The international museum of art amp Science founded in 1969 promotes an appreciation for the arts and sciences through its exhibitions cultural events and many educational programs imaS is located at 1900 Nolana Ave

The mcallen art walk is a self-guided tour that gives art lovers the opportunity to explore the many art offerings in the city Itrsquos held every first Friday from September through May and is free and open to the public

on the first Saturday night of December folks enjoy the Candlelight Posada which includes food booths luminaries a parade live entertainment caroling and a live nativity scene

Chamber of Commerce Support

ChamBEr BaCkS ThE arTS

The mcallen Chamber of Commerce shows its love for the arts by managing the mcallen arts Council which publishes a quarterly magazine produces an annual fine arts exhibition and offers grants to local artists The Chamber also offers an outdoor concert series and coordinates the Public art Committeersquos acquisition program

20 mc allen

ThiNgS TO dO SPoRTS amp RECREATIoN

Soak Up Some Sunmcallen residents haVe plenty of Good reasons to Get outdoors

Great golf courses hiking and biking trails and a large well-maintained park system make McAllen the perfect place to enjoy outdoor fun By Carson OrsquoShoney

Golf

TEE iT uPWith nearly 20 courses in the

McAllen area golf is a popular attraction in the Rio Grande Valley

one of the most notable courses is the Palm view golf Course an 18-hole public course with a private feel With rolling fairways and Bermuda rough mounds the course is an often-used location for tournaments having hosted LPGA tournaments and Palm viewrsquos amateur golf Championship

mcallen Country Club provides a challenge with tree-lined fairways and small greens and also offers a swimming pool tennis courts a fitness center and other amenities

Every golf course in the area is bustling especially in the winter when ldquoWinter Texansrdquo come to the Rio Grande Valley The weather generally stays in the 70s in the coldest months making it a perfect place for winter golfing

Hiking Biking and Racing

ON ThE mOvE iN mCallEN

There are plenty of hiking and biking trails on the east and west sides of town such as the retama village Park Trail westside Park Trail and las Palmas Park Trail Visiting cyclists are welcome to meet up with Team mcallen Cycling a bike club thatrsquos been in the city for more than 25 years

Racing fans can enjoy the mcallen international motorplex and Event Center which hosts stock car races car shows and more The racetrack is a family-friendly place offering activities for children such as games face painting and crafts

Palm view Golf Courseirish cochran plays a round of golf at palm View Golf course an 18-hole public course often used for high profile tournaments

22 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 23

City Parks

OuTdOOr Family FuN

The mcallen Parks and recreation department currently oversees 25 city parks Ranging from historic parks established in the early 1900s to more modern facilities there are several options suitable for the whole family

archer Park McAllenrsquos oldest park opened in 1912 Serving as a historic landmark in the city it also plays host to many of the cityrsquos annual special events including the Candlelight Posada and movies in the Park

Spanning 38 acres Springfest Park is the largest park in McAllen Springfest hosts a variety of special events and is home to mcallenrsquos winter Polo league from January through March

check out more fun things to do in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

Spray and Ground Parkbesides its popular water feature mcallenrsquos new SprayandGroundParkhas a sand volleyball court skateboard area a half basketball court and just over half a mile of walking trails in addition there are athletic practice fields shaded areas picnic shelters and restroom facilities

22 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 23

ThiNgS TO dO SEE THE CITY

24 mc allen

The Irrigation Workerthe sun sets behind a sculpture ldquothe irrigation Workerrdquo which was created by artist douglas clark and is located on nolana and 25th

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

l iVabil it ycommc allen 25

LIvINGHERESchools health care education and neighborhoods in McAllen

26 mc allen 26 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 27 26 mc allen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 27

see more beautiful photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

Luxury Livingnewcomers have many beautiful home options in mcallen such as those offered in eight different communities by cantu construction a locally based award-winning builder

26 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 27 liVabil it ycommc allen 27

liviNg

TECH TOOLS FOSTER STUDEnT SUCCESS

Padding theCurriculum

McAllen Independent School District (ISD) is feeling the benefits of an ambitious technology plan that places an iPod or iPad in the hands of every teacher and student

mcallen independent school district students use system-issued ipads in class

28 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 29

EduCaTiNg FOr ThE 21ST CENTury

The initiative began with a meeting between Dr James Ponce McAllenrsquos superintendent of schools and a ldquocadrerdquo of about 35 teachers administrators and parents

The grouprsquos primary goal was to build a 21st-century classroom environment one that fosters creativity collaboration and entrepreneurship The group also wanted to find a way to harness the 247 educational potential of the Internet ndash and teach students the critical-thinking skills needed to process online content

ldquoItrsquos an environment where the teachers become the primary learners and the students are driven by their examplerdquo Ponce says ldquoSo we asked what tools we would need for this transformation of the way we teach and the way the kids learnrdquo

After much research the group chose iPods (for grades K-2) and iPads (for teachers and grades 3-12) because of their portability

ldquoIrsquove learned more from my fellow teachers than I have in many years just from sharing ideas for how to use the iPads in the classroomrdquo

CarOl aNN allEN LANGuAGEARTSTEACHER

ATMICHAELEFOSSuMMIDDLESCHOOL

relatively low cost and ease of use To implement the planrsquos first stage McAllen ISD issued 5800 of these devices to teachers and students when the rollout is complete it will cover more than 25000 students

Big BENEFiTS FOr TEaChErS aNd STudENTS

Both teachers and students are seeing benefits from the program

ldquoThe iPods help the kids be creative My students are organizing information in new waysrdquo says Ruth Whiddon who teaches first grade at Andrew Jackson Elementary School

For Carol Ann Allen International Baccalaureate coordinator and eighth-grade language arts teacher at Michael E Fossum Middle School the initiative is all about collaboration

ldquoIrsquove learned more from my fellow teachers than I have in many years just from sharing ideas for how to use the iPads in the classroomrdquo she says

Sandra Guerra who teaches seventh- and eighth-grade math

at Fossum says the iPads have changed both her teaching style and the way her students learn

Instead of mapping out the learning process step-by-step she now gives students their goal and lets them choose how to get there

ldquoWith this approach they own their learning and theyrsquove been more willing to learnrdquo Guerra says

The iPads have also been a game-changer for Guerrarsquos family

Her seventh-grade daughter is learning advanced science concepts because of independent iPad projects And because most of her childrenrsquos school materials are on their iPads itrsquos easier than ever for Guerra to check on their progress from home

That kind of scenario says Superintendent Ponce is at the heart of the initiative

ldquoThe entire school system and our community want to lead in this effort to build a 21st-century learning environmentrdquo he says ldquoThis is a direct investment in our children and their familiesrdquo

by Kathryn Royster

High-Tech Learningseventh-grade students use ipads to follow class lectures and take quizzes during a language arts class at michael e fossum middle school

PH

oT

o C

oU

RT

EST

Y o

F M

CA

LLE

N IN

DE

PE

ND

EN

T S

CH

oo

L D

IST

RIC

T

28 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 29

Higher Education

SOuTh TExaS COllEgE

McAllenrsquos South Texas College has more than 30000 students and offers numerous associate and bachelorrsquos degree programs as well as professional certifications in more than 40 areas The college also has online degree courses for students who work full time

liviNg EDUCATIoN

Set for SuccesscolleGe prep is a top priority in mcallen

Education in McAllen is defined by excellent options From elementary school through college McAllen includes numerous institutions designed to prepare students for success By Braxton Shoop

school yourself on more educational offerings at livabilitycommcallen

Public Schools

mCallEN iNdEPENdENT SChOOl diSTriCT

Established in 1915 the mcallen independent School district comprises three high schools seven middle schools and 20 elementary schools Among these schools the district offers an advanced placement college-level curriculum and a dual-enrollment program for students who would like to obtain high school and college credit simultaneously

In addition the district features an International Baccalaureate program that provides students with an advanced curriculum geared toward global standards

Local Inspiration

FOrmEr STudENT FliES high

one of McAllenrsquos successful students is astronaut michael Fossum a graduate of McAllen High School After receiving his commission from the US Air Force by Texas AampM University Fossum graduated Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base and in 1993 he started at NASA Throughout his NASA career Fossum was on crew for three spaceflights He commanded the space station during one of his flights helping him rank seventh on the all-time list for cumulative Extravehicular Activity time

Top-notch Learning Environmentuniversity of texas-pan american offers many undergraduate degrees more than 50 masterrsquos degrees and three doctoral degrees utpa has accreditations from organizations like the commission for collegiate nursing the examining board of nurse examiners for the state of texas and the engineering accreditation commission of the accreditation board for engineering and technology

30 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 31

Charter School

idEa aCadEmy

idEa academy is an innovative institution that offers a fully scaled curriculum for students in kindergarten and in the first second and sixth grades The school which opened in McAllen in 2012 will eventually add more grades each one including approximately 110 students While the school is public students must apply to fill the 460 available spots

To prepare its students to be collegiate scholars IDEA provides International Baccalaureate curriculum as well as the Road to College curriculum which begins in the sixth grade

ldquoWersquore very proud of the connection to our distinguished alumni like NASA astronaut Michael Fossum and we want our students to recognize the kind of education we provide here What he learned here helped catapult him into space and wersquore very proud of thatrdquo

NOrma zamOra-guErra MCALLENINDEPENDENTSCHOOL

DISTRICTCOMMuNITYINFORMATIONDIRECTOR

Michael E Fossum Middle Schoolnamed for astronaut michael e fossum the school is part of the mcallen independent school district

30 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 31

Please call 9566316109 for a representative today

2501 Buddy Owens Blvd McAllen TX 78504

9656316125 Fax

wwwrio-healthcom

RioHealth MedicalWe are here to meet all your

occupational medicine needs

bull Workplace injuries and workersrsquo compensation

bull On site and off site drug screening

bull Physicals

bull Orthopedics

bull Early return to work

bull 247 coverage

bull We accept all types of insurance

WorkplaceInjury

DANIEL J GUERRA MD Diplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

LEONEL G MORENO MDDiplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

HOMERO RIVAS MDDiplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

606 S Broadway bull McAllen TX bull (956) 682-4515 bull wwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

FAMILY PHYSICIANS

CLINICSince 1967

Mon-Fri 8 am-5 pm Sat 8 am-Noon

VALLEY NIGHT CLINIC

Since 1981

Open Every Night of the Year 6 pm-Midnight

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valley supports children of all abilities through child care

services early intervention and parenting support programs

Early Childhood intErvEntion ChildCarE sErviCEs ParEnts as tEaChErs

Easter seals rio Grande valley Programs for Children Birth to Five years

bullChild-Care servicesndashHigh-qualitychildcare sixweekstofiveyears

bullParents as teachers (Pat)ndashDevelopmental parentingsupportforchildrenbirthtofiveyears

bullEarly Childhood intervention (ECi) ndashConcerns indevelopmentforchildrenbirthtothreeyears

For more information about Easter seals

programs and services call (956) 631-9171 or visit wwweasterseals-rgvorg

32 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 33

liviNg HEALTH

Take a Deep Breath and Relaxresidents haVe access to top hospitals

McAllen residents receive quality care from the South Texas Health System Rio Grande Regional Hospital and the Doctors Hospital at Renaissance By Kevin Litwin

Health System

SOuTh TExaS hEalTh SySTEm

South Texas health System is the umbrella organization for a number of fine medical facilities including mcallen medical Center MMC has 441 beds and a staff of more than 400 physicians that represent 50 medical specialties

Also part of South Texas Health System is mcallen heart hospital which opened in 1996 as the first freestanding cardiology and cardiovascular hospital built in the United States It includes 60 beds and a 24-hour emergency center

Healthgrades has awarded McAllen Medical Center and McAllen Heart Hospital with a variety of honors in recent years and both earned a Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence in 2011

Hospital

riO graNdE rEgiONal hOSPiTal

rio grande regional hospital is an acute care medical facility with 320 beds and more than 500 physicians The hospital is the only area Diabetes Management Center accredited by the American Diabetes Association and is the arearsquos first facility to have a Pediatric Heart Program

RGRH also includes a 24-hour emergency room Womenrsquos Services department Level III trauma center and cardiovascular care The hospital is fully accredited by The Joint Commission and the College of American Pathologists and every year since 2007 has been named a Center of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery

32 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 33

Hospital

dOCTOrS hOSPiTal aT rENaiSSaNCE

The 506-bed doctors hospital at renaissance is an acute care facility It provides cardiology neurosurgery and endocrinology as well as a Pediatric Medical Tower that offers pediatric oncology and pediatric ICU services

Doctors Hospital has been ranked among the nationrsquos 100 Top Hospitals by Thomson Reuters and recently invested $32 million to establish an Electronic Medical Record System

DHR was the first in South Texas to acquire a PETCT scanner for diagnosing cancer and the first in the region to introduce da Vinci robotic surgical technology The hospital also oversees Renaissance Behavioral Center which provides treatment for people with mental health problems substance abuse or eating disorders

34 mc allen

COMMUNITyPROFILE COST OF liviNg

$44074Median Household Income

$129554Median Home Price

$689Median Rent for a Two-Bedroom Apartment

TraNSPOrTaTiON

Median Travel Time to Work

agE

TEmPEraTurE

January Average

July Average

EThNiCiTy

19 and Under

20-54

55 and over

White

Black

Hispanic

other

1645minutes

Closest Airport McAllen International Airport

955deg

482deg

South Texasrsquo Finest Gift Store Offers Gifts From Around the World

4300 N 10th St bull Ste C bull McAllen TX 78504 (956) 686-1264 bull ohkaysaolcom

Look for us on Facebook

gOlF COurSES

gOlF TEC

2901 N 10TH ST956-994-9631

mCallEN COuNTry CluB615 WICHITA AVE956-686-0923

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

The national Butterfly Center the national butterfly center dedicates 100 acres to the conservation and scientific study of wild butterflies in their natural habitats the wildlife center is open daily from 8 am until 5 pm september through march and from 9 am until 4 pm april through august

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

liviNg SEE THE CITY

36 mc allen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 37

BUSINESSInfo on McAllenrsquos top employers jobs and success stories

McAllen Convention Centerthe McAllenConventionCenter is located on 185 acres and includes a 60000-square-foot exhibit hall as well as more than 25000 square feet of meeting space in 16 breakout rooms

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

38 mc allen 38 mc allen

38 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 39

BuSiNESS oVERVIEW

McAllenrsquos in the MoneyCultural diversity location and innovation drive cityrsquos top business sectors

As the retail hub of South Texas McAllen is thriving The city draws a customer base of more than 10 million within a 200-mile radius and is represented by 40 of Americarsquos top 100 retailers

By Tiffany Williams

La Plaza MallPumping much of the life into this retail hub is la Plaza mall which annually attracts more than 18 million visitors its anchoring stores such as dillardrsquos and macyrsquos and sought-after retailers including BCBg-max azria and Coach average sales of more than $650 per square foot and are among the most profitable stores in their chains

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

Meetings amp Events

CONvENTiON CENTEr lurES viSiTOrS

The mcallen Convention Center also helps draw businesses to the area The 185-acre complex featuring a 60000-square-foot column-free exhibit hall more than 25000 square feet of meeting space and up to 16 breakout rooms offers bicultural themes and tropical accents that represent the cultural and natural diversity of McAllen

Retail

ShOPPiNg hOT SPOTS

This bicultural city which is located just five miles from the US-Mexico border also has access to three international bridges that flood with visitors and eager shoppers daily many of whom are spending at a rate twice the national average

In addition to La Plaza Mall shopping centers in the McAllen area include Trenton Crossing las Tiendas Plaza and La Plaza Mallrsquos 600sbquo000-square-foot sister shopping center Palms Crossing which hosts such big-name retailers as Barnes amp Noble and Babies rsquoRrsquo Us as well as specialty shops and restaurants Its appeal stems from its open-air design with lots of palm trees water fountains and seating areas

Major Manufacturers

madE FOr maNuFaCTuriNg

Ranked third in Texas in per-capita sales the McAllen area has some of the largest manufacturing and wholesale companies in the nation

valley Coca Cola Bottling Co Value Frozen Foods and Emerson Network Power are just a few who have put down roots here Tri-City Steel which provides a full scope of steel construction by fabricating and erecting structural steel buildings pre-engineered metal buildings stairs handrails and more Texas Citrus Exchange in Mission makes Texas rio red grapefruit juice

learn more about businesses in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

BuSiNESS

RESIDEnTS GET CREATIvE WITH BUSInESS vEnTURES

the BoxOutside

One of McAllenrsquos most innovative startups sprang from the mind of someone who wasnrsquot even interested in business Today Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar is one

of the arearsquos top entrepreneurs and is finding serious success

mcallen entrepreneur dalinda Gonzalez-alcantar founded eJucomm llc

liVabil it ycommc allen 43 42 mc allen

ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the worldrdquo

EllEry BuChaNaN FIBERIOPRESIDENTCEO

Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar the founder of eJucomm LLC simply wanted to make information in her school district more accessible to families The company was a way she could make it happen

She got the idea while working as a teacher at DeLeon Middle School in McAllen and was frustrated that families without computers andor Internet access had difficulty communicating with teachers and administrators So she decided to develop a smartphone application that would solve the problem

With no previous technical experience she researched code online at night and a year later was selling the app to various school districts

ldquoThe app enables Android and iPhone users to access information for things like grades and attendancerdquo Gonzalez-Alcantar says

The entrepreneur also faced unexpected challenges ndash for instance how to tailor individual apps to the roughly seven school districts and 40 campuses that now use them No longer teaching she has partnered with a chief technology officer so she can focus on sales and marketing

One of her biggest hurdles was finding legal fees to fund the startup and a $10000 McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant in 2011 helped pay for a licensing agreement and intellectual property protection for eJucomm to move forward

BaNaNa E-z SPliTAnother McAllen resident

Gerald Guerra faced a similar obstacle when developing a product called Banana E-Z Split A health insurance broker Guerra was inspired at his own kitchen table to create single serving packets with all three syrups

Banana E-Z SplitGerald Guerra inventor of the banana e-Z split single serving syrup packets poses with his daughters Victoria and kaitlyn enthusiastic taste testers for his product

liVabil it ycommc allen 43

To order please call or visit 956-668-0555 or wwwediblearrangementscom 5113-A N 10th St bull McAllen TX 78504

Offer valid at participating locations Offer expires 12312013 Cannot be combined with another offers Offer code must be used when placing order

Containers may vary EDIBLE ARRANGEMENTS and the Fruit Basket Logo Design are registered trademarks of Edible Arrangements LLC

copy2012 Edible Arrangements LLC All rights reserved Frachises available call (888) 727-4258 or visit wwweafranchisescom

DELICIOUSLYd e s i r a b l e

FREE PIECE OF DIPPED FRUIT

Code mctx1213

Living green is making sure the air in your home is healthy for your family to breathe Test your home for radon and build radon-resistant

Its easy Thats living healthy and green

Just call 866-730-green or visit wwwepagovradon

Living greenstarts from the ground up

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

(pineapple chocolate strawberry) needed for a banana split

The concept led to a 2011 McAllen Business Plan Competition grant to fund the necessary patents

ldquoI envisioned a product that could hang easily in refrigerated sections at big box storesrdquo Guerra says ldquoI have lined up a distributor and a broker with my ultimate goal being to have Banana E-Z Split available to customers in large grocery chains It is close to happeningrdquo

FiBEriO TEChNOlOgyAnother startup in McAllen

is already making waves globally FibeRio Technology Corporation another McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant recipient is thriving thanks to ground-breaking nanofiber-producing machinery The nanofibers can be used to make products ranging from diapers to

ballistics using a new way to spin microscopic nanofibers

The technology serves an array of industries that feature filtration textiles or biomedical applications

ldquoDr Karen Lozano at UT-Pan American discovered the process and I was contacted because I am an entrepreneur familiar with launching technology- based companies including nanotechnologyrdquo says FibeRio Technology presidentCEO Ellery Buchanan ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the world Plus we use local McAllen suppliers whenever possible including machine shops parts suppliers IT contractors and other business servicesrdquo

by Kevin Litwin by staff photographer

Michael Conti

FibeRio Technology Corporationnanomaterials processing research equipment is used at FibeRioTechnologyCorporation

FEldmaNrsquoS markET CENTErFeldmanrsquos Market Center features a broad selection of beer as well as wines liquors cigars and a gourmet deli In addition weekly beer and wine tastings are offered(956) 687-9463

PErFECT PawS rESOrTPerfect Paws Resort offers grooming services daycare and boarding to vaccinated dogs and cats that are at least 12 weeks old Boarding suites are climate controlled and under constant supervisionperfectpawsresortcom

mCCrEEry aviaTiON CO iNCMcCreery Aviation Co Inc is a place for pilots and their aircraft to receive top-notch treatment A fuel center flight planning room and hangar storage are availablemccreeryaviationcom

kiTikakE llCKitikake LLC offers gently- used vintage clothing for women from an array of top designers such as Lilly Pulitzer and Catherine Malandrino Vintage home deacutecor and dishes are also availablekitikakecom

krEidlEr FuNEral hOmEFounded owned and operated by the Kreidler family Kreidler Funeral Home has served McAllen for 100 years They offer traditional burial and graveside funeral services direct burials cremations memorial services and morekreidlerfuneralhomecom

Business Spotlight

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

visit ouradvertisersBorder Capital Bankwwwbordercapitalbankcom

City of McAllen Public Info Officewwwexploremcallennet

Courtyard by Marriottwwwmarriottcommtema

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valleywwweasterseals-rgvorg

Edible Arrangementswwwediblearrangementscom

Family Physicians Clinicwwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

Magic Valley Electric Cooperativewwwmagicvalleycoop

McAllen Economic Development Corporationwwwmcallenedcorg

McAllen Independent School Districtwwwmcallenisdorg

McAllen International Airportwwwmcallenairportcom

McAllen Realty

Mr Electricwwwmrelectriccom

Nuevo Santander Gallerywwwnuevosantandercom

OH KAYrsquoS

Preventative Care Institutewwwrgvpcicom

Quinta Mazatlanwwwquintamazatlancom

Rio Health Medicalwwwrio-healthcom

South Texas College wwwsouthtexascollegeedu

South Texas Health Systemwwwsouthtexashealthsystemcom

The Patio on Guerra wwwpatioonguerracom

Valley International Airportwwwflythevalleycom

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

BuSiNESS CHAMBER REPoRT

Whatrsquos the Big Ideachamberrsquos readiness tool kit assists entrepreneurs

The McAllen Chamber of Commerce has helped prepare 25 McAllen entrepreneurs in the continuing quest to launch their ideas ndash all since July 2011

The Chamber has a software package called VentureBusiness Readiness Assessment which is used by states such as oklahoma and Kentucky to assist startup companies The software helps an entrepreneur through the entire process of seeing whether they are truly ready to launch their startup

ldquoVentureBusiness Readiness Assessment is a way that the Chamber assists entrepreneurs who are trying to get funding for their products or projectsrdquo says Steve Ahlenius who serves as President and CEo of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce ldquoThe Chamber awards $50000 a year in innovation grants in $10000 increments and entrepreneurs are always looking for funding But they must earn that money by passing the various stages of the software tool kitrdquo

TEN hOurS TO COmPlETEAhlenius says the assessment

has several specific steps to make sure that a startup company has everything in place to ensure that it is successful

ldquoThe entrepreneurs contact us and set up an appointment to see me then they come to the Chamber office we sign them up and give them passwords to access the software at their conveniencerdquo he says ldquo[The program] takes about 10 hours to complete but doesnrsquot have to be finished in one sitting However the program must be eventually completed in order to qualify for our innovation grantrdquo

CaN iT BE madE QuiCklyThe software asks questions

such as Have you protected your intellectual property Is your product something that can be

made quickly Have you set a value on your idea and do you know how to do that If itrsquos a product that involves high-tech engineering do you have an engineer on your companyrsquos team

ldquoThe entrepreneur needs to know if his venture is worth 20 shares of stock or 200 shares ndash things like thatrdquo Ahlenius says ldquoMany factors go into launching a product or business and Venture Readiness points out a personrsquos strengths and weaknessesrdquo

a grEaT OvErviEwVicente Valle Martinez of

McAllen is an entrepreneur who contacted the Chamber in 2012 about his idea for connecting

people on the Internet who have similar educational experiences and higher learning interests

ldquoI have no background in business but heard one day about an innovation grant competition that the Chamber was sponsoringrdquo Martinez says ldquoSteve told me about the software package and it gave me a great overview of what I need to know before launching my ideardquo

Ahlenius says the various concepts the software package covers include credentials character capabilities commitment and circumstance

ldquoIt is an excellent self-awareness testrdquo he says ldquoItrsquos ideal for entrepreneursrdquo

by Kevin Litwin

the mcallen chamber of commerce on ash avenue

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

Ad Index 41 BorderCapitalBank

21 CityofMCallen puBliCinfooffiCe

4 CourtyardByMarriott

32 easterseals rioGrandeValley

44 ediBlearranGeMents

32 faMilyphysiCiansCliniC

2 MaGiCValley eleCtriCCooperatiVe

C3 MCalleneConoMiC deVelopMentCorporation

46 MCallenindependent sChooldistriCt

1 MCallen internationalairport

C4 MCallenrealty

48 MreleCtriC

46 nueVosantanderGallery

35 ohkayrsquos

34 preVentatiVe

Careinstitute

23 QuintaMazatlan

32 riohealthMediCal

31 southtexasColleGe

C2 southtexas

healthsysteM

18 thepatioonGuerra

44 Valley

internationalairport

ECONOMICPROFILE

3000+

2000- 2999

1999- 500

hOuSEhOld iNCOmE

TOP EmPlOyErS

$200000+

$150000-199999

$100000 and under

McAllen Independent School District

McAllen Medical Center South Texas College City of McAllen

Rio Grande Regional Hospital International Bank of Commerce

EduCaTiON lEvEl

High School Graduate

Associate Degree

Bachelorrsquos Degree

Masterrsquos Degree

TaxES

2City Sales and Use Tax

625State Sales Tax

825Total Sales Tax

SCOrECard

$36BAnnual Retail Sales

$28682Retail sales per capita

$3575MAnnual Hotel and Food Sales

15161Total Number of Firms

TraNSPOrTaTiON

mcallen-miller international airportwwwmcallenairportcom

metro mcallenwwwmcallennetmetro

amtrakwwwamtrakcom

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

everything you need every step of the way

Serving the rio grande valley Since 1989

Rachel Hardison-Oliva Broker

3321 N McColl Rd

McAllen TX 78501

(956) 687-7172 bull (956) 687-7178 Fax

Page 13: Livability McAllen, TX 2013

NB

icen

tenn

ialB

lvd

WHackberryAve

S23

rdS

tree

t

83

international museum of arts and sciences

mcallen public library

McAllen Public Librarym-th 9am - 9pmf-sat 9am - 6pmsun 1pm - 9pm

phone (956) 688-3300uhV students (with id) free

wwwmcallenlibrarynet

12 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 13

The hike and bike trail on Second Street and another on Bicentennial offer the chance for a leisurely 23-mile stroll around town ndash yoursquove got to work off that breakfast after all And then head over to the International Museum of Arts and Science a Smithsonian affiliated museum where a wide variety of changing art and science exhibits always offer something interesting

Another must-see is McAllenrsquos new public library which at a whopping 123000 square feet is the largest single-floor library in the US This former Walmart building underwent a total transformation into an aesthetically pleasing community resource thatrsquos steadily gaining attention worldwide for its colorful open and functional design Opened in December 2011 the facility has already won first place in the International Interior Design Associationrsquos 2012 Library Interior Design Competition

luNCh aNd laTErldquoWersquove got over 600 restaurants

hererdquo says Chamber President and CEO Steve Ahlenius So since itrsquos noon by now try the flatbread or a

salad at house wine amp bistro or go for a panini at Corner Bakery Cafe Or for Latin flavor head to KoKorsquos for delicious Mexican fare

In McAllen a day without shopping would be sad indeed La Plaza Mall is the most visited mall in the country and Palms Crossings at the McAllen Convention Center is home to several shops and restaurants such as Mimirsquos Cafe and Romanorsquos Macaroni Grill

ldquoAfter I finished shopping Irsquod spend the rest of the afternoon at Quinta Mazatlan (a historic home that also offers nature trails and legendary bird watching)rdquo Ahlenius says Another option is to test the waters by kayaking or catch-and-release fishing on Town Lake at Firemanrsquos Park

mCallEN aFTEr hOurSYoursquore not tired are you

Good because after freshening up back at your hotel itrsquos off to a night on the town Cajun cuisine at The Bayou Grill on North 10th St is a great option as are the authentic Mexican menus at Cabritos Nuevo Leon or La Jaiba Mexican Seafood Grill both on West Nolana

After dinner stroll the 17th Street Entertainment District to catch the flavor of McAllen after hours or catch a show at the historic Cine El Rey theater where comedy acts concerts film festivals and other events take the stage Finally La Recova Contemporary Argentinean Grill beckons for a nightcap in its quiet upscale bar ldquowhere you can actually carry on a conversationrdquo Ahlenius says

Then to bed Where after a good nightrsquos rest you will surely want to get up and spend yet another great day in McAllen

by Laura Hill by staff photographer

Michael Conti

ldquoMcAllen is a beautiful multicultural city with plenty to do and see From shopping in the most popular stores in the nation or unique one-of-a-kind shops to fine dining and plenty of family outdoor activities ndash you can do it year round hererdquo

gErry garCia VPOFSPECIALPROJECTS

FORTHEMCALLENCHAMBER

SNAPSHOT

for music dinner and dancing head to downtown mcallenrsquos 17th street entertainment district

The Patio on Guerradiners enjoy the food and atmosphere at the patio on Guerra on 17th street in downtown mcallen

12 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 13

ThiNgS TO dO

Town Lakea boy takes his dog for a walk as he skateboards the trail along the new 4-acre town lake at firemanrsquos park a popular spot for canoeing kayaking fishing and more

ThiNgS TO dO

14 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 15 14 mc allen

nEW LAkE OPEnS AT FIREMAnrsquoS PARk

Ahh howrefreshing

ldquoWe did all the required dredging to transform the little pond into a recreational lake that is 15 feet at its deepest pointrdquo says Sally Gavlik director of the McAllen Parks amp Recreation Department ldquoIn these days of more and more people opting to remain close to home for staycations Town Lake at Firemanrsquos Park gives them a valid option for a different kind of local vacationrdquo

lET ThE FuN BEgiNTown Lake is situated right in the

middle of McAllen off Business Highway 83 between First and Second streets Swimming is prohibited due to park

irrigation regulations but a beach has been constructed to launch canoes kayaks and paddle boats A fishing pier is also in place

ldquoWe transferred fish to the lake from nearby Boeye Reservoir which has provided us with good stocks of bass perch and catfishrdquo Gavlik says ldquoTown Lake currently only has a catch-and-release program meaning you can catch fish but must release them back into the water At some point in the future when the fish population increases we plan to schedule times when people can take the fish homerdquo

The City of McAllen made a big splash in May 2012 when it officially opened Town Lake at Firemanrsquos Park What was once a small tract of land with a few basic

recreational amenities is now a 15-acre redevelopment that includes the four-acre Town Lake Crews used a water holding pond at the cityrsquos former water treatment facility to construct the new lake

14 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 15

TakE a hikEWalking and jogging are also good recreational

options around the waterrsquos perimeterldquoTown Lake actually ties into the well used Second

Street Trail People can come off the trail walk or jog along the lake and then get back onto the trailrdquo Gavlik says ldquoThe scenery includes wildflowers in a freshly seeded meadow while other park amenities are horseshoe pits two playgrounds and free picnic sites at the north end of Firemanrsquos Park at First Streetrdquo

There is also a covered pavilion area with sand volleyball courts a small concession building and three camping sites The campsites can be used during the day by anyone but only overnight by organized groups such as the Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts Group reservations must be made through the McAllen Parks amp Recreation Department

ldquoAnother park attraction is the former water treatment building which has been transformed into a rental facilityrdquo Gavlik says ldquoIt is now called The Old Pump House complete with new windows air conditioning uplighting tiling and carpeted floors Groups of 75 to 100 people can rent the facility for meetings small receptions or small social events The Old Pump House adds to the overall amenities of todayrsquos Firemenrsquos Parkrdquo

by Kevin Litwin by staff photographer Michael Conti

Fishinga group casts lines into town lake which enforces a catch-and-release program

WHackberryAve

TownLake

83

firemanrsquos park

N2

nd

Str

eet

16 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 17

children enjoy the playground at firemanrsquos park

16 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 17

l iVabil it ycommc allen 19

ThiNgS TO dO LoCAL FLAVoR

Palate Pleasersmcallen restaurants serVe up flaVorful foods

McAllen diners rejoice The city has a broad selection of distinctive restaurants and eateries appealing to just about every taste By Barbara Biehler

Asian

SENSaTiONal SuShi amp SPiCE

McAllen has several great spots for Japanese food such as sushi tempura and teppanyaki including kohnami kumori and yokorsquos Sushi Bar

Fans of Thai food should check out Thai red Chilirsquos for dishes like pad thai red curry chicken and sweet rice with mango

Indian

TaNdOOri aNyONETaste of india hits the spot

for diners looking for high quality authentic Indian food made from old family recipes and paired with excellent service

Tex-Mex and Mexican

SOmE likE iT SPiCy

Step into las Cazuelas grill for classic Mexican cuisine or visit Palenque Chicken for expertly prepared Mexican and Tex Mex dishes

Renowned regionally for homemade tamales deliarsquos uses fresh ingredients including pork chicken and beef

The republic of rio grande serves Mexican cuisine in an intimate setting order a traditional dish like the chicken fajitas or enchiladas suizas or enjoy a distinctive entree such as shrimp chipotle pesto pasta or a brick-oven pizza

check out more restaurants in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

ldquoDeliarsquos has the best tamales in town Probably even in the RGV The only place you can get the good old homemade flavor of real tamalesrdquo

Evila l YELPCOM

Argentine

SOuTh amEriCaN CuiSiNE

Relax in the elegant yet casual atmosphere of la Pampa argentinean Steak housewhile you dine on classic Argentine- cut steaks grilled chicken breasts marinated in Chimichurri or traditional de carne empanadas

Meanwhile la recova also offers a wide selection of Argentine-style favorites on its menu Favorite dishes at La Recova includes chorizo tuna carnitas duck confit and churrasco a classic top sirloin steak

Outdoor Dining

TrENdy amp TaSTy

If yoursquore in the mood for a USDA prime steak or succulent seafood drop by The Patio on guerra Dine on the outdoor patio and have a bottle of one of the restaurantrsquos award-winning wines

FridarsquosGrillandCantina located on 17th street offers traditional mexican favorites with modern flavors Go to fridarsquos to enjoy unique culinary dishes signature drinks and live music on the weekends

l iVabil it ycommc allen 19

ThiNgS TO dO ARTS amp CULTURE

Rave Reviewsmcallenrsquos arts scene remains robust With museums music and eVents

Arts patrons music lovers and history buffs enjoy many cultural attractions throughout McAllen The latest buzz McAllen Performing Arts Center will spring up near the McAllen Convention Center giving fans of live music theater and dance a fine new facility to anticipate

Live Entertainment

PErFOrmErS TakE ThE STagE

The 17th Street Entertainment district in downtown McAllen overflows with lounges restaurants and clubs For live music visit The old Ice House or Cine El Rey

The cityrsquos diverse culture is what influences much of the music performed by the valley Symphony Orchestra amp Chorale The Symphony was established in 1952 with the Chorale joining later in 1984 Similarly the South Texas lyric Opera brings the fine art of opera to the Rio Grande Valley with a yearly slate of productions and an annual opera gala and rio grande valley Broadway brings popular stage shows to town such as Disneyrsquos Beauty and the Beast and Monty Pythonrsquos Spamalot

Historic Sites

TakE a STEP BaCk iN TimE

The museum of South Texas history and the mcallen heritage Center are just two locations to learn about the rich history of this bicultural area

Quinta mazatlan a 1930s hacienda that embodies the Spanish Colonial Revival architecture of arches adobe and beams and provides an intimate look into South Texas history The 10000-square- foot mansion sits on a 15-acre plot hosting a mix of native and exotic plants and wildlife making up McAllenrsquos wing of the popular world Birding Center

Cine El Reyopened in 1947 the historic cine el rey theater now functions as

a music and performance venue showcasing a variety of live events and also shows spanish and english independent films the theater is located in downtown mcallenrsquos 17th street entertainment district

20 mc allen

ldquoCine El Rey hosts events as diverse as wrestling live bands films and comedy shows A huge stage is complimented by killer production value and a staff that really cares about all aspects of the experience Irsquom looking forward to a return triprdquo

Bill dykES YELP

visual Arts and Festivals

aCCESSiBlE arT FuN EvENTS

The international museum of art amp Science founded in 1969 promotes an appreciation for the arts and sciences through its exhibitions cultural events and many educational programs imaS is located at 1900 Nolana Ave

The mcallen art walk is a self-guided tour that gives art lovers the opportunity to explore the many art offerings in the city Itrsquos held every first Friday from September through May and is free and open to the public

on the first Saturday night of December folks enjoy the Candlelight Posada which includes food booths luminaries a parade live entertainment caroling and a live nativity scene

Chamber of Commerce Support

ChamBEr BaCkS ThE arTS

The mcallen Chamber of Commerce shows its love for the arts by managing the mcallen arts Council which publishes a quarterly magazine produces an annual fine arts exhibition and offers grants to local artists The Chamber also offers an outdoor concert series and coordinates the Public art Committeersquos acquisition program

20 mc allen

ThiNgS TO dO SPoRTS amp RECREATIoN

Soak Up Some Sunmcallen residents haVe plenty of Good reasons to Get outdoors

Great golf courses hiking and biking trails and a large well-maintained park system make McAllen the perfect place to enjoy outdoor fun By Carson OrsquoShoney

Golf

TEE iT uPWith nearly 20 courses in the

McAllen area golf is a popular attraction in the Rio Grande Valley

one of the most notable courses is the Palm view golf Course an 18-hole public course with a private feel With rolling fairways and Bermuda rough mounds the course is an often-used location for tournaments having hosted LPGA tournaments and Palm viewrsquos amateur golf Championship

mcallen Country Club provides a challenge with tree-lined fairways and small greens and also offers a swimming pool tennis courts a fitness center and other amenities

Every golf course in the area is bustling especially in the winter when ldquoWinter Texansrdquo come to the Rio Grande Valley The weather generally stays in the 70s in the coldest months making it a perfect place for winter golfing

Hiking Biking and Racing

ON ThE mOvE iN mCallEN

There are plenty of hiking and biking trails on the east and west sides of town such as the retama village Park Trail westside Park Trail and las Palmas Park Trail Visiting cyclists are welcome to meet up with Team mcallen Cycling a bike club thatrsquos been in the city for more than 25 years

Racing fans can enjoy the mcallen international motorplex and Event Center which hosts stock car races car shows and more The racetrack is a family-friendly place offering activities for children such as games face painting and crafts

Palm view Golf Courseirish cochran plays a round of golf at palm View Golf course an 18-hole public course often used for high profile tournaments

22 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 23

City Parks

OuTdOOr Family FuN

The mcallen Parks and recreation department currently oversees 25 city parks Ranging from historic parks established in the early 1900s to more modern facilities there are several options suitable for the whole family

archer Park McAllenrsquos oldest park opened in 1912 Serving as a historic landmark in the city it also plays host to many of the cityrsquos annual special events including the Candlelight Posada and movies in the Park

Spanning 38 acres Springfest Park is the largest park in McAllen Springfest hosts a variety of special events and is home to mcallenrsquos winter Polo league from January through March

check out more fun things to do in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

Spray and Ground Parkbesides its popular water feature mcallenrsquos new SprayandGroundParkhas a sand volleyball court skateboard area a half basketball court and just over half a mile of walking trails in addition there are athletic practice fields shaded areas picnic shelters and restroom facilities

22 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 23

ThiNgS TO dO SEE THE CITY

24 mc allen

The Irrigation Workerthe sun sets behind a sculpture ldquothe irrigation Workerrdquo which was created by artist douglas clark and is located on nolana and 25th

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

l iVabil it ycommc allen 25

LIvINGHERESchools health care education and neighborhoods in McAllen

26 mc allen 26 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 27 26 mc allen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 27

see more beautiful photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

Luxury Livingnewcomers have many beautiful home options in mcallen such as those offered in eight different communities by cantu construction a locally based award-winning builder

26 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 27 liVabil it ycommc allen 27

liviNg

TECH TOOLS FOSTER STUDEnT SUCCESS

Padding theCurriculum

McAllen Independent School District (ISD) is feeling the benefits of an ambitious technology plan that places an iPod or iPad in the hands of every teacher and student

mcallen independent school district students use system-issued ipads in class

28 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 29

EduCaTiNg FOr ThE 21ST CENTury

The initiative began with a meeting between Dr James Ponce McAllenrsquos superintendent of schools and a ldquocadrerdquo of about 35 teachers administrators and parents

The grouprsquos primary goal was to build a 21st-century classroom environment one that fosters creativity collaboration and entrepreneurship The group also wanted to find a way to harness the 247 educational potential of the Internet ndash and teach students the critical-thinking skills needed to process online content

ldquoItrsquos an environment where the teachers become the primary learners and the students are driven by their examplerdquo Ponce says ldquoSo we asked what tools we would need for this transformation of the way we teach and the way the kids learnrdquo

After much research the group chose iPods (for grades K-2) and iPads (for teachers and grades 3-12) because of their portability

ldquoIrsquove learned more from my fellow teachers than I have in many years just from sharing ideas for how to use the iPads in the classroomrdquo

CarOl aNN allEN LANGuAGEARTSTEACHER

ATMICHAELEFOSSuMMIDDLESCHOOL

relatively low cost and ease of use To implement the planrsquos first stage McAllen ISD issued 5800 of these devices to teachers and students when the rollout is complete it will cover more than 25000 students

Big BENEFiTS FOr TEaChErS aNd STudENTS

Both teachers and students are seeing benefits from the program

ldquoThe iPods help the kids be creative My students are organizing information in new waysrdquo says Ruth Whiddon who teaches first grade at Andrew Jackson Elementary School

For Carol Ann Allen International Baccalaureate coordinator and eighth-grade language arts teacher at Michael E Fossum Middle School the initiative is all about collaboration

ldquoIrsquove learned more from my fellow teachers than I have in many years just from sharing ideas for how to use the iPads in the classroomrdquo she says

Sandra Guerra who teaches seventh- and eighth-grade math

at Fossum says the iPads have changed both her teaching style and the way her students learn

Instead of mapping out the learning process step-by-step she now gives students their goal and lets them choose how to get there

ldquoWith this approach they own their learning and theyrsquove been more willing to learnrdquo Guerra says

The iPads have also been a game-changer for Guerrarsquos family

Her seventh-grade daughter is learning advanced science concepts because of independent iPad projects And because most of her childrenrsquos school materials are on their iPads itrsquos easier than ever for Guerra to check on their progress from home

That kind of scenario says Superintendent Ponce is at the heart of the initiative

ldquoThe entire school system and our community want to lead in this effort to build a 21st-century learning environmentrdquo he says ldquoThis is a direct investment in our children and their familiesrdquo

by Kathryn Royster

High-Tech Learningseventh-grade students use ipads to follow class lectures and take quizzes during a language arts class at michael e fossum middle school

PH

oT

o C

oU

RT

EST

Y o

F M

CA

LLE

N IN

DE

PE

ND

EN

T S

CH

oo

L D

IST

RIC

T

28 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 29

Higher Education

SOuTh TExaS COllEgE

McAllenrsquos South Texas College has more than 30000 students and offers numerous associate and bachelorrsquos degree programs as well as professional certifications in more than 40 areas The college also has online degree courses for students who work full time

liviNg EDUCATIoN

Set for SuccesscolleGe prep is a top priority in mcallen

Education in McAllen is defined by excellent options From elementary school through college McAllen includes numerous institutions designed to prepare students for success By Braxton Shoop

school yourself on more educational offerings at livabilitycommcallen

Public Schools

mCallEN iNdEPENdENT SChOOl diSTriCT

Established in 1915 the mcallen independent School district comprises three high schools seven middle schools and 20 elementary schools Among these schools the district offers an advanced placement college-level curriculum and a dual-enrollment program for students who would like to obtain high school and college credit simultaneously

In addition the district features an International Baccalaureate program that provides students with an advanced curriculum geared toward global standards

Local Inspiration

FOrmEr STudENT FliES high

one of McAllenrsquos successful students is astronaut michael Fossum a graduate of McAllen High School After receiving his commission from the US Air Force by Texas AampM University Fossum graduated Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base and in 1993 he started at NASA Throughout his NASA career Fossum was on crew for three spaceflights He commanded the space station during one of his flights helping him rank seventh on the all-time list for cumulative Extravehicular Activity time

Top-notch Learning Environmentuniversity of texas-pan american offers many undergraduate degrees more than 50 masterrsquos degrees and three doctoral degrees utpa has accreditations from organizations like the commission for collegiate nursing the examining board of nurse examiners for the state of texas and the engineering accreditation commission of the accreditation board for engineering and technology

30 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 31

Charter School

idEa aCadEmy

idEa academy is an innovative institution that offers a fully scaled curriculum for students in kindergarten and in the first second and sixth grades The school which opened in McAllen in 2012 will eventually add more grades each one including approximately 110 students While the school is public students must apply to fill the 460 available spots

To prepare its students to be collegiate scholars IDEA provides International Baccalaureate curriculum as well as the Road to College curriculum which begins in the sixth grade

ldquoWersquore very proud of the connection to our distinguished alumni like NASA astronaut Michael Fossum and we want our students to recognize the kind of education we provide here What he learned here helped catapult him into space and wersquore very proud of thatrdquo

NOrma zamOra-guErra MCALLENINDEPENDENTSCHOOL

DISTRICTCOMMuNITYINFORMATIONDIRECTOR

Michael E Fossum Middle Schoolnamed for astronaut michael e fossum the school is part of the mcallen independent school district

30 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 31

Please call 9566316109 for a representative today

2501 Buddy Owens Blvd McAllen TX 78504

9656316125 Fax

wwwrio-healthcom

RioHealth MedicalWe are here to meet all your

occupational medicine needs

bull Workplace injuries and workersrsquo compensation

bull On site and off site drug screening

bull Physicals

bull Orthopedics

bull Early return to work

bull 247 coverage

bull We accept all types of insurance

WorkplaceInjury

DANIEL J GUERRA MD Diplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

LEONEL G MORENO MDDiplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

HOMERO RIVAS MDDiplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

606 S Broadway bull McAllen TX bull (956) 682-4515 bull wwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

FAMILY PHYSICIANS

CLINICSince 1967

Mon-Fri 8 am-5 pm Sat 8 am-Noon

VALLEY NIGHT CLINIC

Since 1981

Open Every Night of the Year 6 pm-Midnight

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valley supports children of all abilities through child care

services early intervention and parenting support programs

Early Childhood intErvEntion ChildCarE sErviCEs ParEnts as tEaChErs

Easter seals rio Grande valley Programs for Children Birth to Five years

bullChild-Care servicesndashHigh-qualitychildcare sixweekstofiveyears

bullParents as teachers (Pat)ndashDevelopmental parentingsupportforchildrenbirthtofiveyears

bullEarly Childhood intervention (ECi) ndashConcerns indevelopmentforchildrenbirthtothreeyears

For more information about Easter seals

programs and services call (956) 631-9171 or visit wwweasterseals-rgvorg

32 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 33

liviNg HEALTH

Take a Deep Breath and Relaxresidents haVe access to top hospitals

McAllen residents receive quality care from the South Texas Health System Rio Grande Regional Hospital and the Doctors Hospital at Renaissance By Kevin Litwin

Health System

SOuTh TExaS hEalTh SySTEm

South Texas health System is the umbrella organization for a number of fine medical facilities including mcallen medical Center MMC has 441 beds and a staff of more than 400 physicians that represent 50 medical specialties

Also part of South Texas Health System is mcallen heart hospital which opened in 1996 as the first freestanding cardiology and cardiovascular hospital built in the United States It includes 60 beds and a 24-hour emergency center

Healthgrades has awarded McAllen Medical Center and McAllen Heart Hospital with a variety of honors in recent years and both earned a Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence in 2011

Hospital

riO graNdE rEgiONal hOSPiTal

rio grande regional hospital is an acute care medical facility with 320 beds and more than 500 physicians The hospital is the only area Diabetes Management Center accredited by the American Diabetes Association and is the arearsquos first facility to have a Pediatric Heart Program

RGRH also includes a 24-hour emergency room Womenrsquos Services department Level III trauma center and cardiovascular care The hospital is fully accredited by The Joint Commission and the College of American Pathologists and every year since 2007 has been named a Center of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery

32 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 33

Hospital

dOCTOrS hOSPiTal aT rENaiSSaNCE

The 506-bed doctors hospital at renaissance is an acute care facility It provides cardiology neurosurgery and endocrinology as well as a Pediatric Medical Tower that offers pediatric oncology and pediatric ICU services

Doctors Hospital has been ranked among the nationrsquos 100 Top Hospitals by Thomson Reuters and recently invested $32 million to establish an Electronic Medical Record System

DHR was the first in South Texas to acquire a PETCT scanner for diagnosing cancer and the first in the region to introduce da Vinci robotic surgical technology The hospital also oversees Renaissance Behavioral Center which provides treatment for people with mental health problems substance abuse or eating disorders

34 mc allen

COMMUNITyPROFILE COST OF liviNg

$44074Median Household Income

$129554Median Home Price

$689Median Rent for a Two-Bedroom Apartment

TraNSPOrTaTiON

Median Travel Time to Work

agE

TEmPEraTurE

January Average

July Average

EThNiCiTy

19 and Under

20-54

55 and over

White

Black

Hispanic

other

1645minutes

Closest Airport McAllen International Airport

955deg

482deg

South Texasrsquo Finest Gift Store Offers Gifts From Around the World

4300 N 10th St bull Ste C bull McAllen TX 78504 (956) 686-1264 bull ohkaysaolcom

Look for us on Facebook

gOlF COurSES

gOlF TEC

2901 N 10TH ST956-994-9631

mCallEN COuNTry CluB615 WICHITA AVE956-686-0923

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

The national Butterfly Center the national butterfly center dedicates 100 acres to the conservation and scientific study of wild butterflies in their natural habitats the wildlife center is open daily from 8 am until 5 pm september through march and from 9 am until 4 pm april through august

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

liviNg SEE THE CITY

36 mc allen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 37

BUSINESSInfo on McAllenrsquos top employers jobs and success stories

McAllen Convention Centerthe McAllenConventionCenter is located on 185 acres and includes a 60000-square-foot exhibit hall as well as more than 25000 square feet of meeting space in 16 breakout rooms

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

38 mc allen 38 mc allen

38 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 39

BuSiNESS oVERVIEW

McAllenrsquos in the MoneyCultural diversity location and innovation drive cityrsquos top business sectors

As the retail hub of South Texas McAllen is thriving The city draws a customer base of more than 10 million within a 200-mile radius and is represented by 40 of Americarsquos top 100 retailers

By Tiffany Williams

La Plaza MallPumping much of the life into this retail hub is la Plaza mall which annually attracts more than 18 million visitors its anchoring stores such as dillardrsquos and macyrsquos and sought-after retailers including BCBg-max azria and Coach average sales of more than $650 per square foot and are among the most profitable stores in their chains

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

Meetings amp Events

CONvENTiON CENTEr lurES viSiTOrS

The mcallen Convention Center also helps draw businesses to the area The 185-acre complex featuring a 60000-square-foot column-free exhibit hall more than 25000 square feet of meeting space and up to 16 breakout rooms offers bicultural themes and tropical accents that represent the cultural and natural diversity of McAllen

Retail

ShOPPiNg hOT SPOTS

This bicultural city which is located just five miles from the US-Mexico border also has access to three international bridges that flood with visitors and eager shoppers daily many of whom are spending at a rate twice the national average

In addition to La Plaza Mall shopping centers in the McAllen area include Trenton Crossing las Tiendas Plaza and La Plaza Mallrsquos 600sbquo000-square-foot sister shopping center Palms Crossing which hosts such big-name retailers as Barnes amp Noble and Babies rsquoRrsquo Us as well as specialty shops and restaurants Its appeal stems from its open-air design with lots of palm trees water fountains and seating areas

Major Manufacturers

madE FOr maNuFaCTuriNg

Ranked third in Texas in per-capita sales the McAllen area has some of the largest manufacturing and wholesale companies in the nation

valley Coca Cola Bottling Co Value Frozen Foods and Emerson Network Power are just a few who have put down roots here Tri-City Steel which provides a full scope of steel construction by fabricating and erecting structural steel buildings pre-engineered metal buildings stairs handrails and more Texas Citrus Exchange in Mission makes Texas rio red grapefruit juice

learn more about businesses in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

BuSiNESS

RESIDEnTS GET CREATIvE WITH BUSInESS vEnTURES

the BoxOutside

One of McAllenrsquos most innovative startups sprang from the mind of someone who wasnrsquot even interested in business Today Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar is one

of the arearsquos top entrepreneurs and is finding serious success

mcallen entrepreneur dalinda Gonzalez-alcantar founded eJucomm llc

liVabil it ycommc allen 43 42 mc allen

ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the worldrdquo

EllEry BuChaNaN FIBERIOPRESIDENTCEO

Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar the founder of eJucomm LLC simply wanted to make information in her school district more accessible to families The company was a way she could make it happen

She got the idea while working as a teacher at DeLeon Middle School in McAllen and was frustrated that families without computers andor Internet access had difficulty communicating with teachers and administrators So she decided to develop a smartphone application that would solve the problem

With no previous technical experience she researched code online at night and a year later was selling the app to various school districts

ldquoThe app enables Android and iPhone users to access information for things like grades and attendancerdquo Gonzalez-Alcantar says

The entrepreneur also faced unexpected challenges ndash for instance how to tailor individual apps to the roughly seven school districts and 40 campuses that now use them No longer teaching she has partnered with a chief technology officer so she can focus on sales and marketing

One of her biggest hurdles was finding legal fees to fund the startup and a $10000 McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant in 2011 helped pay for a licensing agreement and intellectual property protection for eJucomm to move forward

BaNaNa E-z SPliTAnother McAllen resident

Gerald Guerra faced a similar obstacle when developing a product called Banana E-Z Split A health insurance broker Guerra was inspired at his own kitchen table to create single serving packets with all three syrups

Banana E-Z SplitGerald Guerra inventor of the banana e-Z split single serving syrup packets poses with his daughters Victoria and kaitlyn enthusiastic taste testers for his product

liVabil it ycommc allen 43

To order please call or visit 956-668-0555 or wwwediblearrangementscom 5113-A N 10th St bull McAllen TX 78504

Offer valid at participating locations Offer expires 12312013 Cannot be combined with another offers Offer code must be used when placing order

Containers may vary EDIBLE ARRANGEMENTS and the Fruit Basket Logo Design are registered trademarks of Edible Arrangements LLC

copy2012 Edible Arrangements LLC All rights reserved Frachises available call (888) 727-4258 or visit wwweafranchisescom

DELICIOUSLYd e s i r a b l e

FREE PIECE OF DIPPED FRUIT

Code mctx1213

Living green is making sure the air in your home is healthy for your family to breathe Test your home for radon and build radon-resistant

Its easy Thats living healthy and green

Just call 866-730-green or visit wwwepagovradon

Living greenstarts from the ground up

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

(pineapple chocolate strawberry) needed for a banana split

The concept led to a 2011 McAllen Business Plan Competition grant to fund the necessary patents

ldquoI envisioned a product that could hang easily in refrigerated sections at big box storesrdquo Guerra says ldquoI have lined up a distributor and a broker with my ultimate goal being to have Banana E-Z Split available to customers in large grocery chains It is close to happeningrdquo

FiBEriO TEChNOlOgyAnother startup in McAllen

is already making waves globally FibeRio Technology Corporation another McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant recipient is thriving thanks to ground-breaking nanofiber-producing machinery The nanofibers can be used to make products ranging from diapers to

ballistics using a new way to spin microscopic nanofibers

The technology serves an array of industries that feature filtration textiles or biomedical applications

ldquoDr Karen Lozano at UT-Pan American discovered the process and I was contacted because I am an entrepreneur familiar with launching technology- based companies including nanotechnologyrdquo says FibeRio Technology presidentCEO Ellery Buchanan ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the world Plus we use local McAllen suppliers whenever possible including machine shops parts suppliers IT contractors and other business servicesrdquo

by Kevin Litwin by staff photographer

Michael Conti

FibeRio Technology Corporationnanomaterials processing research equipment is used at FibeRioTechnologyCorporation

FEldmaNrsquoS markET CENTErFeldmanrsquos Market Center features a broad selection of beer as well as wines liquors cigars and a gourmet deli In addition weekly beer and wine tastings are offered(956) 687-9463

PErFECT PawS rESOrTPerfect Paws Resort offers grooming services daycare and boarding to vaccinated dogs and cats that are at least 12 weeks old Boarding suites are climate controlled and under constant supervisionperfectpawsresortcom

mCCrEEry aviaTiON CO iNCMcCreery Aviation Co Inc is a place for pilots and their aircraft to receive top-notch treatment A fuel center flight planning room and hangar storage are availablemccreeryaviationcom

kiTikakE llCKitikake LLC offers gently- used vintage clothing for women from an array of top designers such as Lilly Pulitzer and Catherine Malandrino Vintage home deacutecor and dishes are also availablekitikakecom

krEidlEr FuNEral hOmEFounded owned and operated by the Kreidler family Kreidler Funeral Home has served McAllen for 100 years They offer traditional burial and graveside funeral services direct burials cremations memorial services and morekreidlerfuneralhomecom

Business Spotlight

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

visit ouradvertisersBorder Capital Bankwwwbordercapitalbankcom

City of McAllen Public Info Officewwwexploremcallennet

Courtyard by Marriottwwwmarriottcommtema

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valleywwweasterseals-rgvorg

Edible Arrangementswwwediblearrangementscom

Family Physicians Clinicwwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

Magic Valley Electric Cooperativewwwmagicvalleycoop

McAllen Economic Development Corporationwwwmcallenedcorg

McAllen Independent School Districtwwwmcallenisdorg

McAllen International Airportwwwmcallenairportcom

McAllen Realty

Mr Electricwwwmrelectriccom

Nuevo Santander Gallerywwwnuevosantandercom

OH KAYrsquoS

Preventative Care Institutewwwrgvpcicom

Quinta Mazatlanwwwquintamazatlancom

Rio Health Medicalwwwrio-healthcom

South Texas College wwwsouthtexascollegeedu

South Texas Health Systemwwwsouthtexashealthsystemcom

The Patio on Guerra wwwpatioonguerracom

Valley International Airportwwwflythevalleycom

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

BuSiNESS CHAMBER REPoRT

Whatrsquos the Big Ideachamberrsquos readiness tool kit assists entrepreneurs

The McAllen Chamber of Commerce has helped prepare 25 McAllen entrepreneurs in the continuing quest to launch their ideas ndash all since July 2011

The Chamber has a software package called VentureBusiness Readiness Assessment which is used by states such as oklahoma and Kentucky to assist startup companies The software helps an entrepreneur through the entire process of seeing whether they are truly ready to launch their startup

ldquoVentureBusiness Readiness Assessment is a way that the Chamber assists entrepreneurs who are trying to get funding for their products or projectsrdquo says Steve Ahlenius who serves as President and CEo of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce ldquoThe Chamber awards $50000 a year in innovation grants in $10000 increments and entrepreneurs are always looking for funding But they must earn that money by passing the various stages of the software tool kitrdquo

TEN hOurS TO COmPlETEAhlenius says the assessment

has several specific steps to make sure that a startup company has everything in place to ensure that it is successful

ldquoThe entrepreneurs contact us and set up an appointment to see me then they come to the Chamber office we sign them up and give them passwords to access the software at their conveniencerdquo he says ldquo[The program] takes about 10 hours to complete but doesnrsquot have to be finished in one sitting However the program must be eventually completed in order to qualify for our innovation grantrdquo

CaN iT BE madE QuiCklyThe software asks questions

such as Have you protected your intellectual property Is your product something that can be

made quickly Have you set a value on your idea and do you know how to do that If itrsquos a product that involves high-tech engineering do you have an engineer on your companyrsquos team

ldquoThe entrepreneur needs to know if his venture is worth 20 shares of stock or 200 shares ndash things like thatrdquo Ahlenius says ldquoMany factors go into launching a product or business and Venture Readiness points out a personrsquos strengths and weaknessesrdquo

a grEaT OvErviEwVicente Valle Martinez of

McAllen is an entrepreneur who contacted the Chamber in 2012 about his idea for connecting

people on the Internet who have similar educational experiences and higher learning interests

ldquoI have no background in business but heard one day about an innovation grant competition that the Chamber was sponsoringrdquo Martinez says ldquoSteve told me about the software package and it gave me a great overview of what I need to know before launching my ideardquo

Ahlenius says the various concepts the software package covers include credentials character capabilities commitment and circumstance

ldquoIt is an excellent self-awareness testrdquo he says ldquoItrsquos ideal for entrepreneursrdquo

by Kevin Litwin

the mcallen chamber of commerce on ash avenue

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

Ad Index 41 BorderCapitalBank

21 CityofMCallen puBliCinfooffiCe

4 CourtyardByMarriott

32 easterseals rioGrandeValley

44 ediBlearranGeMents

32 faMilyphysiCiansCliniC

2 MaGiCValley eleCtriCCooperatiVe

C3 MCalleneConoMiC deVelopMentCorporation

46 MCallenindependent sChooldistriCt

1 MCallen internationalairport

C4 MCallenrealty

48 MreleCtriC

46 nueVosantanderGallery

35 ohkayrsquos

34 preVentatiVe

Careinstitute

23 QuintaMazatlan

32 riohealthMediCal

31 southtexasColleGe

C2 southtexas

healthsysteM

18 thepatioonGuerra

44 Valley

internationalairport

ECONOMICPROFILE

3000+

2000- 2999

1999- 500

hOuSEhOld iNCOmE

TOP EmPlOyErS

$200000+

$150000-199999

$100000 and under

McAllen Independent School District

McAllen Medical Center South Texas College City of McAllen

Rio Grande Regional Hospital International Bank of Commerce

EduCaTiON lEvEl

High School Graduate

Associate Degree

Bachelorrsquos Degree

Masterrsquos Degree

TaxES

2City Sales and Use Tax

625State Sales Tax

825Total Sales Tax

SCOrECard

$36BAnnual Retail Sales

$28682Retail sales per capita

$3575MAnnual Hotel and Food Sales

15161Total Number of Firms

TraNSPOrTaTiON

mcallen-miller international airportwwwmcallenairportcom

metro mcallenwwwmcallennetmetro

amtrakwwwamtrakcom

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

everything you need every step of the way

Serving the rio grande valley Since 1989

Rachel Hardison-Oliva Broker

3321 N McColl Rd

McAllen TX 78501

(956) 687-7172 bull (956) 687-7178 Fax

Page 14: Livability McAllen, TX 2013

The hike and bike trail on Second Street and another on Bicentennial offer the chance for a leisurely 23-mile stroll around town ndash yoursquove got to work off that breakfast after all And then head over to the International Museum of Arts and Science a Smithsonian affiliated museum where a wide variety of changing art and science exhibits always offer something interesting

Another must-see is McAllenrsquos new public library which at a whopping 123000 square feet is the largest single-floor library in the US This former Walmart building underwent a total transformation into an aesthetically pleasing community resource thatrsquos steadily gaining attention worldwide for its colorful open and functional design Opened in December 2011 the facility has already won first place in the International Interior Design Associationrsquos 2012 Library Interior Design Competition

luNCh aNd laTErldquoWersquove got over 600 restaurants

hererdquo says Chamber President and CEO Steve Ahlenius So since itrsquos noon by now try the flatbread or a

salad at house wine amp bistro or go for a panini at Corner Bakery Cafe Or for Latin flavor head to KoKorsquos for delicious Mexican fare

In McAllen a day without shopping would be sad indeed La Plaza Mall is the most visited mall in the country and Palms Crossings at the McAllen Convention Center is home to several shops and restaurants such as Mimirsquos Cafe and Romanorsquos Macaroni Grill

ldquoAfter I finished shopping Irsquod spend the rest of the afternoon at Quinta Mazatlan (a historic home that also offers nature trails and legendary bird watching)rdquo Ahlenius says Another option is to test the waters by kayaking or catch-and-release fishing on Town Lake at Firemanrsquos Park

mCallEN aFTEr hOurSYoursquore not tired are you

Good because after freshening up back at your hotel itrsquos off to a night on the town Cajun cuisine at The Bayou Grill on North 10th St is a great option as are the authentic Mexican menus at Cabritos Nuevo Leon or La Jaiba Mexican Seafood Grill both on West Nolana

After dinner stroll the 17th Street Entertainment District to catch the flavor of McAllen after hours or catch a show at the historic Cine El Rey theater where comedy acts concerts film festivals and other events take the stage Finally La Recova Contemporary Argentinean Grill beckons for a nightcap in its quiet upscale bar ldquowhere you can actually carry on a conversationrdquo Ahlenius says

Then to bed Where after a good nightrsquos rest you will surely want to get up and spend yet another great day in McAllen

by Laura Hill by staff photographer

Michael Conti

ldquoMcAllen is a beautiful multicultural city with plenty to do and see From shopping in the most popular stores in the nation or unique one-of-a-kind shops to fine dining and plenty of family outdoor activities ndash you can do it year round hererdquo

gErry garCia VPOFSPECIALPROJECTS

FORTHEMCALLENCHAMBER

SNAPSHOT

for music dinner and dancing head to downtown mcallenrsquos 17th street entertainment district

The Patio on Guerradiners enjoy the food and atmosphere at the patio on Guerra on 17th street in downtown mcallen

12 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 13

ThiNgS TO dO

Town Lakea boy takes his dog for a walk as he skateboards the trail along the new 4-acre town lake at firemanrsquos park a popular spot for canoeing kayaking fishing and more

ThiNgS TO dO

14 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 15 14 mc allen

nEW LAkE OPEnS AT FIREMAnrsquoS PARk

Ahh howrefreshing

ldquoWe did all the required dredging to transform the little pond into a recreational lake that is 15 feet at its deepest pointrdquo says Sally Gavlik director of the McAllen Parks amp Recreation Department ldquoIn these days of more and more people opting to remain close to home for staycations Town Lake at Firemanrsquos Park gives them a valid option for a different kind of local vacationrdquo

lET ThE FuN BEgiNTown Lake is situated right in the

middle of McAllen off Business Highway 83 between First and Second streets Swimming is prohibited due to park

irrigation regulations but a beach has been constructed to launch canoes kayaks and paddle boats A fishing pier is also in place

ldquoWe transferred fish to the lake from nearby Boeye Reservoir which has provided us with good stocks of bass perch and catfishrdquo Gavlik says ldquoTown Lake currently only has a catch-and-release program meaning you can catch fish but must release them back into the water At some point in the future when the fish population increases we plan to schedule times when people can take the fish homerdquo

The City of McAllen made a big splash in May 2012 when it officially opened Town Lake at Firemanrsquos Park What was once a small tract of land with a few basic

recreational amenities is now a 15-acre redevelopment that includes the four-acre Town Lake Crews used a water holding pond at the cityrsquos former water treatment facility to construct the new lake

14 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 15

TakE a hikEWalking and jogging are also good recreational

options around the waterrsquos perimeterldquoTown Lake actually ties into the well used Second

Street Trail People can come off the trail walk or jog along the lake and then get back onto the trailrdquo Gavlik says ldquoThe scenery includes wildflowers in a freshly seeded meadow while other park amenities are horseshoe pits two playgrounds and free picnic sites at the north end of Firemanrsquos Park at First Streetrdquo

There is also a covered pavilion area with sand volleyball courts a small concession building and three camping sites The campsites can be used during the day by anyone but only overnight by organized groups such as the Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts Group reservations must be made through the McAllen Parks amp Recreation Department

ldquoAnother park attraction is the former water treatment building which has been transformed into a rental facilityrdquo Gavlik says ldquoIt is now called The Old Pump House complete with new windows air conditioning uplighting tiling and carpeted floors Groups of 75 to 100 people can rent the facility for meetings small receptions or small social events The Old Pump House adds to the overall amenities of todayrsquos Firemenrsquos Parkrdquo

by Kevin Litwin by staff photographer Michael Conti

Fishinga group casts lines into town lake which enforces a catch-and-release program

WHackberryAve

TownLake

83

firemanrsquos park

N2

nd

Str

eet

16 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 17

children enjoy the playground at firemanrsquos park

16 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 17

l iVabil it ycommc allen 19

ThiNgS TO dO LoCAL FLAVoR

Palate Pleasersmcallen restaurants serVe up flaVorful foods

McAllen diners rejoice The city has a broad selection of distinctive restaurants and eateries appealing to just about every taste By Barbara Biehler

Asian

SENSaTiONal SuShi amp SPiCE

McAllen has several great spots for Japanese food such as sushi tempura and teppanyaki including kohnami kumori and yokorsquos Sushi Bar

Fans of Thai food should check out Thai red Chilirsquos for dishes like pad thai red curry chicken and sweet rice with mango

Indian

TaNdOOri aNyONETaste of india hits the spot

for diners looking for high quality authentic Indian food made from old family recipes and paired with excellent service

Tex-Mex and Mexican

SOmE likE iT SPiCy

Step into las Cazuelas grill for classic Mexican cuisine or visit Palenque Chicken for expertly prepared Mexican and Tex Mex dishes

Renowned regionally for homemade tamales deliarsquos uses fresh ingredients including pork chicken and beef

The republic of rio grande serves Mexican cuisine in an intimate setting order a traditional dish like the chicken fajitas or enchiladas suizas or enjoy a distinctive entree such as shrimp chipotle pesto pasta or a brick-oven pizza

check out more restaurants in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

ldquoDeliarsquos has the best tamales in town Probably even in the RGV The only place you can get the good old homemade flavor of real tamalesrdquo

Evila l YELPCOM

Argentine

SOuTh amEriCaN CuiSiNE

Relax in the elegant yet casual atmosphere of la Pampa argentinean Steak housewhile you dine on classic Argentine- cut steaks grilled chicken breasts marinated in Chimichurri or traditional de carne empanadas

Meanwhile la recova also offers a wide selection of Argentine-style favorites on its menu Favorite dishes at La Recova includes chorizo tuna carnitas duck confit and churrasco a classic top sirloin steak

Outdoor Dining

TrENdy amp TaSTy

If yoursquore in the mood for a USDA prime steak or succulent seafood drop by The Patio on guerra Dine on the outdoor patio and have a bottle of one of the restaurantrsquos award-winning wines

FridarsquosGrillandCantina located on 17th street offers traditional mexican favorites with modern flavors Go to fridarsquos to enjoy unique culinary dishes signature drinks and live music on the weekends

l iVabil it ycommc allen 19

ThiNgS TO dO ARTS amp CULTURE

Rave Reviewsmcallenrsquos arts scene remains robust With museums music and eVents

Arts patrons music lovers and history buffs enjoy many cultural attractions throughout McAllen The latest buzz McAllen Performing Arts Center will spring up near the McAllen Convention Center giving fans of live music theater and dance a fine new facility to anticipate

Live Entertainment

PErFOrmErS TakE ThE STagE

The 17th Street Entertainment district in downtown McAllen overflows with lounges restaurants and clubs For live music visit The old Ice House or Cine El Rey

The cityrsquos diverse culture is what influences much of the music performed by the valley Symphony Orchestra amp Chorale The Symphony was established in 1952 with the Chorale joining later in 1984 Similarly the South Texas lyric Opera brings the fine art of opera to the Rio Grande Valley with a yearly slate of productions and an annual opera gala and rio grande valley Broadway brings popular stage shows to town such as Disneyrsquos Beauty and the Beast and Monty Pythonrsquos Spamalot

Historic Sites

TakE a STEP BaCk iN TimE

The museum of South Texas history and the mcallen heritage Center are just two locations to learn about the rich history of this bicultural area

Quinta mazatlan a 1930s hacienda that embodies the Spanish Colonial Revival architecture of arches adobe and beams and provides an intimate look into South Texas history The 10000-square- foot mansion sits on a 15-acre plot hosting a mix of native and exotic plants and wildlife making up McAllenrsquos wing of the popular world Birding Center

Cine El Reyopened in 1947 the historic cine el rey theater now functions as

a music and performance venue showcasing a variety of live events and also shows spanish and english independent films the theater is located in downtown mcallenrsquos 17th street entertainment district

20 mc allen

ldquoCine El Rey hosts events as diverse as wrestling live bands films and comedy shows A huge stage is complimented by killer production value and a staff that really cares about all aspects of the experience Irsquom looking forward to a return triprdquo

Bill dykES YELP

visual Arts and Festivals

aCCESSiBlE arT FuN EvENTS

The international museum of art amp Science founded in 1969 promotes an appreciation for the arts and sciences through its exhibitions cultural events and many educational programs imaS is located at 1900 Nolana Ave

The mcallen art walk is a self-guided tour that gives art lovers the opportunity to explore the many art offerings in the city Itrsquos held every first Friday from September through May and is free and open to the public

on the first Saturday night of December folks enjoy the Candlelight Posada which includes food booths luminaries a parade live entertainment caroling and a live nativity scene

Chamber of Commerce Support

ChamBEr BaCkS ThE arTS

The mcallen Chamber of Commerce shows its love for the arts by managing the mcallen arts Council which publishes a quarterly magazine produces an annual fine arts exhibition and offers grants to local artists The Chamber also offers an outdoor concert series and coordinates the Public art Committeersquos acquisition program

20 mc allen

ThiNgS TO dO SPoRTS amp RECREATIoN

Soak Up Some Sunmcallen residents haVe plenty of Good reasons to Get outdoors

Great golf courses hiking and biking trails and a large well-maintained park system make McAllen the perfect place to enjoy outdoor fun By Carson OrsquoShoney

Golf

TEE iT uPWith nearly 20 courses in the

McAllen area golf is a popular attraction in the Rio Grande Valley

one of the most notable courses is the Palm view golf Course an 18-hole public course with a private feel With rolling fairways and Bermuda rough mounds the course is an often-used location for tournaments having hosted LPGA tournaments and Palm viewrsquos amateur golf Championship

mcallen Country Club provides a challenge with tree-lined fairways and small greens and also offers a swimming pool tennis courts a fitness center and other amenities

Every golf course in the area is bustling especially in the winter when ldquoWinter Texansrdquo come to the Rio Grande Valley The weather generally stays in the 70s in the coldest months making it a perfect place for winter golfing

Hiking Biking and Racing

ON ThE mOvE iN mCallEN

There are plenty of hiking and biking trails on the east and west sides of town such as the retama village Park Trail westside Park Trail and las Palmas Park Trail Visiting cyclists are welcome to meet up with Team mcallen Cycling a bike club thatrsquos been in the city for more than 25 years

Racing fans can enjoy the mcallen international motorplex and Event Center which hosts stock car races car shows and more The racetrack is a family-friendly place offering activities for children such as games face painting and crafts

Palm view Golf Courseirish cochran plays a round of golf at palm View Golf course an 18-hole public course often used for high profile tournaments

22 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 23

City Parks

OuTdOOr Family FuN

The mcallen Parks and recreation department currently oversees 25 city parks Ranging from historic parks established in the early 1900s to more modern facilities there are several options suitable for the whole family

archer Park McAllenrsquos oldest park opened in 1912 Serving as a historic landmark in the city it also plays host to many of the cityrsquos annual special events including the Candlelight Posada and movies in the Park

Spanning 38 acres Springfest Park is the largest park in McAllen Springfest hosts a variety of special events and is home to mcallenrsquos winter Polo league from January through March

check out more fun things to do in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

Spray and Ground Parkbesides its popular water feature mcallenrsquos new SprayandGroundParkhas a sand volleyball court skateboard area a half basketball court and just over half a mile of walking trails in addition there are athletic practice fields shaded areas picnic shelters and restroom facilities

22 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 23

ThiNgS TO dO SEE THE CITY

24 mc allen

The Irrigation Workerthe sun sets behind a sculpture ldquothe irrigation Workerrdquo which was created by artist douglas clark and is located on nolana and 25th

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

l iVabil it ycommc allen 25

LIvINGHERESchools health care education and neighborhoods in McAllen

26 mc allen 26 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 27 26 mc allen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 27

see more beautiful photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

Luxury Livingnewcomers have many beautiful home options in mcallen such as those offered in eight different communities by cantu construction a locally based award-winning builder

26 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 27 liVabil it ycommc allen 27

liviNg

TECH TOOLS FOSTER STUDEnT SUCCESS

Padding theCurriculum

McAllen Independent School District (ISD) is feeling the benefits of an ambitious technology plan that places an iPod or iPad in the hands of every teacher and student

mcallen independent school district students use system-issued ipads in class

28 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 29

EduCaTiNg FOr ThE 21ST CENTury

The initiative began with a meeting between Dr James Ponce McAllenrsquos superintendent of schools and a ldquocadrerdquo of about 35 teachers administrators and parents

The grouprsquos primary goal was to build a 21st-century classroom environment one that fosters creativity collaboration and entrepreneurship The group also wanted to find a way to harness the 247 educational potential of the Internet ndash and teach students the critical-thinking skills needed to process online content

ldquoItrsquos an environment where the teachers become the primary learners and the students are driven by their examplerdquo Ponce says ldquoSo we asked what tools we would need for this transformation of the way we teach and the way the kids learnrdquo

After much research the group chose iPods (for grades K-2) and iPads (for teachers and grades 3-12) because of their portability

ldquoIrsquove learned more from my fellow teachers than I have in many years just from sharing ideas for how to use the iPads in the classroomrdquo

CarOl aNN allEN LANGuAGEARTSTEACHER

ATMICHAELEFOSSuMMIDDLESCHOOL

relatively low cost and ease of use To implement the planrsquos first stage McAllen ISD issued 5800 of these devices to teachers and students when the rollout is complete it will cover more than 25000 students

Big BENEFiTS FOr TEaChErS aNd STudENTS

Both teachers and students are seeing benefits from the program

ldquoThe iPods help the kids be creative My students are organizing information in new waysrdquo says Ruth Whiddon who teaches first grade at Andrew Jackson Elementary School

For Carol Ann Allen International Baccalaureate coordinator and eighth-grade language arts teacher at Michael E Fossum Middle School the initiative is all about collaboration

ldquoIrsquove learned more from my fellow teachers than I have in many years just from sharing ideas for how to use the iPads in the classroomrdquo she says

Sandra Guerra who teaches seventh- and eighth-grade math

at Fossum says the iPads have changed both her teaching style and the way her students learn

Instead of mapping out the learning process step-by-step she now gives students their goal and lets them choose how to get there

ldquoWith this approach they own their learning and theyrsquove been more willing to learnrdquo Guerra says

The iPads have also been a game-changer for Guerrarsquos family

Her seventh-grade daughter is learning advanced science concepts because of independent iPad projects And because most of her childrenrsquos school materials are on their iPads itrsquos easier than ever for Guerra to check on their progress from home

That kind of scenario says Superintendent Ponce is at the heart of the initiative

ldquoThe entire school system and our community want to lead in this effort to build a 21st-century learning environmentrdquo he says ldquoThis is a direct investment in our children and their familiesrdquo

by Kathryn Royster

High-Tech Learningseventh-grade students use ipads to follow class lectures and take quizzes during a language arts class at michael e fossum middle school

PH

oT

o C

oU

RT

EST

Y o

F M

CA

LLE

N IN

DE

PE

ND

EN

T S

CH

oo

L D

IST

RIC

T

28 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 29

Higher Education

SOuTh TExaS COllEgE

McAllenrsquos South Texas College has more than 30000 students and offers numerous associate and bachelorrsquos degree programs as well as professional certifications in more than 40 areas The college also has online degree courses for students who work full time

liviNg EDUCATIoN

Set for SuccesscolleGe prep is a top priority in mcallen

Education in McAllen is defined by excellent options From elementary school through college McAllen includes numerous institutions designed to prepare students for success By Braxton Shoop

school yourself on more educational offerings at livabilitycommcallen

Public Schools

mCallEN iNdEPENdENT SChOOl diSTriCT

Established in 1915 the mcallen independent School district comprises three high schools seven middle schools and 20 elementary schools Among these schools the district offers an advanced placement college-level curriculum and a dual-enrollment program for students who would like to obtain high school and college credit simultaneously

In addition the district features an International Baccalaureate program that provides students with an advanced curriculum geared toward global standards

Local Inspiration

FOrmEr STudENT FliES high

one of McAllenrsquos successful students is astronaut michael Fossum a graduate of McAllen High School After receiving his commission from the US Air Force by Texas AampM University Fossum graduated Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base and in 1993 he started at NASA Throughout his NASA career Fossum was on crew for three spaceflights He commanded the space station during one of his flights helping him rank seventh on the all-time list for cumulative Extravehicular Activity time

Top-notch Learning Environmentuniversity of texas-pan american offers many undergraduate degrees more than 50 masterrsquos degrees and three doctoral degrees utpa has accreditations from organizations like the commission for collegiate nursing the examining board of nurse examiners for the state of texas and the engineering accreditation commission of the accreditation board for engineering and technology

30 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 31

Charter School

idEa aCadEmy

idEa academy is an innovative institution that offers a fully scaled curriculum for students in kindergarten and in the first second and sixth grades The school which opened in McAllen in 2012 will eventually add more grades each one including approximately 110 students While the school is public students must apply to fill the 460 available spots

To prepare its students to be collegiate scholars IDEA provides International Baccalaureate curriculum as well as the Road to College curriculum which begins in the sixth grade

ldquoWersquore very proud of the connection to our distinguished alumni like NASA astronaut Michael Fossum and we want our students to recognize the kind of education we provide here What he learned here helped catapult him into space and wersquore very proud of thatrdquo

NOrma zamOra-guErra MCALLENINDEPENDENTSCHOOL

DISTRICTCOMMuNITYINFORMATIONDIRECTOR

Michael E Fossum Middle Schoolnamed for astronaut michael e fossum the school is part of the mcallen independent school district

30 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 31

Please call 9566316109 for a representative today

2501 Buddy Owens Blvd McAllen TX 78504

9656316125 Fax

wwwrio-healthcom

RioHealth MedicalWe are here to meet all your

occupational medicine needs

bull Workplace injuries and workersrsquo compensation

bull On site and off site drug screening

bull Physicals

bull Orthopedics

bull Early return to work

bull 247 coverage

bull We accept all types of insurance

WorkplaceInjury

DANIEL J GUERRA MD Diplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

LEONEL G MORENO MDDiplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

HOMERO RIVAS MDDiplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

606 S Broadway bull McAllen TX bull (956) 682-4515 bull wwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

FAMILY PHYSICIANS

CLINICSince 1967

Mon-Fri 8 am-5 pm Sat 8 am-Noon

VALLEY NIGHT CLINIC

Since 1981

Open Every Night of the Year 6 pm-Midnight

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valley supports children of all abilities through child care

services early intervention and parenting support programs

Early Childhood intErvEntion ChildCarE sErviCEs ParEnts as tEaChErs

Easter seals rio Grande valley Programs for Children Birth to Five years

bullChild-Care servicesndashHigh-qualitychildcare sixweekstofiveyears

bullParents as teachers (Pat)ndashDevelopmental parentingsupportforchildrenbirthtofiveyears

bullEarly Childhood intervention (ECi) ndashConcerns indevelopmentforchildrenbirthtothreeyears

For more information about Easter seals

programs and services call (956) 631-9171 or visit wwweasterseals-rgvorg

32 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 33

liviNg HEALTH

Take a Deep Breath and Relaxresidents haVe access to top hospitals

McAllen residents receive quality care from the South Texas Health System Rio Grande Regional Hospital and the Doctors Hospital at Renaissance By Kevin Litwin

Health System

SOuTh TExaS hEalTh SySTEm

South Texas health System is the umbrella organization for a number of fine medical facilities including mcallen medical Center MMC has 441 beds and a staff of more than 400 physicians that represent 50 medical specialties

Also part of South Texas Health System is mcallen heart hospital which opened in 1996 as the first freestanding cardiology and cardiovascular hospital built in the United States It includes 60 beds and a 24-hour emergency center

Healthgrades has awarded McAllen Medical Center and McAllen Heart Hospital with a variety of honors in recent years and both earned a Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence in 2011

Hospital

riO graNdE rEgiONal hOSPiTal

rio grande regional hospital is an acute care medical facility with 320 beds and more than 500 physicians The hospital is the only area Diabetes Management Center accredited by the American Diabetes Association and is the arearsquos first facility to have a Pediatric Heart Program

RGRH also includes a 24-hour emergency room Womenrsquos Services department Level III trauma center and cardiovascular care The hospital is fully accredited by The Joint Commission and the College of American Pathologists and every year since 2007 has been named a Center of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery

32 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 33

Hospital

dOCTOrS hOSPiTal aT rENaiSSaNCE

The 506-bed doctors hospital at renaissance is an acute care facility It provides cardiology neurosurgery and endocrinology as well as a Pediatric Medical Tower that offers pediatric oncology and pediatric ICU services

Doctors Hospital has been ranked among the nationrsquos 100 Top Hospitals by Thomson Reuters and recently invested $32 million to establish an Electronic Medical Record System

DHR was the first in South Texas to acquire a PETCT scanner for diagnosing cancer and the first in the region to introduce da Vinci robotic surgical technology The hospital also oversees Renaissance Behavioral Center which provides treatment for people with mental health problems substance abuse or eating disorders

34 mc allen

COMMUNITyPROFILE COST OF liviNg

$44074Median Household Income

$129554Median Home Price

$689Median Rent for a Two-Bedroom Apartment

TraNSPOrTaTiON

Median Travel Time to Work

agE

TEmPEraTurE

January Average

July Average

EThNiCiTy

19 and Under

20-54

55 and over

White

Black

Hispanic

other

1645minutes

Closest Airport McAllen International Airport

955deg

482deg

South Texasrsquo Finest Gift Store Offers Gifts From Around the World

4300 N 10th St bull Ste C bull McAllen TX 78504 (956) 686-1264 bull ohkaysaolcom

Look for us on Facebook

gOlF COurSES

gOlF TEC

2901 N 10TH ST956-994-9631

mCallEN COuNTry CluB615 WICHITA AVE956-686-0923

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

The national Butterfly Center the national butterfly center dedicates 100 acres to the conservation and scientific study of wild butterflies in their natural habitats the wildlife center is open daily from 8 am until 5 pm september through march and from 9 am until 4 pm april through august

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

liviNg SEE THE CITY

36 mc allen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 37

BUSINESSInfo on McAllenrsquos top employers jobs and success stories

McAllen Convention Centerthe McAllenConventionCenter is located on 185 acres and includes a 60000-square-foot exhibit hall as well as more than 25000 square feet of meeting space in 16 breakout rooms

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

38 mc allen 38 mc allen

38 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 39

BuSiNESS oVERVIEW

McAllenrsquos in the MoneyCultural diversity location and innovation drive cityrsquos top business sectors

As the retail hub of South Texas McAllen is thriving The city draws a customer base of more than 10 million within a 200-mile radius and is represented by 40 of Americarsquos top 100 retailers

By Tiffany Williams

La Plaza MallPumping much of the life into this retail hub is la Plaza mall which annually attracts more than 18 million visitors its anchoring stores such as dillardrsquos and macyrsquos and sought-after retailers including BCBg-max azria and Coach average sales of more than $650 per square foot and are among the most profitable stores in their chains

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

Meetings amp Events

CONvENTiON CENTEr lurES viSiTOrS

The mcallen Convention Center also helps draw businesses to the area The 185-acre complex featuring a 60000-square-foot column-free exhibit hall more than 25000 square feet of meeting space and up to 16 breakout rooms offers bicultural themes and tropical accents that represent the cultural and natural diversity of McAllen

Retail

ShOPPiNg hOT SPOTS

This bicultural city which is located just five miles from the US-Mexico border also has access to three international bridges that flood with visitors and eager shoppers daily many of whom are spending at a rate twice the national average

In addition to La Plaza Mall shopping centers in the McAllen area include Trenton Crossing las Tiendas Plaza and La Plaza Mallrsquos 600sbquo000-square-foot sister shopping center Palms Crossing which hosts such big-name retailers as Barnes amp Noble and Babies rsquoRrsquo Us as well as specialty shops and restaurants Its appeal stems from its open-air design with lots of palm trees water fountains and seating areas

Major Manufacturers

madE FOr maNuFaCTuriNg

Ranked third in Texas in per-capita sales the McAllen area has some of the largest manufacturing and wholesale companies in the nation

valley Coca Cola Bottling Co Value Frozen Foods and Emerson Network Power are just a few who have put down roots here Tri-City Steel which provides a full scope of steel construction by fabricating and erecting structural steel buildings pre-engineered metal buildings stairs handrails and more Texas Citrus Exchange in Mission makes Texas rio red grapefruit juice

learn more about businesses in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

BuSiNESS

RESIDEnTS GET CREATIvE WITH BUSInESS vEnTURES

the BoxOutside

One of McAllenrsquos most innovative startups sprang from the mind of someone who wasnrsquot even interested in business Today Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar is one

of the arearsquos top entrepreneurs and is finding serious success

mcallen entrepreneur dalinda Gonzalez-alcantar founded eJucomm llc

liVabil it ycommc allen 43 42 mc allen

ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the worldrdquo

EllEry BuChaNaN FIBERIOPRESIDENTCEO

Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar the founder of eJucomm LLC simply wanted to make information in her school district more accessible to families The company was a way she could make it happen

She got the idea while working as a teacher at DeLeon Middle School in McAllen and was frustrated that families without computers andor Internet access had difficulty communicating with teachers and administrators So she decided to develop a smartphone application that would solve the problem

With no previous technical experience she researched code online at night and a year later was selling the app to various school districts

ldquoThe app enables Android and iPhone users to access information for things like grades and attendancerdquo Gonzalez-Alcantar says

The entrepreneur also faced unexpected challenges ndash for instance how to tailor individual apps to the roughly seven school districts and 40 campuses that now use them No longer teaching she has partnered with a chief technology officer so she can focus on sales and marketing

One of her biggest hurdles was finding legal fees to fund the startup and a $10000 McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant in 2011 helped pay for a licensing agreement and intellectual property protection for eJucomm to move forward

BaNaNa E-z SPliTAnother McAllen resident

Gerald Guerra faced a similar obstacle when developing a product called Banana E-Z Split A health insurance broker Guerra was inspired at his own kitchen table to create single serving packets with all three syrups

Banana E-Z SplitGerald Guerra inventor of the banana e-Z split single serving syrup packets poses with his daughters Victoria and kaitlyn enthusiastic taste testers for his product

liVabil it ycommc allen 43

To order please call or visit 956-668-0555 or wwwediblearrangementscom 5113-A N 10th St bull McAllen TX 78504

Offer valid at participating locations Offer expires 12312013 Cannot be combined with another offers Offer code must be used when placing order

Containers may vary EDIBLE ARRANGEMENTS and the Fruit Basket Logo Design are registered trademarks of Edible Arrangements LLC

copy2012 Edible Arrangements LLC All rights reserved Frachises available call (888) 727-4258 or visit wwweafranchisescom

DELICIOUSLYd e s i r a b l e

FREE PIECE OF DIPPED FRUIT

Code mctx1213

Living green is making sure the air in your home is healthy for your family to breathe Test your home for radon and build radon-resistant

Its easy Thats living healthy and green

Just call 866-730-green or visit wwwepagovradon

Living greenstarts from the ground up

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

(pineapple chocolate strawberry) needed for a banana split

The concept led to a 2011 McAllen Business Plan Competition grant to fund the necessary patents

ldquoI envisioned a product that could hang easily in refrigerated sections at big box storesrdquo Guerra says ldquoI have lined up a distributor and a broker with my ultimate goal being to have Banana E-Z Split available to customers in large grocery chains It is close to happeningrdquo

FiBEriO TEChNOlOgyAnother startup in McAllen

is already making waves globally FibeRio Technology Corporation another McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant recipient is thriving thanks to ground-breaking nanofiber-producing machinery The nanofibers can be used to make products ranging from diapers to

ballistics using a new way to spin microscopic nanofibers

The technology serves an array of industries that feature filtration textiles or biomedical applications

ldquoDr Karen Lozano at UT-Pan American discovered the process and I was contacted because I am an entrepreneur familiar with launching technology- based companies including nanotechnologyrdquo says FibeRio Technology presidentCEO Ellery Buchanan ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the world Plus we use local McAllen suppliers whenever possible including machine shops parts suppliers IT contractors and other business servicesrdquo

by Kevin Litwin by staff photographer

Michael Conti

FibeRio Technology Corporationnanomaterials processing research equipment is used at FibeRioTechnologyCorporation

FEldmaNrsquoS markET CENTErFeldmanrsquos Market Center features a broad selection of beer as well as wines liquors cigars and a gourmet deli In addition weekly beer and wine tastings are offered(956) 687-9463

PErFECT PawS rESOrTPerfect Paws Resort offers grooming services daycare and boarding to vaccinated dogs and cats that are at least 12 weeks old Boarding suites are climate controlled and under constant supervisionperfectpawsresortcom

mCCrEEry aviaTiON CO iNCMcCreery Aviation Co Inc is a place for pilots and their aircraft to receive top-notch treatment A fuel center flight planning room and hangar storage are availablemccreeryaviationcom

kiTikakE llCKitikake LLC offers gently- used vintage clothing for women from an array of top designers such as Lilly Pulitzer and Catherine Malandrino Vintage home deacutecor and dishes are also availablekitikakecom

krEidlEr FuNEral hOmEFounded owned and operated by the Kreidler family Kreidler Funeral Home has served McAllen for 100 years They offer traditional burial and graveside funeral services direct burials cremations memorial services and morekreidlerfuneralhomecom

Business Spotlight

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

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City of McAllen Public Info Officewwwexploremcallennet

Courtyard by Marriottwwwmarriottcommtema

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valleywwweasterseals-rgvorg

Edible Arrangementswwwediblearrangementscom

Family Physicians Clinicwwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

Magic Valley Electric Cooperativewwwmagicvalleycoop

McAllen Economic Development Corporationwwwmcallenedcorg

McAllen Independent School Districtwwwmcallenisdorg

McAllen International Airportwwwmcallenairportcom

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Mr Electricwwwmrelectriccom

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OH KAYrsquoS

Preventative Care Institutewwwrgvpcicom

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Valley International Airportwwwflythevalleycom

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

BuSiNESS CHAMBER REPoRT

Whatrsquos the Big Ideachamberrsquos readiness tool kit assists entrepreneurs

The McAllen Chamber of Commerce has helped prepare 25 McAllen entrepreneurs in the continuing quest to launch their ideas ndash all since July 2011

The Chamber has a software package called VentureBusiness Readiness Assessment which is used by states such as oklahoma and Kentucky to assist startup companies The software helps an entrepreneur through the entire process of seeing whether they are truly ready to launch their startup

ldquoVentureBusiness Readiness Assessment is a way that the Chamber assists entrepreneurs who are trying to get funding for their products or projectsrdquo says Steve Ahlenius who serves as President and CEo of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce ldquoThe Chamber awards $50000 a year in innovation grants in $10000 increments and entrepreneurs are always looking for funding But they must earn that money by passing the various stages of the software tool kitrdquo

TEN hOurS TO COmPlETEAhlenius says the assessment

has several specific steps to make sure that a startup company has everything in place to ensure that it is successful

ldquoThe entrepreneurs contact us and set up an appointment to see me then they come to the Chamber office we sign them up and give them passwords to access the software at their conveniencerdquo he says ldquo[The program] takes about 10 hours to complete but doesnrsquot have to be finished in one sitting However the program must be eventually completed in order to qualify for our innovation grantrdquo

CaN iT BE madE QuiCklyThe software asks questions

such as Have you protected your intellectual property Is your product something that can be

made quickly Have you set a value on your idea and do you know how to do that If itrsquos a product that involves high-tech engineering do you have an engineer on your companyrsquos team

ldquoThe entrepreneur needs to know if his venture is worth 20 shares of stock or 200 shares ndash things like thatrdquo Ahlenius says ldquoMany factors go into launching a product or business and Venture Readiness points out a personrsquos strengths and weaknessesrdquo

a grEaT OvErviEwVicente Valle Martinez of

McAllen is an entrepreneur who contacted the Chamber in 2012 about his idea for connecting

people on the Internet who have similar educational experiences and higher learning interests

ldquoI have no background in business but heard one day about an innovation grant competition that the Chamber was sponsoringrdquo Martinez says ldquoSteve told me about the software package and it gave me a great overview of what I need to know before launching my ideardquo

Ahlenius says the various concepts the software package covers include credentials character capabilities commitment and circumstance

ldquoIt is an excellent self-awareness testrdquo he says ldquoItrsquos ideal for entrepreneursrdquo

by Kevin Litwin

the mcallen chamber of commerce on ash avenue

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

Ad Index 41 BorderCapitalBank

21 CityofMCallen puBliCinfooffiCe

4 CourtyardByMarriott

32 easterseals rioGrandeValley

44 ediBlearranGeMents

32 faMilyphysiCiansCliniC

2 MaGiCValley eleCtriCCooperatiVe

C3 MCalleneConoMiC deVelopMentCorporation

46 MCallenindependent sChooldistriCt

1 MCallen internationalairport

C4 MCallenrealty

48 MreleCtriC

46 nueVosantanderGallery

35 ohkayrsquos

34 preVentatiVe

Careinstitute

23 QuintaMazatlan

32 riohealthMediCal

31 southtexasColleGe

C2 southtexas

healthsysteM

18 thepatioonGuerra

44 Valley

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ECONOMICPROFILE

3000+

2000- 2999

1999- 500

hOuSEhOld iNCOmE

TOP EmPlOyErS

$200000+

$150000-199999

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McAllen Independent School District

McAllen Medical Center South Texas College City of McAllen

Rio Grande Regional Hospital International Bank of Commerce

EduCaTiON lEvEl

High School Graduate

Associate Degree

Bachelorrsquos Degree

Masterrsquos Degree

TaxES

2City Sales and Use Tax

625State Sales Tax

825Total Sales Tax

SCOrECard

$36BAnnual Retail Sales

$28682Retail sales per capita

$3575MAnnual Hotel and Food Sales

15161Total Number of Firms

TraNSPOrTaTiON

mcallen-miller international airportwwwmcallenairportcom

metro mcallenwwwmcallennetmetro

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ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

everything you need every step of the way

Serving the rio grande valley Since 1989

Rachel Hardison-Oliva Broker

3321 N McColl Rd

McAllen TX 78501

(956) 687-7172 bull (956) 687-7178 Fax

Page 15: Livability McAllen, TX 2013

ThiNgS TO dO

Town Lakea boy takes his dog for a walk as he skateboards the trail along the new 4-acre town lake at firemanrsquos park a popular spot for canoeing kayaking fishing and more

ThiNgS TO dO

14 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 15 14 mc allen

nEW LAkE OPEnS AT FIREMAnrsquoS PARk

Ahh howrefreshing

ldquoWe did all the required dredging to transform the little pond into a recreational lake that is 15 feet at its deepest pointrdquo says Sally Gavlik director of the McAllen Parks amp Recreation Department ldquoIn these days of more and more people opting to remain close to home for staycations Town Lake at Firemanrsquos Park gives them a valid option for a different kind of local vacationrdquo

lET ThE FuN BEgiNTown Lake is situated right in the

middle of McAllen off Business Highway 83 between First and Second streets Swimming is prohibited due to park

irrigation regulations but a beach has been constructed to launch canoes kayaks and paddle boats A fishing pier is also in place

ldquoWe transferred fish to the lake from nearby Boeye Reservoir which has provided us with good stocks of bass perch and catfishrdquo Gavlik says ldquoTown Lake currently only has a catch-and-release program meaning you can catch fish but must release them back into the water At some point in the future when the fish population increases we plan to schedule times when people can take the fish homerdquo

The City of McAllen made a big splash in May 2012 when it officially opened Town Lake at Firemanrsquos Park What was once a small tract of land with a few basic

recreational amenities is now a 15-acre redevelopment that includes the four-acre Town Lake Crews used a water holding pond at the cityrsquos former water treatment facility to construct the new lake

14 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 15

TakE a hikEWalking and jogging are also good recreational

options around the waterrsquos perimeterldquoTown Lake actually ties into the well used Second

Street Trail People can come off the trail walk or jog along the lake and then get back onto the trailrdquo Gavlik says ldquoThe scenery includes wildflowers in a freshly seeded meadow while other park amenities are horseshoe pits two playgrounds and free picnic sites at the north end of Firemanrsquos Park at First Streetrdquo

There is also a covered pavilion area with sand volleyball courts a small concession building and three camping sites The campsites can be used during the day by anyone but only overnight by organized groups such as the Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts Group reservations must be made through the McAllen Parks amp Recreation Department

ldquoAnother park attraction is the former water treatment building which has been transformed into a rental facilityrdquo Gavlik says ldquoIt is now called The Old Pump House complete with new windows air conditioning uplighting tiling and carpeted floors Groups of 75 to 100 people can rent the facility for meetings small receptions or small social events The Old Pump House adds to the overall amenities of todayrsquos Firemenrsquos Parkrdquo

by Kevin Litwin by staff photographer Michael Conti

Fishinga group casts lines into town lake which enforces a catch-and-release program

WHackberryAve

TownLake

83

firemanrsquos park

N2

nd

Str

eet

16 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 17

children enjoy the playground at firemanrsquos park

16 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 17

l iVabil it ycommc allen 19

ThiNgS TO dO LoCAL FLAVoR

Palate Pleasersmcallen restaurants serVe up flaVorful foods

McAllen diners rejoice The city has a broad selection of distinctive restaurants and eateries appealing to just about every taste By Barbara Biehler

Asian

SENSaTiONal SuShi amp SPiCE

McAllen has several great spots for Japanese food such as sushi tempura and teppanyaki including kohnami kumori and yokorsquos Sushi Bar

Fans of Thai food should check out Thai red Chilirsquos for dishes like pad thai red curry chicken and sweet rice with mango

Indian

TaNdOOri aNyONETaste of india hits the spot

for diners looking for high quality authentic Indian food made from old family recipes and paired with excellent service

Tex-Mex and Mexican

SOmE likE iT SPiCy

Step into las Cazuelas grill for classic Mexican cuisine or visit Palenque Chicken for expertly prepared Mexican and Tex Mex dishes

Renowned regionally for homemade tamales deliarsquos uses fresh ingredients including pork chicken and beef

The republic of rio grande serves Mexican cuisine in an intimate setting order a traditional dish like the chicken fajitas or enchiladas suizas or enjoy a distinctive entree such as shrimp chipotle pesto pasta or a brick-oven pizza

check out more restaurants in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

ldquoDeliarsquos has the best tamales in town Probably even in the RGV The only place you can get the good old homemade flavor of real tamalesrdquo

Evila l YELPCOM

Argentine

SOuTh amEriCaN CuiSiNE

Relax in the elegant yet casual atmosphere of la Pampa argentinean Steak housewhile you dine on classic Argentine- cut steaks grilled chicken breasts marinated in Chimichurri or traditional de carne empanadas

Meanwhile la recova also offers a wide selection of Argentine-style favorites on its menu Favorite dishes at La Recova includes chorizo tuna carnitas duck confit and churrasco a classic top sirloin steak

Outdoor Dining

TrENdy amp TaSTy

If yoursquore in the mood for a USDA prime steak or succulent seafood drop by The Patio on guerra Dine on the outdoor patio and have a bottle of one of the restaurantrsquos award-winning wines

FridarsquosGrillandCantina located on 17th street offers traditional mexican favorites with modern flavors Go to fridarsquos to enjoy unique culinary dishes signature drinks and live music on the weekends

l iVabil it ycommc allen 19

ThiNgS TO dO ARTS amp CULTURE

Rave Reviewsmcallenrsquos arts scene remains robust With museums music and eVents

Arts patrons music lovers and history buffs enjoy many cultural attractions throughout McAllen The latest buzz McAllen Performing Arts Center will spring up near the McAllen Convention Center giving fans of live music theater and dance a fine new facility to anticipate

Live Entertainment

PErFOrmErS TakE ThE STagE

The 17th Street Entertainment district in downtown McAllen overflows with lounges restaurants and clubs For live music visit The old Ice House or Cine El Rey

The cityrsquos diverse culture is what influences much of the music performed by the valley Symphony Orchestra amp Chorale The Symphony was established in 1952 with the Chorale joining later in 1984 Similarly the South Texas lyric Opera brings the fine art of opera to the Rio Grande Valley with a yearly slate of productions and an annual opera gala and rio grande valley Broadway brings popular stage shows to town such as Disneyrsquos Beauty and the Beast and Monty Pythonrsquos Spamalot

Historic Sites

TakE a STEP BaCk iN TimE

The museum of South Texas history and the mcallen heritage Center are just two locations to learn about the rich history of this bicultural area

Quinta mazatlan a 1930s hacienda that embodies the Spanish Colonial Revival architecture of arches adobe and beams and provides an intimate look into South Texas history The 10000-square- foot mansion sits on a 15-acre plot hosting a mix of native and exotic plants and wildlife making up McAllenrsquos wing of the popular world Birding Center

Cine El Reyopened in 1947 the historic cine el rey theater now functions as

a music and performance venue showcasing a variety of live events and also shows spanish and english independent films the theater is located in downtown mcallenrsquos 17th street entertainment district

20 mc allen

ldquoCine El Rey hosts events as diverse as wrestling live bands films and comedy shows A huge stage is complimented by killer production value and a staff that really cares about all aspects of the experience Irsquom looking forward to a return triprdquo

Bill dykES YELP

visual Arts and Festivals

aCCESSiBlE arT FuN EvENTS

The international museum of art amp Science founded in 1969 promotes an appreciation for the arts and sciences through its exhibitions cultural events and many educational programs imaS is located at 1900 Nolana Ave

The mcallen art walk is a self-guided tour that gives art lovers the opportunity to explore the many art offerings in the city Itrsquos held every first Friday from September through May and is free and open to the public

on the first Saturday night of December folks enjoy the Candlelight Posada which includes food booths luminaries a parade live entertainment caroling and a live nativity scene

Chamber of Commerce Support

ChamBEr BaCkS ThE arTS

The mcallen Chamber of Commerce shows its love for the arts by managing the mcallen arts Council which publishes a quarterly magazine produces an annual fine arts exhibition and offers grants to local artists The Chamber also offers an outdoor concert series and coordinates the Public art Committeersquos acquisition program

20 mc allen

ThiNgS TO dO SPoRTS amp RECREATIoN

Soak Up Some Sunmcallen residents haVe plenty of Good reasons to Get outdoors

Great golf courses hiking and biking trails and a large well-maintained park system make McAllen the perfect place to enjoy outdoor fun By Carson OrsquoShoney

Golf

TEE iT uPWith nearly 20 courses in the

McAllen area golf is a popular attraction in the Rio Grande Valley

one of the most notable courses is the Palm view golf Course an 18-hole public course with a private feel With rolling fairways and Bermuda rough mounds the course is an often-used location for tournaments having hosted LPGA tournaments and Palm viewrsquos amateur golf Championship

mcallen Country Club provides a challenge with tree-lined fairways and small greens and also offers a swimming pool tennis courts a fitness center and other amenities

Every golf course in the area is bustling especially in the winter when ldquoWinter Texansrdquo come to the Rio Grande Valley The weather generally stays in the 70s in the coldest months making it a perfect place for winter golfing

Hiking Biking and Racing

ON ThE mOvE iN mCallEN

There are plenty of hiking and biking trails on the east and west sides of town such as the retama village Park Trail westside Park Trail and las Palmas Park Trail Visiting cyclists are welcome to meet up with Team mcallen Cycling a bike club thatrsquos been in the city for more than 25 years

Racing fans can enjoy the mcallen international motorplex and Event Center which hosts stock car races car shows and more The racetrack is a family-friendly place offering activities for children such as games face painting and crafts

Palm view Golf Courseirish cochran plays a round of golf at palm View Golf course an 18-hole public course often used for high profile tournaments

22 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 23

City Parks

OuTdOOr Family FuN

The mcallen Parks and recreation department currently oversees 25 city parks Ranging from historic parks established in the early 1900s to more modern facilities there are several options suitable for the whole family

archer Park McAllenrsquos oldest park opened in 1912 Serving as a historic landmark in the city it also plays host to many of the cityrsquos annual special events including the Candlelight Posada and movies in the Park

Spanning 38 acres Springfest Park is the largest park in McAllen Springfest hosts a variety of special events and is home to mcallenrsquos winter Polo league from January through March

check out more fun things to do in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

Spray and Ground Parkbesides its popular water feature mcallenrsquos new SprayandGroundParkhas a sand volleyball court skateboard area a half basketball court and just over half a mile of walking trails in addition there are athletic practice fields shaded areas picnic shelters and restroom facilities

22 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 23

ThiNgS TO dO SEE THE CITY

24 mc allen

The Irrigation Workerthe sun sets behind a sculpture ldquothe irrigation Workerrdquo which was created by artist douglas clark and is located on nolana and 25th

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

l iVabil it ycommc allen 25

LIvINGHERESchools health care education and neighborhoods in McAllen

26 mc allen 26 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 27 26 mc allen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 27

see more beautiful photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

Luxury Livingnewcomers have many beautiful home options in mcallen such as those offered in eight different communities by cantu construction a locally based award-winning builder

26 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 27 liVabil it ycommc allen 27

liviNg

TECH TOOLS FOSTER STUDEnT SUCCESS

Padding theCurriculum

McAllen Independent School District (ISD) is feeling the benefits of an ambitious technology plan that places an iPod or iPad in the hands of every teacher and student

mcallen independent school district students use system-issued ipads in class

28 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 29

EduCaTiNg FOr ThE 21ST CENTury

The initiative began with a meeting between Dr James Ponce McAllenrsquos superintendent of schools and a ldquocadrerdquo of about 35 teachers administrators and parents

The grouprsquos primary goal was to build a 21st-century classroom environment one that fosters creativity collaboration and entrepreneurship The group also wanted to find a way to harness the 247 educational potential of the Internet ndash and teach students the critical-thinking skills needed to process online content

ldquoItrsquos an environment where the teachers become the primary learners and the students are driven by their examplerdquo Ponce says ldquoSo we asked what tools we would need for this transformation of the way we teach and the way the kids learnrdquo

After much research the group chose iPods (for grades K-2) and iPads (for teachers and grades 3-12) because of their portability

ldquoIrsquove learned more from my fellow teachers than I have in many years just from sharing ideas for how to use the iPads in the classroomrdquo

CarOl aNN allEN LANGuAGEARTSTEACHER

ATMICHAELEFOSSuMMIDDLESCHOOL

relatively low cost and ease of use To implement the planrsquos first stage McAllen ISD issued 5800 of these devices to teachers and students when the rollout is complete it will cover more than 25000 students

Big BENEFiTS FOr TEaChErS aNd STudENTS

Both teachers and students are seeing benefits from the program

ldquoThe iPods help the kids be creative My students are organizing information in new waysrdquo says Ruth Whiddon who teaches first grade at Andrew Jackson Elementary School

For Carol Ann Allen International Baccalaureate coordinator and eighth-grade language arts teacher at Michael E Fossum Middle School the initiative is all about collaboration

ldquoIrsquove learned more from my fellow teachers than I have in many years just from sharing ideas for how to use the iPads in the classroomrdquo she says

Sandra Guerra who teaches seventh- and eighth-grade math

at Fossum says the iPads have changed both her teaching style and the way her students learn

Instead of mapping out the learning process step-by-step she now gives students their goal and lets them choose how to get there

ldquoWith this approach they own their learning and theyrsquove been more willing to learnrdquo Guerra says

The iPads have also been a game-changer for Guerrarsquos family

Her seventh-grade daughter is learning advanced science concepts because of independent iPad projects And because most of her childrenrsquos school materials are on their iPads itrsquos easier than ever for Guerra to check on their progress from home

That kind of scenario says Superintendent Ponce is at the heart of the initiative

ldquoThe entire school system and our community want to lead in this effort to build a 21st-century learning environmentrdquo he says ldquoThis is a direct investment in our children and their familiesrdquo

by Kathryn Royster

High-Tech Learningseventh-grade students use ipads to follow class lectures and take quizzes during a language arts class at michael e fossum middle school

PH

oT

o C

oU

RT

EST

Y o

F M

CA

LLE

N IN

DE

PE

ND

EN

T S

CH

oo

L D

IST

RIC

T

28 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 29

Higher Education

SOuTh TExaS COllEgE

McAllenrsquos South Texas College has more than 30000 students and offers numerous associate and bachelorrsquos degree programs as well as professional certifications in more than 40 areas The college also has online degree courses for students who work full time

liviNg EDUCATIoN

Set for SuccesscolleGe prep is a top priority in mcallen

Education in McAllen is defined by excellent options From elementary school through college McAllen includes numerous institutions designed to prepare students for success By Braxton Shoop

school yourself on more educational offerings at livabilitycommcallen

Public Schools

mCallEN iNdEPENdENT SChOOl diSTriCT

Established in 1915 the mcallen independent School district comprises three high schools seven middle schools and 20 elementary schools Among these schools the district offers an advanced placement college-level curriculum and a dual-enrollment program for students who would like to obtain high school and college credit simultaneously

In addition the district features an International Baccalaureate program that provides students with an advanced curriculum geared toward global standards

Local Inspiration

FOrmEr STudENT FliES high

one of McAllenrsquos successful students is astronaut michael Fossum a graduate of McAllen High School After receiving his commission from the US Air Force by Texas AampM University Fossum graduated Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base and in 1993 he started at NASA Throughout his NASA career Fossum was on crew for three spaceflights He commanded the space station during one of his flights helping him rank seventh on the all-time list for cumulative Extravehicular Activity time

Top-notch Learning Environmentuniversity of texas-pan american offers many undergraduate degrees more than 50 masterrsquos degrees and three doctoral degrees utpa has accreditations from organizations like the commission for collegiate nursing the examining board of nurse examiners for the state of texas and the engineering accreditation commission of the accreditation board for engineering and technology

30 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 31

Charter School

idEa aCadEmy

idEa academy is an innovative institution that offers a fully scaled curriculum for students in kindergarten and in the first second and sixth grades The school which opened in McAllen in 2012 will eventually add more grades each one including approximately 110 students While the school is public students must apply to fill the 460 available spots

To prepare its students to be collegiate scholars IDEA provides International Baccalaureate curriculum as well as the Road to College curriculum which begins in the sixth grade

ldquoWersquore very proud of the connection to our distinguished alumni like NASA astronaut Michael Fossum and we want our students to recognize the kind of education we provide here What he learned here helped catapult him into space and wersquore very proud of thatrdquo

NOrma zamOra-guErra MCALLENINDEPENDENTSCHOOL

DISTRICTCOMMuNITYINFORMATIONDIRECTOR

Michael E Fossum Middle Schoolnamed for astronaut michael e fossum the school is part of the mcallen independent school district

30 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 31

Please call 9566316109 for a representative today

2501 Buddy Owens Blvd McAllen TX 78504

9656316125 Fax

wwwrio-healthcom

RioHealth MedicalWe are here to meet all your

occupational medicine needs

bull Workplace injuries and workersrsquo compensation

bull On site and off site drug screening

bull Physicals

bull Orthopedics

bull Early return to work

bull 247 coverage

bull We accept all types of insurance

WorkplaceInjury

DANIEL J GUERRA MD Diplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

LEONEL G MORENO MDDiplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

HOMERO RIVAS MDDiplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

606 S Broadway bull McAllen TX bull (956) 682-4515 bull wwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

FAMILY PHYSICIANS

CLINICSince 1967

Mon-Fri 8 am-5 pm Sat 8 am-Noon

VALLEY NIGHT CLINIC

Since 1981

Open Every Night of the Year 6 pm-Midnight

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valley supports children of all abilities through child care

services early intervention and parenting support programs

Early Childhood intErvEntion ChildCarE sErviCEs ParEnts as tEaChErs

Easter seals rio Grande valley Programs for Children Birth to Five years

bullChild-Care servicesndashHigh-qualitychildcare sixweekstofiveyears

bullParents as teachers (Pat)ndashDevelopmental parentingsupportforchildrenbirthtofiveyears

bullEarly Childhood intervention (ECi) ndashConcerns indevelopmentforchildrenbirthtothreeyears

For more information about Easter seals

programs and services call (956) 631-9171 or visit wwweasterseals-rgvorg

32 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 33

liviNg HEALTH

Take a Deep Breath and Relaxresidents haVe access to top hospitals

McAllen residents receive quality care from the South Texas Health System Rio Grande Regional Hospital and the Doctors Hospital at Renaissance By Kevin Litwin

Health System

SOuTh TExaS hEalTh SySTEm

South Texas health System is the umbrella organization for a number of fine medical facilities including mcallen medical Center MMC has 441 beds and a staff of more than 400 physicians that represent 50 medical specialties

Also part of South Texas Health System is mcallen heart hospital which opened in 1996 as the first freestanding cardiology and cardiovascular hospital built in the United States It includes 60 beds and a 24-hour emergency center

Healthgrades has awarded McAllen Medical Center and McAllen Heart Hospital with a variety of honors in recent years and both earned a Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence in 2011

Hospital

riO graNdE rEgiONal hOSPiTal

rio grande regional hospital is an acute care medical facility with 320 beds and more than 500 physicians The hospital is the only area Diabetes Management Center accredited by the American Diabetes Association and is the arearsquos first facility to have a Pediatric Heart Program

RGRH also includes a 24-hour emergency room Womenrsquos Services department Level III trauma center and cardiovascular care The hospital is fully accredited by The Joint Commission and the College of American Pathologists and every year since 2007 has been named a Center of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery

32 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 33

Hospital

dOCTOrS hOSPiTal aT rENaiSSaNCE

The 506-bed doctors hospital at renaissance is an acute care facility It provides cardiology neurosurgery and endocrinology as well as a Pediatric Medical Tower that offers pediatric oncology and pediatric ICU services

Doctors Hospital has been ranked among the nationrsquos 100 Top Hospitals by Thomson Reuters and recently invested $32 million to establish an Electronic Medical Record System

DHR was the first in South Texas to acquire a PETCT scanner for diagnosing cancer and the first in the region to introduce da Vinci robotic surgical technology The hospital also oversees Renaissance Behavioral Center which provides treatment for people with mental health problems substance abuse or eating disorders

34 mc allen

COMMUNITyPROFILE COST OF liviNg

$44074Median Household Income

$129554Median Home Price

$689Median Rent for a Two-Bedroom Apartment

TraNSPOrTaTiON

Median Travel Time to Work

agE

TEmPEraTurE

January Average

July Average

EThNiCiTy

19 and Under

20-54

55 and over

White

Black

Hispanic

other

1645minutes

Closest Airport McAllen International Airport

955deg

482deg

South Texasrsquo Finest Gift Store Offers Gifts From Around the World

4300 N 10th St bull Ste C bull McAllen TX 78504 (956) 686-1264 bull ohkaysaolcom

Look for us on Facebook

gOlF COurSES

gOlF TEC

2901 N 10TH ST956-994-9631

mCallEN COuNTry CluB615 WICHITA AVE956-686-0923

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

The national Butterfly Center the national butterfly center dedicates 100 acres to the conservation and scientific study of wild butterflies in their natural habitats the wildlife center is open daily from 8 am until 5 pm september through march and from 9 am until 4 pm april through august

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

liviNg SEE THE CITY

36 mc allen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 37

BUSINESSInfo on McAllenrsquos top employers jobs and success stories

McAllen Convention Centerthe McAllenConventionCenter is located on 185 acres and includes a 60000-square-foot exhibit hall as well as more than 25000 square feet of meeting space in 16 breakout rooms

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

38 mc allen 38 mc allen

38 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 39

BuSiNESS oVERVIEW

McAllenrsquos in the MoneyCultural diversity location and innovation drive cityrsquos top business sectors

As the retail hub of South Texas McAllen is thriving The city draws a customer base of more than 10 million within a 200-mile radius and is represented by 40 of Americarsquos top 100 retailers

By Tiffany Williams

La Plaza MallPumping much of the life into this retail hub is la Plaza mall which annually attracts more than 18 million visitors its anchoring stores such as dillardrsquos and macyrsquos and sought-after retailers including BCBg-max azria and Coach average sales of more than $650 per square foot and are among the most profitable stores in their chains

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

Meetings amp Events

CONvENTiON CENTEr lurES viSiTOrS

The mcallen Convention Center also helps draw businesses to the area The 185-acre complex featuring a 60000-square-foot column-free exhibit hall more than 25000 square feet of meeting space and up to 16 breakout rooms offers bicultural themes and tropical accents that represent the cultural and natural diversity of McAllen

Retail

ShOPPiNg hOT SPOTS

This bicultural city which is located just five miles from the US-Mexico border also has access to three international bridges that flood with visitors and eager shoppers daily many of whom are spending at a rate twice the national average

In addition to La Plaza Mall shopping centers in the McAllen area include Trenton Crossing las Tiendas Plaza and La Plaza Mallrsquos 600sbquo000-square-foot sister shopping center Palms Crossing which hosts such big-name retailers as Barnes amp Noble and Babies rsquoRrsquo Us as well as specialty shops and restaurants Its appeal stems from its open-air design with lots of palm trees water fountains and seating areas

Major Manufacturers

madE FOr maNuFaCTuriNg

Ranked third in Texas in per-capita sales the McAllen area has some of the largest manufacturing and wholesale companies in the nation

valley Coca Cola Bottling Co Value Frozen Foods and Emerson Network Power are just a few who have put down roots here Tri-City Steel which provides a full scope of steel construction by fabricating and erecting structural steel buildings pre-engineered metal buildings stairs handrails and more Texas Citrus Exchange in Mission makes Texas rio red grapefruit juice

learn more about businesses in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

BuSiNESS

RESIDEnTS GET CREATIvE WITH BUSInESS vEnTURES

the BoxOutside

One of McAllenrsquos most innovative startups sprang from the mind of someone who wasnrsquot even interested in business Today Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar is one

of the arearsquos top entrepreneurs and is finding serious success

mcallen entrepreneur dalinda Gonzalez-alcantar founded eJucomm llc

liVabil it ycommc allen 43 42 mc allen

ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the worldrdquo

EllEry BuChaNaN FIBERIOPRESIDENTCEO

Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar the founder of eJucomm LLC simply wanted to make information in her school district more accessible to families The company was a way she could make it happen

She got the idea while working as a teacher at DeLeon Middle School in McAllen and was frustrated that families without computers andor Internet access had difficulty communicating with teachers and administrators So she decided to develop a smartphone application that would solve the problem

With no previous technical experience she researched code online at night and a year later was selling the app to various school districts

ldquoThe app enables Android and iPhone users to access information for things like grades and attendancerdquo Gonzalez-Alcantar says

The entrepreneur also faced unexpected challenges ndash for instance how to tailor individual apps to the roughly seven school districts and 40 campuses that now use them No longer teaching she has partnered with a chief technology officer so she can focus on sales and marketing

One of her biggest hurdles was finding legal fees to fund the startup and a $10000 McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant in 2011 helped pay for a licensing agreement and intellectual property protection for eJucomm to move forward

BaNaNa E-z SPliTAnother McAllen resident

Gerald Guerra faced a similar obstacle when developing a product called Banana E-Z Split A health insurance broker Guerra was inspired at his own kitchen table to create single serving packets with all three syrups

Banana E-Z SplitGerald Guerra inventor of the banana e-Z split single serving syrup packets poses with his daughters Victoria and kaitlyn enthusiastic taste testers for his product

liVabil it ycommc allen 43

To order please call or visit 956-668-0555 or wwwediblearrangementscom 5113-A N 10th St bull McAllen TX 78504

Offer valid at participating locations Offer expires 12312013 Cannot be combined with another offers Offer code must be used when placing order

Containers may vary EDIBLE ARRANGEMENTS and the Fruit Basket Logo Design are registered trademarks of Edible Arrangements LLC

copy2012 Edible Arrangements LLC All rights reserved Frachises available call (888) 727-4258 or visit wwweafranchisescom

DELICIOUSLYd e s i r a b l e

FREE PIECE OF DIPPED FRUIT

Code mctx1213

Living green is making sure the air in your home is healthy for your family to breathe Test your home for radon and build radon-resistant

Its easy Thats living healthy and green

Just call 866-730-green or visit wwwepagovradon

Living greenstarts from the ground up

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

(pineapple chocolate strawberry) needed for a banana split

The concept led to a 2011 McAllen Business Plan Competition grant to fund the necessary patents

ldquoI envisioned a product that could hang easily in refrigerated sections at big box storesrdquo Guerra says ldquoI have lined up a distributor and a broker with my ultimate goal being to have Banana E-Z Split available to customers in large grocery chains It is close to happeningrdquo

FiBEriO TEChNOlOgyAnother startup in McAllen

is already making waves globally FibeRio Technology Corporation another McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant recipient is thriving thanks to ground-breaking nanofiber-producing machinery The nanofibers can be used to make products ranging from diapers to

ballistics using a new way to spin microscopic nanofibers

The technology serves an array of industries that feature filtration textiles or biomedical applications

ldquoDr Karen Lozano at UT-Pan American discovered the process and I was contacted because I am an entrepreneur familiar with launching technology- based companies including nanotechnologyrdquo says FibeRio Technology presidentCEO Ellery Buchanan ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the world Plus we use local McAllen suppliers whenever possible including machine shops parts suppliers IT contractors and other business servicesrdquo

by Kevin Litwin by staff photographer

Michael Conti

FibeRio Technology Corporationnanomaterials processing research equipment is used at FibeRioTechnologyCorporation

FEldmaNrsquoS markET CENTErFeldmanrsquos Market Center features a broad selection of beer as well as wines liquors cigars and a gourmet deli In addition weekly beer and wine tastings are offered(956) 687-9463

PErFECT PawS rESOrTPerfect Paws Resort offers grooming services daycare and boarding to vaccinated dogs and cats that are at least 12 weeks old Boarding suites are climate controlled and under constant supervisionperfectpawsresortcom

mCCrEEry aviaTiON CO iNCMcCreery Aviation Co Inc is a place for pilots and their aircraft to receive top-notch treatment A fuel center flight planning room and hangar storage are availablemccreeryaviationcom

kiTikakE llCKitikake LLC offers gently- used vintage clothing for women from an array of top designers such as Lilly Pulitzer and Catherine Malandrino Vintage home deacutecor and dishes are also availablekitikakecom

krEidlEr FuNEral hOmEFounded owned and operated by the Kreidler family Kreidler Funeral Home has served McAllen for 100 years They offer traditional burial and graveside funeral services direct burials cremations memorial services and morekreidlerfuneralhomecom

Business Spotlight

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

visit ouradvertisersBorder Capital Bankwwwbordercapitalbankcom

City of McAllen Public Info Officewwwexploremcallennet

Courtyard by Marriottwwwmarriottcommtema

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valleywwweasterseals-rgvorg

Edible Arrangementswwwediblearrangementscom

Family Physicians Clinicwwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

Magic Valley Electric Cooperativewwwmagicvalleycoop

McAllen Economic Development Corporationwwwmcallenedcorg

McAllen Independent School Districtwwwmcallenisdorg

McAllen International Airportwwwmcallenairportcom

McAllen Realty

Mr Electricwwwmrelectriccom

Nuevo Santander Gallerywwwnuevosantandercom

OH KAYrsquoS

Preventative Care Institutewwwrgvpcicom

Quinta Mazatlanwwwquintamazatlancom

Rio Health Medicalwwwrio-healthcom

South Texas College wwwsouthtexascollegeedu

South Texas Health Systemwwwsouthtexashealthsystemcom

The Patio on Guerra wwwpatioonguerracom

Valley International Airportwwwflythevalleycom

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

BuSiNESS CHAMBER REPoRT

Whatrsquos the Big Ideachamberrsquos readiness tool kit assists entrepreneurs

The McAllen Chamber of Commerce has helped prepare 25 McAllen entrepreneurs in the continuing quest to launch their ideas ndash all since July 2011

The Chamber has a software package called VentureBusiness Readiness Assessment which is used by states such as oklahoma and Kentucky to assist startup companies The software helps an entrepreneur through the entire process of seeing whether they are truly ready to launch their startup

ldquoVentureBusiness Readiness Assessment is a way that the Chamber assists entrepreneurs who are trying to get funding for their products or projectsrdquo says Steve Ahlenius who serves as President and CEo of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce ldquoThe Chamber awards $50000 a year in innovation grants in $10000 increments and entrepreneurs are always looking for funding But they must earn that money by passing the various stages of the software tool kitrdquo

TEN hOurS TO COmPlETEAhlenius says the assessment

has several specific steps to make sure that a startup company has everything in place to ensure that it is successful

ldquoThe entrepreneurs contact us and set up an appointment to see me then they come to the Chamber office we sign them up and give them passwords to access the software at their conveniencerdquo he says ldquo[The program] takes about 10 hours to complete but doesnrsquot have to be finished in one sitting However the program must be eventually completed in order to qualify for our innovation grantrdquo

CaN iT BE madE QuiCklyThe software asks questions

such as Have you protected your intellectual property Is your product something that can be

made quickly Have you set a value on your idea and do you know how to do that If itrsquos a product that involves high-tech engineering do you have an engineer on your companyrsquos team

ldquoThe entrepreneur needs to know if his venture is worth 20 shares of stock or 200 shares ndash things like thatrdquo Ahlenius says ldquoMany factors go into launching a product or business and Venture Readiness points out a personrsquos strengths and weaknessesrdquo

a grEaT OvErviEwVicente Valle Martinez of

McAllen is an entrepreneur who contacted the Chamber in 2012 about his idea for connecting

people on the Internet who have similar educational experiences and higher learning interests

ldquoI have no background in business but heard one day about an innovation grant competition that the Chamber was sponsoringrdquo Martinez says ldquoSteve told me about the software package and it gave me a great overview of what I need to know before launching my ideardquo

Ahlenius says the various concepts the software package covers include credentials character capabilities commitment and circumstance

ldquoIt is an excellent self-awareness testrdquo he says ldquoItrsquos ideal for entrepreneursrdquo

by Kevin Litwin

the mcallen chamber of commerce on ash avenue

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

Ad Index 41 BorderCapitalBank

21 CityofMCallen puBliCinfooffiCe

4 CourtyardByMarriott

32 easterseals rioGrandeValley

44 ediBlearranGeMents

32 faMilyphysiCiansCliniC

2 MaGiCValley eleCtriCCooperatiVe

C3 MCalleneConoMiC deVelopMentCorporation

46 MCallenindependent sChooldistriCt

1 MCallen internationalairport

C4 MCallenrealty

48 MreleCtriC

46 nueVosantanderGallery

35 ohkayrsquos

34 preVentatiVe

Careinstitute

23 QuintaMazatlan

32 riohealthMediCal

31 southtexasColleGe

C2 southtexas

healthsysteM

18 thepatioonGuerra

44 Valley

internationalairport

ECONOMICPROFILE

3000+

2000- 2999

1999- 500

hOuSEhOld iNCOmE

TOP EmPlOyErS

$200000+

$150000-199999

$100000 and under

McAllen Independent School District

McAllen Medical Center South Texas College City of McAllen

Rio Grande Regional Hospital International Bank of Commerce

EduCaTiON lEvEl

High School Graduate

Associate Degree

Bachelorrsquos Degree

Masterrsquos Degree

TaxES

2City Sales and Use Tax

625State Sales Tax

825Total Sales Tax

SCOrECard

$36BAnnual Retail Sales

$28682Retail sales per capita

$3575MAnnual Hotel and Food Sales

15161Total Number of Firms

TraNSPOrTaTiON

mcallen-miller international airportwwwmcallenairportcom

metro mcallenwwwmcallennetmetro

amtrakwwwamtrakcom

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

everything you need every step of the way

Serving the rio grande valley Since 1989

Rachel Hardison-Oliva Broker

3321 N McColl Rd

McAllen TX 78501

(956) 687-7172 bull (956) 687-7178 Fax

Page 16: Livability McAllen, TX 2013

nEW LAkE OPEnS AT FIREMAnrsquoS PARk

Ahh howrefreshing

ldquoWe did all the required dredging to transform the little pond into a recreational lake that is 15 feet at its deepest pointrdquo says Sally Gavlik director of the McAllen Parks amp Recreation Department ldquoIn these days of more and more people opting to remain close to home for staycations Town Lake at Firemanrsquos Park gives them a valid option for a different kind of local vacationrdquo

lET ThE FuN BEgiNTown Lake is situated right in the

middle of McAllen off Business Highway 83 between First and Second streets Swimming is prohibited due to park

irrigation regulations but a beach has been constructed to launch canoes kayaks and paddle boats A fishing pier is also in place

ldquoWe transferred fish to the lake from nearby Boeye Reservoir which has provided us with good stocks of bass perch and catfishrdquo Gavlik says ldquoTown Lake currently only has a catch-and-release program meaning you can catch fish but must release them back into the water At some point in the future when the fish population increases we plan to schedule times when people can take the fish homerdquo

The City of McAllen made a big splash in May 2012 when it officially opened Town Lake at Firemanrsquos Park What was once a small tract of land with a few basic

recreational amenities is now a 15-acre redevelopment that includes the four-acre Town Lake Crews used a water holding pond at the cityrsquos former water treatment facility to construct the new lake

14 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 15

TakE a hikEWalking and jogging are also good recreational

options around the waterrsquos perimeterldquoTown Lake actually ties into the well used Second

Street Trail People can come off the trail walk or jog along the lake and then get back onto the trailrdquo Gavlik says ldquoThe scenery includes wildflowers in a freshly seeded meadow while other park amenities are horseshoe pits two playgrounds and free picnic sites at the north end of Firemanrsquos Park at First Streetrdquo

There is also a covered pavilion area with sand volleyball courts a small concession building and three camping sites The campsites can be used during the day by anyone but only overnight by organized groups such as the Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts Group reservations must be made through the McAllen Parks amp Recreation Department

ldquoAnother park attraction is the former water treatment building which has been transformed into a rental facilityrdquo Gavlik says ldquoIt is now called The Old Pump House complete with new windows air conditioning uplighting tiling and carpeted floors Groups of 75 to 100 people can rent the facility for meetings small receptions or small social events The Old Pump House adds to the overall amenities of todayrsquos Firemenrsquos Parkrdquo

by Kevin Litwin by staff photographer Michael Conti

Fishinga group casts lines into town lake which enforces a catch-and-release program

WHackberryAve

TownLake

83

firemanrsquos park

N2

nd

Str

eet

16 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 17

children enjoy the playground at firemanrsquos park

16 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 17

l iVabil it ycommc allen 19

ThiNgS TO dO LoCAL FLAVoR

Palate Pleasersmcallen restaurants serVe up flaVorful foods

McAllen diners rejoice The city has a broad selection of distinctive restaurants and eateries appealing to just about every taste By Barbara Biehler

Asian

SENSaTiONal SuShi amp SPiCE

McAllen has several great spots for Japanese food such as sushi tempura and teppanyaki including kohnami kumori and yokorsquos Sushi Bar

Fans of Thai food should check out Thai red Chilirsquos for dishes like pad thai red curry chicken and sweet rice with mango

Indian

TaNdOOri aNyONETaste of india hits the spot

for diners looking for high quality authentic Indian food made from old family recipes and paired with excellent service

Tex-Mex and Mexican

SOmE likE iT SPiCy

Step into las Cazuelas grill for classic Mexican cuisine or visit Palenque Chicken for expertly prepared Mexican and Tex Mex dishes

Renowned regionally for homemade tamales deliarsquos uses fresh ingredients including pork chicken and beef

The republic of rio grande serves Mexican cuisine in an intimate setting order a traditional dish like the chicken fajitas or enchiladas suizas or enjoy a distinctive entree such as shrimp chipotle pesto pasta or a brick-oven pizza

check out more restaurants in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

ldquoDeliarsquos has the best tamales in town Probably even in the RGV The only place you can get the good old homemade flavor of real tamalesrdquo

Evila l YELPCOM

Argentine

SOuTh amEriCaN CuiSiNE

Relax in the elegant yet casual atmosphere of la Pampa argentinean Steak housewhile you dine on classic Argentine- cut steaks grilled chicken breasts marinated in Chimichurri or traditional de carne empanadas

Meanwhile la recova also offers a wide selection of Argentine-style favorites on its menu Favorite dishes at La Recova includes chorizo tuna carnitas duck confit and churrasco a classic top sirloin steak

Outdoor Dining

TrENdy amp TaSTy

If yoursquore in the mood for a USDA prime steak or succulent seafood drop by The Patio on guerra Dine on the outdoor patio and have a bottle of one of the restaurantrsquos award-winning wines

FridarsquosGrillandCantina located on 17th street offers traditional mexican favorites with modern flavors Go to fridarsquos to enjoy unique culinary dishes signature drinks and live music on the weekends

l iVabil it ycommc allen 19

ThiNgS TO dO ARTS amp CULTURE

Rave Reviewsmcallenrsquos arts scene remains robust With museums music and eVents

Arts patrons music lovers and history buffs enjoy many cultural attractions throughout McAllen The latest buzz McAllen Performing Arts Center will spring up near the McAllen Convention Center giving fans of live music theater and dance a fine new facility to anticipate

Live Entertainment

PErFOrmErS TakE ThE STagE

The 17th Street Entertainment district in downtown McAllen overflows with lounges restaurants and clubs For live music visit The old Ice House or Cine El Rey

The cityrsquos diverse culture is what influences much of the music performed by the valley Symphony Orchestra amp Chorale The Symphony was established in 1952 with the Chorale joining later in 1984 Similarly the South Texas lyric Opera brings the fine art of opera to the Rio Grande Valley with a yearly slate of productions and an annual opera gala and rio grande valley Broadway brings popular stage shows to town such as Disneyrsquos Beauty and the Beast and Monty Pythonrsquos Spamalot

Historic Sites

TakE a STEP BaCk iN TimE

The museum of South Texas history and the mcallen heritage Center are just two locations to learn about the rich history of this bicultural area

Quinta mazatlan a 1930s hacienda that embodies the Spanish Colonial Revival architecture of arches adobe and beams and provides an intimate look into South Texas history The 10000-square- foot mansion sits on a 15-acre plot hosting a mix of native and exotic plants and wildlife making up McAllenrsquos wing of the popular world Birding Center

Cine El Reyopened in 1947 the historic cine el rey theater now functions as

a music and performance venue showcasing a variety of live events and also shows spanish and english independent films the theater is located in downtown mcallenrsquos 17th street entertainment district

20 mc allen

ldquoCine El Rey hosts events as diverse as wrestling live bands films and comedy shows A huge stage is complimented by killer production value and a staff that really cares about all aspects of the experience Irsquom looking forward to a return triprdquo

Bill dykES YELP

visual Arts and Festivals

aCCESSiBlE arT FuN EvENTS

The international museum of art amp Science founded in 1969 promotes an appreciation for the arts and sciences through its exhibitions cultural events and many educational programs imaS is located at 1900 Nolana Ave

The mcallen art walk is a self-guided tour that gives art lovers the opportunity to explore the many art offerings in the city Itrsquos held every first Friday from September through May and is free and open to the public

on the first Saturday night of December folks enjoy the Candlelight Posada which includes food booths luminaries a parade live entertainment caroling and a live nativity scene

Chamber of Commerce Support

ChamBEr BaCkS ThE arTS

The mcallen Chamber of Commerce shows its love for the arts by managing the mcallen arts Council which publishes a quarterly magazine produces an annual fine arts exhibition and offers grants to local artists The Chamber also offers an outdoor concert series and coordinates the Public art Committeersquos acquisition program

20 mc allen

ThiNgS TO dO SPoRTS amp RECREATIoN

Soak Up Some Sunmcallen residents haVe plenty of Good reasons to Get outdoors

Great golf courses hiking and biking trails and a large well-maintained park system make McAllen the perfect place to enjoy outdoor fun By Carson OrsquoShoney

Golf

TEE iT uPWith nearly 20 courses in the

McAllen area golf is a popular attraction in the Rio Grande Valley

one of the most notable courses is the Palm view golf Course an 18-hole public course with a private feel With rolling fairways and Bermuda rough mounds the course is an often-used location for tournaments having hosted LPGA tournaments and Palm viewrsquos amateur golf Championship

mcallen Country Club provides a challenge with tree-lined fairways and small greens and also offers a swimming pool tennis courts a fitness center and other amenities

Every golf course in the area is bustling especially in the winter when ldquoWinter Texansrdquo come to the Rio Grande Valley The weather generally stays in the 70s in the coldest months making it a perfect place for winter golfing

Hiking Biking and Racing

ON ThE mOvE iN mCallEN

There are plenty of hiking and biking trails on the east and west sides of town such as the retama village Park Trail westside Park Trail and las Palmas Park Trail Visiting cyclists are welcome to meet up with Team mcallen Cycling a bike club thatrsquos been in the city for more than 25 years

Racing fans can enjoy the mcallen international motorplex and Event Center which hosts stock car races car shows and more The racetrack is a family-friendly place offering activities for children such as games face painting and crafts

Palm view Golf Courseirish cochran plays a round of golf at palm View Golf course an 18-hole public course often used for high profile tournaments

22 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 23

City Parks

OuTdOOr Family FuN

The mcallen Parks and recreation department currently oversees 25 city parks Ranging from historic parks established in the early 1900s to more modern facilities there are several options suitable for the whole family

archer Park McAllenrsquos oldest park opened in 1912 Serving as a historic landmark in the city it also plays host to many of the cityrsquos annual special events including the Candlelight Posada and movies in the Park

Spanning 38 acres Springfest Park is the largest park in McAllen Springfest hosts a variety of special events and is home to mcallenrsquos winter Polo league from January through March

check out more fun things to do in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

Spray and Ground Parkbesides its popular water feature mcallenrsquos new SprayandGroundParkhas a sand volleyball court skateboard area a half basketball court and just over half a mile of walking trails in addition there are athletic practice fields shaded areas picnic shelters and restroom facilities

22 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 23

ThiNgS TO dO SEE THE CITY

24 mc allen

The Irrigation Workerthe sun sets behind a sculpture ldquothe irrigation Workerrdquo which was created by artist douglas clark and is located on nolana and 25th

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

l iVabil it ycommc allen 25

LIvINGHERESchools health care education and neighborhoods in McAllen

26 mc allen 26 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 27 26 mc allen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 27

see more beautiful photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

Luxury Livingnewcomers have many beautiful home options in mcallen such as those offered in eight different communities by cantu construction a locally based award-winning builder

26 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 27 liVabil it ycommc allen 27

liviNg

TECH TOOLS FOSTER STUDEnT SUCCESS

Padding theCurriculum

McAllen Independent School District (ISD) is feeling the benefits of an ambitious technology plan that places an iPod or iPad in the hands of every teacher and student

mcallen independent school district students use system-issued ipads in class

28 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 29

EduCaTiNg FOr ThE 21ST CENTury

The initiative began with a meeting between Dr James Ponce McAllenrsquos superintendent of schools and a ldquocadrerdquo of about 35 teachers administrators and parents

The grouprsquos primary goal was to build a 21st-century classroom environment one that fosters creativity collaboration and entrepreneurship The group also wanted to find a way to harness the 247 educational potential of the Internet ndash and teach students the critical-thinking skills needed to process online content

ldquoItrsquos an environment where the teachers become the primary learners and the students are driven by their examplerdquo Ponce says ldquoSo we asked what tools we would need for this transformation of the way we teach and the way the kids learnrdquo

After much research the group chose iPods (for grades K-2) and iPads (for teachers and grades 3-12) because of their portability

ldquoIrsquove learned more from my fellow teachers than I have in many years just from sharing ideas for how to use the iPads in the classroomrdquo

CarOl aNN allEN LANGuAGEARTSTEACHER

ATMICHAELEFOSSuMMIDDLESCHOOL

relatively low cost and ease of use To implement the planrsquos first stage McAllen ISD issued 5800 of these devices to teachers and students when the rollout is complete it will cover more than 25000 students

Big BENEFiTS FOr TEaChErS aNd STudENTS

Both teachers and students are seeing benefits from the program

ldquoThe iPods help the kids be creative My students are organizing information in new waysrdquo says Ruth Whiddon who teaches first grade at Andrew Jackson Elementary School

For Carol Ann Allen International Baccalaureate coordinator and eighth-grade language arts teacher at Michael E Fossum Middle School the initiative is all about collaboration

ldquoIrsquove learned more from my fellow teachers than I have in many years just from sharing ideas for how to use the iPads in the classroomrdquo she says

Sandra Guerra who teaches seventh- and eighth-grade math

at Fossum says the iPads have changed both her teaching style and the way her students learn

Instead of mapping out the learning process step-by-step she now gives students their goal and lets them choose how to get there

ldquoWith this approach they own their learning and theyrsquove been more willing to learnrdquo Guerra says

The iPads have also been a game-changer for Guerrarsquos family

Her seventh-grade daughter is learning advanced science concepts because of independent iPad projects And because most of her childrenrsquos school materials are on their iPads itrsquos easier than ever for Guerra to check on their progress from home

That kind of scenario says Superintendent Ponce is at the heart of the initiative

ldquoThe entire school system and our community want to lead in this effort to build a 21st-century learning environmentrdquo he says ldquoThis is a direct investment in our children and their familiesrdquo

by Kathryn Royster

High-Tech Learningseventh-grade students use ipads to follow class lectures and take quizzes during a language arts class at michael e fossum middle school

PH

oT

o C

oU

RT

EST

Y o

F M

CA

LLE

N IN

DE

PE

ND

EN

T S

CH

oo

L D

IST

RIC

T

28 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 29

Higher Education

SOuTh TExaS COllEgE

McAllenrsquos South Texas College has more than 30000 students and offers numerous associate and bachelorrsquos degree programs as well as professional certifications in more than 40 areas The college also has online degree courses for students who work full time

liviNg EDUCATIoN

Set for SuccesscolleGe prep is a top priority in mcallen

Education in McAllen is defined by excellent options From elementary school through college McAllen includes numerous institutions designed to prepare students for success By Braxton Shoop

school yourself on more educational offerings at livabilitycommcallen

Public Schools

mCallEN iNdEPENdENT SChOOl diSTriCT

Established in 1915 the mcallen independent School district comprises three high schools seven middle schools and 20 elementary schools Among these schools the district offers an advanced placement college-level curriculum and a dual-enrollment program for students who would like to obtain high school and college credit simultaneously

In addition the district features an International Baccalaureate program that provides students with an advanced curriculum geared toward global standards

Local Inspiration

FOrmEr STudENT FliES high

one of McAllenrsquos successful students is astronaut michael Fossum a graduate of McAllen High School After receiving his commission from the US Air Force by Texas AampM University Fossum graduated Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base and in 1993 he started at NASA Throughout his NASA career Fossum was on crew for three spaceflights He commanded the space station during one of his flights helping him rank seventh on the all-time list for cumulative Extravehicular Activity time

Top-notch Learning Environmentuniversity of texas-pan american offers many undergraduate degrees more than 50 masterrsquos degrees and three doctoral degrees utpa has accreditations from organizations like the commission for collegiate nursing the examining board of nurse examiners for the state of texas and the engineering accreditation commission of the accreditation board for engineering and technology

30 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 31

Charter School

idEa aCadEmy

idEa academy is an innovative institution that offers a fully scaled curriculum for students in kindergarten and in the first second and sixth grades The school which opened in McAllen in 2012 will eventually add more grades each one including approximately 110 students While the school is public students must apply to fill the 460 available spots

To prepare its students to be collegiate scholars IDEA provides International Baccalaureate curriculum as well as the Road to College curriculum which begins in the sixth grade

ldquoWersquore very proud of the connection to our distinguished alumni like NASA astronaut Michael Fossum and we want our students to recognize the kind of education we provide here What he learned here helped catapult him into space and wersquore very proud of thatrdquo

NOrma zamOra-guErra MCALLENINDEPENDENTSCHOOL

DISTRICTCOMMuNITYINFORMATIONDIRECTOR

Michael E Fossum Middle Schoolnamed for astronaut michael e fossum the school is part of the mcallen independent school district

30 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 31

Please call 9566316109 for a representative today

2501 Buddy Owens Blvd McAllen TX 78504

9656316125 Fax

wwwrio-healthcom

RioHealth MedicalWe are here to meet all your

occupational medicine needs

bull Workplace injuries and workersrsquo compensation

bull On site and off site drug screening

bull Physicals

bull Orthopedics

bull Early return to work

bull 247 coverage

bull We accept all types of insurance

WorkplaceInjury

DANIEL J GUERRA MD Diplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

LEONEL G MORENO MDDiplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

HOMERO RIVAS MDDiplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

606 S Broadway bull McAllen TX bull (956) 682-4515 bull wwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

FAMILY PHYSICIANS

CLINICSince 1967

Mon-Fri 8 am-5 pm Sat 8 am-Noon

VALLEY NIGHT CLINIC

Since 1981

Open Every Night of the Year 6 pm-Midnight

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valley supports children of all abilities through child care

services early intervention and parenting support programs

Early Childhood intErvEntion ChildCarE sErviCEs ParEnts as tEaChErs

Easter seals rio Grande valley Programs for Children Birth to Five years

bullChild-Care servicesndashHigh-qualitychildcare sixweekstofiveyears

bullParents as teachers (Pat)ndashDevelopmental parentingsupportforchildrenbirthtofiveyears

bullEarly Childhood intervention (ECi) ndashConcerns indevelopmentforchildrenbirthtothreeyears

For more information about Easter seals

programs and services call (956) 631-9171 or visit wwweasterseals-rgvorg

32 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 33

liviNg HEALTH

Take a Deep Breath and Relaxresidents haVe access to top hospitals

McAllen residents receive quality care from the South Texas Health System Rio Grande Regional Hospital and the Doctors Hospital at Renaissance By Kevin Litwin

Health System

SOuTh TExaS hEalTh SySTEm

South Texas health System is the umbrella organization for a number of fine medical facilities including mcallen medical Center MMC has 441 beds and a staff of more than 400 physicians that represent 50 medical specialties

Also part of South Texas Health System is mcallen heart hospital which opened in 1996 as the first freestanding cardiology and cardiovascular hospital built in the United States It includes 60 beds and a 24-hour emergency center

Healthgrades has awarded McAllen Medical Center and McAllen Heart Hospital with a variety of honors in recent years and both earned a Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence in 2011

Hospital

riO graNdE rEgiONal hOSPiTal

rio grande regional hospital is an acute care medical facility with 320 beds and more than 500 physicians The hospital is the only area Diabetes Management Center accredited by the American Diabetes Association and is the arearsquos first facility to have a Pediatric Heart Program

RGRH also includes a 24-hour emergency room Womenrsquos Services department Level III trauma center and cardiovascular care The hospital is fully accredited by The Joint Commission and the College of American Pathologists and every year since 2007 has been named a Center of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery

32 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 33

Hospital

dOCTOrS hOSPiTal aT rENaiSSaNCE

The 506-bed doctors hospital at renaissance is an acute care facility It provides cardiology neurosurgery and endocrinology as well as a Pediatric Medical Tower that offers pediatric oncology and pediatric ICU services

Doctors Hospital has been ranked among the nationrsquos 100 Top Hospitals by Thomson Reuters and recently invested $32 million to establish an Electronic Medical Record System

DHR was the first in South Texas to acquire a PETCT scanner for diagnosing cancer and the first in the region to introduce da Vinci robotic surgical technology The hospital also oversees Renaissance Behavioral Center which provides treatment for people with mental health problems substance abuse or eating disorders

34 mc allen

COMMUNITyPROFILE COST OF liviNg

$44074Median Household Income

$129554Median Home Price

$689Median Rent for a Two-Bedroom Apartment

TraNSPOrTaTiON

Median Travel Time to Work

agE

TEmPEraTurE

January Average

July Average

EThNiCiTy

19 and Under

20-54

55 and over

White

Black

Hispanic

other

1645minutes

Closest Airport McAllen International Airport

955deg

482deg

South Texasrsquo Finest Gift Store Offers Gifts From Around the World

4300 N 10th St bull Ste C bull McAllen TX 78504 (956) 686-1264 bull ohkaysaolcom

Look for us on Facebook

gOlF COurSES

gOlF TEC

2901 N 10TH ST956-994-9631

mCallEN COuNTry CluB615 WICHITA AVE956-686-0923

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

The national Butterfly Center the national butterfly center dedicates 100 acres to the conservation and scientific study of wild butterflies in their natural habitats the wildlife center is open daily from 8 am until 5 pm september through march and from 9 am until 4 pm april through august

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

liviNg SEE THE CITY

36 mc allen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 37

BUSINESSInfo on McAllenrsquos top employers jobs and success stories

McAllen Convention Centerthe McAllenConventionCenter is located on 185 acres and includes a 60000-square-foot exhibit hall as well as more than 25000 square feet of meeting space in 16 breakout rooms

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

38 mc allen 38 mc allen

38 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 39

BuSiNESS oVERVIEW

McAllenrsquos in the MoneyCultural diversity location and innovation drive cityrsquos top business sectors

As the retail hub of South Texas McAllen is thriving The city draws a customer base of more than 10 million within a 200-mile radius and is represented by 40 of Americarsquos top 100 retailers

By Tiffany Williams

La Plaza MallPumping much of the life into this retail hub is la Plaza mall which annually attracts more than 18 million visitors its anchoring stores such as dillardrsquos and macyrsquos and sought-after retailers including BCBg-max azria and Coach average sales of more than $650 per square foot and are among the most profitable stores in their chains

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

Meetings amp Events

CONvENTiON CENTEr lurES viSiTOrS

The mcallen Convention Center also helps draw businesses to the area The 185-acre complex featuring a 60000-square-foot column-free exhibit hall more than 25000 square feet of meeting space and up to 16 breakout rooms offers bicultural themes and tropical accents that represent the cultural and natural diversity of McAllen

Retail

ShOPPiNg hOT SPOTS

This bicultural city which is located just five miles from the US-Mexico border also has access to three international bridges that flood with visitors and eager shoppers daily many of whom are spending at a rate twice the national average

In addition to La Plaza Mall shopping centers in the McAllen area include Trenton Crossing las Tiendas Plaza and La Plaza Mallrsquos 600sbquo000-square-foot sister shopping center Palms Crossing which hosts such big-name retailers as Barnes amp Noble and Babies rsquoRrsquo Us as well as specialty shops and restaurants Its appeal stems from its open-air design with lots of palm trees water fountains and seating areas

Major Manufacturers

madE FOr maNuFaCTuriNg

Ranked third in Texas in per-capita sales the McAllen area has some of the largest manufacturing and wholesale companies in the nation

valley Coca Cola Bottling Co Value Frozen Foods and Emerson Network Power are just a few who have put down roots here Tri-City Steel which provides a full scope of steel construction by fabricating and erecting structural steel buildings pre-engineered metal buildings stairs handrails and more Texas Citrus Exchange in Mission makes Texas rio red grapefruit juice

learn more about businesses in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

BuSiNESS

RESIDEnTS GET CREATIvE WITH BUSInESS vEnTURES

the BoxOutside

One of McAllenrsquos most innovative startups sprang from the mind of someone who wasnrsquot even interested in business Today Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar is one

of the arearsquos top entrepreneurs and is finding serious success

mcallen entrepreneur dalinda Gonzalez-alcantar founded eJucomm llc

liVabil it ycommc allen 43 42 mc allen

ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the worldrdquo

EllEry BuChaNaN FIBERIOPRESIDENTCEO

Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar the founder of eJucomm LLC simply wanted to make information in her school district more accessible to families The company was a way she could make it happen

She got the idea while working as a teacher at DeLeon Middle School in McAllen and was frustrated that families without computers andor Internet access had difficulty communicating with teachers and administrators So she decided to develop a smartphone application that would solve the problem

With no previous technical experience she researched code online at night and a year later was selling the app to various school districts

ldquoThe app enables Android and iPhone users to access information for things like grades and attendancerdquo Gonzalez-Alcantar says

The entrepreneur also faced unexpected challenges ndash for instance how to tailor individual apps to the roughly seven school districts and 40 campuses that now use them No longer teaching she has partnered with a chief technology officer so she can focus on sales and marketing

One of her biggest hurdles was finding legal fees to fund the startup and a $10000 McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant in 2011 helped pay for a licensing agreement and intellectual property protection for eJucomm to move forward

BaNaNa E-z SPliTAnother McAllen resident

Gerald Guerra faced a similar obstacle when developing a product called Banana E-Z Split A health insurance broker Guerra was inspired at his own kitchen table to create single serving packets with all three syrups

Banana E-Z SplitGerald Guerra inventor of the banana e-Z split single serving syrup packets poses with his daughters Victoria and kaitlyn enthusiastic taste testers for his product

liVabil it ycommc allen 43

To order please call or visit 956-668-0555 or wwwediblearrangementscom 5113-A N 10th St bull McAllen TX 78504

Offer valid at participating locations Offer expires 12312013 Cannot be combined with another offers Offer code must be used when placing order

Containers may vary EDIBLE ARRANGEMENTS and the Fruit Basket Logo Design are registered trademarks of Edible Arrangements LLC

copy2012 Edible Arrangements LLC All rights reserved Frachises available call (888) 727-4258 or visit wwweafranchisescom

DELICIOUSLYd e s i r a b l e

FREE PIECE OF DIPPED FRUIT

Code mctx1213

Living green is making sure the air in your home is healthy for your family to breathe Test your home for radon and build radon-resistant

Its easy Thats living healthy and green

Just call 866-730-green or visit wwwepagovradon

Living greenstarts from the ground up

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

(pineapple chocolate strawberry) needed for a banana split

The concept led to a 2011 McAllen Business Plan Competition grant to fund the necessary patents

ldquoI envisioned a product that could hang easily in refrigerated sections at big box storesrdquo Guerra says ldquoI have lined up a distributor and a broker with my ultimate goal being to have Banana E-Z Split available to customers in large grocery chains It is close to happeningrdquo

FiBEriO TEChNOlOgyAnother startup in McAllen

is already making waves globally FibeRio Technology Corporation another McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant recipient is thriving thanks to ground-breaking nanofiber-producing machinery The nanofibers can be used to make products ranging from diapers to

ballistics using a new way to spin microscopic nanofibers

The technology serves an array of industries that feature filtration textiles or biomedical applications

ldquoDr Karen Lozano at UT-Pan American discovered the process and I was contacted because I am an entrepreneur familiar with launching technology- based companies including nanotechnologyrdquo says FibeRio Technology presidentCEO Ellery Buchanan ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the world Plus we use local McAllen suppliers whenever possible including machine shops parts suppliers IT contractors and other business servicesrdquo

by Kevin Litwin by staff photographer

Michael Conti

FibeRio Technology Corporationnanomaterials processing research equipment is used at FibeRioTechnologyCorporation

FEldmaNrsquoS markET CENTErFeldmanrsquos Market Center features a broad selection of beer as well as wines liquors cigars and a gourmet deli In addition weekly beer and wine tastings are offered(956) 687-9463

PErFECT PawS rESOrTPerfect Paws Resort offers grooming services daycare and boarding to vaccinated dogs and cats that are at least 12 weeks old Boarding suites are climate controlled and under constant supervisionperfectpawsresortcom

mCCrEEry aviaTiON CO iNCMcCreery Aviation Co Inc is a place for pilots and their aircraft to receive top-notch treatment A fuel center flight planning room and hangar storage are availablemccreeryaviationcom

kiTikakE llCKitikake LLC offers gently- used vintage clothing for women from an array of top designers such as Lilly Pulitzer and Catherine Malandrino Vintage home deacutecor and dishes are also availablekitikakecom

krEidlEr FuNEral hOmEFounded owned and operated by the Kreidler family Kreidler Funeral Home has served McAllen for 100 years They offer traditional burial and graveside funeral services direct burials cremations memorial services and morekreidlerfuneralhomecom

Business Spotlight

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

visit ouradvertisersBorder Capital Bankwwwbordercapitalbankcom

City of McAllen Public Info Officewwwexploremcallennet

Courtyard by Marriottwwwmarriottcommtema

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valleywwweasterseals-rgvorg

Edible Arrangementswwwediblearrangementscom

Family Physicians Clinicwwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

Magic Valley Electric Cooperativewwwmagicvalleycoop

McAllen Economic Development Corporationwwwmcallenedcorg

McAllen Independent School Districtwwwmcallenisdorg

McAllen International Airportwwwmcallenairportcom

McAllen Realty

Mr Electricwwwmrelectriccom

Nuevo Santander Gallerywwwnuevosantandercom

OH KAYrsquoS

Preventative Care Institutewwwrgvpcicom

Quinta Mazatlanwwwquintamazatlancom

Rio Health Medicalwwwrio-healthcom

South Texas College wwwsouthtexascollegeedu

South Texas Health Systemwwwsouthtexashealthsystemcom

The Patio on Guerra wwwpatioonguerracom

Valley International Airportwwwflythevalleycom

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

BuSiNESS CHAMBER REPoRT

Whatrsquos the Big Ideachamberrsquos readiness tool kit assists entrepreneurs

The McAllen Chamber of Commerce has helped prepare 25 McAllen entrepreneurs in the continuing quest to launch their ideas ndash all since July 2011

The Chamber has a software package called VentureBusiness Readiness Assessment which is used by states such as oklahoma and Kentucky to assist startup companies The software helps an entrepreneur through the entire process of seeing whether they are truly ready to launch their startup

ldquoVentureBusiness Readiness Assessment is a way that the Chamber assists entrepreneurs who are trying to get funding for their products or projectsrdquo says Steve Ahlenius who serves as President and CEo of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce ldquoThe Chamber awards $50000 a year in innovation grants in $10000 increments and entrepreneurs are always looking for funding But they must earn that money by passing the various stages of the software tool kitrdquo

TEN hOurS TO COmPlETEAhlenius says the assessment

has several specific steps to make sure that a startup company has everything in place to ensure that it is successful

ldquoThe entrepreneurs contact us and set up an appointment to see me then they come to the Chamber office we sign them up and give them passwords to access the software at their conveniencerdquo he says ldquo[The program] takes about 10 hours to complete but doesnrsquot have to be finished in one sitting However the program must be eventually completed in order to qualify for our innovation grantrdquo

CaN iT BE madE QuiCklyThe software asks questions

such as Have you protected your intellectual property Is your product something that can be

made quickly Have you set a value on your idea and do you know how to do that If itrsquos a product that involves high-tech engineering do you have an engineer on your companyrsquos team

ldquoThe entrepreneur needs to know if his venture is worth 20 shares of stock or 200 shares ndash things like thatrdquo Ahlenius says ldquoMany factors go into launching a product or business and Venture Readiness points out a personrsquos strengths and weaknessesrdquo

a grEaT OvErviEwVicente Valle Martinez of

McAllen is an entrepreneur who contacted the Chamber in 2012 about his idea for connecting

people on the Internet who have similar educational experiences and higher learning interests

ldquoI have no background in business but heard one day about an innovation grant competition that the Chamber was sponsoringrdquo Martinez says ldquoSteve told me about the software package and it gave me a great overview of what I need to know before launching my ideardquo

Ahlenius says the various concepts the software package covers include credentials character capabilities commitment and circumstance

ldquoIt is an excellent self-awareness testrdquo he says ldquoItrsquos ideal for entrepreneursrdquo

by Kevin Litwin

the mcallen chamber of commerce on ash avenue

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

Ad Index 41 BorderCapitalBank

21 CityofMCallen puBliCinfooffiCe

4 CourtyardByMarriott

32 easterseals rioGrandeValley

44 ediBlearranGeMents

32 faMilyphysiCiansCliniC

2 MaGiCValley eleCtriCCooperatiVe

C3 MCalleneConoMiC deVelopMentCorporation

46 MCallenindependent sChooldistriCt

1 MCallen internationalairport

C4 MCallenrealty

48 MreleCtriC

46 nueVosantanderGallery

35 ohkayrsquos

34 preVentatiVe

Careinstitute

23 QuintaMazatlan

32 riohealthMediCal

31 southtexasColleGe

C2 southtexas

healthsysteM

18 thepatioonGuerra

44 Valley

internationalairport

ECONOMICPROFILE

3000+

2000- 2999

1999- 500

hOuSEhOld iNCOmE

TOP EmPlOyErS

$200000+

$150000-199999

$100000 and under

McAllen Independent School District

McAllen Medical Center South Texas College City of McAllen

Rio Grande Regional Hospital International Bank of Commerce

EduCaTiON lEvEl

High School Graduate

Associate Degree

Bachelorrsquos Degree

Masterrsquos Degree

TaxES

2City Sales and Use Tax

625State Sales Tax

825Total Sales Tax

SCOrECard

$36BAnnual Retail Sales

$28682Retail sales per capita

$3575MAnnual Hotel and Food Sales

15161Total Number of Firms

TraNSPOrTaTiON

mcallen-miller international airportwwwmcallenairportcom

metro mcallenwwwmcallennetmetro

amtrakwwwamtrakcom

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

everything you need every step of the way

Serving the rio grande valley Since 1989

Rachel Hardison-Oliva Broker

3321 N McColl Rd

McAllen TX 78501

(956) 687-7172 bull (956) 687-7178 Fax

Page 17: Livability McAllen, TX 2013

TakE a hikEWalking and jogging are also good recreational

options around the waterrsquos perimeterldquoTown Lake actually ties into the well used Second

Street Trail People can come off the trail walk or jog along the lake and then get back onto the trailrdquo Gavlik says ldquoThe scenery includes wildflowers in a freshly seeded meadow while other park amenities are horseshoe pits two playgrounds and free picnic sites at the north end of Firemanrsquos Park at First Streetrdquo

There is also a covered pavilion area with sand volleyball courts a small concession building and three camping sites The campsites can be used during the day by anyone but only overnight by organized groups such as the Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts Group reservations must be made through the McAllen Parks amp Recreation Department

ldquoAnother park attraction is the former water treatment building which has been transformed into a rental facilityrdquo Gavlik says ldquoIt is now called The Old Pump House complete with new windows air conditioning uplighting tiling and carpeted floors Groups of 75 to 100 people can rent the facility for meetings small receptions or small social events The Old Pump House adds to the overall amenities of todayrsquos Firemenrsquos Parkrdquo

by Kevin Litwin by staff photographer Michael Conti

Fishinga group casts lines into town lake which enforces a catch-and-release program

WHackberryAve

TownLake

83

firemanrsquos park

N2

nd

Str

eet

16 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 17

children enjoy the playground at firemanrsquos park

16 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 17

l iVabil it ycommc allen 19

ThiNgS TO dO LoCAL FLAVoR

Palate Pleasersmcallen restaurants serVe up flaVorful foods

McAllen diners rejoice The city has a broad selection of distinctive restaurants and eateries appealing to just about every taste By Barbara Biehler

Asian

SENSaTiONal SuShi amp SPiCE

McAllen has several great spots for Japanese food such as sushi tempura and teppanyaki including kohnami kumori and yokorsquos Sushi Bar

Fans of Thai food should check out Thai red Chilirsquos for dishes like pad thai red curry chicken and sweet rice with mango

Indian

TaNdOOri aNyONETaste of india hits the spot

for diners looking for high quality authentic Indian food made from old family recipes and paired with excellent service

Tex-Mex and Mexican

SOmE likE iT SPiCy

Step into las Cazuelas grill for classic Mexican cuisine or visit Palenque Chicken for expertly prepared Mexican and Tex Mex dishes

Renowned regionally for homemade tamales deliarsquos uses fresh ingredients including pork chicken and beef

The republic of rio grande serves Mexican cuisine in an intimate setting order a traditional dish like the chicken fajitas or enchiladas suizas or enjoy a distinctive entree such as shrimp chipotle pesto pasta or a brick-oven pizza

check out more restaurants in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

ldquoDeliarsquos has the best tamales in town Probably even in the RGV The only place you can get the good old homemade flavor of real tamalesrdquo

Evila l YELPCOM

Argentine

SOuTh amEriCaN CuiSiNE

Relax in the elegant yet casual atmosphere of la Pampa argentinean Steak housewhile you dine on classic Argentine- cut steaks grilled chicken breasts marinated in Chimichurri or traditional de carne empanadas

Meanwhile la recova also offers a wide selection of Argentine-style favorites on its menu Favorite dishes at La Recova includes chorizo tuna carnitas duck confit and churrasco a classic top sirloin steak

Outdoor Dining

TrENdy amp TaSTy

If yoursquore in the mood for a USDA prime steak or succulent seafood drop by The Patio on guerra Dine on the outdoor patio and have a bottle of one of the restaurantrsquos award-winning wines

FridarsquosGrillandCantina located on 17th street offers traditional mexican favorites with modern flavors Go to fridarsquos to enjoy unique culinary dishes signature drinks and live music on the weekends

l iVabil it ycommc allen 19

ThiNgS TO dO ARTS amp CULTURE

Rave Reviewsmcallenrsquos arts scene remains robust With museums music and eVents

Arts patrons music lovers and history buffs enjoy many cultural attractions throughout McAllen The latest buzz McAllen Performing Arts Center will spring up near the McAllen Convention Center giving fans of live music theater and dance a fine new facility to anticipate

Live Entertainment

PErFOrmErS TakE ThE STagE

The 17th Street Entertainment district in downtown McAllen overflows with lounges restaurants and clubs For live music visit The old Ice House or Cine El Rey

The cityrsquos diverse culture is what influences much of the music performed by the valley Symphony Orchestra amp Chorale The Symphony was established in 1952 with the Chorale joining later in 1984 Similarly the South Texas lyric Opera brings the fine art of opera to the Rio Grande Valley with a yearly slate of productions and an annual opera gala and rio grande valley Broadway brings popular stage shows to town such as Disneyrsquos Beauty and the Beast and Monty Pythonrsquos Spamalot

Historic Sites

TakE a STEP BaCk iN TimE

The museum of South Texas history and the mcallen heritage Center are just two locations to learn about the rich history of this bicultural area

Quinta mazatlan a 1930s hacienda that embodies the Spanish Colonial Revival architecture of arches adobe and beams and provides an intimate look into South Texas history The 10000-square- foot mansion sits on a 15-acre plot hosting a mix of native and exotic plants and wildlife making up McAllenrsquos wing of the popular world Birding Center

Cine El Reyopened in 1947 the historic cine el rey theater now functions as

a music and performance venue showcasing a variety of live events and also shows spanish and english independent films the theater is located in downtown mcallenrsquos 17th street entertainment district

20 mc allen

ldquoCine El Rey hosts events as diverse as wrestling live bands films and comedy shows A huge stage is complimented by killer production value and a staff that really cares about all aspects of the experience Irsquom looking forward to a return triprdquo

Bill dykES YELP

visual Arts and Festivals

aCCESSiBlE arT FuN EvENTS

The international museum of art amp Science founded in 1969 promotes an appreciation for the arts and sciences through its exhibitions cultural events and many educational programs imaS is located at 1900 Nolana Ave

The mcallen art walk is a self-guided tour that gives art lovers the opportunity to explore the many art offerings in the city Itrsquos held every first Friday from September through May and is free and open to the public

on the first Saturday night of December folks enjoy the Candlelight Posada which includes food booths luminaries a parade live entertainment caroling and a live nativity scene

Chamber of Commerce Support

ChamBEr BaCkS ThE arTS

The mcallen Chamber of Commerce shows its love for the arts by managing the mcallen arts Council which publishes a quarterly magazine produces an annual fine arts exhibition and offers grants to local artists The Chamber also offers an outdoor concert series and coordinates the Public art Committeersquos acquisition program

20 mc allen

ThiNgS TO dO SPoRTS amp RECREATIoN

Soak Up Some Sunmcallen residents haVe plenty of Good reasons to Get outdoors

Great golf courses hiking and biking trails and a large well-maintained park system make McAllen the perfect place to enjoy outdoor fun By Carson OrsquoShoney

Golf

TEE iT uPWith nearly 20 courses in the

McAllen area golf is a popular attraction in the Rio Grande Valley

one of the most notable courses is the Palm view golf Course an 18-hole public course with a private feel With rolling fairways and Bermuda rough mounds the course is an often-used location for tournaments having hosted LPGA tournaments and Palm viewrsquos amateur golf Championship

mcallen Country Club provides a challenge with tree-lined fairways and small greens and also offers a swimming pool tennis courts a fitness center and other amenities

Every golf course in the area is bustling especially in the winter when ldquoWinter Texansrdquo come to the Rio Grande Valley The weather generally stays in the 70s in the coldest months making it a perfect place for winter golfing

Hiking Biking and Racing

ON ThE mOvE iN mCallEN

There are plenty of hiking and biking trails on the east and west sides of town such as the retama village Park Trail westside Park Trail and las Palmas Park Trail Visiting cyclists are welcome to meet up with Team mcallen Cycling a bike club thatrsquos been in the city for more than 25 years

Racing fans can enjoy the mcallen international motorplex and Event Center which hosts stock car races car shows and more The racetrack is a family-friendly place offering activities for children such as games face painting and crafts

Palm view Golf Courseirish cochran plays a round of golf at palm View Golf course an 18-hole public course often used for high profile tournaments

22 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 23

City Parks

OuTdOOr Family FuN

The mcallen Parks and recreation department currently oversees 25 city parks Ranging from historic parks established in the early 1900s to more modern facilities there are several options suitable for the whole family

archer Park McAllenrsquos oldest park opened in 1912 Serving as a historic landmark in the city it also plays host to many of the cityrsquos annual special events including the Candlelight Posada and movies in the Park

Spanning 38 acres Springfest Park is the largest park in McAllen Springfest hosts a variety of special events and is home to mcallenrsquos winter Polo league from January through March

check out more fun things to do in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

Spray and Ground Parkbesides its popular water feature mcallenrsquos new SprayandGroundParkhas a sand volleyball court skateboard area a half basketball court and just over half a mile of walking trails in addition there are athletic practice fields shaded areas picnic shelters and restroom facilities

22 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 23

ThiNgS TO dO SEE THE CITY

24 mc allen

The Irrigation Workerthe sun sets behind a sculpture ldquothe irrigation Workerrdquo which was created by artist douglas clark and is located on nolana and 25th

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

l iVabil it ycommc allen 25

LIvINGHERESchools health care education and neighborhoods in McAllen

26 mc allen 26 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 27 26 mc allen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 27

see more beautiful photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

Luxury Livingnewcomers have many beautiful home options in mcallen such as those offered in eight different communities by cantu construction a locally based award-winning builder

26 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 27 liVabil it ycommc allen 27

liviNg

TECH TOOLS FOSTER STUDEnT SUCCESS

Padding theCurriculum

McAllen Independent School District (ISD) is feeling the benefits of an ambitious technology plan that places an iPod or iPad in the hands of every teacher and student

mcallen independent school district students use system-issued ipads in class

28 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 29

EduCaTiNg FOr ThE 21ST CENTury

The initiative began with a meeting between Dr James Ponce McAllenrsquos superintendent of schools and a ldquocadrerdquo of about 35 teachers administrators and parents

The grouprsquos primary goal was to build a 21st-century classroom environment one that fosters creativity collaboration and entrepreneurship The group also wanted to find a way to harness the 247 educational potential of the Internet ndash and teach students the critical-thinking skills needed to process online content

ldquoItrsquos an environment where the teachers become the primary learners and the students are driven by their examplerdquo Ponce says ldquoSo we asked what tools we would need for this transformation of the way we teach and the way the kids learnrdquo

After much research the group chose iPods (for grades K-2) and iPads (for teachers and grades 3-12) because of their portability

ldquoIrsquove learned more from my fellow teachers than I have in many years just from sharing ideas for how to use the iPads in the classroomrdquo

CarOl aNN allEN LANGuAGEARTSTEACHER

ATMICHAELEFOSSuMMIDDLESCHOOL

relatively low cost and ease of use To implement the planrsquos first stage McAllen ISD issued 5800 of these devices to teachers and students when the rollout is complete it will cover more than 25000 students

Big BENEFiTS FOr TEaChErS aNd STudENTS

Both teachers and students are seeing benefits from the program

ldquoThe iPods help the kids be creative My students are organizing information in new waysrdquo says Ruth Whiddon who teaches first grade at Andrew Jackson Elementary School

For Carol Ann Allen International Baccalaureate coordinator and eighth-grade language arts teacher at Michael E Fossum Middle School the initiative is all about collaboration

ldquoIrsquove learned more from my fellow teachers than I have in many years just from sharing ideas for how to use the iPads in the classroomrdquo she says

Sandra Guerra who teaches seventh- and eighth-grade math

at Fossum says the iPads have changed both her teaching style and the way her students learn

Instead of mapping out the learning process step-by-step she now gives students their goal and lets them choose how to get there

ldquoWith this approach they own their learning and theyrsquove been more willing to learnrdquo Guerra says

The iPads have also been a game-changer for Guerrarsquos family

Her seventh-grade daughter is learning advanced science concepts because of independent iPad projects And because most of her childrenrsquos school materials are on their iPads itrsquos easier than ever for Guerra to check on their progress from home

That kind of scenario says Superintendent Ponce is at the heart of the initiative

ldquoThe entire school system and our community want to lead in this effort to build a 21st-century learning environmentrdquo he says ldquoThis is a direct investment in our children and their familiesrdquo

by Kathryn Royster

High-Tech Learningseventh-grade students use ipads to follow class lectures and take quizzes during a language arts class at michael e fossum middle school

PH

oT

o C

oU

RT

EST

Y o

F M

CA

LLE

N IN

DE

PE

ND

EN

T S

CH

oo

L D

IST

RIC

T

28 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 29

Higher Education

SOuTh TExaS COllEgE

McAllenrsquos South Texas College has more than 30000 students and offers numerous associate and bachelorrsquos degree programs as well as professional certifications in more than 40 areas The college also has online degree courses for students who work full time

liviNg EDUCATIoN

Set for SuccesscolleGe prep is a top priority in mcallen

Education in McAllen is defined by excellent options From elementary school through college McAllen includes numerous institutions designed to prepare students for success By Braxton Shoop

school yourself on more educational offerings at livabilitycommcallen

Public Schools

mCallEN iNdEPENdENT SChOOl diSTriCT

Established in 1915 the mcallen independent School district comprises three high schools seven middle schools and 20 elementary schools Among these schools the district offers an advanced placement college-level curriculum and a dual-enrollment program for students who would like to obtain high school and college credit simultaneously

In addition the district features an International Baccalaureate program that provides students with an advanced curriculum geared toward global standards

Local Inspiration

FOrmEr STudENT FliES high

one of McAllenrsquos successful students is astronaut michael Fossum a graduate of McAllen High School After receiving his commission from the US Air Force by Texas AampM University Fossum graduated Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base and in 1993 he started at NASA Throughout his NASA career Fossum was on crew for three spaceflights He commanded the space station during one of his flights helping him rank seventh on the all-time list for cumulative Extravehicular Activity time

Top-notch Learning Environmentuniversity of texas-pan american offers many undergraduate degrees more than 50 masterrsquos degrees and three doctoral degrees utpa has accreditations from organizations like the commission for collegiate nursing the examining board of nurse examiners for the state of texas and the engineering accreditation commission of the accreditation board for engineering and technology

30 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 31

Charter School

idEa aCadEmy

idEa academy is an innovative institution that offers a fully scaled curriculum for students in kindergarten and in the first second and sixth grades The school which opened in McAllen in 2012 will eventually add more grades each one including approximately 110 students While the school is public students must apply to fill the 460 available spots

To prepare its students to be collegiate scholars IDEA provides International Baccalaureate curriculum as well as the Road to College curriculum which begins in the sixth grade

ldquoWersquore very proud of the connection to our distinguished alumni like NASA astronaut Michael Fossum and we want our students to recognize the kind of education we provide here What he learned here helped catapult him into space and wersquore very proud of thatrdquo

NOrma zamOra-guErra MCALLENINDEPENDENTSCHOOL

DISTRICTCOMMuNITYINFORMATIONDIRECTOR

Michael E Fossum Middle Schoolnamed for astronaut michael e fossum the school is part of the mcallen independent school district

30 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 31

Please call 9566316109 for a representative today

2501 Buddy Owens Blvd McAllen TX 78504

9656316125 Fax

wwwrio-healthcom

RioHealth MedicalWe are here to meet all your

occupational medicine needs

bull Workplace injuries and workersrsquo compensation

bull On site and off site drug screening

bull Physicals

bull Orthopedics

bull Early return to work

bull 247 coverage

bull We accept all types of insurance

WorkplaceInjury

DANIEL J GUERRA MD Diplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

LEONEL G MORENO MDDiplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

HOMERO RIVAS MDDiplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

606 S Broadway bull McAllen TX bull (956) 682-4515 bull wwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

FAMILY PHYSICIANS

CLINICSince 1967

Mon-Fri 8 am-5 pm Sat 8 am-Noon

VALLEY NIGHT CLINIC

Since 1981

Open Every Night of the Year 6 pm-Midnight

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valley supports children of all abilities through child care

services early intervention and parenting support programs

Early Childhood intErvEntion ChildCarE sErviCEs ParEnts as tEaChErs

Easter seals rio Grande valley Programs for Children Birth to Five years

bullChild-Care servicesndashHigh-qualitychildcare sixweekstofiveyears

bullParents as teachers (Pat)ndashDevelopmental parentingsupportforchildrenbirthtofiveyears

bullEarly Childhood intervention (ECi) ndashConcerns indevelopmentforchildrenbirthtothreeyears

For more information about Easter seals

programs and services call (956) 631-9171 or visit wwweasterseals-rgvorg

32 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 33

liviNg HEALTH

Take a Deep Breath and Relaxresidents haVe access to top hospitals

McAllen residents receive quality care from the South Texas Health System Rio Grande Regional Hospital and the Doctors Hospital at Renaissance By Kevin Litwin

Health System

SOuTh TExaS hEalTh SySTEm

South Texas health System is the umbrella organization for a number of fine medical facilities including mcallen medical Center MMC has 441 beds and a staff of more than 400 physicians that represent 50 medical specialties

Also part of South Texas Health System is mcallen heart hospital which opened in 1996 as the first freestanding cardiology and cardiovascular hospital built in the United States It includes 60 beds and a 24-hour emergency center

Healthgrades has awarded McAllen Medical Center and McAllen Heart Hospital with a variety of honors in recent years and both earned a Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence in 2011

Hospital

riO graNdE rEgiONal hOSPiTal

rio grande regional hospital is an acute care medical facility with 320 beds and more than 500 physicians The hospital is the only area Diabetes Management Center accredited by the American Diabetes Association and is the arearsquos first facility to have a Pediatric Heart Program

RGRH also includes a 24-hour emergency room Womenrsquos Services department Level III trauma center and cardiovascular care The hospital is fully accredited by The Joint Commission and the College of American Pathologists and every year since 2007 has been named a Center of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery

32 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 33

Hospital

dOCTOrS hOSPiTal aT rENaiSSaNCE

The 506-bed doctors hospital at renaissance is an acute care facility It provides cardiology neurosurgery and endocrinology as well as a Pediatric Medical Tower that offers pediatric oncology and pediatric ICU services

Doctors Hospital has been ranked among the nationrsquos 100 Top Hospitals by Thomson Reuters and recently invested $32 million to establish an Electronic Medical Record System

DHR was the first in South Texas to acquire a PETCT scanner for diagnosing cancer and the first in the region to introduce da Vinci robotic surgical technology The hospital also oversees Renaissance Behavioral Center which provides treatment for people with mental health problems substance abuse or eating disorders

34 mc allen

COMMUNITyPROFILE COST OF liviNg

$44074Median Household Income

$129554Median Home Price

$689Median Rent for a Two-Bedroom Apartment

TraNSPOrTaTiON

Median Travel Time to Work

agE

TEmPEraTurE

January Average

July Average

EThNiCiTy

19 and Under

20-54

55 and over

White

Black

Hispanic

other

1645minutes

Closest Airport McAllen International Airport

955deg

482deg

South Texasrsquo Finest Gift Store Offers Gifts From Around the World

4300 N 10th St bull Ste C bull McAllen TX 78504 (956) 686-1264 bull ohkaysaolcom

Look for us on Facebook

gOlF COurSES

gOlF TEC

2901 N 10TH ST956-994-9631

mCallEN COuNTry CluB615 WICHITA AVE956-686-0923

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

The national Butterfly Center the national butterfly center dedicates 100 acres to the conservation and scientific study of wild butterflies in their natural habitats the wildlife center is open daily from 8 am until 5 pm september through march and from 9 am until 4 pm april through august

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

liviNg SEE THE CITY

36 mc allen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 37

BUSINESSInfo on McAllenrsquos top employers jobs and success stories

McAllen Convention Centerthe McAllenConventionCenter is located on 185 acres and includes a 60000-square-foot exhibit hall as well as more than 25000 square feet of meeting space in 16 breakout rooms

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

38 mc allen 38 mc allen

38 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 39

BuSiNESS oVERVIEW

McAllenrsquos in the MoneyCultural diversity location and innovation drive cityrsquos top business sectors

As the retail hub of South Texas McAllen is thriving The city draws a customer base of more than 10 million within a 200-mile radius and is represented by 40 of Americarsquos top 100 retailers

By Tiffany Williams

La Plaza MallPumping much of the life into this retail hub is la Plaza mall which annually attracts more than 18 million visitors its anchoring stores such as dillardrsquos and macyrsquos and sought-after retailers including BCBg-max azria and Coach average sales of more than $650 per square foot and are among the most profitable stores in their chains

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

Meetings amp Events

CONvENTiON CENTEr lurES viSiTOrS

The mcallen Convention Center also helps draw businesses to the area The 185-acre complex featuring a 60000-square-foot column-free exhibit hall more than 25000 square feet of meeting space and up to 16 breakout rooms offers bicultural themes and tropical accents that represent the cultural and natural diversity of McAllen

Retail

ShOPPiNg hOT SPOTS

This bicultural city which is located just five miles from the US-Mexico border also has access to three international bridges that flood with visitors and eager shoppers daily many of whom are spending at a rate twice the national average

In addition to La Plaza Mall shopping centers in the McAllen area include Trenton Crossing las Tiendas Plaza and La Plaza Mallrsquos 600sbquo000-square-foot sister shopping center Palms Crossing which hosts such big-name retailers as Barnes amp Noble and Babies rsquoRrsquo Us as well as specialty shops and restaurants Its appeal stems from its open-air design with lots of palm trees water fountains and seating areas

Major Manufacturers

madE FOr maNuFaCTuriNg

Ranked third in Texas in per-capita sales the McAllen area has some of the largest manufacturing and wholesale companies in the nation

valley Coca Cola Bottling Co Value Frozen Foods and Emerson Network Power are just a few who have put down roots here Tri-City Steel which provides a full scope of steel construction by fabricating and erecting structural steel buildings pre-engineered metal buildings stairs handrails and more Texas Citrus Exchange in Mission makes Texas rio red grapefruit juice

learn more about businesses in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

BuSiNESS

RESIDEnTS GET CREATIvE WITH BUSInESS vEnTURES

the BoxOutside

One of McAllenrsquos most innovative startups sprang from the mind of someone who wasnrsquot even interested in business Today Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar is one

of the arearsquos top entrepreneurs and is finding serious success

mcallen entrepreneur dalinda Gonzalez-alcantar founded eJucomm llc

liVabil it ycommc allen 43 42 mc allen

ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the worldrdquo

EllEry BuChaNaN FIBERIOPRESIDENTCEO

Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar the founder of eJucomm LLC simply wanted to make information in her school district more accessible to families The company was a way she could make it happen

She got the idea while working as a teacher at DeLeon Middle School in McAllen and was frustrated that families without computers andor Internet access had difficulty communicating with teachers and administrators So she decided to develop a smartphone application that would solve the problem

With no previous technical experience she researched code online at night and a year later was selling the app to various school districts

ldquoThe app enables Android and iPhone users to access information for things like grades and attendancerdquo Gonzalez-Alcantar says

The entrepreneur also faced unexpected challenges ndash for instance how to tailor individual apps to the roughly seven school districts and 40 campuses that now use them No longer teaching she has partnered with a chief technology officer so she can focus on sales and marketing

One of her biggest hurdles was finding legal fees to fund the startup and a $10000 McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant in 2011 helped pay for a licensing agreement and intellectual property protection for eJucomm to move forward

BaNaNa E-z SPliTAnother McAllen resident

Gerald Guerra faced a similar obstacle when developing a product called Banana E-Z Split A health insurance broker Guerra was inspired at his own kitchen table to create single serving packets with all three syrups

Banana E-Z SplitGerald Guerra inventor of the banana e-Z split single serving syrup packets poses with his daughters Victoria and kaitlyn enthusiastic taste testers for his product

liVabil it ycommc allen 43

To order please call or visit 956-668-0555 or wwwediblearrangementscom 5113-A N 10th St bull McAllen TX 78504

Offer valid at participating locations Offer expires 12312013 Cannot be combined with another offers Offer code must be used when placing order

Containers may vary EDIBLE ARRANGEMENTS and the Fruit Basket Logo Design are registered trademarks of Edible Arrangements LLC

copy2012 Edible Arrangements LLC All rights reserved Frachises available call (888) 727-4258 or visit wwweafranchisescom

DELICIOUSLYd e s i r a b l e

FREE PIECE OF DIPPED FRUIT

Code mctx1213

Living green is making sure the air in your home is healthy for your family to breathe Test your home for radon and build radon-resistant

Its easy Thats living healthy and green

Just call 866-730-green or visit wwwepagovradon

Living greenstarts from the ground up

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

(pineapple chocolate strawberry) needed for a banana split

The concept led to a 2011 McAllen Business Plan Competition grant to fund the necessary patents

ldquoI envisioned a product that could hang easily in refrigerated sections at big box storesrdquo Guerra says ldquoI have lined up a distributor and a broker with my ultimate goal being to have Banana E-Z Split available to customers in large grocery chains It is close to happeningrdquo

FiBEriO TEChNOlOgyAnother startup in McAllen

is already making waves globally FibeRio Technology Corporation another McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant recipient is thriving thanks to ground-breaking nanofiber-producing machinery The nanofibers can be used to make products ranging from diapers to

ballistics using a new way to spin microscopic nanofibers

The technology serves an array of industries that feature filtration textiles or biomedical applications

ldquoDr Karen Lozano at UT-Pan American discovered the process and I was contacted because I am an entrepreneur familiar with launching technology- based companies including nanotechnologyrdquo says FibeRio Technology presidentCEO Ellery Buchanan ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the world Plus we use local McAllen suppliers whenever possible including machine shops parts suppliers IT contractors and other business servicesrdquo

by Kevin Litwin by staff photographer

Michael Conti

FibeRio Technology Corporationnanomaterials processing research equipment is used at FibeRioTechnologyCorporation

FEldmaNrsquoS markET CENTErFeldmanrsquos Market Center features a broad selection of beer as well as wines liquors cigars and a gourmet deli In addition weekly beer and wine tastings are offered(956) 687-9463

PErFECT PawS rESOrTPerfect Paws Resort offers grooming services daycare and boarding to vaccinated dogs and cats that are at least 12 weeks old Boarding suites are climate controlled and under constant supervisionperfectpawsresortcom

mCCrEEry aviaTiON CO iNCMcCreery Aviation Co Inc is a place for pilots and their aircraft to receive top-notch treatment A fuel center flight planning room and hangar storage are availablemccreeryaviationcom

kiTikakE llCKitikake LLC offers gently- used vintage clothing for women from an array of top designers such as Lilly Pulitzer and Catherine Malandrino Vintage home deacutecor and dishes are also availablekitikakecom

krEidlEr FuNEral hOmEFounded owned and operated by the Kreidler family Kreidler Funeral Home has served McAllen for 100 years They offer traditional burial and graveside funeral services direct burials cremations memorial services and morekreidlerfuneralhomecom

Business Spotlight

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

visit ouradvertisersBorder Capital Bankwwwbordercapitalbankcom

City of McAllen Public Info Officewwwexploremcallennet

Courtyard by Marriottwwwmarriottcommtema

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valleywwweasterseals-rgvorg

Edible Arrangementswwwediblearrangementscom

Family Physicians Clinicwwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

Magic Valley Electric Cooperativewwwmagicvalleycoop

McAllen Economic Development Corporationwwwmcallenedcorg

McAllen Independent School Districtwwwmcallenisdorg

McAllen International Airportwwwmcallenairportcom

McAllen Realty

Mr Electricwwwmrelectriccom

Nuevo Santander Gallerywwwnuevosantandercom

OH KAYrsquoS

Preventative Care Institutewwwrgvpcicom

Quinta Mazatlanwwwquintamazatlancom

Rio Health Medicalwwwrio-healthcom

South Texas College wwwsouthtexascollegeedu

South Texas Health Systemwwwsouthtexashealthsystemcom

The Patio on Guerra wwwpatioonguerracom

Valley International Airportwwwflythevalleycom

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

BuSiNESS CHAMBER REPoRT

Whatrsquos the Big Ideachamberrsquos readiness tool kit assists entrepreneurs

The McAllen Chamber of Commerce has helped prepare 25 McAllen entrepreneurs in the continuing quest to launch their ideas ndash all since July 2011

The Chamber has a software package called VentureBusiness Readiness Assessment which is used by states such as oklahoma and Kentucky to assist startup companies The software helps an entrepreneur through the entire process of seeing whether they are truly ready to launch their startup

ldquoVentureBusiness Readiness Assessment is a way that the Chamber assists entrepreneurs who are trying to get funding for their products or projectsrdquo says Steve Ahlenius who serves as President and CEo of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce ldquoThe Chamber awards $50000 a year in innovation grants in $10000 increments and entrepreneurs are always looking for funding But they must earn that money by passing the various stages of the software tool kitrdquo

TEN hOurS TO COmPlETEAhlenius says the assessment

has several specific steps to make sure that a startup company has everything in place to ensure that it is successful

ldquoThe entrepreneurs contact us and set up an appointment to see me then they come to the Chamber office we sign them up and give them passwords to access the software at their conveniencerdquo he says ldquo[The program] takes about 10 hours to complete but doesnrsquot have to be finished in one sitting However the program must be eventually completed in order to qualify for our innovation grantrdquo

CaN iT BE madE QuiCklyThe software asks questions

such as Have you protected your intellectual property Is your product something that can be

made quickly Have you set a value on your idea and do you know how to do that If itrsquos a product that involves high-tech engineering do you have an engineer on your companyrsquos team

ldquoThe entrepreneur needs to know if his venture is worth 20 shares of stock or 200 shares ndash things like thatrdquo Ahlenius says ldquoMany factors go into launching a product or business and Venture Readiness points out a personrsquos strengths and weaknessesrdquo

a grEaT OvErviEwVicente Valle Martinez of

McAllen is an entrepreneur who contacted the Chamber in 2012 about his idea for connecting

people on the Internet who have similar educational experiences and higher learning interests

ldquoI have no background in business but heard one day about an innovation grant competition that the Chamber was sponsoringrdquo Martinez says ldquoSteve told me about the software package and it gave me a great overview of what I need to know before launching my ideardquo

Ahlenius says the various concepts the software package covers include credentials character capabilities commitment and circumstance

ldquoIt is an excellent self-awareness testrdquo he says ldquoItrsquos ideal for entrepreneursrdquo

by Kevin Litwin

the mcallen chamber of commerce on ash avenue

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

Ad Index 41 BorderCapitalBank

21 CityofMCallen puBliCinfooffiCe

4 CourtyardByMarriott

32 easterseals rioGrandeValley

44 ediBlearranGeMents

32 faMilyphysiCiansCliniC

2 MaGiCValley eleCtriCCooperatiVe

C3 MCalleneConoMiC deVelopMentCorporation

46 MCallenindependent sChooldistriCt

1 MCallen internationalairport

C4 MCallenrealty

48 MreleCtriC

46 nueVosantanderGallery

35 ohkayrsquos

34 preVentatiVe

Careinstitute

23 QuintaMazatlan

32 riohealthMediCal

31 southtexasColleGe

C2 southtexas

healthsysteM

18 thepatioonGuerra

44 Valley

internationalairport

ECONOMICPROFILE

3000+

2000- 2999

1999- 500

hOuSEhOld iNCOmE

TOP EmPlOyErS

$200000+

$150000-199999

$100000 and under

McAllen Independent School District

McAllen Medical Center South Texas College City of McAllen

Rio Grande Regional Hospital International Bank of Commerce

EduCaTiON lEvEl

High School Graduate

Associate Degree

Bachelorrsquos Degree

Masterrsquos Degree

TaxES

2City Sales and Use Tax

625State Sales Tax

825Total Sales Tax

SCOrECard

$36BAnnual Retail Sales

$28682Retail sales per capita

$3575MAnnual Hotel and Food Sales

15161Total Number of Firms

TraNSPOrTaTiON

mcallen-miller international airportwwwmcallenairportcom

metro mcallenwwwmcallennetmetro

amtrakwwwamtrakcom

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

everything you need every step of the way

Serving the rio grande valley Since 1989

Rachel Hardison-Oliva Broker

3321 N McColl Rd

McAllen TX 78501

(956) 687-7172 bull (956) 687-7178 Fax

Page 18: Livability McAllen, TX 2013

children enjoy the playground at firemanrsquos park

16 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 17

l iVabil it ycommc allen 19

ThiNgS TO dO LoCAL FLAVoR

Palate Pleasersmcallen restaurants serVe up flaVorful foods

McAllen diners rejoice The city has a broad selection of distinctive restaurants and eateries appealing to just about every taste By Barbara Biehler

Asian

SENSaTiONal SuShi amp SPiCE

McAllen has several great spots for Japanese food such as sushi tempura and teppanyaki including kohnami kumori and yokorsquos Sushi Bar

Fans of Thai food should check out Thai red Chilirsquos for dishes like pad thai red curry chicken and sweet rice with mango

Indian

TaNdOOri aNyONETaste of india hits the spot

for diners looking for high quality authentic Indian food made from old family recipes and paired with excellent service

Tex-Mex and Mexican

SOmE likE iT SPiCy

Step into las Cazuelas grill for classic Mexican cuisine or visit Palenque Chicken for expertly prepared Mexican and Tex Mex dishes

Renowned regionally for homemade tamales deliarsquos uses fresh ingredients including pork chicken and beef

The republic of rio grande serves Mexican cuisine in an intimate setting order a traditional dish like the chicken fajitas or enchiladas suizas or enjoy a distinctive entree such as shrimp chipotle pesto pasta or a brick-oven pizza

check out more restaurants in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

ldquoDeliarsquos has the best tamales in town Probably even in the RGV The only place you can get the good old homemade flavor of real tamalesrdquo

Evila l YELPCOM

Argentine

SOuTh amEriCaN CuiSiNE

Relax in the elegant yet casual atmosphere of la Pampa argentinean Steak housewhile you dine on classic Argentine- cut steaks grilled chicken breasts marinated in Chimichurri or traditional de carne empanadas

Meanwhile la recova also offers a wide selection of Argentine-style favorites on its menu Favorite dishes at La Recova includes chorizo tuna carnitas duck confit and churrasco a classic top sirloin steak

Outdoor Dining

TrENdy amp TaSTy

If yoursquore in the mood for a USDA prime steak or succulent seafood drop by The Patio on guerra Dine on the outdoor patio and have a bottle of one of the restaurantrsquos award-winning wines

FridarsquosGrillandCantina located on 17th street offers traditional mexican favorites with modern flavors Go to fridarsquos to enjoy unique culinary dishes signature drinks and live music on the weekends

l iVabil it ycommc allen 19

ThiNgS TO dO ARTS amp CULTURE

Rave Reviewsmcallenrsquos arts scene remains robust With museums music and eVents

Arts patrons music lovers and history buffs enjoy many cultural attractions throughout McAllen The latest buzz McAllen Performing Arts Center will spring up near the McAllen Convention Center giving fans of live music theater and dance a fine new facility to anticipate

Live Entertainment

PErFOrmErS TakE ThE STagE

The 17th Street Entertainment district in downtown McAllen overflows with lounges restaurants and clubs For live music visit The old Ice House or Cine El Rey

The cityrsquos diverse culture is what influences much of the music performed by the valley Symphony Orchestra amp Chorale The Symphony was established in 1952 with the Chorale joining later in 1984 Similarly the South Texas lyric Opera brings the fine art of opera to the Rio Grande Valley with a yearly slate of productions and an annual opera gala and rio grande valley Broadway brings popular stage shows to town such as Disneyrsquos Beauty and the Beast and Monty Pythonrsquos Spamalot

Historic Sites

TakE a STEP BaCk iN TimE

The museum of South Texas history and the mcallen heritage Center are just two locations to learn about the rich history of this bicultural area

Quinta mazatlan a 1930s hacienda that embodies the Spanish Colonial Revival architecture of arches adobe and beams and provides an intimate look into South Texas history The 10000-square- foot mansion sits on a 15-acre plot hosting a mix of native and exotic plants and wildlife making up McAllenrsquos wing of the popular world Birding Center

Cine El Reyopened in 1947 the historic cine el rey theater now functions as

a music and performance venue showcasing a variety of live events and also shows spanish and english independent films the theater is located in downtown mcallenrsquos 17th street entertainment district

20 mc allen

ldquoCine El Rey hosts events as diverse as wrestling live bands films and comedy shows A huge stage is complimented by killer production value and a staff that really cares about all aspects of the experience Irsquom looking forward to a return triprdquo

Bill dykES YELP

visual Arts and Festivals

aCCESSiBlE arT FuN EvENTS

The international museum of art amp Science founded in 1969 promotes an appreciation for the arts and sciences through its exhibitions cultural events and many educational programs imaS is located at 1900 Nolana Ave

The mcallen art walk is a self-guided tour that gives art lovers the opportunity to explore the many art offerings in the city Itrsquos held every first Friday from September through May and is free and open to the public

on the first Saturday night of December folks enjoy the Candlelight Posada which includes food booths luminaries a parade live entertainment caroling and a live nativity scene

Chamber of Commerce Support

ChamBEr BaCkS ThE arTS

The mcallen Chamber of Commerce shows its love for the arts by managing the mcallen arts Council which publishes a quarterly magazine produces an annual fine arts exhibition and offers grants to local artists The Chamber also offers an outdoor concert series and coordinates the Public art Committeersquos acquisition program

20 mc allen

ThiNgS TO dO SPoRTS amp RECREATIoN

Soak Up Some Sunmcallen residents haVe plenty of Good reasons to Get outdoors

Great golf courses hiking and biking trails and a large well-maintained park system make McAllen the perfect place to enjoy outdoor fun By Carson OrsquoShoney

Golf

TEE iT uPWith nearly 20 courses in the

McAllen area golf is a popular attraction in the Rio Grande Valley

one of the most notable courses is the Palm view golf Course an 18-hole public course with a private feel With rolling fairways and Bermuda rough mounds the course is an often-used location for tournaments having hosted LPGA tournaments and Palm viewrsquos amateur golf Championship

mcallen Country Club provides a challenge with tree-lined fairways and small greens and also offers a swimming pool tennis courts a fitness center and other amenities

Every golf course in the area is bustling especially in the winter when ldquoWinter Texansrdquo come to the Rio Grande Valley The weather generally stays in the 70s in the coldest months making it a perfect place for winter golfing

Hiking Biking and Racing

ON ThE mOvE iN mCallEN

There are plenty of hiking and biking trails on the east and west sides of town such as the retama village Park Trail westside Park Trail and las Palmas Park Trail Visiting cyclists are welcome to meet up with Team mcallen Cycling a bike club thatrsquos been in the city for more than 25 years

Racing fans can enjoy the mcallen international motorplex and Event Center which hosts stock car races car shows and more The racetrack is a family-friendly place offering activities for children such as games face painting and crafts

Palm view Golf Courseirish cochran plays a round of golf at palm View Golf course an 18-hole public course often used for high profile tournaments

22 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 23

City Parks

OuTdOOr Family FuN

The mcallen Parks and recreation department currently oversees 25 city parks Ranging from historic parks established in the early 1900s to more modern facilities there are several options suitable for the whole family

archer Park McAllenrsquos oldest park opened in 1912 Serving as a historic landmark in the city it also plays host to many of the cityrsquos annual special events including the Candlelight Posada and movies in the Park

Spanning 38 acres Springfest Park is the largest park in McAllen Springfest hosts a variety of special events and is home to mcallenrsquos winter Polo league from January through March

check out more fun things to do in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

Spray and Ground Parkbesides its popular water feature mcallenrsquos new SprayandGroundParkhas a sand volleyball court skateboard area a half basketball court and just over half a mile of walking trails in addition there are athletic practice fields shaded areas picnic shelters and restroom facilities

22 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 23

ThiNgS TO dO SEE THE CITY

24 mc allen

The Irrigation Workerthe sun sets behind a sculpture ldquothe irrigation Workerrdquo which was created by artist douglas clark and is located on nolana and 25th

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

l iVabil it ycommc allen 25

LIvINGHERESchools health care education and neighborhoods in McAllen

26 mc allen 26 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 27 26 mc allen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 27

see more beautiful photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

Luxury Livingnewcomers have many beautiful home options in mcallen such as those offered in eight different communities by cantu construction a locally based award-winning builder

26 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 27 liVabil it ycommc allen 27

liviNg

TECH TOOLS FOSTER STUDEnT SUCCESS

Padding theCurriculum

McAllen Independent School District (ISD) is feeling the benefits of an ambitious technology plan that places an iPod or iPad in the hands of every teacher and student

mcallen independent school district students use system-issued ipads in class

28 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 29

EduCaTiNg FOr ThE 21ST CENTury

The initiative began with a meeting between Dr James Ponce McAllenrsquos superintendent of schools and a ldquocadrerdquo of about 35 teachers administrators and parents

The grouprsquos primary goal was to build a 21st-century classroom environment one that fosters creativity collaboration and entrepreneurship The group also wanted to find a way to harness the 247 educational potential of the Internet ndash and teach students the critical-thinking skills needed to process online content

ldquoItrsquos an environment where the teachers become the primary learners and the students are driven by their examplerdquo Ponce says ldquoSo we asked what tools we would need for this transformation of the way we teach and the way the kids learnrdquo

After much research the group chose iPods (for grades K-2) and iPads (for teachers and grades 3-12) because of their portability

ldquoIrsquove learned more from my fellow teachers than I have in many years just from sharing ideas for how to use the iPads in the classroomrdquo

CarOl aNN allEN LANGuAGEARTSTEACHER

ATMICHAELEFOSSuMMIDDLESCHOOL

relatively low cost and ease of use To implement the planrsquos first stage McAllen ISD issued 5800 of these devices to teachers and students when the rollout is complete it will cover more than 25000 students

Big BENEFiTS FOr TEaChErS aNd STudENTS

Both teachers and students are seeing benefits from the program

ldquoThe iPods help the kids be creative My students are organizing information in new waysrdquo says Ruth Whiddon who teaches first grade at Andrew Jackson Elementary School

For Carol Ann Allen International Baccalaureate coordinator and eighth-grade language arts teacher at Michael E Fossum Middle School the initiative is all about collaboration

ldquoIrsquove learned more from my fellow teachers than I have in many years just from sharing ideas for how to use the iPads in the classroomrdquo she says

Sandra Guerra who teaches seventh- and eighth-grade math

at Fossum says the iPads have changed both her teaching style and the way her students learn

Instead of mapping out the learning process step-by-step she now gives students their goal and lets them choose how to get there

ldquoWith this approach they own their learning and theyrsquove been more willing to learnrdquo Guerra says

The iPads have also been a game-changer for Guerrarsquos family

Her seventh-grade daughter is learning advanced science concepts because of independent iPad projects And because most of her childrenrsquos school materials are on their iPads itrsquos easier than ever for Guerra to check on their progress from home

That kind of scenario says Superintendent Ponce is at the heart of the initiative

ldquoThe entire school system and our community want to lead in this effort to build a 21st-century learning environmentrdquo he says ldquoThis is a direct investment in our children and their familiesrdquo

by Kathryn Royster

High-Tech Learningseventh-grade students use ipads to follow class lectures and take quizzes during a language arts class at michael e fossum middle school

PH

oT

o C

oU

RT

EST

Y o

F M

CA

LLE

N IN

DE

PE

ND

EN

T S

CH

oo

L D

IST

RIC

T

28 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 29

Higher Education

SOuTh TExaS COllEgE

McAllenrsquos South Texas College has more than 30000 students and offers numerous associate and bachelorrsquos degree programs as well as professional certifications in more than 40 areas The college also has online degree courses for students who work full time

liviNg EDUCATIoN

Set for SuccesscolleGe prep is a top priority in mcallen

Education in McAllen is defined by excellent options From elementary school through college McAllen includes numerous institutions designed to prepare students for success By Braxton Shoop

school yourself on more educational offerings at livabilitycommcallen

Public Schools

mCallEN iNdEPENdENT SChOOl diSTriCT

Established in 1915 the mcallen independent School district comprises three high schools seven middle schools and 20 elementary schools Among these schools the district offers an advanced placement college-level curriculum and a dual-enrollment program for students who would like to obtain high school and college credit simultaneously

In addition the district features an International Baccalaureate program that provides students with an advanced curriculum geared toward global standards

Local Inspiration

FOrmEr STudENT FliES high

one of McAllenrsquos successful students is astronaut michael Fossum a graduate of McAllen High School After receiving his commission from the US Air Force by Texas AampM University Fossum graduated Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base and in 1993 he started at NASA Throughout his NASA career Fossum was on crew for three spaceflights He commanded the space station during one of his flights helping him rank seventh on the all-time list for cumulative Extravehicular Activity time

Top-notch Learning Environmentuniversity of texas-pan american offers many undergraduate degrees more than 50 masterrsquos degrees and three doctoral degrees utpa has accreditations from organizations like the commission for collegiate nursing the examining board of nurse examiners for the state of texas and the engineering accreditation commission of the accreditation board for engineering and technology

30 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 31

Charter School

idEa aCadEmy

idEa academy is an innovative institution that offers a fully scaled curriculum for students in kindergarten and in the first second and sixth grades The school which opened in McAllen in 2012 will eventually add more grades each one including approximately 110 students While the school is public students must apply to fill the 460 available spots

To prepare its students to be collegiate scholars IDEA provides International Baccalaureate curriculum as well as the Road to College curriculum which begins in the sixth grade

ldquoWersquore very proud of the connection to our distinguished alumni like NASA astronaut Michael Fossum and we want our students to recognize the kind of education we provide here What he learned here helped catapult him into space and wersquore very proud of thatrdquo

NOrma zamOra-guErra MCALLENINDEPENDENTSCHOOL

DISTRICTCOMMuNITYINFORMATIONDIRECTOR

Michael E Fossum Middle Schoolnamed for astronaut michael e fossum the school is part of the mcallen independent school district

30 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 31

Please call 9566316109 for a representative today

2501 Buddy Owens Blvd McAllen TX 78504

9656316125 Fax

wwwrio-healthcom

RioHealth MedicalWe are here to meet all your

occupational medicine needs

bull Workplace injuries and workersrsquo compensation

bull On site and off site drug screening

bull Physicals

bull Orthopedics

bull Early return to work

bull 247 coverage

bull We accept all types of insurance

WorkplaceInjury

DANIEL J GUERRA MD Diplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

LEONEL G MORENO MDDiplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

HOMERO RIVAS MDDiplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

606 S Broadway bull McAllen TX bull (956) 682-4515 bull wwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

FAMILY PHYSICIANS

CLINICSince 1967

Mon-Fri 8 am-5 pm Sat 8 am-Noon

VALLEY NIGHT CLINIC

Since 1981

Open Every Night of the Year 6 pm-Midnight

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valley supports children of all abilities through child care

services early intervention and parenting support programs

Early Childhood intErvEntion ChildCarE sErviCEs ParEnts as tEaChErs

Easter seals rio Grande valley Programs for Children Birth to Five years

bullChild-Care servicesndashHigh-qualitychildcare sixweekstofiveyears

bullParents as teachers (Pat)ndashDevelopmental parentingsupportforchildrenbirthtofiveyears

bullEarly Childhood intervention (ECi) ndashConcerns indevelopmentforchildrenbirthtothreeyears

For more information about Easter seals

programs and services call (956) 631-9171 or visit wwweasterseals-rgvorg

32 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 33

liviNg HEALTH

Take a Deep Breath and Relaxresidents haVe access to top hospitals

McAllen residents receive quality care from the South Texas Health System Rio Grande Regional Hospital and the Doctors Hospital at Renaissance By Kevin Litwin

Health System

SOuTh TExaS hEalTh SySTEm

South Texas health System is the umbrella organization for a number of fine medical facilities including mcallen medical Center MMC has 441 beds and a staff of more than 400 physicians that represent 50 medical specialties

Also part of South Texas Health System is mcallen heart hospital which opened in 1996 as the first freestanding cardiology and cardiovascular hospital built in the United States It includes 60 beds and a 24-hour emergency center

Healthgrades has awarded McAllen Medical Center and McAllen Heart Hospital with a variety of honors in recent years and both earned a Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence in 2011

Hospital

riO graNdE rEgiONal hOSPiTal

rio grande regional hospital is an acute care medical facility with 320 beds and more than 500 physicians The hospital is the only area Diabetes Management Center accredited by the American Diabetes Association and is the arearsquos first facility to have a Pediatric Heart Program

RGRH also includes a 24-hour emergency room Womenrsquos Services department Level III trauma center and cardiovascular care The hospital is fully accredited by The Joint Commission and the College of American Pathologists and every year since 2007 has been named a Center of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery

32 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 33

Hospital

dOCTOrS hOSPiTal aT rENaiSSaNCE

The 506-bed doctors hospital at renaissance is an acute care facility It provides cardiology neurosurgery and endocrinology as well as a Pediatric Medical Tower that offers pediatric oncology and pediatric ICU services

Doctors Hospital has been ranked among the nationrsquos 100 Top Hospitals by Thomson Reuters and recently invested $32 million to establish an Electronic Medical Record System

DHR was the first in South Texas to acquire a PETCT scanner for diagnosing cancer and the first in the region to introduce da Vinci robotic surgical technology The hospital also oversees Renaissance Behavioral Center which provides treatment for people with mental health problems substance abuse or eating disorders

34 mc allen

COMMUNITyPROFILE COST OF liviNg

$44074Median Household Income

$129554Median Home Price

$689Median Rent for a Two-Bedroom Apartment

TraNSPOrTaTiON

Median Travel Time to Work

agE

TEmPEraTurE

January Average

July Average

EThNiCiTy

19 and Under

20-54

55 and over

White

Black

Hispanic

other

1645minutes

Closest Airport McAllen International Airport

955deg

482deg

South Texasrsquo Finest Gift Store Offers Gifts From Around the World

4300 N 10th St bull Ste C bull McAllen TX 78504 (956) 686-1264 bull ohkaysaolcom

Look for us on Facebook

gOlF COurSES

gOlF TEC

2901 N 10TH ST956-994-9631

mCallEN COuNTry CluB615 WICHITA AVE956-686-0923

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

The national Butterfly Center the national butterfly center dedicates 100 acres to the conservation and scientific study of wild butterflies in their natural habitats the wildlife center is open daily from 8 am until 5 pm september through march and from 9 am until 4 pm april through august

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

liviNg SEE THE CITY

36 mc allen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 37

BUSINESSInfo on McAllenrsquos top employers jobs and success stories

McAllen Convention Centerthe McAllenConventionCenter is located on 185 acres and includes a 60000-square-foot exhibit hall as well as more than 25000 square feet of meeting space in 16 breakout rooms

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

38 mc allen 38 mc allen

38 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 39

BuSiNESS oVERVIEW

McAllenrsquos in the MoneyCultural diversity location and innovation drive cityrsquos top business sectors

As the retail hub of South Texas McAllen is thriving The city draws a customer base of more than 10 million within a 200-mile radius and is represented by 40 of Americarsquos top 100 retailers

By Tiffany Williams

La Plaza MallPumping much of the life into this retail hub is la Plaza mall which annually attracts more than 18 million visitors its anchoring stores such as dillardrsquos and macyrsquos and sought-after retailers including BCBg-max azria and Coach average sales of more than $650 per square foot and are among the most profitable stores in their chains

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

Meetings amp Events

CONvENTiON CENTEr lurES viSiTOrS

The mcallen Convention Center also helps draw businesses to the area The 185-acre complex featuring a 60000-square-foot column-free exhibit hall more than 25000 square feet of meeting space and up to 16 breakout rooms offers bicultural themes and tropical accents that represent the cultural and natural diversity of McAllen

Retail

ShOPPiNg hOT SPOTS

This bicultural city which is located just five miles from the US-Mexico border also has access to three international bridges that flood with visitors and eager shoppers daily many of whom are spending at a rate twice the national average

In addition to La Plaza Mall shopping centers in the McAllen area include Trenton Crossing las Tiendas Plaza and La Plaza Mallrsquos 600sbquo000-square-foot sister shopping center Palms Crossing which hosts such big-name retailers as Barnes amp Noble and Babies rsquoRrsquo Us as well as specialty shops and restaurants Its appeal stems from its open-air design with lots of palm trees water fountains and seating areas

Major Manufacturers

madE FOr maNuFaCTuriNg

Ranked third in Texas in per-capita sales the McAllen area has some of the largest manufacturing and wholesale companies in the nation

valley Coca Cola Bottling Co Value Frozen Foods and Emerson Network Power are just a few who have put down roots here Tri-City Steel which provides a full scope of steel construction by fabricating and erecting structural steel buildings pre-engineered metal buildings stairs handrails and more Texas Citrus Exchange in Mission makes Texas rio red grapefruit juice

learn more about businesses in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

BuSiNESS

RESIDEnTS GET CREATIvE WITH BUSInESS vEnTURES

the BoxOutside

One of McAllenrsquos most innovative startups sprang from the mind of someone who wasnrsquot even interested in business Today Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar is one

of the arearsquos top entrepreneurs and is finding serious success

mcallen entrepreneur dalinda Gonzalez-alcantar founded eJucomm llc

liVabil it ycommc allen 43 42 mc allen

ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the worldrdquo

EllEry BuChaNaN FIBERIOPRESIDENTCEO

Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar the founder of eJucomm LLC simply wanted to make information in her school district more accessible to families The company was a way she could make it happen

She got the idea while working as a teacher at DeLeon Middle School in McAllen and was frustrated that families without computers andor Internet access had difficulty communicating with teachers and administrators So she decided to develop a smartphone application that would solve the problem

With no previous technical experience she researched code online at night and a year later was selling the app to various school districts

ldquoThe app enables Android and iPhone users to access information for things like grades and attendancerdquo Gonzalez-Alcantar says

The entrepreneur also faced unexpected challenges ndash for instance how to tailor individual apps to the roughly seven school districts and 40 campuses that now use them No longer teaching she has partnered with a chief technology officer so she can focus on sales and marketing

One of her biggest hurdles was finding legal fees to fund the startup and a $10000 McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant in 2011 helped pay for a licensing agreement and intellectual property protection for eJucomm to move forward

BaNaNa E-z SPliTAnother McAllen resident

Gerald Guerra faced a similar obstacle when developing a product called Banana E-Z Split A health insurance broker Guerra was inspired at his own kitchen table to create single serving packets with all three syrups

Banana E-Z SplitGerald Guerra inventor of the banana e-Z split single serving syrup packets poses with his daughters Victoria and kaitlyn enthusiastic taste testers for his product

liVabil it ycommc allen 43

To order please call or visit 956-668-0555 or wwwediblearrangementscom 5113-A N 10th St bull McAllen TX 78504

Offer valid at participating locations Offer expires 12312013 Cannot be combined with another offers Offer code must be used when placing order

Containers may vary EDIBLE ARRANGEMENTS and the Fruit Basket Logo Design are registered trademarks of Edible Arrangements LLC

copy2012 Edible Arrangements LLC All rights reserved Frachises available call (888) 727-4258 or visit wwweafranchisescom

DELICIOUSLYd e s i r a b l e

FREE PIECE OF DIPPED FRUIT

Code mctx1213

Living green is making sure the air in your home is healthy for your family to breathe Test your home for radon and build radon-resistant

Its easy Thats living healthy and green

Just call 866-730-green or visit wwwepagovradon

Living greenstarts from the ground up

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

(pineapple chocolate strawberry) needed for a banana split

The concept led to a 2011 McAllen Business Plan Competition grant to fund the necessary patents

ldquoI envisioned a product that could hang easily in refrigerated sections at big box storesrdquo Guerra says ldquoI have lined up a distributor and a broker with my ultimate goal being to have Banana E-Z Split available to customers in large grocery chains It is close to happeningrdquo

FiBEriO TEChNOlOgyAnother startup in McAllen

is already making waves globally FibeRio Technology Corporation another McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant recipient is thriving thanks to ground-breaking nanofiber-producing machinery The nanofibers can be used to make products ranging from diapers to

ballistics using a new way to spin microscopic nanofibers

The technology serves an array of industries that feature filtration textiles or biomedical applications

ldquoDr Karen Lozano at UT-Pan American discovered the process and I was contacted because I am an entrepreneur familiar with launching technology- based companies including nanotechnologyrdquo says FibeRio Technology presidentCEO Ellery Buchanan ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the world Plus we use local McAllen suppliers whenever possible including machine shops parts suppliers IT contractors and other business servicesrdquo

by Kevin Litwin by staff photographer

Michael Conti

FibeRio Technology Corporationnanomaterials processing research equipment is used at FibeRioTechnologyCorporation

FEldmaNrsquoS markET CENTErFeldmanrsquos Market Center features a broad selection of beer as well as wines liquors cigars and a gourmet deli In addition weekly beer and wine tastings are offered(956) 687-9463

PErFECT PawS rESOrTPerfect Paws Resort offers grooming services daycare and boarding to vaccinated dogs and cats that are at least 12 weeks old Boarding suites are climate controlled and under constant supervisionperfectpawsresortcom

mCCrEEry aviaTiON CO iNCMcCreery Aviation Co Inc is a place for pilots and their aircraft to receive top-notch treatment A fuel center flight planning room and hangar storage are availablemccreeryaviationcom

kiTikakE llCKitikake LLC offers gently- used vintage clothing for women from an array of top designers such as Lilly Pulitzer and Catherine Malandrino Vintage home deacutecor and dishes are also availablekitikakecom

krEidlEr FuNEral hOmEFounded owned and operated by the Kreidler family Kreidler Funeral Home has served McAllen for 100 years They offer traditional burial and graveside funeral services direct burials cremations memorial services and morekreidlerfuneralhomecom

Business Spotlight

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

visit ouradvertisersBorder Capital Bankwwwbordercapitalbankcom

City of McAllen Public Info Officewwwexploremcallennet

Courtyard by Marriottwwwmarriottcommtema

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valleywwweasterseals-rgvorg

Edible Arrangementswwwediblearrangementscom

Family Physicians Clinicwwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

Magic Valley Electric Cooperativewwwmagicvalleycoop

McAllen Economic Development Corporationwwwmcallenedcorg

McAllen Independent School Districtwwwmcallenisdorg

McAllen International Airportwwwmcallenairportcom

McAllen Realty

Mr Electricwwwmrelectriccom

Nuevo Santander Gallerywwwnuevosantandercom

OH KAYrsquoS

Preventative Care Institutewwwrgvpcicom

Quinta Mazatlanwwwquintamazatlancom

Rio Health Medicalwwwrio-healthcom

South Texas College wwwsouthtexascollegeedu

South Texas Health Systemwwwsouthtexashealthsystemcom

The Patio on Guerra wwwpatioonguerracom

Valley International Airportwwwflythevalleycom

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

BuSiNESS CHAMBER REPoRT

Whatrsquos the Big Ideachamberrsquos readiness tool kit assists entrepreneurs

The McAllen Chamber of Commerce has helped prepare 25 McAllen entrepreneurs in the continuing quest to launch their ideas ndash all since July 2011

The Chamber has a software package called VentureBusiness Readiness Assessment which is used by states such as oklahoma and Kentucky to assist startup companies The software helps an entrepreneur through the entire process of seeing whether they are truly ready to launch their startup

ldquoVentureBusiness Readiness Assessment is a way that the Chamber assists entrepreneurs who are trying to get funding for their products or projectsrdquo says Steve Ahlenius who serves as President and CEo of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce ldquoThe Chamber awards $50000 a year in innovation grants in $10000 increments and entrepreneurs are always looking for funding But they must earn that money by passing the various stages of the software tool kitrdquo

TEN hOurS TO COmPlETEAhlenius says the assessment

has several specific steps to make sure that a startup company has everything in place to ensure that it is successful

ldquoThe entrepreneurs contact us and set up an appointment to see me then they come to the Chamber office we sign them up and give them passwords to access the software at their conveniencerdquo he says ldquo[The program] takes about 10 hours to complete but doesnrsquot have to be finished in one sitting However the program must be eventually completed in order to qualify for our innovation grantrdquo

CaN iT BE madE QuiCklyThe software asks questions

such as Have you protected your intellectual property Is your product something that can be

made quickly Have you set a value on your idea and do you know how to do that If itrsquos a product that involves high-tech engineering do you have an engineer on your companyrsquos team

ldquoThe entrepreneur needs to know if his venture is worth 20 shares of stock or 200 shares ndash things like thatrdquo Ahlenius says ldquoMany factors go into launching a product or business and Venture Readiness points out a personrsquos strengths and weaknessesrdquo

a grEaT OvErviEwVicente Valle Martinez of

McAllen is an entrepreneur who contacted the Chamber in 2012 about his idea for connecting

people on the Internet who have similar educational experiences and higher learning interests

ldquoI have no background in business but heard one day about an innovation grant competition that the Chamber was sponsoringrdquo Martinez says ldquoSteve told me about the software package and it gave me a great overview of what I need to know before launching my ideardquo

Ahlenius says the various concepts the software package covers include credentials character capabilities commitment and circumstance

ldquoIt is an excellent self-awareness testrdquo he says ldquoItrsquos ideal for entrepreneursrdquo

by Kevin Litwin

the mcallen chamber of commerce on ash avenue

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

Ad Index 41 BorderCapitalBank

21 CityofMCallen puBliCinfooffiCe

4 CourtyardByMarriott

32 easterseals rioGrandeValley

44 ediBlearranGeMents

32 faMilyphysiCiansCliniC

2 MaGiCValley eleCtriCCooperatiVe

C3 MCalleneConoMiC deVelopMentCorporation

46 MCallenindependent sChooldistriCt

1 MCallen internationalairport

C4 MCallenrealty

48 MreleCtriC

46 nueVosantanderGallery

35 ohkayrsquos

34 preVentatiVe

Careinstitute

23 QuintaMazatlan

32 riohealthMediCal

31 southtexasColleGe

C2 southtexas

healthsysteM

18 thepatioonGuerra

44 Valley

internationalairport

ECONOMICPROFILE

3000+

2000- 2999

1999- 500

hOuSEhOld iNCOmE

TOP EmPlOyErS

$200000+

$150000-199999

$100000 and under

McAllen Independent School District

McAllen Medical Center South Texas College City of McAllen

Rio Grande Regional Hospital International Bank of Commerce

EduCaTiON lEvEl

High School Graduate

Associate Degree

Bachelorrsquos Degree

Masterrsquos Degree

TaxES

2City Sales and Use Tax

625State Sales Tax

825Total Sales Tax

SCOrECard

$36BAnnual Retail Sales

$28682Retail sales per capita

$3575MAnnual Hotel and Food Sales

15161Total Number of Firms

TraNSPOrTaTiON

mcallen-miller international airportwwwmcallenairportcom

metro mcallenwwwmcallennetmetro

amtrakwwwamtrakcom

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

everything you need every step of the way

Serving the rio grande valley Since 1989

Rachel Hardison-Oliva Broker

3321 N McColl Rd

McAllen TX 78501

(956) 687-7172 bull (956) 687-7178 Fax

Page 19: Livability McAllen, TX 2013

l iVabil it ycommc allen 19

ThiNgS TO dO LoCAL FLAVoR

Palate Pleasersmcallen restaurants serVe up flaVorful foods

McAllen diners rejoice The city has a broad selection of distinctive restaurants and eateries appealing to just about every taste By Barbara Biehler

Asian

SENSaTiONal SuShi amp SPiCE

McAllen has several great spots for Japanese food such as sushi tempura and teppanyaki including kohnami kumori and yokorsquos Sushi Bar

Fans of Thai food should check out Thai red Chilirsquos for dishes like pad thai red curry chicken and sweet rice with mango

Indian

TaNdOOri aNyONETaste of india hits the spot

for diners looking for high quality authentic Indian food made from old family recipes and paired with excellent service

Tex-Mex and Mexican

SOmE likE iT SPiCy

Step into las Cazuelas grill for classic Mexican cuisine or visit Palenque Chicken for expertly prepared Mexican and Tex Mex dishes

Renowned regionally for homemade tamales deliarsquos uses fresh ingredients including pork chicken and beef

The republic of rio grande serves Mexican cuisine in an intimate setting order a traditional dish like the chicken fajitas or enchiladas suizas or enjoy a distinctive entree such as shrimp chipotle pesto pasta or a brick-oven pizza

check out more restaurants in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

ldquoDeliarsquos has the best tamales in town Probably even in the RGV The only place you can get the good old homemade flavor of real tamalesrdquo

Evila l YELPCOM

Argentine

SOuTh amEriCaN CuiSiNE

Relax in the elegant yet casual atmosphere of la Pampa argentinean Steak housewhile you dine on classic Argentine- cut steaks grilled chicken breasts marinated in Chimichurri or traditional de carne empanadas

Meanwhile la recova also offers a wide selection of Argentine-style favorites on its menu Favorite dishes at La Recova includes chorizo tuna carnitas duck confit and churrasco a classic top sirloin steak

Outdoor Dining

TrENdy amp TaSTy

If yoursquore in the mood for a USDA prime steak or succulent seafood drop by The Patio on guerra Dine on the outdoor patio and have a bottle of one of the restaurantrsquos award-winning wines

FridarsquosGrillandCantina located on 17th street offers traditional mexican favorites with modern flavors Go to fridarsquos to enjoy unique culinary dishes signature drinks and live music on the weekends

l iVabil it ycommc allen 19

ThiNgS TO dO ARTS amp CULTURE

Rave Reviewsmcallenrsquos arts scene remains robust With museums music and eVents

Arts patrons music lovers and history buffs enjoy many cultural attractions throughout McAllen The latest buzz McAllen Performing Arts Center will spring up near the McAllen Convention Center giving fans of live music theater and dance a fine new facility to anticipate

Live Entertainment

PErFOrmErS TakE ThE STagE

The 17th Street Entertainment district in downtown McAllen overflows with lounges restaurants and clubs For live music visit The old Ice House or Cine El Rey

The cityrsquos diverse culture is what influences much of the music performed by the valley Symphony Orchestra amp Chorale The Symphony was established in 1952 with the Chorale joining later in 1984 Similarly the South Texas lyric Opera brings the fine art of opera to the Rio Grande Valley with a yearly slate of productions and an annual opera gala and rio grande valley Broadway brings popular stage shows to town such as Disneyrsquos Beauty and the Beast and Monty Pythonrsquos Spamalot

Historic Sites

TakE a STEP BaCk iN TimE

The museum of South Texas history and the mcallen heritage Center are just two locations to learn about the rich history of this bicultural area

Quinta mazatlan a 1930s hacienda that embodies the Spanish Colonial Revival architecture of arches adobe and beams and provides an intimate look into South Texas history The 10000-square- foot mansion sits on a 15-acre plot hosting a mix of native and exotic plants and wildlife making up McAllenrsquos wing of the popular world Birding Center

Cine El Reyopened in 1947 the historic cine el rey theater now functions as

a music and performance venue showcasing a variety of live events and also shows spanish and english independent films the theater is located in downtown mcallenrsquos 17th street entertainment district

20 mc allen

ldquoCine El Rey hosts events as diverse as wrestling live bands films and comedy shows A huge stage is complimented by killer production value and a staff that really cares about all aspects of the experience Irsquom looking forward to a return triprdquo

Bill dykES YELP

visual Arts and Festivals

aCCESSiBlE arT FuN EvENTS

The international museum of art amp Science founded in 1969 promotes an appreciation for the arts and sciences through its exhibitions cultural events and many educational programs imaS is located at 1900 Nolana Ave

The mcallen art walk is a self-guided tour that gives art lovers the opportunity to explore the many art offerings in the city Itrsquos held every first Friday from September through May and is free and open to the public

on the first Saturday night of December folks enjoy the Candlelight Posada which includes food booths luminaries a parade live entertainment caroling and a live nativity scene

Chamber of Commerce Support

ChamBEr BaCkS ThE arTS

The mcallen Chamber of Commerce shows its love for the arts by managing the mcallen arts Council which publishes a quarterly magazine produces an annual fine arts exhibition and offers grants to local artists The Chamber also offers an outdoor concert series and coordinates the Public art Committeersquos acquisition program

20 mc allen

ThiNgS TO dO SPoRTS amp RECREATIoN

Soak Up Some Sunmcallen residents haVe plenty of Good reasons to Get outdoors

Great golf courses hiking and biking trails and a large well-maintained park system make McAllen the perfect place to enjoy outdoor fun By Carson OrsquoShoney

Golf

TEE iT uPWith nearly 20 courses in the

McAllen area golf is a popular attraction in the Rio Grande Valley

one of the most notable courses is the Palm view golf Course an 18-hole public course with a private feel With rolling fairways and Bermuda rough mounds the course is an often-used location for tournaments having hosted LPGA tournaments and Palm viewrsquos amateur golf Championship

mcallen Country Club provides a challenge with tree-lined fairways and small greens and also offers a swimming pool tennis courts a fitness center and other amenities

Every golf course in the area is bustling especially in the winter when ldquoWinter Texansrdquo come to the Rio Grande Valley The weather generally stays in the 70s in the coldest months making it a perfect place for winter golfing

Hiking Biking and Racing

ON ThE mOvE iN mCallEN

There are plenty of hiking and biking trails on the east and west sides of town such as the retama village Park Trail westside Park Trail and las Palmas Park Trail Visiting cyclists are welcome to meet up with Team mcallen Cycling a bike club thatrsquos been in the city for more than 25 years

Racing fans can enjoy the mcallen international motorplex and Event Center which hosts stock car races car shows and more The racetrack is a family-friendly place offering activities for children such as games face painting and crafts

Palm view Golf Courseirish cochran plays a round of golf at palm View Golf course an 18-hole public course often used for high profile tournaments

22 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 23

City Parks

OuTdOOr Family FuN

The mcallen Parks and recreation department currently oversees 25 city parks Ranging from historic parks established in the early 1900s to more modern facilities there are several options suitable for the whole family

archer Park McAllenrsquos oldest park opened in 1912 Serving as a historic landmark in the city it also plays host to many of the cityrsquos annual special events including the Candlelight Posada and movies in the Park

Spanning 38 acres Springfest Park is the largest park in McAllen Springfest hosts a variety of special events and is home to mcallenrsquos winter Polo league from January through March

check out more fun things to do in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

Spray and Ground Parkbesides its popular water feature mcallenrsquos new SprayandGroundParkhas a sand volleyball court skateboard area a half basketball court and just over half a mile of walking trails in addition there are athletic practice fields shaded areas picnic shelters and restroom facilities

22 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 23

ThiNgS TO dO SEE THE CITY

24 mc allen

The Irrigation Workerthe sun sets behind a sculpture ldquothe irrigation Workerrdquo which was created by artist douglas clark and is located on nolana and 25th

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

l iVabil it ycommc allen 25

LIvINGHERESchools health care education and neighborhoods in McAllen

26 mc allen 26 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 27 26 mc allen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 27

see more beautiful photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

Luxury Livingnewcomers have many beautiful home options in mcallen such as those offered in eight different communities by cantu construction a locally based award-winning builder

26 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 27 liVabil it ycommc allen 27

liviNg

TECH TOOLS FOSTER STUDEnT SUCCESS

Padding theCurriculum

McAllen Independent School District (ISD) is feeling the benefits of an ambitious technology plan that places an iPod or iPad in the hands of every teacher and student

mcallen independent school district students use system-issued ipads in class

28 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 29

EduCaTiNg FOr ThE 21ST CENTury

The initiative began with a meeting between Dr James Ponce McAllenrsquos superintendent of schools and a ldquocadrerdquo of about 35 teachers administrators and parents

The grouprsquos primary goal was to build a 21st-century classroom environment one that fosters creativity collaboration and entrepreneurship The group also wanted to find a way to harness the 247 educational potential of the Internet ndash and teach students the critical-thinking skills needed to process online content

ldquoItrsquos an environment where the teachers become the primary learners and the students are driven by their examplerdquo Ponce says ldquoSo we asked what tools we would need for this transformation of the way we teach and the way the kids learnrdquo

After much research the group chose iPods (for grades K-2) and iPads (for teachers and grades 3-12) because of their portability

ldquoIrsquove learned more from my fellow teachers than I have in many years just from sharing ideas for how to use the iPads in the classroomrdquo

CarOl aNN allEN LANGuAGEARTSTEACHER

ATMICHAELEFOSSuMMIDDLESCHOOL

relatively low cost and ease of use To implement the planrsquos first stage McAllen ISD issued 5800 of these devices to teachers and students when the rollout is complete it will cover more than 25000 students

Big BENEFiTS FOr TEaChErS aNd STudENTS

Both teachers and students are seeing benefits from the program

ldquoThe iPods help the kids be creative My students are organizing information in new waysrdquo says Ruth Whiddon who teaches first grade at Andrew Jackson Elementary School

For Carol Ann Allen International Baccalaureate coordinator and eighth-grade language arts teacher at Michael E Fossum Middle School the initiative is all about collaboration

ldquoIrsquove learned more from my fellow teachers than I have in many years just from sharing ideas for how to use the iPads in the classroomrdquo she says

Sandra Guerra who teaches seventh- and eighth-grade math

at Fossum says the iPads have changed both her teaching style and the way her students learn

Instead of mapping out the learning process step-by-step she now gives students their goal and lets them choose how to get there

ldquoWith this approach they own their learning and theyrsquove been more willing to learnrdquo Guerra says

The iPads have also been a game-changer for Guerrarsquos family

Her seventh-grade daughter is learning advanced science concepts because of independent iPad projects And because most of her childrenrsquos school materials are on their iPads itrsquos easier than ever for Guerra to check on their progress from home

That kind of scenario says Superintendent Ponce is at the heart of the initiative

ldquoThe entire school system and our community want to lead in this effort to build a 21st-century learning environmentrdquo he says ldquoThis is a direct investment in our children and their familiesrdquo

by Kathryn Royster

High-Tech Learningseventh-grade students use ipads to follow class lectures and take quizzes during a language arts class at michael e fossum middle school

PH

oT

o C

oU

RT

EST

Y o

F M

CA

LLE

N IN

DE

PE

ND

EN

T S

CH

oo

L D

IST

RIC

T

28 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 29

Higher Education

SOuTh TExaS COllEgE

McAllenrsquos South Texas College has more than 30000 students and offers numerous associate and bachelorrsquos degree programs as well as professional certifications in more than 40 areas The college also has online degree courses for students who work full time

liviNg EDUCATIoN

Set for SuccesscolleGe prep is a top priority in mcallen

Education in McAllen is defined by excellent options From elementary school through college McAllen includes numerous institutions designed to prepare students for success By Braxton Shoop

school yourself on more educational offerings at livabilitycommcallen

Public Schools

mCallEN iNdEPENdENT SChOOl diSTriCT

Established in 1915 the mcallen independent School district comprises three high schools seven middle schools and 20 elementary schools Among these schools the district offers an advanced placement college-level curriculum and a dual-enrollment program for students who would like to obtain high school and college credit simultaneously

In addition the district features an International Baccalaureate program that provides students with an advanced curriculum geared toward global standards

Local Inspiration

FOrmEr STudENT FliES high

one of McAllenrsquos successful students is astronaut michael Fossum a graduate of McAllen High School After receiving his commission from the US Air Force by Texas AampM University Fossum graduated Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base and in 1993 he started at NASA Throughout his NASA career Fossum was on crew for three spaceflights He commanded the space station during one of his flights helping him rank seventh on the all-time list for cumulative Extravehicular Activity time

Top-notch Learning Environmentuniversity of texas-pan american offers many undergraduate degrees more than 50 masterrsquos degrees and three doctoral degrees utpa has accreditations from organizations like the commission for collegiate nursing the examining board of nurse examiners for the state of texas and the engineering accreditation commission of the accreditation board for engineering and technology

30 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 31

Charter School

idEa aCadEmy

idEa academy is an innovative institution that offers a fully scaled curriculum for students in kindergarten and in the first second and sixth grades The school which opened in McAllen in 2012 will eventually add more grades each one including approximately 110 students While the school is public students must apply to fill the 460 available spots

To prepare its students to be collegiate scholars IDEA provides International Baccalaureate curriculum as well as the Road to College curriculum which begins in the sixth grade

ldquoWersquore very proud of the connection to our distinguished alumni like NASA astronaut Michael Fossum and we want our students to recognize the kind of education we provide here What he learned here helped catapult him into space and wersquore very proud of thatrdquo

NOrma zamOra-guErra MCALLENINDEPENDENTSCHOOL

DISTRICTCOMMuNITYINFORMATIONDIRECTOR

Michael E Fossum Middle Schoolnamed for astronaut michael e fossum the school is part of the mcallen independent school district

30 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 31

Please call 9566316109 for a representative today

2501 Buddy Owens Blvd McAllen TX 78504

9656316125 Fax

wwwrio-healthcom

RioHealth MedicalWe are here to meet all your

occupational medicine needs

bull Workplace injuries and workersrsquo compensation

bull On site and off site drug screening

bull Physicals

bull Orthopedics

bull Early return to work

bull 247 coverage

bull We accept all types of insurance

WorkplaceInjury

DANIEL J GUERRA MD Diplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

LEONEL G MORENO MDDiplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

HOMERO RIVAS MDDiplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

606 S Broadway bull McAllen TX bull (956) 682-4515 bull wwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

FAMILY PHYSICIANS

CLINICSince 1967

Mon-Fri 8 am-5 pm Sat 8 am-Noon

VALLEY NIGHT CLINIC

Since 1981

Open Every Night of the Year 6 pm-Midnight

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valley supports children of all abilities through child care

services early intervention and parenting support programs

Early Childhood intErvEntion ChildCarE sErviCEs ParEnts as tEaChErs

Easter seals rio Grande valley Programs for Children Birth to Five years

bullChild-Care servicesndashHigh-qualitychildcare sixweekstofiveyears

bullParents as teachers (Pat)ndashDevelopmental parentingsupportforchildrenbirthtofiveyears

bullEarly Childhood intervention (ECi) ndashConcerns indevelopmentforchildrenbirthtothreeyears

For more information about Easter seals

programs and services call (956) 631-9171 or visit wwweasterseals-rgvorg

32 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 33

liviNg HEALTH

Take a Deep Breath and Relaxresidents haVe access to top hospitals

McAllen residents receive quality care from the South Texas Health System Rio Grande Regional Hospital and the Doctors Hospital at Renaissance By Kevin Litwin

Health System

SOuTh TExaS hEalTh SySTEm

South Texas health System is the umbrella organization for a number of fine medical facilities including mcallen medical Center MMC has 441 beds and a staff of more than 400 physicians that represent 50 medical specialties

Also part of South Texas Health System is mcallen heart hospital which opened in 1996 as the first freestanding cardiology and cardiovascular hospital built in the United States It includes 60 beds and a 24-hour emergency center

Healthgrades has awarded McAllen Medical Center and McAllen Heart Hospital with a variety of honors in recent years and both earned a Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence in 2011

Hospital

riO graNdE rEgiONal hOSPiTal

rio grande regional hospital is an acute care medical facility with 320 beds and more than 500 physicians The hospital is the only area Diabetes Management Center accredited by the American Diabetes Association and is the arearsquos first facility to have a Pediatric Heart Program

RGRH also includes a 24-hour emergency room Womenrsquos Services department Level III trauma center and cardiovascular care The hospital is fully accredited by The Joint Commission and the College of American Pathologists and every year since 2007 has been named a Center of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery

32 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 33

Hospital

dOCTOrS hOSPiTal aT rENaiSSaNCE

The 506-bed doctors hospital at renaissance is an acute care facility It provides cardiology neurosurgery and endocrinology as well as a Pediatric Medical Tower that offers pediatric oncology and pediatric ICU services

Doctors Hospital has been ranked among the nationrsquos 100 Top Hospitals by Thomson Reuters and recently invested $32 million to establish an Electronic Medical Record System

DHR was the first in South Texas to acquire a PETCT scanner for diagnosing cancer and the first in the region to introduce da Vinci robotic surgical technology The hospital also oversees Renaissance Behavioral Center which provides treatment for people with mental health problems substance abuse or eating disorders

34 mc allen

COMMUNITyPROFILE COST OF liviNg

$44074Median Household Income

$129554Median Home Price

$689Median Rent for a Two-Bedroom Apartment

TraNSPOrTaTiON

Median Travel Time to Work

agE

TEmPEraTurE

January Average

July Average

EThNiCiTy

19 and Under

20-54

55 and over

White

Black

Hispanic

other

1645minutes

Closest Airport McAllen International Airport

955deg

482deg

South Texasrsquo Finest Gift Store Offers Gifts From Around the World

4300 N 10th St bull Ste C bull McAllen TX 78504 (956) 686-1264 bull ohkaysaolcom

Look for us on Facebook

gOlF COurSES

gOlF TEC

2901 N 10TH ST956-994-9631

mCallEN COuNTry CluB615 WICHITA AVE956-686-0923

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

The national Butterfly Center the national butterfly center dedicates 100 acres to the conservation and scientific study of wild butterflies in their natural habitats the wildlife center is open daily from 8 am until 5 pm september through march and from 9 am until 4 pm april through august

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

liviNg SEE THE CITY

36 mc allen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 37

BUSINESSInfo on McAllenrsquos top employers jobs and success stories

McAllen Convention Centerthe McAllenConventionCenter is located on 185 acres and includes a 60000-square-foot exhibit hall as well as more than 25000 square feet of meeting space in 16 breakout rooms

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

38 mc allen 38 mc allen

38 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 39

BuSiNESS oVERVIEW

McAllenrsquos in the MoneyCultural diversity location and innovation drive cityrsquos top business sectors

As the retail hub of South Texas McAllen is thriving The city draws a customer base of more than 10 million within a 200-mile radius and is represented by 40 of Americarsquos top 100 retailers

By Tiffany Williams

La Plaza MallPumping much of the life into this retail hub is la Plaza mall which annually attracts more than 18 million visitors its anchoring stores such as dillardrsquos and macyrsquos and sought-after retailers including BCBg-max azria and Coach average sales of more than $650 per square foot and are among the most profitable stores in their chains

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

Meetings amp Events

CONvENTiON CENTEr lurES viSiTOrS

The mcallen Convention Center also helps draw businesses to the area The 185-acre complex featuring a 60000-square-foot column-free exhibit hall more than 25000 square feet of meeting space and up to 16 breakout rooms offers bicultural themes and tropical accents that represent the cultural and natural diversity of McAllen

Retail

ShOPPiNg hOT SPOTS

This bicultural city which is located just five miles from the US-Mexico border also has access to three international bridges that flood with visitors and eager shoppers daily many of whom are spending at a rate twice the national average

In addition to La Plaza Mall shopping centers in the McAllen area include Trenton Crossing las Tiendas Plaza and La Plaza Mallrsquos 600sbquo000-square-foot sister shopping center Palms Crossing which hosts such big-name retailers as Barnes amp Noble and Babies rsquoRrsquo Us as well as specialty shops and restaurants Its appeal stems from its open-air design with lots of palm trees water fountains and seating areas

Major Manufacturers

madE FOr maNuFaCTuriNg

Ranked third in Texas in per-capita sales the McAllen area has some of the largest manufacturing and wholesale companies in the nation

valley Coca Cola Bottling Co Value Frozen Foods and Emerson Network Power are just a few who have put down roots here Tri-City Steel which provides a full scope of steel construction by fabricating and erecting structural steel buildings pre-engineered metal buildings stairs handrails and more Texas Citrus Exchange in Mission makes Texas rio red grapefruit juice

learn more about businesses in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

BuSiNESS

RESIDEnTS GET CREATIvE WITH BUSInESS vEnTURES

the BoxOutside

One of McAllenrsquos most innovative startups sprang from the mind of someone who wasnrsquot even interested in business Today Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar is one

of the arearsquos top entrepreneurs and is finding serious success

mcallen entrepreneur dalinda Gonzalez-alcantar founded eJucomm llc

liVabil it ycommc allen 43 42 mc allen

ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the worldrdquo

EllEry BuChaNaN FIBERIOPRESIDENTCEO

Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar the founder of eJucomm LLC simply wanted to make information in her school district more accessible to families The company was a way she could make it happen

She got the idea while working as a teacher at DeLeon Middle School in McAllen and was frustrated that families without computers andor Internet access had difficulty communicating with teachers and administrators So she decided to develop a smartphone application that would solve the problem

With no previous technical experience she researched code online at night and a year later was selling the app to various school districts

ldquoThe app enables Android and iPhone users to access information for things like grades and attendancerdquo Gonzalez-Alcantar says

The entrepreneur also faced unexpected challenges ndash for instance how to tailor individual apps to the roughly seven school districts and 40 campuses that now use them No longer teaching she has partnered with a chief technology officer so she can focus on sales and marketing

One of her biggest hurdles was finding legal fees to fund the startup and a $10000 McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant in 2011 helped pay for a licensing agreement and intellectual property protection for eJucomm to move forward

BaNaNa E-z SPliTAnother McAllen resident

Gerald Guerra faced a similar obstacle when developing a product called Banana E-Z Split A health insurance broker Guerra was inspired at his own kitchen table to create single serving packets with all three syrups

Banana E-Z SplitGerald Guerra inventor of the banana e-Z split single serving syrup packets poses with his daughters Victoria and kaitlyn enthusiastic taste testers for his product

liVabil it ycommc allen 43

To order please call or visit 956-668-0555 or wwwediblearrangementscom 5113-A N 10th St bull McAllen TX 78504

Offer valid at participating locations Offer expires 12312013 Cannot be combined with another offers Offer code must be used when placing order

Containers may vary EDIBLE ARRANGEMENTS and the Fruit Basket Logo Design are registered trademarks of Edible Arrangements LLC

copy2012 Edible Arrangements LLC All rights reserved Frachises available call (888) 727-4258 or visit wwweafranchisescom

DELICIOUSLYd e s i r a b l e

FREE PIECE OF DIPPED FRUIT

Code mctx1213

Living green is making sure the air in your home is healthy for your family to breathe Test your home for radon and build radon-resistant

Its easy Thats living healthy and green

Just call 866-730-green or visit wwwepagovradon

Living greenstarts from the ground up

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

(pineapple chocolate strawberry) needed for a banana split

The concept led to a 2011 McAllen Business Plan Competition grant to fund the necessary patents

ldquoI envisioned a product that could hang easily in refrigerated sections at big box storesrdquo Guerra says ldquoI have lined up a distributor and a broker with my ultimate goal being to have Banana E-Z Split available to customers in large grocery chains It is close to happeningrdquo

FiBEriO TEChNOlOgyAnother startup in McAllen

is already making waves globally FibeRio Technology Corporation another McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant recipient is thriving thanks to ground-breaking nanofiber-producing machinery The nanofibers can be used to make products ranging from diapers to

ballistics using a new way to spin microscopic nanofibers

The technology serves an array of industries that feature filtration textiles or biomedical applications

ldquoDr Karen Lozano at UT-Pan American discovered the process and I was contacted because I am an entrepreneur familiar with launching technology- based companies including nanotechnologyrdquo says FibeRio Technology presidentCEO Ellery Buchanan ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the world Plus we use local McAllen suppliers whenever possible including machine shops parts suppliers IT contractors and other business servicesrdquo

by Kevin Litwin by staff photographer

Michael Conti

FibeRio Technology Corporationnanomaterials processing research equipment is used at FibeRioTechnologyCorporation

FEldmaNrsquoS markET CENTErFeldmanrsquos Market Center features a broad selection of beer as well as wines liquors cigars and a gourmet deli In addition weekly beer and wine tastings are offered(956) 687-9463

PErFECT PawS rESOrTPerfect Paws Resort offers grooming services daycare and boarding to vaccinated dogs and cats that are at least 12 weeks old Boarding suites are climate controlled and under constant supervisionperfectpawsresortcom

mCCrEEry aviaTiON CO iNCMcCreery Aviation Co Inc is a place for pilots and their aircraft to receive top-notch treatment A fuel center flight planning room and hangar storage are availablemccreeryaviationcom

kiTikakE llCKitikake LLC offers gently- used vintage clothing for women from an array of top designers such as Lilly Pulitzer and Catherine Malandrino Vintage home deacutecor and dishes are also availablekitikakecom

krEidlEr FuNEral hOmEFounded owned and operated by the Kreidler family Kreidler Funeral Home has served McAllen for 100 years They offer traditional burial and graveside funeral services direct burials cremations memorial services and morekreidlerfuneralhomecom

Business Spotlight

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

visit ouradvertisersBorder Capital Bankwwwbordercapitalbankcom

City of McAllen Public Info Officewwwexploremcallennet

Courtyard by Marriottwwwmarriottcommtema

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valleywwweasterseals-rgvorg

Edible Arrangementswwwediblearrangementscom

Family Physicians Clinicwwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

Magic Valley Electric Cooperativewwwmagicvalleycoop

McAllen Economic Development Corporationwwwmcallenedcorg

McAllen Independent School Districtwwwmcallenisdorg

McAllen International Airportwwwmcallenairportcom

McAllen Realty

Mr Electricwwwmrelectriccom

Nuevo Santander Gallerywwwnuevosantandercom

OH KAYrsquoS

Preventative Care Institutewwwrgvpcicom

Quinta Mazatlanwwwquintamazatlancom

Rio Health Medicalwwwrio-healthcom

South Texas College wwwsouthtexascollegeedu

South Texas Health Systemwwwsouthtexashealthsystemcom

The Patio on Guerra wwwpatioonguerracom

Valley International Airportwwwflythevalleycom

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

BuSiNESS CHAMBER REPoRT

Whatrsquos the Big Ideachamberrsquos readiness tool kit assists entrepreneurs

The McAllen Chamber of Commerce has helped prepare 25 McAllen entrepreneurs in the continuing quest to launch their ideas ndash all since July 2011

The Chamber has a software package called VentureBusiness Readiness Assessment which is used by states such as oklahoma and Kentucky to assist startup companies The software helps an entrepreneur through the entire process of seeing whether they are truly ready to launch their startup

ldquoVentureBusiness Readiness Assessment is a way that the Chamber assists entrepreneurs who are trying to get funding for their products or projectsrdquo says Steve Ahlenius who serves as President and CEo of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce ldquoThe Chamber awards $50000 a year in innovation grants in $10000 increments and entrepreneurs are always looking for funding But they must earn that money by passing the various stages of the software tool kitrdquo

TEN hOurS TO COmPlETEAhlenius says the assessment

has several specific steps to make sure that a startup company has everything in place to ensure that it is successful

ldquoThe entrepreneurs contact us and set up an appointment to see me then they come to the Chamber office we sign them up and give them passwords to access the software at their conveniencerdquo he says ldquo[The program] takes about 10 hours to complete but doesnrsquot have to be finished in one sitting However the program must be eventually completed in order to qualify for our innovation grantrdquo

CaN iT BE madE QuiCklyThe software asks questions

such as Have you protected your intellectual property Is your product something that can be

made quickly Have you set a value on your idea and do you know how to do that If itrsquos a product that involves high-tech engineering do you have an engineer on your companyrsquos team

ldquoThe entrepreneur needs to know if his venture is worth 20 shares of stock or 200 shares ndash things like thatrdquo Ahlenius says ldquoMany factors go into launching a product or business and Venture Readiness points out a personrsquos strengths and weaknessesrdquo

a grEaT OvErviEwVicente Valle Martinez of

McAllen is an entrepreneur who contacted the Chamber in 2012 about his idea for connecting

people on the Internet who have similar educational experiences and higher learning interests

ldquoI have no background in business but heard one day about an innovation grant competition that the Chamber was sponsoringrdquo Martinez says ldquoSteve told me about the software package and it gave me a great overview of what I need to know before launching my ideardquo

Ahlenius says the various concepts the software package covers include credentials character capabilities commitment and circumstance

ldquoIt is an excellent self-awareness testrdquo he says ldquoItrsquos ideal for entrepreneursrdquo

by Kevin Litwin

the mcallen chamber of commerce on ash avenue

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

Ad Index 41 BorderCapitalBank

21 CityofMCallen puBliCinfooffiCe

4 CourtyardByMarriott

32 easterseals rioGrandeValley

44 ediBlearranGeMents

32 faMilyphysiCiansCliniC

2 MaGiCValley eleCtriCCooperatiVe

C3 MCalleneConoMiC deVelopMentCorporation

46 MCallenindependent sChooldistriCt

1 MCallen internationalairport

C4 MCallenrealty

48 MreleCtriC

46 nueVosantanderGallery

35 ohkayrsquos

34 preVentatiVe

Careinstitute

23 QuintaMazatlan

32 riohealthMediCal

31 southtexasColleGe

C2 southtexas

healthsysteM

18 thepatioonGuerra

44 Valley

internationalairport

ECONOMICPROFILE

3000+

2000- 2999

1999- 500

hOuSEhOld iNCOmE

TOP EmPlOyErS

$200000+

$150000-199999

$100000 and under

McAllen Independent School District

McAllen Medical Center South Texas College City of McAllen

Rio Grande Regional Hospital International Bank of Commerce

EduCaTiON lEvEl

High School Graduate

Associate Degree

Bachelorrsquos Degree

Masterrsquos Degree

TaxES

2City Sales and Use Tax

625State Sales Tax

825Total Sales Tax

SCOrECard

$36BAnnual Retail Sales

$28682Retail sales per capita

$3575MAnnual Hotel and Food Sales

15161Total Number of Firms

TraNSPOrTaTiON

mcallen-miller international airportwwwmcallenairportcom

metro mcallenwwwmcallennetmetro

amtrakwwwamtrakcom

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

everything you need every step of the way

Serving the rio grande valley Since 1989

Rachel Hardison-Oliva Broker

3321 N McColl Rd

McAllen TX 78501

(956) 687-7172 bull (956) 687-7178 Fax

Page 20: Livability McAllen, TX 2013

ThiNgS TO dO LoCAL FLAVoR

Palate Pleasersmcallen restaurants serVe up flaVorful foods

McAllen diners rejoice The city has a broad selection of distinctive restaurants and eateries appealing to just about every taste By Barbara Biehler

Asian

SENSaTiONal SuShi amp SPiCE

McAllen has several great spots for Japanese food such as sushi tempura and teppanyaki including kohnami kumori and yokorsquos Sushi Bar

Fans of Thai food should check out Thai red Chilirsquos for dishes like pad thai red curry chicken and sweet rice with mango

Indian

TaNdOOri aNyONETaste of india hits the spot

for diners looking for high quality authentic Indian food made from old family recipes and paired with excellent service

Tex-Mex and Mexican

SOmE likE iT SPiCy

Step into las Cazuelas grill for classic Mexican cuisine or visit Palenque Chicken for expertly prepared Mexican and Tex Mex dishes

Renowned regionally for homemade tamales deliarsquos uses fresh ingredients including pork chicken and beef

The republic of rio grande serves Mexican cuisine in an intimate setting order a traditional dish like the chicken fajitas or enchiladas suizas or enjoy a distinctive entree such as shrimp chipotle pesto pasta or a brick-oven pizza

check out more restaurants in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

ldquoDeliarsquos has the best tamales in town Probably even in the RGV The only place you can get the good old homemade flavor of real tamalesrdquo

Evila l YELPCOM

Argentine

SOuTh amEriCaN CuiSiNE

Relax in the elegant yet casual atmosphere of la Pampa argentinean Steak housewhile you dine on classic Argentine- cut steaks grilled chicken breasts marinated in Chimichurri or traditional de carne empanadas

Meanwhile la recova also offers a wide selection of Argentine-style favorites on its menu Favorite dishes at La Recova includes chorizo tuna carnitas duck confit and churrasco a classic top sirloin steak

Outdoor Dining

TrENdy amp TaSTy

If yoursquore in the mood for a USDA prime steak or succulent seafood drop by The Patio on guerra Dine on the outdoor patio and have a bottle of one of the restaurantrsquos award-winning wines

FridarsquosGrillandCantina located on 17th street offers traditional mexican favorites with modern flavors Go to fridarsquos to enjoy unique culinary dishes signature drinks and live music on the weekends

l iVabil it ycommc allen 19

ThiNgS TO dO ARTS amp CULTURE

Rave Reviewsmcallenrsquos arts scene remains robust With museums music and eVents

Arts patrons music lovers and history buffs enjoy many cultural attractions throughout McAllen The latest buzz McAllen Performing Arts Center will spring up near the McAllen Convention Center giving fans of live music theater and dance a fine new facility to anticipate

Live Entertainment

PErFOrmErS TakE ThE STagE

The 17th Street Entertainment district in downtown McAllen overflows with lounges restaurants and clubs For live music visit The old Ice House or Cine El Rey

The cityrsquos diverse culture is what influences much of the music performed by the valley Symphony Orchestra amp Chorale The Symphony was established in 1952 with the Chorale joining later in 1984 Similarly the South Texas lyric Opera brings the fine art of opera to the Rio Grande Valley with a yearly slate of productions and an annual opera gala and rio grande valley Broadway brings popular stage shows to town such as Disneyrsquos Beauty and the Beast and Monty Pythonrsquos Spamalot

Historic Sites

TakE a STEP BaCk iN TimE

The museum of South Texas history and the mcallen heritage Center are just two locations to learn about the rich history of this bicultural area

Quinta mazatlan a 1930s hacienda that embodies the Spanish Colonial Revival architecture of arches adobe and beams and provides an intimate look into South Texas history The 10000-square- foot mansion sits on a 15-acre plot hosting a mix of native and exotic plants and wildlife making up McAllenrsquos wing of the popular world Birding Center

Cine El Reyopened in 1947 the historic cine el rey theater now functions as

a music and performance venue showcasing a variety of live events and also shows spanish and english independent films the theater is located in downtown mcallenrsquos 17th street entertainment district

20 mc allen

ldquoCine El Rey hosts events as diverse as wrestling live bands films and comedy shows A huge stage is complimented by killer production value and a staff that really cares about all aspects of the experience Irsquom looking forward to a return triprdquo

Bill dykES YELP

visual Arts and Festivals

aCCESSiBlE arT FuN EvENTS

The international museum of art amp Science founded in 1969 promotes an appreciation for the arts and sciences through its exhibitions cultural events and many educational programs imaS is located at 1900 Nolana Ave

The mcallen art walk is a self-guided tour that gives art lovers the opportunity to explore the many art offerings in the city Itrsquos held every first Friday from September through May and is free and open to the public

on the first Saturday night of December folks enjoy the Candlelight Posada which includes food booths luminaries a parade live entertainment caroling and a live nativity scene

Chamber of Commerce Support

ChamBEr BaCkS ThE arTS

The mcallen Chamber of Commerce shows its love for the arts by managing the mcallen arts Council which publishes a quarterly magazine produces an annual fine arts exhibition and offers grants to local artists The Chamber also offers an outdoor concert series and coordinates the Public art Committeersquos acquisition program

20 mc allen

ThiNgS TO dO SPoRTS amp RECREATIoN

Soak Up Some Sunmcallen residents haVe plenty of Good reasons to Get outdoors

Great golf courses hiking and biking trails and a large well-maintained park system make McAllen the perfect place to enjoy outdoor fun By Carson OrsquoShoney

Golf

TEE iT uPWith nearly 20 courses in the

McAllen area golf is a popular attraction in the Rio Grande Valley

one of the most notable courses is the Palm view golf Course an 18-hole public course with a private feel With rolling fairways and Bermuda rough mounds the course is an often-used location for tournaments having hosted LPGA tournaments and Palm viewrsquos amateur golf Championship

mcallen Country Club provides a challenge with tree-lined fairways and small greens and also offers a swimming pool tennis courts a fitness center and other amenities

Every golf course in the area is bustling especially in the winter when ldquoWinter Texansrdquo come to the Rio Grande Valley The weather generally stays in the 70s in the coldest months making it a perfect place for winter golfing

Hiking Biking and Racing

ON ThE mOvE iN mCallEN

There are plenty of hiking and biking trails on the east and west sides of town such as the retama village Park Trail westside Park Trail and las Palmas Park Trail Visiting cyclists are welcome to meet up with Team mcallen Cycling a bike club thatrsquos been in the city for more than 25 years

Racing fans can enjoy the mcallen international motorplex and Event Center which hosts stock car races car shows and more The racetrack is a family-friendly place offering activities for children such as games face painting and crafts

Palm view Golf Courseirish cochran plays a round of golf at palm View Golf course an 18-hole public course often used for high profile tournaments

22 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 23

City Parks

OuTdOOr Family FuN

The mcallen Parks and recreation department currently oversees 25 city parks Ranging from historic parks established in the early 1900s to more modern facilities there are several options suitable for the whole family

archer Park McAllenrsquos oldest park opened in 1912 Serving as a historic landmark in the city it also plays host to many of the cityrsquos annual special events including the Candlelight Posada and movies in the Park

Spanning 38 acres Springfest Park is the largest park in McAllen Springfest hosts a variety of special events and is home to mcallenrsquos winter Polo league from January through March

check out more fun things to do in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

Spray and Ground Parkbesides its popular water feature mcallenrsquos new SprayandGroundParkhas a sand volleyball court skateboard area a half basketball court and just over half a mile of walking trails in addition there are athletic practice fields shaded areas picnic shelters and restroom facilities

22 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 23

ThiNgS TO dO SEE THE CITY

24 mc allen

The Irrigation Workerthe sun sets behind a sculpture ldquothe irrigation Workerrdquo which was created by artist douglas clark and is located on nolana and 25th

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

l iVabil it ycommc allen 25

LIvINGHERESchools health care education and neighborhoods in McAllen

26 mc allen 26 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 27 26 mc allen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 27

see more beautiful photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

Luxury Livingnewcomers have many beautiful home options in mcallen such as those offered in eight different communities by cantu construction a locally based award-winning builder

26 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 27 liVabil it ycommc allen 27

liviNg

TECH TOOLS FOSTER STUDEnT SUCCESS

Padding theCurriculum

McAllen Independent School District (ISD) is feeling the benefits of an ambitious technology plan that places an iPod or iPad in the hands of every teacher and student

mcallen independent school district students use system-issued ipads in class

28 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 29

EduCaTiNg FOr ThE 21ST CENTury

The initiative began with a meeting between Dr James Ponce McAllenrsquos superintendent of schools and a ldquocadrerdquo of about 35 teachers administrators and parents

The grouprsquos primary goal was to build a 21st-century classroom environment one that fosters creativity collaboration and entrepreneurship The group also wanted to find a way to harness the 247 educational potential of the Internet ndash and teach students the critical-thinking skills needed to process online content

ldquoItrsquos an environment where the teachers become the primary learners and the students are driven by their examplerdquo Ponce says ldquoSo we asked what tools we would need for this transformation of the way we teach and the way the kids learnrdquo

After much research the group chose iPods (for grades K-2) and iPads (for teachers and grades 3-12) because of their portability

ldquoIrsquove learned more from my fellow teachers than I have in many years just from sharing ideas for how to use the iPads in the classroomrdquo

CarOl aNN allEN LANGuAGEARTSTEACHER

ATMICHAELEFOSSuMMIDDLESCHOOL

relatively low cost and ease of use To implement the planrsquos first stage McAllen ISD issued 5800 of these devices to teachers and students when the rollout is complete it will cover more than 25000 students

Big BENEFiTS FOr TEaChErS aNd STudENTS

Both teachers and students are seeing benefits from the program

ldquoThe iPods help the kids be creative My students are organizing information in new waysrdquo says Ruth Whiddon who teaches first grade at Andrew Jackson Elementary School

For Carol Ann Allen International Baccalaureate coordinator and eighth-grade language arts teacher at Michael E Fossum Middle School the initiative is all about collaboration

ldquoIrsquove learned more from my fellow teachers than I have in many years just from sharing ideas for how to use the iPads in the classroomrdquo she says

Sandra Guerra who teaches seventh- and eighth-grade math

at Fossum says the iPads have changed both her teaching style and the way her students learn

Instead of mapping out the learning process step-by-step she now gives students their goal and lets them choose how to get there

ldquoWith this approach they own their learning and theyrsquove been more willing to learnrdquo Guerra says

The iPads have also been a game-changer for Guerrarsquos family

Her seventh-grade daughter is learning advanced science concepts because of independent iPad projects And because most of her childrenrsquos school materials are on their iPads itrsquos easier than ever for Guerra to check on their progress from home

That kind of scenario says Superintendent Ponce is at the heart of the initiative

ldquoThe entire school system and our community want to lead in this effort to build a 21st-century learning environmentrdquo he says ldquoThis is a direct investment in our children and their familiesrdquo

by Kathryn Royster

High-Tech Learningseventh-grade students use ipads to follow class lectures and take quizzes during a language arts class at michael e fossum middle school

PH

oT

o C

oU

RT

EST

Y o

F M

CA

LLE

N IN

DE

PE

ND

EN

T S

CH

oo

L D

IST

RIC

T

28 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 29

Higher Education

SOuTh TExaS COllEgE

McAllenrsquos South Texas College has more than 30000 students and offers numerous associate and bachelorrsquos degree programs as well as professional certifications in more than 40 areas The college also has online degree courses for students who work full time

liviNg EDUCATIoN

Set for SuccesscolleGe prep is a top priority in mcallen

Education in McAllen is defined by excellent options From elementary school through college McAllen includes numerous institutions designed to prepare students for success By Braxton Shoop

school yourself on more educational offerings at livabilitycommcallen

Public Schools

mCallEN iNdEPENdENT SChOOl diSTriCT

Established in 1915 the mcallen independent School district comprises three high schools seven middle schools and 20 elementary schools Among these schools the district offers an advanced placement college-level curriculum and a dual-enrollment program for students who would like to obtain high school and college credit simultaneously

In addition the district features an International Baccalaureate program that provides students with an advanced curriculum geared toward global standards

Local Inspiration

FOrmEr STudENT FliES high

one of McAllenrsquos successful students is astronaut michael Fossum a graduate of McAllen High School After receiving his commission from the US Air Force by Texas AampM University Fossum graduated Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base and in 1993 he started at NASA Throughout his NASA career Fossum was on crew for three spaceflights He commanded the space station during one of his flights helping him rank seventh on the all-time list for cumulative Extravehicular Activity time

Top-notch Learning Environmentuniversity of texas-pan american offers many undergraduate degrees more than 50 masterrsquos degrees and three doctoral degrees utpa has accreditations from organizations like the commission for collegiate nursing the examining board of nurse examiners for the state of texas and the engineering accreditation commission of the accreditation board for engineering and technology

30 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 31

Charter School

idEa aCadEmy

idEa academy is an innovative institution that offers a fully scaled curriculum for students in kindergarten and in the first second and sixth grades The school which opened in McAllen in 2012 will eventually add more grades each one including approximately 110 students While the school is public students must apply to fill the 460 available spots

To prepare its students to be collegiate scholars IDEA provides International Baccalaureate curriculum as well as the Road to College curriculum which begins in the sixth grade

ldquoWersquore very proud of the connection to our distinguished alumni like NASA astronaut Michael Fossum and we want our students to recognize the kind of education we provide here What he learned here helped catapult him into space and wersquore very proud of thatrdquo

NOrma zamOra-guErra MCALLENINDEPENDENTSCHOOL

DISTRICTCOMMuNITYINFORMATIONDIRECTOR

Michael E Fossum Middle Schoolnamed for astronaut michael e fossum the school is part of the mcallen independent school district

30 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 31

Please call 9566316109 for a representative today

2501 Buddy Owens Blvd McAllen TX 78504

9656316125 Fax

wwwrio-healthcom

RioHealth MedicalWe are here to meet all your

occupational medicine needs

bull Workplace injuries and workersrsquo compensation

bull On site and off site drug screening

bull Physicals

bull Orthopedics

bull Early return to work

bull 247 coverage

bull We accept all types of insurance

WorkplaceInjury

DANIEL J GUERRA MD Diplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

LEONEL G MORENO MDDiplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

HOMERO RIVAS MDDiplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

606 S Broadway bull McAllen TX bull (956) 682-4515 bull wwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

FAMILY PHYSICIANS

CLINICSince 1967

Mon-Fri 8 am-5 pm Sat 8 am-Noon

VALLEY NIGHT CLINIC

Since 1981

Open Every Night of the Year 6 pm-Midnight

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valley supports children of all abilities through child care

services early intervention and parenting support programs

Early Childhood intErvEntion ChildCarE sErviCEs ParEnts as tEaChErs

Easter seals rio Grande valley Programs for Children Birth to Five years

bullChild-Care servicesndashHigh-qualitychildcare sixweekstofiveyears

bullParents as teachers (Pat)ndashDevelopmental parentingsupportforchildrenbirthtofiveyears

bullEarly Childhood intervention (ECi) ndashConcerns indevelopmentforchildrenbirthtothreeyears

For more information about Easter seals

programs and services call (956) 631-9171 or visit wwweasterseals-rgvorg

32 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 33

liviNg HEALTH

Take a Deep Breath and Relaxresidents haVe access to top hospitals

McAllen residents receive quality care from the South Texas Health System Rio Grande Regional Hospital and the Doctors Hospital at Renaissance By Kevin Litwin

Health System

SOuTh TExaS hEalTh SySTEm

South Texas health System is the umbrella organization for a number of fine medical facilities including mcallen medical Center MMC has 441 beds and a staff of more than 400 physicians that represent 50 medical specialties

Also part of South Texas Health System is mcallen heart hospital which opened in 1996 as the first freestanding cardiology and cardiovascular hospital built in the United States It includes 60 beds and a 24-hour emergency center

Healthgrades has awarded McAllen Medical Center and McAllen Heart Hospital with a variety of honors in recent years and both earned a Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence in 2011

Hospital

riO graNdE rEgiONal hOSPiTal

rio grande regional hospital is an acute care medical facility with 320 beds and more than 500 physicians The hospital is the only area Diabetes Management Center accredited by the American Diabetes Association and is the arearsquos first facility to have a Pediatric Heart Program

RGRH also includes a 24-hour emergency room Womenrsquos Services department Level III trauma center and cardiovascular care The hospital is fully accredited by The Joint Commission and the College of American Pathologists and every year since 2007 has been named a Center of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery

32 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 33

Hospital

dOCTOrS hOSPiTal aT rENaiSSaNCE

The 506-bed doctors hospital at renaissance is an acute care facility It provides cardiology neurosurgery and endocrinology as well as a Pediatric Medical Tower that offers pediatric oncology and pediatric ICU services

Doctors Hospital has been ranked among the nationrsquos 100 Top Hospitals by Thomson Reuters and recently invested $32 million to establish an Electronic Medical Record System

DHR was the first in South Texas to acquire a PETCT scanner for diagnosing cancer and the first in the region to introduce da Vinci robotic surgical technology The hospital also oversees Renaissance Behavioral Center which provides treatment for people with mental health problems substance abuse or eating disorders

34 mc allen

COMMUNITyPROFILE COST OF liviNg

$44074Median Household Income

$129554Median Home Price

$689Median Rent for a Two-Bedroom Apartment

TraNSPOrTaTiON

Median Travel Time to Work

agE

TEmPEraTurE

January Average

July Average

EThNiCiTy

19 and Under

20-54

55 and over

White

Black

Hispanic

other

1645minutes

Closest Airport McAllen International Airport

955deg

482deg

South Texasrsquo Finest Gift Store Offers Gifts From Around the World

4300 N 10th St bull Ste C bull McAllen TX 78504 (956) 686-1264 bull ohkaysaolcom

Look for us on Facebook

gOlF COurSES

gOlF TEC

2901 N 10TH ST956-994-9631

mCallEN COuNTry CluB615 WICHITA AVE956-686-0923

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

The national Butterfly Center the national butterfly center dedicates 100 acres to the conservation and scientific study of wild butterflies in their natural habitats the wildlife center is open daily from 8 am until 5 pm september through march and from 9 am until 4 pm april through august

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

liviNg SEE THE CITY

36 mc allen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 37

BUSINESSInfo on McAllenrsquos top employers jobs and success stories

McAllen Convention Centerthe McAllenConventionCenter is located on 185 acres and includes a 60000-square-foot exhibit hall as well as more than 25000 square feet of meeting space in 16 breakout rooms

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

38 mc allen 38 mc allen

38 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 39

BuSiNESS oVERVIEW

McAllenrsquos in the MoneyCultural diversity location and innovation drive cityrsquos top business sectors

As the retail hub of South Texas McAllen is thriving The city draws a customer base of more than 10 million within a 200-mile radius and is represented by 40 of Americarsquos top 100 retailers

By Tiffany Williams

La Plaza MallPumping much of the life into this retail hub is la Plaza mall which annually attracts more than 18 million visitors its anchoring stores such as dillardrsquos and macyrsquos and sought-after retailers including BCBg-max azria and Coach average sales of more than $650 per square foot and are among the most profitable stores in their chains

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

Meetings amp Events

CONvENTiON CENTEr lurES viSiTOrS

The mcallen Convention Center also helps draw businesses to the area The 185-acre complex featuring a 60000-square-foot column-free exhibit hall more than 25000 square feet of meeting space and up to 16 breakout rooms offers bicultural themes and tropical accents that represent the cultural and natural diversity of McAllen

Retail

ShOPPiNg hOT SPOTS

This bicultural city which is located just five miles from the US-Mexico border also has access to three international bridges that flood with visitors and eager shoppers daily many of whom are spending at a rate twice the national average

In addition to La Plaza Mall shopping centers in the McAllen area include Trenton Crossing las Tiendas Plaza and La Plaza Mallrsquos 600sbquo000-square-foot sister shopping center Palms Crossing which hosts such big-name retailers as Barnes amp Noble and Babies rsquoRrsquo Us as well as specialty shops and restaurants Its appeal stems from its open-air design with lots of palm trees water fountains and seating areas

Major Manufacturers

madE FOr maNuFaCTuriNg

Ranked third in Texas in per-capita sales the McAllen area has some of the largest manufacturing and wholesale companies in the nation

valley Coca Cola Bottling Co Value Frozen Foods and Emerson Network Power are just a few who have put down roots here Tri-City Steel which provides a full scope of steel construction by fabricating and erecting structural steel buildings pre-engineered metal buildings stairs handrails and more Texas Citrus Exchange in Mission makes Texas rio red grapefruit juice

learn more about businesses in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

BuSiNESS

RESIDEnTS GET CREATIvE WITH BUSInESS vEnTURES

the BoxOutside

One of McAllenrsquos most innovative startups sprang from the mind of someone who wasnrsquot even interested in business Today Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar is one

of the arearsquos top entrepreneurs and is finding serious success

mcallen entrepreneur dalinda Gonzalez-alcantar founded eJucomm llc

liVabil it ycommc allen 43 42 mc allen

ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the worldrdquo

EllEry BuChaNaN FIBERIOPRESIDENTCEO

Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar the founder of eJucomm LLC simply wanted to make information in her school district more accessible to families The company was a way she could make it happen

She got the idea while working as a teacher at DeLeon Middle School in McAllen and was frustrated that families without computers andor Internet access had difficulty communicating with teachers and administrators So she decided to develop a smartphone application that would solve the problem

With no previous technical experience she researched code online at night and a year later was selling the app to various school districts

ldquoThe app enables Android and iPhone users to access information for things like grades and attendancerdquo Gonzalez-Alcantar says

The entrepreneur also faced unexpected challenges ndash for instance how to tailor individual apps to the roughly seven school districts and 40 campuses that now use them No longer teaching she has partnered with a chief technology officer so she can focus on sales and marketing

One of her biggest hurdles was finding legal fees to fund the startup and a $10000 McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant in 2011 helped pay for a licensing agreement and intellectual property protection for eJucomm to move forward

BaNaNa E-z SPliTAnother McAllen resident

Gerald Guerra faced a similar obstacle when developing a product called Banana E-Z Split A health insurance broker Guerra was inspired at his own kitchen table to create single serving packets with all three syrups

Banana E-Z SplitGerald Guerra inventor of the banana e-Z split single serving syrup packets poses with his daughters Victoria and kaitlyn enthusiastic taste testers for his product

liVabil it ycommc allen 43

To order please call or visit 956-668-0555 or wwwediblearrangementscom 5113-A N 10th St bull McAllen TX 78504

Offer valid at participating locations Offer expires 12312013 Cannot be combined with another offers Offer code must be used when placing order

Containers may vary EDIBLE ARRANGEMENTS and the Fruit Basket Logo Design are registered trademarks of Edible Arrangements LLC

copy2012 Edible Arrangements LLC All rights reserved Frachises available call (888) 727-4258 or visit wwweafranchisescom

DELICIOUSLYd e s i r a b l e

FREE PIECE OF DIPPED FRUIT

Code mctx1213

Living green is making sure the air in your home is healthy for your family to breathe Test your home for radon and build radon-resistant

Its easy Thats living healthy and green

Just call 866-730-green or visit wwwepagovradon

Living greenstarts from the ground up

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

(pineapple chocolate strawberry) needed for a banana split

The concept led to a 2011 McAllen Business Plan Competition grant to fund the necessary patents

ldquoI envisioned a product that could hang easily in refrigerated sections at big box storesrdquo Guerra says ldquoI have lined up a distributor and a broker with my ultimate goal being to have Banana E-Z Split available to customers in large grocery chains It is close to happeningrdquo

FiBEriO TEChNOlOgyAnother startup in McAllen

is already making waves globally FibeRio Technology Corporation another McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant recipient is thriving thanks to ground-breaking nanofiber-producing machinery The nanofibers can be used to make products ranging from diapers to

ballistics using a new way to spin microscopic nanofibers

The technology serves an array of industries that feature filtration textiles or biomedical applications

ldquoDr Karen Lozano at UT-Pan American discovered the process and I was contacted because I am an entrepreneur familiar with launching technology- based companies including nanotechnologyrdquo says FibeRio Technology presidentCEO Ellery Buchanan ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the world Plus we use local McAllen suppliers whenever possible including machine shops parts suppliers IT contractors and other business servicesrdquo

by Kevin Litwin by staff photographer

Michael Conti

FibeRio Technology Corporationnanomaterials processing research equipment is used at FibeRioTechnologyCorporation

FEldmaNrsquoS markET CENTErFeldmanrsquos Market Center features a broad selection of beer as well as wines liquors cigars and a gourmet deli In addition weekly beer and wine tastings are offered(956) 687-9463

PErFECT PawS rESOrTPerfect Paws Resort offers grooming services daycare and boarding to vaccinated dogs and cats that are at least 12 weeks old Boarding suites are climate controlled and under constant supervisionperfectpawsresortcom

mCCrEEry aviaTiON CO iNCMcCreery Aviation Co Inc is a place for pilots and their aircraft to receive top-notch treatment A fuel center flight planning room and hangar storage are availablemccreeryaviationcom

kiTikakE llCKitikake LLC offers gently- used vintage clothing for women from an array of top designers such as Lilly Pulitzer and Catherine Malandrino Vintage home deacutecor and dishes are also availablekitikakecom

krEidlEr FuNEral hOmEFounded owned and operated by the Kreidler family Kreidler Funeral Home has served McAllen for 100 years They offer traditional burial and graveside funeral services direct burials cremations memorial services and morekreidlerfuneralhomecom

Business Spotlight

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

visit ouradvertisersBorder Capital Bankwwwbordercapitalbankcom

City of McAllen Public Info Officewwwexploremcallennet

Courtyard by Marriottwwwmarriottcommtema

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valleywwweasterseals-rgvorg

Edible Arrangementswwwediblearrangementscom

Family Physicians Clinicwwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

Magic Valley Electric Cooperativewwwmagicvalleycoop

McAllen Economic Development Corporationwwwmcallenedcorg

McAllen Independent School Districtwwwmcallenisdorg

McAllen International Airportwwwmcallenairportcom

McAllen Realty

Mr Electricwwwmrelectriccom

Nuevo Santander Gallerywwwnuevosantandercom

OH KAYrsquoS

Preventative Care Institutewwwrgvpcicom

Quinta Mazatlanwwwquintamazatlancom

Rio Health Medicalwwwrio-healthcom

South Texas College wwwsouthtexascollegeedu

South Texas Health Systemwwwsouthtexashealthsystemcom

The Patio on Guerra wwwpatioonguerracom

Valley International Airportwwwflythevalleycom

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

BuSiNESS CHAMBER REPoRT

Whatrsquos the Big Ideachamberrsquos readiness tool kit assists entrepreneurs

The McAllen Chamber of Commerce has helped prepare 25 McAllen entrepreneurs in the continuing quest to launch their ideas ndash all since July 2011

The Chamber has a software package called VentureBusiness Readiness Assessment which is used by states such as oklahoma and Kentucky to assist startup companies The software helps an entrepreneur through the entire process of seeing whether they are truly ready to launch their startup

ldquoVentureBusiness Readiness Assessment is a way that the Chamber assists entrepreneurs who are trying to get funding for their products or projectsrdquo says Steve Ahlenius who serves as President and CEo of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce ldquoThe Chamber awards $50000 a year in innovation grants in $10000 increments and entrepreneurs are always looking for funding But they must earn that money by passing the various stages of the software tool kitrdquo

TEN hOurS TO COmPlETEAhlenius says the assessment

has several specific steps to make sure that a startup company has everything in place to ensure that it is successful

ldquoThe entrepreneurs contact us and set up an appointment to see me then they come to the Chamber office we sign them up and give them passwords to access the software at their conveniencerdquo he says ldquo[The program] takes about 10 hours to complete but doesnrsquot have to be finished in one sitting However the program must be eventually completed in order to qualify for our innovation grantrdquo

CaN iT BE madE QuiCklyThe software asks questions

such as Have you protected your intellectual property Is your product something that can be

made quickly Have you set a value on your idea and do you know how to do that If itrsquos a product that involves high-tech engineering do you have an engineer on your companyrsquos team

ldquoThe entrepreneur needs to know if his venture is worth 20 shares of stock or 200 shares ndash things like thatrdquo Ahlenius says ldquoMany factors go into launching a product or business and Venture Readiness points out a personrsquos strengths and weaknessesrdquo

a grEaT OvErviEwVicente Valle Martinez of

McAllen is an entrepreneur who contacted the Chamber in 2012 about his idea for connecting

people on the Internet who have similar educational experiences and higher learning interests

ldquoI have no background in business but heard one day about an innovation grant competition that the Chamber was sponsoringrdquo Martinez says ldquoSteve told me about the software package and it gave me a great overview of what I need to know before launching my ideardquo

Ahlenius says the various concepts the software package covers include credentials character capabilities commitment and circumstance

ldquoIt is an excellent self-awareness testrdquo he says ldquoItrsquos ideal for entrepreneursrdquo

by Kevin Litwin

the mcallen chamber of commerce on ash avenue

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

Ad Index 41 BorderCapitalBank

21 CityofMCallen puBliCinfooffiCe

4 CourtyardByMarriott

32 easterseals rioGrandeValley

44 ediBlearranGeMents

32 faMilyphysiCiansCliniC

2 MaGiCValley eleCtriCCooperatiVe

C3 MCalleneConoMiC deVelopMentCorporation

46 MCallenindependent sChooldistriCt

1 MCallen internationalairport

C4 MCallenrealty

48 MreleCtriC

46 nueVosantanderGallery

35 ohkayrsquos

34 preVentatiVe

Careinstitute

23 QuintaMazatlan

32 riohealthMediCal

31 southtexasColleGe

C2 southtexas

healthsysteM

18 thepatioonGuerra

44 Valley

internationalairport

ECONOMICPROFILE

3000+

2000- 2999

1999- 500

hOuSEhOld iNCOmE

TOP EmPlOyErS

$200000+

$150000-199999

$100000 and under

McAllen Independent School District

McAllen Medical Center South Texas College City of McAllen

Rio Grande Regional Hospital International Bank of Commerce

EduCaTiON lEvEl

High School Graduate

Associate Degree

Bachelorrsquos Degree

Masterrsquos Degree

TaxES

2City Sales and Use Tax

625State Sales Tax

825Total Sales Tax

SCOrECard

$36BAnnual Retail Sales

$28682Retail sales per capita

$3575MAnnual Hotel and Food Sales

15161Total Number of Firms

TraNSPOrTaTiON

mcallen-miller international airportwwwmcallenairportcom

metro mcallenwwwmcallennetmetro

amtrakwwwamtrakcom

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

everything you need every step of the way

Serving the rio grande valley Since 1989

Rachel Hardison-Oliva Broker

3321 N McColl Rd

McAllen TX 78501

(956) 687-7172 bull (956) 687-7178 Fax

Page 21: Livability McAllen, TX 2013

ThiNgS TO dO ARTS amp CULTURE

Rave Reviewsmcallenrsquos arts scene remains robust With museums music and eVents

Arts patrons music lovers and history buffs enjoy many cultural attractions throughout McAllen The latest buzz McAllen Performing Arts Center will spring up near the McAllen Convention Center giving fans of live music theater and dance a fine new facility to anticipate

Live Entertainment

PErFOrmErS TakE ThE STagE

The 17th Street Entertainment district in downtown McAllen overflows with lounges restaurants and clubs For live music visit The old Ice House or Cine El Rey

The cityrsquos diverse culture is what influences much of the music performed by the valley Symphony Orchestra amp Chorale The Symphony was established in 1952 with the Chorale joining later in 1984 Similarly the South Texas lyric Opera brings the fine art of opera to the Rio Grande Valley with a yearly slate of productions and an annual opera gala and rio grande valley Broadway brings popular stage shows to town such as Disneyrsquos Beauty and the Beast and Monty Pythonrsquos Spamalot

Historic Sites

TakE a STEP BaCk iN TimE

The museum of South Texas history and the mcallen heritage Center are just two locations to learn about the rich history of this bicultural area

Quinta mazatlan a 1930s hacienda that embodies the Spanish Colonial Revival architecture of arches adobe and beams and provides an intimate look into South Texas history The 10000-square- foot mansion sits on a 15-acre plot hosting a mix of native and exotic plants and wildlife making up McAllenrsquos wing of the popular world Birding Center

Cine El Reyopened in 1947 the historic cine el rey theater now functions as

a music and performance venue showcasing a variety of live events and also shows spanish and english independent films the theater is located in downtown mcallenrsquos 17th street entertainment district

20 mc allen

ldquoCine El Rey hosts events as diverse as wrestling live bands films and comedy shows A huge stage is complimented by killer production value and a staff that really cares about all aspects of the experience Irsquom looking forward to a return triprdquo

Bill dykES YELP

visual Arts and Festivals

aCCESSiBlE arT FuN EvENTS

The international museum of art amp Science founded in 1969 promotes an appreciation for the arts and sciences through its exhibitions cultural events and many educational programs imaS is located at 1900 Nolana Ave

The mcallen art walk is a self-guided tour that gives art lovers the opportunity to explore the many art offerings in the city Itrsquos held every first Friday from September through May and is free and open to the public

on the first Saturday night of December folks enjoy the Candlelight Posada which includes food booths luminaries a parade live entertainment caroling and a live nativity scene

Chamber of Commerce Support

ChamBEr BaCkS ThE arTS

The mcallen Chamber of Commerce shows its love for the arts by managing the mcallen arts Council which publishes a quarterly magazine produces an annual fine arts exhibition and offers grants to local artists The Chamber also offers an outdoor concert series and coordinates the Public art Committeersquos acquisition program

20 mc allen

ThiNgS TO dO SPoRTS amp RECREATIoN

Soak Up Some Sunmcallen residents haVe plenty of Good reasons to Get outdoors

Great golf courses hiking and biking trails and a large well-maintained park system make McAllen the perfect place to enjoy outdoor fun By Carson OrsquoShoney

Golf

TEE iT uPWith nearly 20 courses in the

McAllen area golf is a popular attraction in the Rio Grande Valley

one of the most notable courses is the Palm view golf Course an 18-hole public course with a private feel With rolling fairways and Bermuda rough mounds the course is an often-used location for tournaments having hosted LPGA tournaments and Palm viewrsquos amateur golf Championship

mcallen Country Club provides a challenge with tree-lined fairways and small greens and also offers a swimming pool tennis courts a fitness center and other amenities

Every golf course in the area is bustling especially in the winter when ldquoWinter Texansrdquo come to the Rio Grande Valley The weather generally stays in the 70s in the coldest months making it a perfect place for winter golfing

Hiking Biking and Racing

ON ThE mOvE iN mCallEN

There are plenty of hiking and biking trails on the east and west sides of town such as the retama village Park Trail westside Park Trail and las Palmas Park Trail Visiting cyclists are welcome to meet up with Team mcallen Cycling a bike club thatrsquos been in the city for more than 25 years

Racing fans can enjoy the mcallen international motorplex and Event Center which hosts stock car races car shows and more The racetrack is a family-friendly place offering activities for children such as games face painting and crafts

Palm view Golf Courseirish cochran plays a round of golf at palm View Golf course an 18-hole public course often used for high profile tournaments

22 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 23

City Parks

OuTdOOr Family FuN

The mcallen Parks and recreation department currently oversees 25 city parks Ranging from historic parks established in the early 1900s to more modern facilities there are several options suitable for the whole family

archer Park McAllenrsquos oldest park opened in 1912 Serving as a historic landmark in the city it also plays host to many of the cityrsquos annual special events including the Candlelight Posada and movies in the Park

Spanning 38 acres Springfest Park is the largest park in McAllen Springfest hosts a variety of special events and is home to mcallenrsquos winter Polo league from January through March

check out more fun things to do in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

Spray and Ground Parkbesides its popular water feature mcallenrsquos new SprayandGroundParkhas a sand volleyball court skateboard area a half basketball court and just over half a mile of walking trails in addition there are athletic practice fields shaded areas picnic shelters and restroom facilities

22 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 23

ThiNgS TO dO SEE THE CITY

24 mc allen

The Irrigation Workerthe sun sets behind a sculpture ldquothe irrigation Workerrdquo which was created by artist douglas clark and is located on nolana and 25th

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

l iVabil it ycommc allen 25

LIvINGHERESchools health care education and neighborhoods in McAllen

26 mc allen 26 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 27 26 mc allen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 27

see more beautiful photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

Luxury Livingnewcomers have many beautiful home options in mcallen such as those offered in eight different communities by cantu construction a locally based award-winning builder

26 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 27 liVabil it ycommc allen 27

liviNg

TECH TOOLS FOSTER STUDEnT SUCCESS

Padding theCurriculum

McAllen Independent School District (ISD) is feeling the benefits of an ambitious technology plan that places an iPod or iPad in the hands of every teacher and student

mcallen independent school district students use system-issued ipads in class

28 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 29

EduCaTiNg FOr ThE 21ST CENTury

The initiative began with a meeting between Dr James Ponce McAllenrsquos superintendent of schools and a ldquocadrerdquo of about 35 teachers administrators and parents

The grouprsquos primary goal was to build a 21st-century classroom environment one that fosters creativity collaboration and entrepreneurship The group also wanted to find a way to harness the 247 educational potential of the Internet ndash and teach students the critical-thinking skills needed to process online content

ldquoItrsquos an environment where the teachers become the primary learners and the students are driven by their examplerdquo Ponce says ldquoSo we asked what tools we would need for this transformation of the way we teach and the way the kids learnrdquo

After much research the group chose iPods (for grades K-2) and iPads (for teachers and grades 3-12) because of their portability

ldquoIrsquove learned more from my fellow teachers than I have in many years just from sharing ideas for how to use the iPads in the classroomrdquo

CarOl aNN allEN LANGuAGEARTSTEACHER

ATMICHAELEFOSSuMMIDDLESCHOOL

relatively low cost and ease of use To implement the planrsquos first stage McAllen ISD issued 5800 of these devices to teachers and students when the rollout is complete it will cover more than 25000 students

Big BENEFiTS FOr TEaChErS aNd STudENTS

Both teachers and students are seeing benefits from the program

ldquoThe iPods help the kids be creative My students are organizing information in new waysrdquo says Ruth Whiddon who teaches first grade at Andrew Jackson Elementary School

For Carol Ann Allen International Baccalaureate coordinator and eighth-grade language arts teacher at Michael E Fossum Middle School the initiative is all about collaboration

ldquoIrsquove learned more from my fellow teachers than I have in many years just from sharing ideas for how to use the iPads in the classroomrdquo she says

Sandra Guerra who teaches seventh- and eighth-grade math

at Fossum says the iPads have changed both her teaching style and the way her students learn

Instead of mapping out the learning process step-by-step she now gives students their goal and lets them choose how to get there

ldquoWith this approach they own their learning and theyrsquove been more willing to learnrdquo Guerra says

The iPads have also been a game-changer for Guerrarsquos family

Her seventh-grade daughter is learning advanced science concepts because of independent iPad projects And because most of her childrenrsquos school materials are on their iPads itrsquos easier than ever for Guerra to check on their progress from home

That kind of scenario says Superintendent Ponce is at the heart of the initiative

ldquoThe entire school system and our community want to lead in this effort to build a 21st-century learning environmentrdquo he says ldquoThis is a direct investment in our children and their familiesrdquo

by Kathryn Royster

High-Tech Learningseventh-grade students use ipads to follow class lectures and take quizzes during a language arts class at michael e fossum middle school

PH

oT

o C

oU

RT

EST

Y o

F M

CA

LLE

N IN

DE

PE

ND

EN

T S

CH

oo

L D

IST

RIC

T

28 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 29

Higher Education

SOuTh TExaS COllEgE

McAllenrsquos South Texas College has more than 30000 students and offers numerous associate and bachelorrsquos degree programs as well as professional certifications in more than 40 areas The college also has online degree courses for students who work full time

liviNg EDUCATIoN

Set for SuccesscolleGe prep is a top priority in mcallen

Education in McAllen is defined by excellent options From elementary school through college McAllen includes numerous institutions designed to prepare students for success By Braxton Shoop

school yourself on more educational offerings at livabilitycommcallen

Public Schools

mCallEN iNdEPENdENT SChOOl diSTriCT

Established in 1915 the mcallen independent School district comprises three high schools seven middle schools and 20 elementary schools Among these schools the district offers an advanced placement college-level curriculum and a dual-enrollment program for students who would like to obtain high school and college credit simultaneously

In addition the district features an International Baccalaureate program that provides students with an advanced curriculum geared toward global standards

Local Inspiration

FOrmEr STudENT FliES high

one of McAllenrsquos successful students is astronaut michael Fossum a graduate of McAllen High School After receiving his commission from the US Air Force by Texas AampM University Fossum graduated Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base and in 1993 he started at NASA Throughout his NASA career Fossum was on crew for three spaceflights He commanded the space station during one of his flights helping him rank seventh on the all-time list for cumulative Extravehicular Activity time

Top-notch Learning Environmentuniversity of texas-pan american offers many undergraduate degrees more than 50 masterrsquos degrees and three doctoral degrees utpa has accreditations from organizations like the commission for collegiate nursing the examining board of nurse examiners for the state of texas and the engineering accreditation commission of the accreditation board for engineering and technology

30 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 31

Charter School

idEa aCadEmy

idEa academy is an innovative institution that offers a fully scaled curriculum for students in kindergarten and in the first second and sixth grades The school which opened in McAllen in 2012 will eventually add more grades each one including approximately 110 students While the school is public students must apply to fill the 460 available spots

To prepare its students to be collegiate scholars IDEA provides International Baccalaureate curriculum as well as the Road to College curriculum which begins in the sixth grade

ldquoWersquore very proud of the connection to our distinguished alumni like NASA astronaut Michael Fossum and we want our students to recognize the kind of education we provide here What he learned here helped catapult him into space and wersquore very proud of thatrdquo

NOrma zamOra-guErra MCALLENINDEPENDENTSCHOOL

DISTRICTCOMMuNITYINFORMATIONDIRECTOR

Michael E Fossum Middle Schoolnamed for astronaut michael e fossum the school is part of the mcallen independent school district

30 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 31

Please call 9566316109 for a representative today

2501 Buddy Owens Blvd McAllen TX 78504

9656316125 Fax

wwwrio-healthcom

RioHealth MedicalWe are here to meet all your

occupational medicine needs

bull Workplace injuries and workersrsquo compensation

bull On site and off site drug screening

bull Physicals

bull Orthopedics

bull Early return to work

bull 247 coverage

bull We accept all types of insurance

WorkplaceInjury

DANIEL J GUERRA MD Diplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

LEONEL G MORENO MDDiplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

HOMERO RIVAS MDDiplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

606 S Broadway bull McAllen TX bull (956) 682-4515 bull wwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

FAMILY PHYSICIANS

CLINICSince 1967

Mon-Fri 8 am-5 pm Sat 8 am-Noon

VALLEY NIGHT CLINIC

Since 1981

Open Every Night of the Year 6 pm-Midnight

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valley supports children of all abilities through child care

services early intervention and parenting support programs

Early Childhood intErvEntion ChildCarE sErviCEs ParEnts as tEaChErs

Easter seals rio Grande valley Programs for Children Birth to Five years

bullChild-Care servicesndashHigh-qualitychildcare sixweekstofiveyears

bullParents as teachers (Pat)ndashDevelopmental parentingsupportforchildrenbirthtofiveyears

bullEarly Childhood intervention (ECi) ndashConcerns indevelopmentforchildrenbirthtothreeyears

For more information about Easter seals

programs and services call (956) 631-9171 or visit wwweasterseals-rgvorg

32 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 33

liviNg HEALTH

Take a Deep Breath and Relaxresidents haVe access to top hospitals

McAllen residents receive quality care from the South Texas Health System Rio Grande Regional Hospital and the Doctors Hospital at Renaissance By Kevin Litwin

Health System

SOuTh TExaS hEalTh SySTEm

South Texas health System is the umbrella organization for a number of fine medical facilities including mcallen medical Center MMC has 441 beds and a staff of more than 400 physicians that represent 50 medical specialties

Also part of South Texas Health System is mcallen heart hospital which opened in 1996 as the first freestanding cardiology and cardiovascular hospital built in the United States It includes 60 beds and a 24-hour emergency center

Healthgrades has awarded McAllen Medical Center and McAllen Heart Hospital with a variety of honors in recent years and both earned a Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence in 2011

Hospital

riO graNdE rEgiONal hOSPiTal

rio grande regional hospital is an acute care medical facility with 320 beds and more than 500 physicians The hospital is the only area Diabetes Management Center accredited by the American Diabetes Association and is the arearsquos first facility to have a Pediatric Heart Program

RGRH also includes a 24-hour emergency room Womenrsquos Services department Level III trauma center and cardiovascular care The hospital is fully accredited by The Joint Commission and the College of American Pathologists and every year since 2007 has been named a Center of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery

32 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 33

Hospital

dOCTOrS hOSPiTal aT rENaiSSaNCE

The 506-bed doctors hospital at renaissance is an acute care facility It provides cardiology neurosurgery and endocrinology as well as a Pediatric Medical Tower that offers pediatric oncology and pediatric ICU services

Doctors Hospital has been ranked among the nationrsquos 100 Top Hospitals by Thomson Reuters and recently invested $32 million to establish an Electronic Medical Record System

DHR was the first in South Texas to acquire a PETCT scanner for diagnosing cancer and the first in the region to introduce da Vinci robotic surgical technology The hospital also oversees Renaissance Behavioral Center which provides treatment for people with mental health problems substance abuse or eating disorders

34 mc allen

COMMUNITyPROFILE COST OF liviNg

$44074Median Household Income

$129554Median Home Price

$689Median Rent for a Two-Bedroom Apartment

TraNSPOrTaTiON

Median Travel Time to Work

agE

TEmPEraTurE

January Average

July Average

EThNiCiTy

19 and Under

20-54

55 and over

White

Black

Hispanic

other

1645minutes

Closest Airport McAllen International Airport

955deg

482deg

South Texasrsquo Finest Gift Store Offers Gifts From Around the World

4300 N 10th St bull Ste C bull McAllen TX 78504 (956) 686-1264 bull ohkaysaolcom

Look for us on Facebook

gOlF COurSES

gOlF TEC

2901 N 10TH ST956-994-9631

mCallEN COuNTry CluB615 WICHITA AVE956-686-0923

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

The national Butterfly Center the national butterfly center dedicates 100 acres to the conservation and scientific study of wild butterflies in their natural habitats the wildlife center is open daily from 8 am until 5 pm september through march and from 9 am until 4 pm april through august

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

liviNg SEE THE CITY

36 mc allen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 37

BUSINESSInfo on McAllenrsquos top employers jobs and success stories

McAllen Convention Centerthe McAllenConventionCenter is located on 185 acres and includes a 60000-square-foot exhibit hall as well as more than 25000 square feet of meeting space in 16 breakout rooms

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

38 mc allen 38 mc allen

38 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 39

BuSiNESS oVERVIEW

McAllenrsquos in the MoneyCultural diversity location and innovation drive cityrsquos top business sectors

As the retail hub of South Texas McAllen is thriving The city draws a customer base of more than 10 million within a 200-mile radius and is represented by 40 of Americarsquos top 100 retailers

By Tiffany Williams

La Plaza MallPumping much of the life into this retail hub is la Plaza mall which annually attracts more than 18 million visitors its anchoring stores such as dillardrsquos and macyrsquos and sought-after retailers including BCBg-max azria and Coach average sales of more than $650 per square foot and are among the most profitable stores in their chains

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

Meetings amp Events

CONvENTiON CENTEr lurES viSiTOrS

The mcallen Convention Center also helps draw businesses to the area The 185-acre complex featuring a 60000-square-foot column-free exhibit hall more than 25000 square feet of meeting space and up to 16 breakout rooms offers bicultural themes and tropical accents that represent the cultural and natural diversity of McAllen

Retail

ShOPPiNg hOT SPOTS

This bicultural city which is located just five miles from the US-Mexico border also has access to three international bridges that flood with visitors and eager shoppers daily many of whom are spending at a rate twice the national average

In addition to La Plaza Mall shopping centers in the McAllen area include Trenton Crossing las Tiendas Plaza and La Plaza Mallrsquos 600sbquo000-square-foot sister shopping center Palms Crossing which hosts such big-name retailers as Barnes amp Noble and Babies rsquoRrsquo Us as well as specialty shops and restaurants Its appeal stems from its open-air design with lots of palm trees water fountains and seating areas

Major Manufacturers

madE FOr maNuFaCTuriNg

Ranked third in Texas in per-capita sales the McAllen area has some of the largest manufacturing and wholesale companies in the nation

valley Coca Cola Bottling Co Value Frozen Foods and Emerson Network Power are just a few who have put down roots here Tri-City Steel which provides a full scope of steel construction by fabricating and erecting structural steel buildings pre-engineered metal buildings stairs handrails and more Texas Citrus Exchange in Mission makes Texas rio red grapefruit juice

learn more about businesses in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

BuSiNESS

RESIDEnTS GET CREATIvE WITH BUSInESS vEnTURES

the BoxOutside

One of McAllenrsquos most innovative startups sprang from the mind of someone who wasnrsquot even interested in business Today Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar is one

of the arearsquos top entrepreneurs and is finding serious success

mcallen entrepreneur dalinda Gonzalez-alcantar founded eJucomm llc

liVabil it ycommc allen 43 42 mc allen

ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the worldrdquo

EllEry BuChaNaN FIBERIOPRESIDENTCEO

Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar the founder of eJucomm LLC simply wanted to make information in her school district more accessible to families The company was a way she could make it happen

She got the idea while working as a teacher at DeLeon Middle School in McAllen and was frustrated that families without computers andor Internet access had difficulty communicating with teachers and administrators So she decided to develop a smartphone application that would solve the problem

With no previous technical experience she researched code online at night and a year later was selling the app to various school districts

ldquoThe app enables Android and iPhone users to access information for things like grades and attendancerdquo Gonzalez-Alcantar says

The entrepreneur also faced unexpected challenges ndash for instance how to tailor individual apps to the roughly seven school districts and 40 campuses that now use them No longer teaching she has partnered with a chief technology officer so she can focus on sales and marketing

One of her biggest hurdles was finding legal fees to fund the startup and a $10000 McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant in 2011 helped pay for a licensing agreement and intellectual property protection for eJucomm to move forward

BaNaNa E-z SPliTAnother McAllen resident

Gerald Guerra faced a similar obstacle when developing a product called Banana E-Z Split A health insurance broker Guerra was inspired at his own kitchen table to create single serving packets with all three syrups

Banana E-Z SplitGerald Guerra inventor of the banana e-Z split single serving syrup packets poses with his daughters Victoria and kaitlyn enthusiastic taste testers for his product

liVabil it ycommc allen 43

To order please call or visit 956-668-0555 or wwwediblearrangementscom 5113-A N 10th St bull McAllen TX 78504

Offer valid at participating locations Offer expires 12312013 Cannot be combined with another offers Offer code must be used when placing order

Containers may vary EDIBLE ARRANGEMENTS and the Fruit Basket Logo Design are registered trademarks of Edible Arrangements LLC

copy2012 Edible Arrangements LLC All rights reserved Frachises available call (888) 727-4258 or visit wwweafranchisescom

DELICIOUSLYd e s i r a b l e

FREE PIECE OF DIPPED FRUIT

Code mctx1213

Living green is making sure the air in your home is healthy for your family to breathe Test your home for radon and build radon-resistant

Its easy Thats living healthy and green

Just call 866-730-green or visit wwwepagovradon

Living greenstarts from the ground up

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

(pineapple chocolate strawberry) needed for a banana split

The concept led to a 2011 McAllen Business Plan Competition grant to fund the necessary patents

ldquoI envisioned a product that could hang easily in refrigerated sections at big box storesrdquo Guerra says ldquoI have lined up a distributor and a broker with my ultimate goal being to have Banana E-Z Split available to customers in large grocery chains It is close to happeningrdquo

FiBEriO TEChNOlOgyAnother startup in McAllen

is already making waves globally FibeRio Technology Corporation another McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant recipient is thriving thanks to ground-breaking nanofiber-producing machinery The nanofibers can be used to make products ranging from diapers to

ballistics using a new way to spin microscopic nanofibers

The technology serves an array of industries that feature filtration textiles or biomedical applications

ldquoDr Karen Lozano at UT-Pan American discovered the process and I was contacted because I am an entrepreneur familiar with launching technology- based companies including nanotechnologyrdquo says FibeRio Technology presidentCEO Ellery Buchanan ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the world Plus we use local McAllen suppliers whenever possible including machine shops parts suppliers IT contractors and other business servicesrdquo

by Kevin Litwin by staff photographer

Michael Conti

FibeRio Technology Corporationnanomaterials processing research equipment is used at FibeRioTechnologyCorporation

FEldmaNrsquoS markET CENTErFeldmanrsquos Market Center features a broad selection of beer as well as wines liquors cigars and a gourmet deli In addition weekly beer and wine tastings are offered(956) 687-9463

PErFECT PawS rESOrTPerfect Paws Resort offers grooming services daycare and boarding to vaccinated dogs and cats that are at least 12 weeks old Boarding suites are climate controlled and under constant supervisionperfectpawsresortcom

mCCrEEry aviaTiON CO iNCMcCreery Aviation Co Inc is a place for pilots and their aircraft to receive top-notch treatment A fuel center flight planning room and hangar storage are availablemccreeryaviationcom

kiTikakE llCKitikake LLC offers gently- used vintage clothing for women from an array of top designers such as Lilly Pulitzer and Catherine Malandrino Vintage home deacutecor and dishes are also availablekitikakecom

krEidlEr FuNEral hOmEFounded owned and operated by the Kreidler family Kreidler Funeral Home has served McAllen for 100 years They offer traditional burial and graveside funeral services direct burials cremations memorial services and morekreidlerfuneralhomecom

Business Spotlight

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

visit ouradvertisersBorder Capital Bankwwwbordercapitalbankcom

City of McAllen Public Info Officewwwexploremcallennet

Courtyard by Marriottwwwmarriottcommtema

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valleywwweasterseals-rgvorg

Edible Arrangementswwwediblearrangementscom

Family Physicians Clinicwwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

Magic Valley Electric Cooperativewwwmagicvalleycoop

McAllen Economic Development Corporationwwwmcallenedcorg

McAllen Independent School Districtwwwmcallenisdorg

McAllen International Airportwwwmcallenairportcom

McAllen Realty

Mr Electricwwwmrelectriccom

Nuevo Santander Gallerywwwnuevosantandercom

OH KAYrsquoS

Preventative Care Institutewwwrgvpcicom

Quinta Mazatlanwwwquintamazatlancom

Rio Health Medicalwwwrio-healthcom

South Texas College wwwsouthtexascollegeedu

South Texas Health Systemwwwsouthtexashealthsystemcom

The Patio on Guerra wwwpatioonguerracom

Valley International Airportwwwflythevalleycom

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

BuSiNESS CHAMBER REPoRT

Whatrsquos the Big Ideachamberrsquos readiness tool kit assists entrepreneurs

The McAllen Chamber of Commerce has helped prepare 25 McAllen entrepreneurs in the continuing quest to launch their ideas ndash all since July 2011

The Chamber has a software package called VentureBusiness Readiness Assessment which is used by states such as oklahoma and Kentucky to assist startup companies The software helps an entrepreneur through the entire process of seeing whether they are truly ready to launch their startup

ldquoVentureBusiness Readiness Assessment is a way that the Chamber assists entrepreneurs who are trying to get funding for their products or projectsrdquo says Steve Ahlenius who serves as President and CEo of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce ldquoThe Chamber awards $50000 a year in innovation grants in $10000 increments and entrepreneurs are always looking for funding But they must earn that money by passing the various stages of the software tool kitrdquo

TEN hOurS TO COmPlETEAhlenius says the assessment

has several specific steps to make sure that a startup company has everything in place to ensure that it is successful

ldquoThe entrepreneurs contact us and set up an appointment to see me then they come to the Chamber office we sign them up and give them passwords to access the software at their conveniencerdquo he says ldquo[The program] takes about 10 hours to complete but doesnrsquot have to be finished in one sitting However the program must be eventually completed in order to qualify for our innovation grantrdquo

CaN iT BE madE QuiCklyThe software asks questions

such as Have you protected your intellectual property Is your product something that can be

made quickly Have you set a value on your idea and do you know how to do that If itrsquos a product that involves high-tech engineering do you have an engineer on your companyrsquos team

ldquoThe entrepreneur needs to know if his venture is worth 20 shares of stock or 200 shares ndash things like thatrdquo Ahlenius says ldquoMany factors go into launching a product or business and Venture Readiness points out a personrsquos strengths and weaknessesrdquo

a grEaT OvErviEwVicente Valle Martinez of

McAllen is an entrepreneur who contacted the Chamber in 2012 about his idea for connecting

people on the Internet who have similar educational experiences and higher learning interests

ldquoI have no background in business but heard one day about an innovation grant competition that the Chamber was sponsoringrdquo Martinez says ldquoSteve told me about the software package and it gave me a great overview of what I need to know before launching my ideardquo

Ahlenius says the various concepts the software package covers include credentials character capabilities commitment and circumstance

ldquoIt is an excellent self-awareness testrdquo he says ldquoItrsquos ideal for entrepreneursrdquo

by Kevin Litwin

the mcallen chamber of commerce on ash avenue

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

Ad Index 41 BorderCapitalBank

21 CityofMCallen puBliCinfooffiCe

4 CourtyardByMarriott

32 easterseals rioGrandeValley

44 ediBlearranGeMents

32 faMilyphysiCiansCliniC

2 MaGiCValley eleCtriCCooperatiVe

C3 MCalleneConoMiC deVelopMentCorporation

46 MCallenindependent sChooldistriCt

1 MCallen internationalairport

C4 MCallenrealty

48 MreleCtriC

46 nueVosantanderGallery

35 ohkayrsquos

34 preVentatiVe

Careinstitute

23 QuintaMazatlan

32 riohealthMediCal

31 southtexasColleGe

C2 southtexas

healthsysteM

18 thepatioonGuerra

44 Valley

internationalairport

ECONOMICPROFILE

3000+

2000- 2999

1999- 500

hOuSEhOld iNCOmE

TOP EmPlOyErS

$200000+

$150000-199999

$100000 and under

McAllen Independent School District

McAllen Medical Center South Texas College City of McAllen

Rio Grande Regional Hospital International Bank of Commerce

EduCaTiON lEvEl

High School Graduate

Associate Degree

Bachelorrsquos Degree

Masterrsquos Degree

TaxES

2City Sales and Use Tax

625State Sales Tax

825Total Sales Tax

SCOrECard

$36BAnnual Retail Sales

$28682Retail sales per capita

$3575MAnnual Hotel and Food Sales

15161Total Number of Firms

TraNSPOrTaTiON

mcallen-miller international airportwwwmcallenairportcom

metro mcallenwwwmcallennetmetro

amtrakwwwamtrakcom

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

everything you need every step of the way

Serving the rio grande valley Since 1989

Rachel Hardison-Oliva Broker

3321 N McColl Rd

McAllen TX 78501

(956) 687-7172 bull (956) 687-7178 Fax

Page 22: Livability McAllen, TX 2013

ldquoCine El Rey hosts events as diverse as wrestling live bands films and comedy shows A huge stage is complimented by killer production value and a staff that really cares about all aspects of the experience Irsquom looking forward to a return triprdquo

Bill dykES YELP

visual Arts and Festivals

aCCESSiBlE arT FuN EvENTS

The international museum of art amp Science founded in 1969 promotes an appreciation for the arts and sciences through its exhibitions cultural events and many educational programs imaS is located at 1900 Nolana Ave

The mcallen art walk is a self-guided tour that gives art lovers the opportunity to explore the many art offerings in the city Itrsquos held every first Friday from September through May and is free and open to the public

on the first Saturday night of December folks enjoy the Candlelight Posada which includes food booths luminaries a parade live entertainment caroling and a live nativity scene

Chamber of Commerce Support

ChamBEr BaCkS ThE arTS

The mcallen Chamber of Commerce shows its love for the arts by managing the mcallen arts Council which publishes a quarterly magazine produces an annual fine arts exhibition and offers grants to local artists The Chamber also offers an outdoor concert series and coordinates the Public art Committeersquos acquisition program

20 mc allen

ThiNgS TO dO SPoRTS amp RECREATIoN

Soak Up Some Sunmcallen residents haVe plenty of Good reasons to Get outdoors

Great golf courses hiking and biking trails and a large well-maintained park system make McAllen the perfect place to enjoy outdoor fun By Carson OrsquoShoney

Golf

TEE iT uPWith nearly 20 courses in the

McAllen area golf is a popular attraction in the Rio Grande Valley

one of the most notable courses is the Palm view golf Course an 18-hole public course with a private feel With rolling fairways and Bermuda rough mounds the course is an often-used location for tournaments having hosted LPGA tournaments and Palm viewrsquos amateur golf Championship

mcallen Country Club provides a challenge with tree-lined fairways and small greens and also offers a swimming pool tennis courts a fitness center and other amenities

Every golf course in the area is bustling especially in the winter when ldquoWinter Texansrdquo come to the Rio Grande Valley The weather generally stays in the 70s in the coldest months making it a perfect place for winter golfing

Hiking Biking and Racing

ON ThE mOvE iN mCallEN

There are plenty of hiking and biking trails on the east and west sides of town such as the retama village Park Trail westside Park Trail and las Palmas Park Trail Visiting cyclists are welcome to meet up with Team mcallen Cycling a bike club thatrsquos been in the city for more than 25 years

Racing fans can enjoy the mcallen international motorplex and Event Center which hosts stock car races car shows and more The racetrack is a family-friendly place offering activities for children such as games face painting and crafts

Palm view Golf Courseirish cochran plays a round of golf at palm View Golf course an 18-hole public course often used for high profile tournaments

22 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 23

City Parks

OuTdOOr Family FuN

The mcallen Parks and recreation department currently oversees 25 city parks Ranging from historic parks established in the early 1900s to more modern facilities there are several options suitable for the whole family

archer Park McAllenrsquos oldest park opened in 1912 Serving as a historic landmark in the city it also plays host to many of the cityrsquos annual special events including the Candlelight Posada and movies in the Park

Spanning 38 acres Springfest Park is the largest park in McAllen Springfest hosts a variety of special events and is home to mcallenrsquos winter Polo league from January through March

check out more fun things to do in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

Spray and Ground Parkbesides its popular water feature mcallenrsquos new SprayandGroundParkhas a sand volleyball court skateboard area a half basketball court and just over half a mile of walking trails in addition there are athletic practice fields shaded areas picnic shelters and restroom facilities

22 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 23

ThiNgS TO dO SEE THE CITY

24 mc allen

The Irrigation Workerthe sun sets behind a sculpture ldquothe irrigation Workerrdquo which was created by artist douglas clark and is located on nolana and 25th

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

l iVabil it ycommc allen 25

LIvINGHERESchools health care education and neighborhoods in McAllen

26 mc allen 26 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 27 26 mc allen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 27

see more beautiful photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

Luxury Livingnewcomers have many beautiful home options in mcallen such as those offered in eight different communities by cantu construction a locally based award-winning builder

26 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 27 liVabil it ycommc allen 27

liviNg

TECH TOOLS FOSTER STUDEnT SUCCESS

Padding theCurriculum

McAllen Independent School District (ISD) is feeling the benefits of an ambitious technology plan that places an iPod or iPad in the hands of every teacher and student

mcallen independent school district students use system-issued ipads in class

28 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 29

EduCaTiNg FOr ThE 21ST CENTury

The initiative began with a meeting between Dr James Ponce McAllenrsquos superintendent of schools and a ldquocadrerdquo of about 35 teachers administrators and parents

The grouprsquos primary goal was to build a 21st-century classroom environment one that fosters creativity collaboration and entrepreneurship The group also wanted to find a way to harness the 247 educational potential of the Internet ndash and teach students the critical-thinking skills needed to process online content

ldquoItrsquos an environment where the teachers become the primary learners and the students are driven by their examplerdquo Ponce says ldquoSo we asked what tools we would need for this transformation of the way we teach and the way the kids learnrdquo

After much research the group chose iPods (for grades K-2) and iPads (for teachers and grades 3-12) because of their portability

ldquoIrsquove learned more from my fellow teachers than I have in many years just from sharing ideas for how to use the iPads in the classroomrdquo

CarOl aNN allEN LANGuAGEARTSTEACHER

ATMICHAELEFOSSuMMIDDLESCHOOL

relatively low cost and ease of use To implement the planrsquos first stage McAllen ISD issued 5800 of these devices to teachers and students when the rollout is complete it will cover more than 25000 students

Big BENEFiTS FOr TEaChErS aNd STudENTS

Both teachers and students are seeing benefits from the program

ldquoThe iPods help the kids be creative My students are organizing information in new waysrdquo says Ruth Whiddon who teaches first grade at Andrew Jackson Elementary School

For Carol Ann Allen International Baccalaureate coordinator and eighth-grade language arts teacher at Michael E Fossum Middle School the initiative is all about collaboration

ldquoIrsquove learned more from my fellow teachers than I have in many years just from sharing ideas for how to use the iPads in the classroomrdquo she says

Sandra Guerra who teaches seventh- and eighth-grade math

at Fossum says the iPads have changed both her teaching style and the way her students learn

Instead of mapping out the learning process step-by-step she now gives students their goal and lets them choose how to get there

ldquoWith this approach they own their learning and theyrsquove been more willing to learnrdquo Guerra says

The iPads have also been a game-changer for Guerrarsquos family

Her seventh-grade daughter is learning advanced science concepts because of independent iPad projects And because most of her childrenrsquos school materials are on their iPads itrsquos easier than ever for Guerra to check on their progress from home

That kind of scenario says Superintendent Ponce is at the heart of the initiative

ldquoThe entire school system and our community want to lead in this effort to build a 21st-century learning environmentrdquo he says ldquoThis is a direct investment in our children and their familiesrdquo

by Kathryn Royster

High-Tech Learningseventh-grade students use ipads to follow class lectures and take quizzes during a language arts class at michael e fossum middle school

PH

oT

o C

oU

RT

EST

Y o

F M

CA

LLE

N IN

DE

PE

ND

EN

T S

CH

oo

L D

IST

RIC

T

28 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 29

Higher Education

SOuTh TExaS COllEgE

McAllenrsquos South Texas College has more than 30000 students and offers numerous associate and bachelorrsquos degree programs as well as professional certifications in more than 40 areas The college also has online degree courses for students who work full time

liviNg EDUCATIoN

Set for SuccesscolleGe prep is a top priority in mcallen

Education in McAllen is defined by excellent options From elementary school through college McAllen includes numerous institutions designed to prepare students for success By Braxton Shoop

school yourself on more educational offerings at livabilitycommcallen

Public Schools

mCallEN iNdEPENdENT SChOOl diSTriCT

Established in 1915 the mcallen independent School district comprises three high schools seven middle schools and 20 elementary schools Among these schools the district offers an advanced placement college-level curriculum and a dual-enrollment program for students who would like to obtain high school and college credit simultaneously

In addition the district features an International Baccalaureate program that provides students with an advanced curriculum geared toward global standards

Local Inspiration

FOrmEr STudENT FliES high

one of McAllenrsquos successful students is astronaut michael Fossum a graduate of McAllen High School After receiving his commission from the US Air Force by Texas AampM University Fossum graduated Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base and in 1993 he started at NASA Throughout his NASA career Fossum was on crew for three spaceflights He commanded the space station during one of his flights helping him rank seventh on the all-time list for cumulative Extravehicular Activity time

Top-notch Learning Environmentuniversity of texas-pan american offers many undergraduate degrees more than 50 masterrsquos degrees and three doctoral degrees utpa has accreditations from organizations like the commission for collegiate nursing the examining board of nurse examiners for the state of texas and the engineering accreditation commission of the accreditation board for engineering and technology

30 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 31

Charter School

idEa aCadEmy

idEa academy is an innovative institution that offers a fully scaled curriculum for students in kindergarten and in the first second and sixth grades The school which opened in McAllen in 2012 will eventually add more grades each one including approximately 110 students While the school is public students must apply to fill the 460 available spots

To prepare its students to be collegiate scholars IDEA provides International Baccalaureate curriculum as well as the Road to College curriculum which begins in the sixth grade

ldquoWersquore very proud of the connection to our distinguished alumni like NASA astronaut Michael Fossum and we want our students to recognize the kind of education we provide here What he learned here helped catapult him into space and wersquore very proud of thatrdquo

NOrma zamOra-guErra MCALLENINDEPENDENTSCHOOL

DISTRICTCOMMuNITYINFORMATIONDIRECTOR

Michael E Fossum Middle Schoolnamed for astronaut michael e fossum the school is part of the mcallen independent school district

30 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 31

Please call 9566316109 for a representative today

2501 Buddy Owens Blvd McAllen TX 78504

9656316125 Fax

wwwrio-healthcom

RioHealth MedicalWe are here to meet all your

occupational medicine needs

bull Workplace injuries and workersrsquo compensation

bull On site and off site drug screening

bull Physicals

bull Orthopedics

bull Early return to work

bull 247 coverage

bull We accept all types of insurance

WorkplaceInjury

DANIEL J GUERRA MD Diplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

LEONEL G MORENO MDDiplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

HOMERO RIVAS MDDiplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

606 S Broadway bull McAllen TX bull (956) 682-4515 bull wwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

FAMILY PHYSICIANS

CLINICSince 1967

Mon-Fri 8 am-5 pm Sat 8 am-Noon

VALLEY NIGHT CLINIC

Since 1981

Open Every Night of the Year 6 pm-Midnight

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valley supports children of all abilities through child care

services early intervention and parenting support programs

Early Childhood intErvEntion ChildCarE sErviCEs ParEnts as tEaChErs

Easter seals rio Grande valley Programs for Children Birth to Five years

bullChild-Care servicesndashHigh-qualitychildcare sixweekstofiveyears

bullParents as teachers (Pat)ndashDevelopmental parentingsupportforchildrenbirthtofiveyears

bullEarly Childhood intervention (ECi) ndashConcerns indevelopmentforchildrenbirthtothreeyears

For more information about Easter seals

programs and services call (956) 631-9171 or visit wwweasterseals-rgvorg

32 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 33

liviNg HEALTH

Take a Deep Breath and Relaxresidents haVe access to top hospitals

McAllen residents receive quality care from the South Texas Health System Rio Grande Regional Hospital and the Doctors Hospital at Renaissance By Kevin Litwin

Health System

SOuTh TExaS hEalTh SySTEm

South Texas health System is the umbrella organization for a number of fine medical facilities including mcallen medical Center MMC has 441 beds and a staff of more than 400 physicians that represent 50 medical specialties

Also part of South Texas Health System is mcallen heart hospital which opened in 1996 as the first freestanding cardiology and cardiovascular hospital built in the United States It includes 60 beds and a 24-hour emergency center

Healthgrades has awarded McAllen Medical Center and McAllen Heart Hospital with a variety of honors in recent years and both earned a Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence in 2011

Hospital

riO graNdE rEgiONal hOSPiTal

rio grande regional hospital is an acute care medical facility with 320 beds and more than 500 physicians The hospital is the only area Diabetes Management Center accredited by the American Diabetes Association and is the arearsquos first facility to have a Pediatric Heart Program

RGRH also includes a 24-hour emergency room Womenrsquos Services department Level III trauma center and cardiovascular care The hospital is fully accredited by The Joint Commission and the College of American Pathologists and every year since 2007 has been named a Center of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery

32 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 33

Hospital

dOCTOrS hOSPiTal aT rENaiSSaNCE

The 506-bed doctors hospital at renaissance is an acute care facility It provides cardiology neurosurgery and endocrinology as well as a Pediatric Medical Tower that offers pediatric oncology and pediatric ICU services

Doctors Hospital has been ranked among the nationrsquos 100 Top Hospitals by Thomson Reuters and recently invested $32 million to establish an Electronic Medical Record System

DHR was the first in South Texas to acquire a PETCT scanner for diagnosing cancer and the first in the region to introduce da Vinci robotic surgical technology The hospital also oversees Renaissance Behavioral Center which provides treatment for people with mental health problems substance abuse or eating disorders

34 mc allen

COMMUNITyPROFILE COST OF liviNg

$44074Median Household Income

$129554Median Home Price

$689Median Rent for a Two-Bedroom Apartment

TraNSPOrTaTiON

Median Travel Time to Work

agE

TEmPEraTurE

January Average

July Average

EThNiCiTy

19 and Under

20-54

55 and over

White

Black

Hispanic

other

1645minutes

Closest Airport McAllen International Airport

955deg

482deg

South Texasrsquo Finest Gift Store Offers Gifts From Around the World

4300 N 10th St bull Ste C bull McAllen TX 78504 (956) 686-1264 bull ohkaysaolcom

Look for us on Facebook

gOlF COurSES

gOlF TEC

2901 N 10TH ST956-994-9631

mCallEN COuNTry CluB615 WICHITA AVE956-686-0923

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

The national Butterfly Center the national butterfly center dedicates 100 acres to the conservation and scientific study of wild butterflies in their natural habitats the wildlife center is open daily from 8 am until 5 pm september through march and from 9 am until 4 pm april through august

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

liviNg SEE THE CITY

36 mc allen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 37

BUSINESSInfo on McAllenrsquos top employers jobs and success stories

McAllen Convention Centerthe McAllenConventionCenter is located on 185 acres and includes a 60000-square-foot exhibit hall as well as more than 25000 square feet of meeting space in 16 breakout rooms

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

38 mc allen 38 mc allen

38 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 39

BuSiNESS oVERVIEW

McAllenrsquos in the MoneyCultural diversity location and innovation drive cityrsquos top business sectors

As the retail hub of South Texas McAllen is thriving The city draws a customer base of more than 10 million within a 200-mile radius and is represented by 40 of Americarsquos top 100 retailers

By Tiffany Williams

La Plaza MallPumping much of the life into this retail hub is la Plaza mall which annually attracts more than 18 million visitors its anchoring stores such as dillardrsquos and macyrsquos and sought-after retailers including BCBg-max azria and Coach average sales of more than $650 per square foot and are among the most profitable stores in their chains

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

Meetings amp Events

CONvENTiON CENTEr lurES viSiTOrS

The mcallen Convention Center also helps draw businesses to the area The 185-acre complex featuring a 60000-square-foot column-free exhibit hall more than 25000 square feet of meeting space and up to 16 breakout rooms offers bicultural themes and tropical accents that represent the cultural and natural diversity of McAllen

Retail

ShOPPiNg hOT SPOTS

This bicultural city which is located just five miles from the US-Mexico border also has access to three international bridges that flood with visitors and eager shoppers daily many of whom are spending at a rate twice the national average

In addition to La Plaza Mall shopping centers in the McAllen area include Trenton Crossing las Tiendas Plaza and La Plaza Mallrsquos 600sbquo000-square-foot sister shopping center Palms Crossing which hosts such big-name retailers as Barnes amp Noble and Babies rsquoRrsquo Us as well as specialty shops and restaurants Its appeal stems from its open-air design with lots of palm trees water fountains and seating areas

Major Manufacturers

madE FOr maNuFaCTuriNg

Ranked third in Texas in per-capita sales the McAllen area has some of the largest manufacturing and wholesale companies in the nation

valley Coca Cola Bottling Co Value Frozen Foods and Emerson Network Power are just a few who have put down roots here Tri-City Steel which provides a full scope of steel construction by fabricating and erecting structural steel buildings pre-engineered metal buildings stairs handrails and more Texas Citrus Exchange in Mission makes Texas rio red grapefruit juice

learn more about businesses in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

BuSiNESS

RESIDEnTS GET CREATIvE WITH BUSInESS vEnTURES

the BoxOutside

One of McAllenrsquos most innovative startups sprang from the mind of someone who wasnrsquot even interested in business Today Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar is one

of the arearsquos top entrepreneurs and is finding serious success

mcallen entrepreneur dalinda Gonzalez-alcantar founded eJucomm llc

liVabil it ycommc allen 43 42 mc allen

ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the worldrdquo

EllEry BuChaNaN FIBERIOPRESIDENTCEO

Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar the founder of eJucomm LLC simply wanted to make information in her school district more accessible to families The company was a way she could make it happen

She got the idea while working as a teacher at DeLeon Middle School in McAllen and was frustrated that families without computers andor Internet access had difficulty communicating with teachers and administrators So she decided to develop a smartphone application that would solve the problem

With no previous technical experience she researched code online at night and a year later was selling the app to various school districts

ldquoThe app enables Android and iPhone users to access information for things like grades and attendancerdquo Gonzalez-Alcantar says

The entrepreneur also faced unexpected challenges ndash for instance how to tailor individual apps to the roughly seven school districts and 40 campuses that now use them No longer teaching she has partnered with a chief technology officer so she can focus on sales and marketing

One of her biggest hurdles was finding legal fees to fund the startup and a $10000 McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant in 2011 helped pay for a licensing agreement and intellectual property protection for eJucomm to move forward

BaNaNa E-z SPliTAnother McAllen resident

Gerald Guerra faced a similar obstacle when developing a product called Banana E-Z Split A health insurance broker Guerra was inspired at his own kitchen table to create single serving packets with all three syrups

Banana E-Z SplitGerald Guerra inventor of the banana e-Z split single serving syrup packets poses with his daughters Victoria and kaitlyn enthusiastic taste testers for his product

liVabil it ycommc allen 43

To order please call or visit 956-668-0555 or wwwediblearrangementscom 5113-A N 10th St bull McAllen TX 78504

Offer valid at participating locations Offer expires 12312013 Cannot be combined with another offers Offer code must be used when placing order

Containers may vary EDIBLE ARRANGEMENTS and the Fruit Basket Logo Design are registered trademarks of Edible Arrangements LLC

copy2012 Edible Arrangements LLC All rights reserved Frachises available call (888) 727-4258 or visit wwweafranchisescom

DELICIOUSLYd e s i r a b l e

FREE PIECE OF DIPPED FRUIT

Code mctx1213

Living green is making sure the air in your home is healthy for your family to breathe Test your home for radon and build radon-resistant

Its easy Thats living healthy and green

Just call 866-730-green or visit wwwepagovradon

Living greenstarts from the ground up

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

(pineapple chocolate strawberry) needed for a banana split

The concept led to a 2011 McAllen Business Plan Competition grant to fund the necessary patents

ldquoI envisioned a product that could hang easily in refrigerated sections at big box storesrdquo Guerra says ldquoI have lined up a distributor and a broker with my ultimate goal being to have Banana E-Z Split available to customers in large grocery chains It is close to happeningrdquo

FiBEriO TEChNOlOgyAnother startup in McAllen

is already making waves globally FibeRio Technology Corporation another McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant recipient is thriving thanks to ground-breaking nanofiber-producing machinery The nanofibers can be used to make products ranging from diapers to

ballistics using a new way to spin microscopic nanofibers

The technology serves an array of industries that feature filtration textiles or biomedical applications

ldquoDr Karen Lozano at UT-Pan American discovered the process and I was contacted because I am an entrepreneur familiar with launching technology- based companies including nanotechnologyrdquo says FibeRio Technology presidentCEO Ellery Buchanan ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the world Plus we use local McAllen suppliers whenever possible including machine shops parts suppliers IT contractors and other business servicesrdquo

by Kevin Litwin by staff photographer

Michael Conti

FibeRio Technology Corporationnanomaterials processing research equipment is used at FibeRioTechnologyCorporation

FEldmaNrsquoS markET CENTErFeldmanrsquos Market Center features a broad selection of beer as well as wines liquors cigars and a gourmet deli In addition weekly beer and wine tastings are offered(956) 687-9463

PErFECT PawS rESOrTPerfect Paws Resort offers grooming services daycare and boarding to vaccinated dogs and cats that are at least 12 weeks old Boarding suites are climate controlled and under constant supervisionperfectpawsresortcom

mCCrEEry aviaTiON CO iNCMcCreery Aviation Co Inc is a place for pilots and their aircraft to receive top-notch treatment A fuel center flight planning room and hangar storage are availablemccreeryaviationcom

kiTikakE llCKitikake LLC offers gently- used vintage clothing for women from an array of top designers such as Lilly Pulitzer and Catherine Malandrino Vintage home deacutecor and dishes are also availablekitikakecom

krEidlEr FuNEral hOmEFounded owned and operated by the Kreidler family Kreidler Funeral Home has served McAllen for 100 years They offer traditional burial and graveside funeral services direct burials cremations memorial services and morekreidlerfuneralhomecom

Business Spotlight

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

visit ouradvertisersBorder Capital Bankwwwbordercapitalbankcom

City of McAllen Public Info Officewwwexploremcallennet

Courtyard by Marriottwwwmarriottcommtema

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valleywwweasterseals-rgvorg

Edible Arrangementswwwediblearrangementscom

Family Physicians Clinicwwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

Magic Valley Electric Cooperativewwwmagicvalleycoop

McAllen Economic Development Corporationwwwmcallenedcorg

McAllen Independent School Districtwwwmcallenisdorg

McAllen International Airportwwwmcallenairportcom

McAllen Realty

Mr Electricwwwmrelectriccom

Nuevo Santander Gallerywwwnuevosantandercom

OH KAYrsquoS

Preventative Care Institutewwwrgvpcicom

Quinta Mazatlanwwwquintamazatlancom

Rio Health Medicalwwwrio-healthcom

South Texas College wwwsouthtexascollegeedu

South Texas Health Systemwwwsouthtexashealthsystemcom

The Patio on Guerra wwwpatioonguerracom

Valley International Airportwwwflythevalleycom

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

BuSiNESS CHAMBER REPoRT

Whatrsquos the Big Ideachamberrsquos readiness tool kit assists entrepreneurs

The McAllen Chamber of Commerce has helped prepare 25 McAllen entrepreneurs in the continuing quest to launch their ideas ndash all since July 2011

The Chamber has a software package called VentureBusiness Readiness Assessment which is used by states such as oklahoma and Kentucky to assist startup companies The software helps an entrepreneur through the entire process of seeing whether they are truly ready to launch their startup

ldquoVentureBusiness Readiness Assessment is a way that the Chamber assists entrepreneurs who are trying to get funding for their products or projectsrdquo says Steve Ahlenius who serves as President and CEo of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce ldquoThe Chamber awards $50000 a year in innovation grants in $10000 increments and entrepreneurs are always looking for funding But they must earn that money by passing the various stages of the software tool kitrdquo

TEN hOurS TO COmPlETEAhlenius says the assessment

has several specific steps to make sure that a startup company has everything in place to ensure that it is successful

ldquoThe entrepreneurs contact us and set up an appointment to see me then they come to the Chamber office we sign them up and give them passwords to access the software at their conveniencerdquo he says ldquo[The program] takes about 10 hours to complete but doesnrsquot have to be finished in one sitting However the program must be eventually completed in order to qualify for our innovation grantrdquo

CaN iT BE madE QuiCklyThe software asks questions

such as Have you protected your intellectual property Is your product something that can be

made quickly Have you set a value on your idea and do you know how to do that If itrsquos a product that involves high-tech engineering do you have an engineer on your companyrsquos team

ldquoThe entrepreneur needs to know if his venture is worth 20 shares of stock or 200 shares ndash things like thatrdquo Ahlenius says ldquoMany factors go into launching a product or business and Venture Readiness points out a personrsquos strengths and weaknessesrdquo

a grEaT OvErviEwVicente Valle Martinez of

McAllen is an entrepreneur who contacted the Chamber in 2012 about his idea for connecting

people on the Internet who have similar educational experiences and higher learning interests

ldquoI have no background in business but heard one day about an innovation grant competition that the Chamber was sponsoringrdquo Martinez says ldquoSteve told me about the software package and it gave me a great overview of what I need to know before launching my ideardquo

Ahlenius says the various concepts the software package covers include credentials character capabilities commitment and circumstance

ldquoIt is an excellent self-awareness testrdquo he says ldquoItrsquos ideal for entrepreneursrdquo

by Kevin Litwin

the mcallen chamber of commerce on ash avenue

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

Ad Index 41 BorderCapitalBank

21 CityofMCallen puBliCinfooffiCe

4 CourtyardByMarriott

32 easterseals rioGrandeValley

44 ediBlearranGeMents

32 faMilyphysiCiansCliniC

2 MaGiCValley eleCtriCCooperatiVe

C3 MCalleneConoMiC deVelopMentCorporation

46 MCallenindependent sChooldistriCt

1 MCallen internationalairport

C4 MCallenrealty

48 MreleCtriC

46 nueVosantanderGallery

35 ohkayrsquos

34 preVentatiVe

Careinstitute

23 QuintaMazatlan

32 riohealthMediCal

31 southtexasColleGe

C2 southtexas

healthsysteM

18 thepatioonGuerra

44 Valley

internationalairport

ECONOMICPROFILE

3000+

2000- 2999

1999- 500

hOuSEhOld iNCOmE

TOP EmPlOyErS

$200000+

$150000-199999

$100000 and under

McAllen Independent School District

McAllen Medical Center South Texas College City of McAllen

Rio Grande Regional Hospital International Bank of Commerce

EduCaTiON lEvEl

High School Graduate

Associate Degree

Bachelorrsquos Degree

Masterrsquos Degree

TaxES

2City Sales and Use Tax

625State Sales Tax

825Total Sales Tax

SCOrECard

$36BAnnual Retail Sales

$28682Retail sales per capita

$3575MAnnual Hotel and Food Sales

15161Total Number of Firms

TraNSPOrTaTiON

mcallen-miller international airportwwwmcallenairportcom

metro mcallenwwwmcallennetmetro

amtrakwwwamtrakcom

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

everything you need every step of the way

Serving the rio grande valley Since 1989

Rachel Hardison-Oliva Broker

3321 N McColl Rd

McAllen TX 78501

(956) 687-7172 bull (956) 687-7178 Fax

Page 23: Livability McAllen, TX 2013

ThiNgS TO dO SPoRTS amp RECREATIoN

Soak Up Some Sunmcallen residents haVe plenty of Good reasons to Get outdoors

Great golf courses hiking and biking trails and a large well-maintained park system make McAllen the perfect place to enjoy outdoor fun By Carson OrsquoShoney

Golf

TEE iT uPWith nearly 20 courses in the

McAllen area golf is a popular attraction in the Rio Grande Valley

one of the most notable courses is the Palm view golf Course an 18-hole public course with a private feel With rolling fairways and Bermuda rough mounds the course is an often-used location for tournaments having hosted LPGA tournaments and Palm viewrsquos amateur golf Championship

mcallen Country Club provides a challenge with tree-lined fairways and small greens and also offers a swimming pool tennis courts a fitness center and other amenities

Every golf course in the area is bustling especially in the winter when ldquoWinter Texansrdquo come to the Rio Grande Valley The weather generally stays in the 70s in the coldest months making it a perfect place for winter golfing

Hiking Biking and Racing

ON ThE mOvE iN mCallEN

There are plenty of hiking and biking trails on the east and west sides of town such as the retama village Park Trail westside Park Trail and las Palmas Park Trail Visiting cyclists are welcome to meet up with Team mcallen Cycling a bike club thatrsquos been in the city for more than 25 years

Racing fans can enjoy the mcallen international motorplex and Event Center which hosts stock car races car shows and more The racetrack is a family-friendly place offering activities for children such as games face painting and crafts

Palm view Golf Courseirish cochran plays a round of golf at palm View Golf course an 18-hole public course often used for high profile tournaments

22 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 23

City Parks

OuTdOOr Family FuN

The mcallen Parks and recreation department currently oversees 25 city parks Ranging from historic parks established in the early 1900s to more modern facilities there are several options suitable for the whole family

archer Park McAllenrsquos oldest park opened in 1912 Serving as a historic landmark in the city it also plays host to many of the cityrsquos annual special events including the Candlelight Posada and movies in the Park

Spanning 38 acres Springfest Park is the largest park in McAllen Springfest hosts a variety of special events and is home to mcallenrsquos winter Polo league from January through March

check out more fun things to do in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

Spray and Ground Parkbesides its popular water feature mcallenrsquos new SprayandGroundParkhas a sand volleyball court skateboard area a half basketball court and just over half a mile of walking trails in addition there are athletic practice fields shaded areas picnic shelters and restroom facilities

22 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 23

ThiNgS TO dO SEE THE CITY

24 mc allen

The Irrigation Workerthe sun sets behind a sculpture ldquothe irrigation Workerrdquo which was created by artist douglas clark and is located on nolana and 25th

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

l iVabil it ycommc allen 25

LIvINGHERESchools health care education and neighborhoods in McAllen

26 mc allen 26 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 27 26 mc allen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 27

see more beautiful photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

Luxury Livingnewcomers have many beautiful home options in mcallen such as those offered in eight different communities by cantu construction a locally based award-winning builder

26 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 27 liVabil it ycommc allen 27

liviNg

TECH TOOLS FOSTER STUDEnT SUCCESS

Padding theCurriculum

McAllen Independent School District (ISD) is feeling the benefits of an ambitious technology plan that places an iPod or iPad in the hands of every teacher and student

mcallen independent school district students use system-issued ipads in class

28 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 29

EduCaTiNg FOr ThE 21ST CENTury

The initiative began with a meeting between Dr James Ponce McAllenrsquos superintendent of schools and a ldquocadrerdquo of about 35 teachers administrators and parents

The grouprsquos primary goal was to build a 21st-century classroom environment one that fosters creativity collaboration and entrepreneurship The group also wanted to find a way to harness the 247 educational potential of the Internet ndash and teach students the critical-thinking skills needed to process online content

ldquoItrsquos an environment where the teachers become the primary learners and the students are driven by their examplerdquo Ponce says ldquoSo we asked what tools we would need for this transformation of the way we teach and the way the kids learnrdquo

After much research the group chose iPods (for grades K-2) and iPads (for teachers and grades 3-12) because of their portability

ldquoIrsquove learned more from my fellow teachers than I have in many years just from sharing ideas for how to use the iPads in the classroomrdquo

CarOl aNN allEN LANGuAGEARTSTEACHER

ATMICHAELEFOSSuMMIDDLESCHOOL

relatively low cost and ease of use To implement the planrsquos first stage McAllen ISD issued 5800 of these devices to teachers and students when the rollout is complete it will cover more than 25000 students

Big BENEFiTS FOr TEaChErS aNd STudENTS

Both teachers and students are seeing benefits from the program

ldquoThe iPods help the kids be creative My students are organizing information in new waysrdquo says Ruth Whiddon who teaches first grade at Andrew Jackson Elementary School

For Carol Ann Allen International Baccalaureate coordinator and eighth-grade language arts teacher at Michael E Fossum Middle School the initiative is all about collaboration

ldquoIrsquove learned more from my fellow teachers than I have in many years just from sharing ideas for how to use the iPads in the classroomrdquo she says

Sandra Guerra who teaches seventh- and eighth-grade math

at Fossum says the iPads have changed both her teaching style and the way her students learn

Instead of mapping out the learning process step-by-step she now gives students their goal and lets them choose how to get there

ldquoWith this approach they own their learning and theyrsquove been more willing to learnrdquo Guerra says

The iPads have also been a game-changer for Guerrarsquos family

Her seventh-grade daughter is learning advanced science concepts because of independent iPad projects And because most of her childrenrsquos school materials are on their iPads itrsquos easier than ever for Guerra to check on their progress from home

That kind of scenario says Superintendent Ponce is at the heart of the initiative

ldquoThe entire school system and our community want to lead in this effort to build a 21st-century learning environmentrdquo he says ldquoThis is a direct investment in our children and their familiesrdquo

by Kathryn Royster

High-Tech Learningseventh-grade students use ipads to follow class lectures and take quizzes during a language arts class at michael e fossum middle school

PH

oT

o C

oU

RT

EST

Y o

F M

CA

LLE

N IN

DE

PE

ND

EN

T S

CH

oo

L D

IST

RIC

T

28 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 29

Higher Education

SOuTh TExaS COllEgE

McAllenrsquos South Texas College has more than 30000 students and offers numerous associate and bachelorrsquos degree programs as well as professional certifications in more than 40 areas The college also has online degree courses for students who work full time

liviNg EDUCATIoN

Set for SuccesscolleGe prep is a top priority in mcallen

Education in McAllen is defined by excellent options From elementary school through college McAllen includes numerous institutions designed to prepare students for success By Braxton Shoop

school yourself on more educational offerings at livabilitycommcallen

Public Schools

mCallEN iNdEPENdENT SChOOl diSTriCT

Established in 1915 the mcallen independent School district comprises three high schools seven middle schools and 20 elementary schools Among these schools the district offers an advanced placement college-level curriculum and a dual-enrollment program for students who would like to obtain high school and college credit simultaneously

In addition the district features an International Baccalaureate program that provides students with an advanced curriculum geared toward global standards

Local Inspiration

FOrmEr STudENT FliES high

one of McAllenrsquos successful students is astronaut michael Fossum a graduate of McAllen High School After receiving his commission from the US Air Force by Texas AampM University Fossum graduated Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base and in 1993 he started at NASA Throughout his NASA career Fossum was on crew for three spaceflights He commanded the space station during one of his flights helping him rank seventh on the all-time list for cumulative Extravehicular Activity time

Top-notch Learning Environmentuniversity of texas-pan american offers many undergraduate degrees more than 50 masterrsquos degrees and three doctoral degrees utpa has accreditations from organizations like the commission for collegiate nursing the examining board of nurse examiners for the state of texas and the engineering accreditation commission of the accreditation board for engineering and technology

30 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 31

Charter School

idEa aCadEmy

idEa academy is an innovative institution that offers a fully scaled curriculum for students in kindergarten and in the first second and sixth grades The school which opened in McAllen in 2012 will eventually add more grades each one including approximately 110 students While the school is public students must apply to fill the 460 available spots

To prepare its students to be collegiate scholars IDEA provides International Baccalaureate curriculum as well as the Road to College curriculum which begins in the sixth grade

ldquoWersquore very proud of the connection to our distinguished alumni like NASA astronaut Michael Fossum and we want our students to recognize the kind of education we provide here What he learned here helped catapult him into space and wersquore very proud of thatrdquo

NOrma zamOra-guErra MCALLENINDEPENDENTSCHOOL

DISTRICTCOMMuNITYINFORMATIONDIRECTOR

Michael E Fossum Middle Schoolnamed for astronaut michael e fossum the school is part of the mcallen independent school district

30 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 31

Please call 9566316109 for a representative today

2501 Buddy Owens Blvd McAllen TX 78504

9656316125 Fax

wwwrio-healthcom

RioHealth MedicalWe are here to meet all your

occupational medicine needs

bull Workplace injuries and workersrsquo compensation

bull On site and off site drug screening

bull Physicals

bull Orthopedics

bull Early return to work

bull 247 coverage

bull We accept all types of insurance

WorkplaceInjury

DANIEL J GUERRA MD Diplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

LEONEL G MORENO MDDiplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

HOMERO RIVAS MDDiplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

606 S Broadway bull McAllen TX bull (956) 682-4515 bull wwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

FAMILY PHYSICIANS

CLINICSince 1967

Mon-Fri 8 am-5 pm Sat 8 am-Noon

VALLEY NIGHT CLINIC

Since 1981

Open Every Night of the Year 6 pm-Midnight

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valley supports children of all abilities through child care

services early intervention and parenting support programs

Early Childhood intErvEntion ChildCarE sErviCEs ParEnts as tEaChErs

Easter seals rio Grande valley Programs for Children Birth to Five years

bullChild-Care servicesndashHigh-qualitychildcare sixweekstofiveyears

bullParents as teachers (Pat)ndashDevelopmental parentingsupportforchildrenbirthtofiveyears

bullEarly Childhood intervention (ECi) ndashConcerns indevelopmentforchildrenbirthtothreeyears

For more information about Easter seals

programs and services call (956) 631-9171 or visit wwweasterseals-rgvorg

32 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 33

liviNg HEALTH

Take a Deep Breath and Relaxresidents haVe access to top hospitals

McAllen residents receive quality care from the South Texas Health System Rio Grande Regional Hospital and the Doctors Hospital at Renaissance By Kevin Litwin

Health System

SOuTh TExaS hEalTh SySTEm

South Texas health System is the umbrella organization for a number of fine medical facilities including mcallen medical Center MMC has 441 beds and a staff of more than 400 physicians that represent 50 medical specialties

Also part of South Texas Health System is mcallen heart hospital which opened in 1996 as the first freestanding cardiology and cardiovascular hospital built in the United States It includes 60 beds and a 24-hour emergency center

Healthgrades has awarded McAllen Medical Center and McAllen Heart Hospital with a variety of honors in recent years and both earned a Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence in 2011

Hospital

riO graNdE rEgiONal hOSPiTal

rio grande regional hospital is an acute care medical facility with 320 beds and more than 500 physicians The hospital is the only area Diabetes Management Center accredited by the American Diabetes Association and is the arearsquos first facility to have a Pediatric Heart Program

RGRH also includes a 24-hour emergency room Womenrsquos Services department Level III trauma center and cardiovascular care The hospital is fully accredited by The Joint Commission and the College of American Pathologists and every year since 2007 has been named a Center of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery

32 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 33

Hospital

dOCTOrS hOSPiTal aT rENaiSSaNCE

The 506-bed doctors hospital at renaissance is an acute care facility It provides cardiology neurosurgery and endocrinology as well as a Pediatric Medical Tower that offers pediatric oncology and pediatric ICU services

Doctors Hospital has been ranked among the nationrsquos 100 Top Hospitals by Thomson Reuters and recently invested $32 million to establish an Electronic Medical Record System

DHR was the first in South Texas to acquire a PETCT scanner for diagnosing cancer and the first in the region to introduce da Vinci robotic surgical technology The hospital also oversees Renaissance Behavioral Center which provides treatment for people with mental health problems substance abuse or eating disorders

34 mc allen

COMMUNITyPROFILE COST OF liviNg

$44074Median Household Income

$129554Median Home Price

$689Median Rent for a Two-Bedroom Apartment

TraNSPOrTaTiON

Median Travel Time to Work

agE

TEmPEraTurE

January Average

July Average

EThNiCiTy

19 and Under

20-54

55 and over

White

Black

Hispanic

other

1645minutes

Closest Airport McAllen International Airport

955deg

482deg

South Texasrsquo Finest Gift Store Offers Gifts From Around the World

4300 N 10th St bull Ste C bull McAllen TX 78504 (956) 686-1264 bull ohkaysaolcom

Look for us on Facebook

gOlF COurSES

gOlF TEC

2901 N 10TH ST956-994-9631

mCallEN COuNTry CluB615 WICHITA AVE956-686-0923

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

The national Butterfly Center the national butterfly center dedicates 100 acres to the conservation and scientific study of wild butterflies in their natural habitats the wildlife center is open daily from 8 am until 5 pm september through march and from 9 am until 4 pm april through august

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

liviNg SEE THE CITY

36 mc allen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 37

BUSINESSInfo on McAllenrsquos top employers jobs and success stories

McAllen Convention Centerthe McAllenConventionCenter is located on 185 acres and includes a 60000-square-foot exhibit hall as well as more than 25000 square feet of meeting space in 16 breakout rooms

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

38 mc allen 38 mc allen

38 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 39

BuSiNESS oVERVIEW

McAllenrsquos in the MoneyCultural diversity location and innovation drive cityrsquos top business sectors

As the retail hub of South Texas McAllen is thriving The city draws a customer base of more than 10 million within a 200-mile radius and is represented by 40 of Americarsquos top 100 retailers

By Tiffany Williams

La Plaza MallPumping much of the life into this retail hub is la Plaza mall which annually attracts more than 18 million visitors its anchoring stores such as dillardrsquos and macyrsquos and sought-after retailers including BCBg-max azria and Coach average sales of more than $650 per square foot and are among the most profitable stores in their chains

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

Meetings amp Events

CONvENTiON CENTEr lurES viSiTOrS

The mcallen Convention Center also helps draw businesses to the area The 185-acre complex featuring a 60000-square-foot column-free exhibit hall more than 25000 square feet of meeting space and up to 16 breakout rooms offers bicultural themes and tropical accents that represent the cultural and natural diversity of McAllen

Retail

ShOPPiNg hOT SPOTS

This bicultural city which is located just five miles from the US-Mexico border also has access to three international bridges that flood with visitors and eager shoppers daily many of whom are spending at a rate twice the national average

In addition to La Plaza Mall shopping centers in the McAllen area include Trenton Crossing las Tiendas Plaza and La Plaza Mallrsquos 600sbquo000-square-foot sister shopping center Palms Crossing which hosts such big-name retailers as Barnes amp Noble and Babies rsquoRrsquo Us as well as specialty shops and restaurants Its appeal stems from its open-air design with lots of palm trees water fountains and seating areas

Major Manufacturers

madE FOr maNuFaCTuriNg

Ranked third in Texas in per-capita sales the McAllen area has some of the largest manufacturing and wholesale companies in the nation

valley Coca Cola Bottling Co Value Frozen Foods and Emerson Network Power are just a few who have put down roots here Tri-City Steel which provides a full scope of steel construction by fabricating and erecting structural steel buildings pre-engineered metal buildings stairs handrails and more Texas Citrus Exchange in Mission makes Texas rio red grapefruit juice

learn more about businesses in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

BuSiNESS

RESIDEnTS GET CREATIvE WITH BUSInESS vEnTURES

the BoxOutside

One of McAllenrsquos most innovative startups sprang from the mind of someone who wasnrsquot even interested in business Today Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar is one

of the arearsquos top entrepreneurs and is finding serious success

mcallen entrepreneur dalinda Gonzalez-alcantar founded eJucomm llc

liVabil it ycommc allen 43 42 mc allen

ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the worldrdquo

EllEry BuChaNaN FIBERIOPRESIDENTCEO

Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar the founder of eJucomm LLC simply wanted to make information in her school district more accessible to families The company was a way she could make it happen

She got the idea while working as a teacher at DeLeon Middle School in McAllen and was frustrated that families without computers andor Internet access had difficulty communicating with teachers and administrators So she decided to develop a smartphone application that would solve the problem

With no previous technical experience she researched code online at night and a year later was selling the app to various school districts

ldquoThe app enables Android and iPhone users to access information for things like grades and attendancerdquo Gonzalez-Alcantar says

The entrepreneur also faced unexpected challenges ndash for instance how to tailor individual apps to the roughly seven school districts and 40 campuses that now use them No longer teaching she has partnered with a chief technology officer so she can focus on sales and marketing

One of her biggest hurdles was finding legal fees to fund the startup and a $10000 McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant in 2011 helped pay for a licensing agreement and intellectual property protection for eJucomm to move forward

BaNaNa E-z SPliTAnother McAllen resident

Gerald Guerra faced a similar obstacle when developing a product called Banana E-Z Split A health insurance broker Guerra was inspired at his own kitchen table to create single serving packets with all three syrups

Banana E-Z SplitGerald Guerra inventor of the banana e-Z split single serving syrup packets poses with his daughters Victoria and kaitlyn enthusiastic taste testers for his product

liVabil it ycommc allen 43

To order please call or visit 956-668-0555 or wwwediblearrangementscom 5113-A N 10th St bull McAllen TX 78504

Offer valid at participating locations Offer expires 12312013 Cannot be combined with another offers Offer code must be used when placing order

Containers may vary EDIBLE ARRANGEMENTS and the Fruit Basket Logo Design are registered trademarks of Edible Arrangements LLC

copy2012 Edible Arrangements LLC All rights reserved Frachises available call (888) 727-4258 or visit wwweafranchisescom

DELICIOUSLYd e s i r a b l e

FREE PIECE OF DIPPED FRUIT

Code mctx1213

Living green is making sure the air in your home is healthy for your family to breathe Test your home for radon and build radon-resistant

Its easy Thats living healthy and green

Just call 866-730-green or visit wwwepagovradon

Living greenstarts from the ground up

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

(pineapple chocolate strawberry) needed for a banana split

The concept led to a 2011 McAllen Business Plan Competition grant to fund the necessary patents

ldquoI envisioned a product that could hang easily in refrigerated sections at big box storesrdquo Guerra says ldquoI have lined up a distributor and a broker with my ultimate goal being to have Banana E-Z Split available to customers in large grocery chains It is close to happeningrdquo

FiBEriO TEChNOlOgyAnother startup in McAllen

is already making waves globally FibeRio Technology Corporation another McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant recipient is thriving thanks to ground-breaking nanofiber-producing machinery The nanofibers can be used to make products ranging from diapers to

ballistics using a new way to spin microscopic nanofibers

The technology serves an array of industries that feature filtration textiles or biomedical applications

ldquoDr Karen Lozano at UT-Pan American discovered the process and I was contacted because I am an entrepreneur familiar with launching technology- based companies including nanotechnologyrdquo says FibeRio Technology presidentCEO Ellery Buchanan ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the world Plus we use local McAllen suppliers whenever possible including machine shops parts suppliers IT contractors and other business servicesrdquo

by Kevin Litwin by staff photographer

Michael Conti

FibeRio Technology Corporationnanomaterials processing research equipment is used at FibeRioTechnologyCorporation

FEldmaNrsquoS markET CENTErFeldmanrsquos Market Center features a broad selection of beer as well as wines liquors cigars and a gourmet deli In addition weekly beer and wine tastings are offered(956) 687-9463

PErFECT PawS rESOrTPerfect Paws Resort offers grooming services daycare and boarding to vaccinated dogs and cats that are at least 12 weeks old Boarding suites are climate controlled and under constant supervisionperfectpawsresortcom

mCCrEEry aviaTiON CO iNCMcCreery Aviation Co Inc is a place for pilots and their aircraft to receive top-notch treatment A fuel center flight planning room and hangar storage are availablemccreeryaviationcom

kiTikakE llCKitikake LLC offers gently- used vintage clothing for women from an array of top designers such as Lilly Pulitzer and Catherine Malandrino Vintage home deacutecor and dishes are also availablekitikakecom

krEidlEr FuNEral hOmEFounded owned and operated by the Kreidler family Kreidler Funeral Home has served McAllen for 100 years They offer traditional burial and graveside funeral services direct burials cremations memorial services and morekreidlerfuneralhomecom

Business Spotlight

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

visit ouradvertisersBorder Capital Bankwwwbordercapitalbankcom

City of McAllen Public Info Officewwwexploremcallennet

Courtyard by Marriottwwwmarriottcommtema

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valleywwweasterseals-rgvorg

Edible Arrangementswwwediblearrangementscom

Family Physicians Clinicwwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

Magic Valley Electric Cooperativewwwmagicvalleycoop

McAllen Economic Development Corporationwwwmcallenedcorg

McAllen Independent School Districtwwwmcallenisdorg

McAllen International Airportwwwmcallenairportcom

McAllen Realty

Mr Electricwwwmrelectriccom

Nuevo Santander Gallerywwwnuevosantandercom

OH KAYrsquoS

Preventative Care Institutewwwrgvpcicom

Quinta Mazatlanwwwquintamazatlancom

Rio Health Medicalwwwrio-healthcom

South Texas College wwwsouthtexascollegeedu

South Texas Health Systemwwwsouthtexashealthsystemcom

The Patio on Guerra wwwpatioonguerracom

Valley International Airportwwwflythevalleycom

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

BuSiNESS CHAMBER REPoRT

Whatrsquos the Big Ideachamberrsquos readiness tool kit assists entrepreneurs

The McAllen Chamber of Commerce has helped prepare 25 McAllen entrepreneurs in the continuing quest to launch their ideas ndash all since July 2011

The Chamber has a software package called VentureBusiness Readiness Assessment which is used by states such as oklahoma and Kentucky to assist startup companies The software helps an entrepreneur through the entire process of seeing whether they are truly ready to launch their startup

ldquoVentureBusiness Readiness Assessment is a way that the Chamber assists entrepreneurs who are trying to get funding for their products or projectsrdquo says Steve Ahlenius who serves as President and CEo of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce ldquoThe Chamber awards $50000 a year in innovation grants in $10000 increments and entrepreneurs are always looking for funding But they must earn that money by passing the various stages of the software tool kitrdquo

TEN hOurS TO COmPlETEAhlenius says the assessment

has several specific steps to make sure that a startup company has everything in place to ensure that it is successful

ldquoThe entrepreneurs contact us and set up an appointment to see me then they come to the Chamber office we sign them up and give them passwords to access the software at their conveniencerdquo he says ldquo[The program] takes about 10 hours to complete but doesnrsquot have to be finished in one sitting However the program must be eventually completed in order to qualify for our innovation grantrdquo

CaN iT BE madE QuiCklyThe software asks questions

such as Have you protected your intellectual property Is your product something that can be

made quickly Have you set a value on your idea and do you know how to do that If itrsquos a product that involves high-tech engineering do you have an engineer on your companyrsquos team

ldquoThe entrepreneur needs to know if his venture is worth 20 shares of stock or 200 shares ndash things like thatrdquo Ahlenius says ldquoMany factors go into launching a product or business and Venture Readiness points out a personrsquos strengths and weaknessesrdquo

a grEaT OvErviEwVicente Valle Martinez of

McAllen is an entrepreneur who contacted the Chamber in 2012 about his idea for connecting

people on the Internet who have similar educational experiences and higher learning interests

ldquoI have no background in business but heard one day about an innovation grant competition that the Chamber was sponsoringrdquo Martinez says ldquoSteve told me about the software package and it gave me a great overview of what I need to know before launching my ideardquo

Ahlenius says the various concepts the software package covers include credentials character capabilities commitment and circumstance

ldquoIt is an excellent self-awareness testrdquo he says ldquoItrsquos ideal for entrepreneursrdquo

by Kevin Litwin

the mcallen chamber of commerce on ash avenue

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

Ad Index 41 BorderCapitalBank

21 CityofMCallen puBliCinfooffiCe

4 CourtyardByMarriott

32 easterseals rioGrandeValley

44 ediBlearranGeMents

32 faMilyphysiCiansCliniC

2 MaGiCValley eleCtriCCooperatiVe

C3 MCalleneConoMiC deVelopMentCorporation

46 MCallenindependent sChooldistriCt

1 MCallen internationalairport

C4 MCallenrealty

48 MreleCtriC

46 nueVosantanderGallery

35 ohkayrsquos

34 preVentatiVe

Careinstitute

23 QuintaMazatlan

32 riohealthMediCal

31 southtexasColleGe

C2 southtexas

healthsysteM

18 thepatioonGuerra

44 Valley

internationalairport

ECONOMICPROFILE

3000+

2000- 2999

1999- 500

hOuSEhOld iNCOmE

TOP EmPlOyErS

$200000+

$150000-199999

$100000 and under

McAllen Independent School District

McAllen Medical Center South Texas College City of McAllen

Rio Grande Regional Hospital International Bank of Commerce

EduCaTiON lEvEl

High School Graduate

Associate Degree

Bachelorrsquos Degree

Masterrsquos Degree

TaxES

2City Sales and Use Tax

625State Sales Tax

825Total Sales Tax

SCOrECard

$36BAnnual Retail Sales

$28682Retail sales per capita

$3575MAnnual Hotel and Food Sales

15161Total Number of Firms

TraNSPOrTaTiON

mcallen-miller international airportwwwmcallenairportcom

metro mcallenwwwmcallennetmetro

amtrakwwwamtrakcom

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

everything you need every step of the way

Serving the rio grande valley Since 1989

Rachel Hardison-Oliva Broker

3321 N McColl Rd

McAllen TX 78501

(956) 687-7172 bull (956) 687-7178 Fax

Page 24: Livability McAllen, TX 2013

City Parks

OuTdOOr Family FuN

The mcallen Parks and recreation department currently oversees 25 city parks Ranging from historic parks established in the early 1900s to more modern facilities there are several options suitable for the whole family

archer Park McAllenrsquos oldest park opened in 1912 Serving as a historic landmark in the city it also plays host to many of the cityrsquos annual special events including the Candlelight Posada and movies in the Park

Spanning 38 acres Springfest Park is the largest park in McAllen Springfest hosts a variety of special events and is home to mcallenrsquos winter Polo league from January through March

check out more fun things to do in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

Spray and Ground Parkbesides its popular water feature mcallenrsquos new SprayandGroundParkhas a sand volleyball court skateboard area a half basketball court and just over half a mile of walking trails in addition there are athletic practice fields shaded areas picnic shelters and restroom facilities

22 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 23

ThiNgS TO dO SEE THE CITY

24 mc allen

The Irrigation Workerthe sun sets behind a sculpture ldquothe irrigation Workerrdquo which was created by artist douglas clark and is located on nolana and 25th

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

l iVabil it ycommc allen 25

LIvINGHERESchools health care education and neighborhoods in McAllen

26 mc allen 26 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 27 26 mc allen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 27

see more beautiful photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

Luxury Livingnewcomers have many beautiful home options in mcallen such as those offered in eight different communities by cantu construction a locally based award-winning builder

26 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 27 liVabil it ycommc allen 27

liviNg

TECH TOOLS FOSTER STUDEnT SUCCESS

Padding theCurriculum

McAllen Independent School District (ISD) is feeling the benefits of an ambitious technology plan that places an iPod or iPad in the hands of every teacher and student

mcallen independent school district students use system-issued ipads in class

28 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 29

EduCaTiNg FOr ThE 21ST CENTury

The initiative began with a meeting between Dr James Ponce McAllenrsquos superintendent of schools and a ldquocadrerdquo of about 35 teachers administrators and parents

The grouprsquos primary goal was to build a 21st-century classroom environment one that fosters creativity collaboration and entrepreneurship The group also wanted to find a way to harness the 247 educational potential of the Internet ndash and teach students the critical-thinking skills needed to process online content

ldquoItrsquos an environment where the teachers become the primary learners and the students are driven by their examplerdquo Ponce says ldquoSo we asked what tools we would need for this transformation of the way we teach and the way the kids learnrdquo

After much research the group chose iPods (for grades K-2) and iPads (for teachers and grades 3-12) because of their portability

ldquoIrsquove learned more from my fellow teachers than I have in many years just from sharing ideas for how to use the iPads in the classroomrdquo

CarOl aNN allEN LANGuAGEARTSTEACHER

ATMICHAELEFOSSuMMIDDLESCHOOL

relatively low cost and ease of use To implement the planrsquos first stage McAllen ISD issued 5800 of these devices to teachers and students when the rollout is complete it will cover more than 25000 students

Big BENEFiTS FOr TEaChErS aNd STudENTS

Both teachers and students are seeing benefits from the program

ldquoThe iPods help the kids be creative My students are organizing information in new waysrdquo says Ruth Whiddon who teaches first grade at Andrew Jackson Elementary School

For Carol Ann Allen International Baccalaureate coordinator and eighth-grade language arts teacher at Michael E Fossum Middle School the initiative is all about collaboration

ldquoIrsquove learned more from my fellow teachers than I have in many years just from sharing ideas for how to use the iPads in the classroomrdquo she says

Sandra Guerra who teaches seventh- and eighth-grade math

at Fossum says the iPads have changed both her teaching style and the way her students learn

Instead of mapping out the learning process step-by-step she now gives students their goal and lets them choose how to get there

ldquoWith this approach they own their learning and theyrsquove been more willing to learnrdquo Guerra says

The iPads have also been a game-changer for Guerrarsquos family

Her seventh-grade daughter is learning advanced science concepts because of independent iPad projects And because most of her childrenrsquos school materials are on their iPads itrsquos easier than ever for Guerra to check on their progress from home

That kind of scenario says Superintendent Ponce is at the heart of the initiative

ldquoThe entire school system and our community want to lead in this effort to build a 21st-century learning environmentrdquo he says ldquoThis is a direct investment in our children and their familiesrdquo

by Kathryn Royster

High-Tech Learningseventh-grade students use ipads to follow class lectures and take quizzes during a language arts class at michael e fossum middle school

PH

oT

o C

oU

RT

EST

Y o

F M

CA

LLE

N IN

DE

PE

ND

EN

T S

CH

oo

L D

IST

RIC

T

28 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 29

Higher Education

SOuTh TExaS COllEgE

McAllenrsquos South Texas College has more than 30000 students and offers numerous associate and bachelorrsquos degree programs as well as professional certifications in more than 40 areas The college also has online degree courses for students who work full time

liviNg EDUCATIoN

Set for SuccesscolleGe prep is a top priority in mcallen

Education in McAllen is defined by excellent options From elementary school through college McAllen includes numerous institutions designed to prepare students for success By Braxton Shoop

school yourself on more educational offerings at livabilitycommcallen

Public Schools

mCallEN iNdEPENdENT SChOOl diSTriCT

Established in 1915 the mcallen independent School district comprises three high schools seven middle schools and 20 elementary schools Among these schools the district offers an advanced placement college-level curriculum and a dual-enrollment program for students who would like to obtain high school and college credit simultaneously

In addition the district features an International Baccalaureate program that provides students with an advanced curriculum geared toward global standards

Local Inspiration

FOrmEr STudENT FliES high

one of McAllenrsquos successful students is astronaut michael Fossum a graduate of McAllen High School After receiving his commission from the US Air Force by Texas AampM University Fossum graduated Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base and in 1993 he started at NASA Throughout his NASA career Fossum was on crew for three spaceflights He commanded the space station during one of his flights helping him rank seventh on the all-time list for cumulative Extravehicular Activity time

Top-notch Learning Environmentuniversity of texas-pan american offers many undergraduate degrees more than 50 masterrsquos degrees and three doctoral degrees utpa has accreditations from organizations like the commission for collegiate nursing the examining board of nurse examiners for the state of texas and the engineering accreditation commission of the accreditation board for engineering and technology

30 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 31

Charter School

idEa aCadEmy

idEa academy is an innovative institution that offers a fully scaled curriculum for students in kindergarten and in the first second and sixth grades The school which opened in McAllen in 2012 will eventually add more grades each one including approximately 110 students While the school is public students must apply to fill the 460 available spots

To prepare its students to be collegiate scholars IDEA provides International Baccalaureate curriculum as well as the Road to College curriculum which begins in the sixth grade

ldquoWersquore very proud of the connection to our distinguished alumni like NASA astronaut Michael Fossum and we want our students to recognize the kind of education we provide here What he learned here helped catapult him into space and wersquore very proud of thatrdquo

NOrma zamOra-guErra MCALLENINDEPENDENTSCHOOL

DISTRICTCOMMuNITYINFORMATIONDIRECTOR

Michael E Fossum Middle Schoolnamed for astronaut michael e fossum the school is part of the mcallen independent school district

30 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 31

Please call 9566316109 for a representative today

2501 Buddy Owens Blvd McAllen TX 78504

9656316125 Fax

wwwrio-healthcom

RioHealth MedicalWe are here to meet all your

occupational medicine needs

bull Workplace injuries and workersrsquo compensation

bull On site and off site drug screening

bull Physicals

bull Orthopedics

bull Early return to work

bull 247 coverage

bull We accept all types of insurance

WorkplaceInjury

DANIEL J GUERRA MD Diplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

LEONEL G MORENO MDDiplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

HOMERO RIVAS MDDiplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

606 S Broadway bull McAllen TX bull (956) 682-4515 bull wwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

FAMILY PHYSICIANS

CLINICSince 1967

Mon-Fri 8 am-5 pm Sat 8 am-Noon

VALLEY NIGHT CLINIC

Since 1981

Open Every Night of the Year 6 pm-Midnight

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valley supports children of all abilities through child care

services early intervention and parenting support programs

Early Childhood intErvEntion ChildCarE sErviCEs ParEnts as tEaChErs

Easter seals rio Grande valley Programs for Children Birth to Five years

bullChild-Care servicesndashHigh-qualitychildcare sixweekstofiveyears

bullParents as teachers (Pat)ndashDevelopmental parentingsupportforchildrenbirthtofiveyears

bullEarly Childhood intervention (ECi) ndashConcerns indevelopmentforchildrenbirthtothreeyears

For more information about Easter seals

programs and services call (956) 631-9171 or visit wwweasterseals-rgvorg

32 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 33

liviNg HEALTH

Take a Deep Breath and Relaxresidents haVe access to top hospitals

McAllen residents receive quality care from the South Texas Health System Rio Grande Regional Hospital and the Doctors Hospital at Renaissance By Kevin Litwin

Health System

SOuTh TExaS hEalTh SySTEm

South Texas health System is the umbrella organization for a number of fine medical facilities including mcallen medical Center MMC has 441 beds and a staff of more than 400 physicians that represent 50 medical specialties

Also part of South Texas Health System is mcallen heart hospital which opened in 1996 as the first freestanding cardiology and cardiovascular hospital built in the United States It includes 60 beds and a 24-hour emergency center

Healthgrades has awarded McAllen Medical Center and McAllen Heart Hospital with a variety of honors in recent years and both earned a Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence in 2011

Hospital

riO graNdE rEgiONal hOSPiTal

rio grande regional hospital is an acute care medical facility with 320 beds and more than 500 physicians The hospital is the only area Diabetes Management Center accredited by the American Diabetes Association and is the arearsquos first facility to have a Pediatric Heart Program

RGRH also includes a 24-hour emergency room Womenrsquos Services department Level III trauma center and cardiovascular care The hospital is fully accredited by The Joint Commission and the College of American Pathologists and every year since 2007 has been named a Center of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery

32 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 33

Hospital

dOCTOrS hOSPiTal aT rENaiSSaNCE

The 506-bed doctors hospital at renaissance is an acute care facility It provides cardiology neurosurgery and endocrinology as well as a Pediatric Medical Tower that offers pediatric oncology and pediatric ICU services

Doctors Hospital has been ranked among the nationrsquos 100 Top Hospitals by Thomson Reuters and recently invested $32 million to establish an Electronic Medical Record System

DHR was the first in South Texas to acquire a PETCT scanner for diagnosing cancer and the first in the region to introduce da Vinci robotic surgical technology The hospital also oversees Renaissance Behavioral Center which provides treatment for people with mental health problems substance abuse or eating disorders

34 mc allen

COMMUNITyPROFILE COST OF liviNg

$44074Median Household Income

$129554Median Home Price

$689Median Rent for a Two-Bedroom Apartment

TraNSPOrTaTiON

Median Travel Time to Work

agE

TEmPEraTurE

January Average

July Average

EThNiCiTy

19 and Under

20-54

55 and over

White

Black

Hispanic

other

1645minutes

Closest Airport McAllen International Airport

955deg

482deg

South Texasrsquo Finest Gift Store Offers Gifts From Around the World

4300 N 10th St bull Ste C bull McAllen TX 78504 (956) 686-1264 bull ohkaysaolcom

Look for us on Facebook

gOlF COurSES

gOlF TEC

2901 N 10TH ST956-994-9631

mCallEN COuNTry CluB615 WICHITA AVE956-686-0923

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

The national Butterfly Center the national butterfly center dedicates 100 acres to the conservation and scientific study of wild butterflies in their natural habitats the wildlife center is open daily from 8 am until 5 pm september through march and from 9 am until 4 pm april through august

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

liviNg SEE THE CITY

36 mc allen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 37

BUSINESSInfo on McAllenrsquos top employers jobs and success stories

McAllen Convention Centerthe McAllenConventionCenter is located on 185 acres and includes a 60000-square-foot exhibit hall as well as more than 25000 square feet of meeting space in 16 breakout rooms

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

38 mc allen 38 mc allen

38 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 39

BuSiNESS oVERVIEW

McAllenrsquos in the MoneyCultural diversity location and innovation drive cityrsquos top business sectors

As the retail hub of South Texas McAllen is thriving The city draws a customer base of more than 10 million within a 200-mile radius and is represented by 40 of Americarsquos top 100 retailers

By Tiffany Williams

La Plaza MallPumping much of the life into this retail hub is la Plaza mall which annually attracts more than 18 million visitors its anchoring stores such as dillardrsquos and macyrsquos and sought-after retailers including BCBg-max azria and Coach average sales of more than $650 per square foot and are among the most profitable stores in their chains

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

Meetings amp Events

CONvENTiON CENTEr lurES viSiTOrS

The mcallen Convention Center also helps draw businesses to the area The 185-acre complex featuring a 60000-square-foot column-free exhibit hall more than 25000 square feet of meeting space and up to 16 breakout rooms offers bicultural themes and tropical accents that represent the cultural and natural diversity of McAllen

Retail

ShOPPiNg hOT SPOTS

This bicultural city which is located just five miles from the US-Mexico border also has access to three international bridges that flood with visitors and eager shoppers daily many of whom are spending at a rate twice the national average

In addition to La Plaza Mall shopping centers in the McAllen area include Trenton Crossing las Tiendas Plaza and La Plaza Mallrsquos 600sbquo000-square-foot sister shopping center Palms Crossing which hosts such big-name retailers as Barnes amp Noble and Babies rsquoRrsquo Us as well as specialty shops and restaurants Its appeal stems from its open-air design with lots of palm trees water fountains and seating areas

Major Manufacturers

madE FOr maNuFaCTuriNg

Ranked third in Texas in per-capita sales the McAllen area has some of the largest manufacturing and wholesale companies in the nation

valley Coca Cola Bottling Co Value Frozen Foods and Emerson Network Power are just a few who have put down roots here Tri-City Steel which provides a full scope of steel construction by fabricating and erecting structural steel buildings pre-engineered metal buildings stairs handrails and more Texas Citrus Exchange in Mission makes Texas rio red grapefruit juice

learn more about businesses in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

BuSiNESS

RESIDEnTS GET CREATIvE WITH BUSInESS vEnTURES

the BoxOutside

One of McAllenrsquos most innovative startups sprang from the mind of someone who wasnrsquot even interested in business Today Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar is one

of the arearsquos top entrepreneurs and is finding serious success

mcallen entrepreneur dalinda Gonzalez-alcantar founded eJucomm llc

liVabil it ycommc allen 43 42 mc allen

ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the worldrdquo

EllEry BuChaNaN FIBERIOPRESIDENTCEO

Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar the founder of eJucomm LLC simply wanted to make information in her school district more accessible to families The company was a way she could make it happen

She got the idea while working as a teacher at DeLeon Middle School in McAllen and was frustrated that families without computers andor Internet access had difficulty communicating with teachers and administrators So she decided to develop a smartphone application that would solve the problem

With no previous technical experience she researched code online at night and a year later was selling the app to various school districts

ldquoThe app enables Android and iPhone users to access information for things like grades and attendancerdquo Gonzalez-Alcantar says

The entrepreneur also faced unexpected challenges ndash for instance how to tailor individual apps to the roughly seven school districts and 40 campuses that now use them No longer teaching she has partnered with a chief technology officer so she can focus on sales and marketing

One of her biggest hurdles was finding legal fees to fund the startup and a $10000 McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant in 2011 helped pay for a licensing agreement and intellectual property protection for eJucomm to move forward

BaNaNa E-z SPliTAnother McAllen resident

Gerald Guerra faced a similar obstacle when developing a product called Banana E-Z Split A health insurance broker Guerra was inspired at his own kitchen table to create single serving packets with all three syrups

Banana E-Z SplitGerald Guerra inventor of the banana e-Z split single serving syrup packets poses with his daughters Victoria and kaitlyn enthusiastic taste testers for his product

liVabil it ycommc allen 43

To order please call or visit 956-668-0555 or wwwediblearrangementscom 5113-A N 10th St bull McAllen TX 78504

Offer valid at participating locations Offer expires 12312013 Cannot be combined with another offers Offer code must be used when placing order

Containers may vary EDIBLE ARRANGEMENTS and the Fruit Basket Logo Design are registered trademarks of Edible Arrangements LLC

copy2012 Edible Arrangements LLC All rights reserved Frachises available call (888) 727-4258 or visit wwweafranchisescom

DELICIOUSLYd e s i r a b l e

FREE PIECE OF DIPPED FRUIT

Code mctx1213

Living green is making sure the air in your home is healthy for your family to breathe Test your home for radon and build radon-resistant

Its easy Thats living healthy and green

Just call 866-730-green or visit wwwepagovradon

Living greenstarts from the ground up

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

(pineapple chocolate strawberry) needed for a banana split

The concept led to a 2011 McAllen Business Plan Competition grant to fund the necessary patents

ldquoI envisioned a product that could hang easily in refrigerated sections at big box storesrdquo Guerra says ldquoI have lined up a distributor and a broker with my ultimate goal being to have Banana E-Z Split available to customers in large grocery chains It is close to happeningrdquo

FiBEriO TEChNOlOgyAnother startup in McAllen

is already making waves globally FibeRio Technology Corporation another McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant recipient is thriving thanks to ground-breaking nanofiber-producing machinery The nanofibers can be used to make products ranging from diapers to

ballistics using a new way to spin microscopic nanofibers

The technology serves an array of industries that feature filtration textiles or biomedical applications

ldquoDr Karen Lozano at UT-Pan American discovered the process and I was contacted because I am an entrepreneur familiar with launching technology- based companies including nanotechnologyrdquo says FibeRio Technology presidentCEO Ellery Buchanan ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the world Plus we use local McAllen suppliers whenever possible including machine shops parts suppliers IT contractors and other business servicesrdquo

by Kevin Litwin by staff photographer

Michael Conti

FibeRio Technology Corporationnanomaterials processing research equipment is used at FibeRioTechnologyCorporation

FEldmaNrsquoS markET CENTErFeldmanrsquos Market Center features a broad selection of beer as well as wines liquors cigars and a gourmet deli In addition weekly beer and wine tastings are offered(956) 687-9463

PErFECT PawS rESOrTPerfect Paws Resort offers grooming services daycare and boarding to vaccinated dogs and cats that are at least 12 weeks old Boarding suites are climate controlled and under constant supervisionperfectpawsresortcom

mCCrEEry aviaTiON CO iNCMcCreery Aviation Co Inc is a place for pilots and their aircraft to receive top-notch treatment A fuel center flight planning room and hangar storage are availablemccreeryaviationcom

kiTikakE llCKitikake LLC offers gently- used vintage clothing for women from an array of top designers such as Lilly Pulitzer and Catherine Malandrino Vintage home deacutecor and dishes are also availablekitikakecom

krEidlEr FuNEral hOmEFounded owned and operated by the Kreidler family Kreidler Funeral Home has served McAllen for 100 years They offer traditional burial and graveside funeral services direct burials cremations memorial services and morekreidlerfuneralhomecom

Business Spotlight

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

visit ouradvertisersBorder Capital Bankwwwbordercapitalbankcom

City of McAllen Public Info Officewwwexploremcallennet

Courtyard by Marriottwwwmarriottcommtema

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valleywwweasterseals-rgvorg

Edible Arrangementswwwediblearrangementscom

Family Physicians Clinicwwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

Magic Valley Electric Cooperativewwwmagicvalleycoop

McAllen Economic Development Corporationwwwmcallenedcorg

McAllen Independent School Districtwwwmcallenisdorg

McAllen International Airportwwwmcallenairportcom

McAllen Realty

Mr Electricwwwmrelectriccom

Nuevo Santander Gallerywwwnuevosantandercom

OH KAYrsquoS

Preventative Care Institutewwwrgvpcicom

Quinta Mazatlanwwwquintamazatlancom

Rio Health Medicalwwwrio-healthcom

South Texas College wwwsouthtexascollegeedu

South Texas Health Systemwwwsouthtexashealthsystemcom

The Patio on Guerra wwwpatioonguerracom

Valley International Airportwwwflythevalleycom

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

BuSiNESS CHAMBER REPoRT

Whatrsquos the Big Ideachamberrsquos readiness tool kit assists entrepreneurs

The McAllen Chamber of Commerce has helped prepare 25 McAllen entrepreneurs in the continuing quest to launch their ideas ndash all since July 2011

The Chamber has a software package called VentureBusiness Readiness Assessment which is used by states such as oklahoma and Kentucky to assist startup companies The software helps an entrepreneur through the entire process of seeing whether they are truly ready to launch their startup

ldquoVentureBusiness Readiness Assessment is a way that the Chamber assists entrepreneurs who are trying to get funding for their products or projectsrdquo says Steve Ahlenius who serves as President and CEo of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce ldquoThe Chamber awards $50000 a year in innovation grants in $10000 increments and entrepreneurs are always looking for funding But they must earn that money by passing the various stages of the software tool kitrdquo

TEN hOurS TO COmPlETEAhlenius says the assessment

has several specific steps to make sure that a startup company has everything in place to ensure that it is successful

ldquoThe entrepreneurs contact us and set up an appointment to see me then they come to the Chamber office we sign them up and give them passwords to access the software at their conveniencerdquo he says ldquo[The program] takes about 10 hours to complete but doesnrsquot have to be finished in one sitting However the program must be eventually completed in order to qualify for our innovation grantrdquo

CaN iT BE madE QuiCklyThe software asks questions

such as Have you protected your intellectual property Is your product something that can be

made quickly Have you set a value on your idea and do you know how to do that If itrsquos a product that involves high-tech engineering do you have an engineer on your companyrsquos team

ldquoThe entrepreneur needs to know if his venture is worth 20 shares of stock or 200 shares ndash things like thatrdquo Ahlenius says ldquoMany factors go into launching a product or business and Venture Readiness points out a personrsquos strengths and weaknessesrdquo

a grEaT OvErviEwVicente Valle Martinez of

McAllen is an entrepreneur who contacted the Chamber in 2012 about his idea for connecting

people on the Internet who have similar educational experiences and higher learning interests

ldquoI have no background in business but heard one day about an innovation grant competition that the Chamber was sponsoringrdquo Martinez says ldquoSteve told me about the software package and it gave me a great overview of what I need to know before launching my ideardquo

Ahlenius says the various concepts the software package covers include credentials character capabilities commitment and circumstance

ldquoIt is an excellent self-awareness testrdquo he says ldquoItrsquos ideal for entrepreneursrdquo

by Kevin Litwin

the mcallen chamber of commerce on ash avenue

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

Ad Index 41 BorderCapitalBank

21 CityofMCallen puBliCinfooffiCe

4 CourtyardByMarriott

32 easterseals rioGrandeValley

44 ediBlearranGeMents

32 faMilyphysiCiansCliniC

2 MaGiCValley eleCtriCCooperatiVe

C3 MCalleneConoMiC deVelopMentCorporation

46 MCallenindependent sChooldistriCt

1 MCallen internationalairport

C4 MCallenrealty

48 MreleCtriC

46 nueVosantanderGallery

35 ohkayrsquos

34 preVentatiVe

Careinstitute

23 QuintaMazatlan

32 riohealthMediCal

31 southtexasColleGe

C2 southtexas

healthsysteM

18 thepatioonGuerra

44 Valley

internationalairport

ECONOMICPROFILE

3000+

2000- 2999

1999- 500

hOuSEhOld iNCOmE

TOP EmPlOyErS

$200000+

$150000-199999

$100000 and under

McAllen Independent School District

McAllen Medical Center South Texas College City of McAllen

Rio Grande Regional Hospital International Bank of Commerce

EduCaTiON lEvEl

High School Graduate

Associate Degree

Bachelorrsquos Degree

Masterrsquos Degree

TaxES

2City Sales and Use Tax

625State Sales Tax

825Total Sales Tax

SCOrECard

$36BAnnual Retail Sales

$28682Retail sales per capita

$3575MAnnual Hotel and Food Sales

15161Total Number of Firms

TraNSPOrTaTiON

mcallen-miller international airportwwwmcallenairportcom

metro mcallenwwwmcallennetmetro

amtrakwwwamtrakcom

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

everything you need every step of the way

Serving the rio grande valley Since 1989

Rachel Hardison-Oliva Broker

3321 N McColl Rd

McAllen TX 78501

(956) 687-7172 bull (956) 687-7178 Fax

Page 25: Livability McAllen, TX 2013

ThiNgS TO dO SEE THE CITY

24 mc allen

The Irrigation Workerthe sun sets behind a sculpture ldquothe irrigation Workerrdquo which was created by artist douglas clark and is located on nolana and 25th

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

l iVabil it ycommc allen 25

LIvINGHERESchools health care education and neighborhoods in McAllen

26 mc allen 26 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 27 26 mc allen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 27

see more beautiful photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

Luxury Livingnewcomers have many beautiful home options in mcallen such as those offered in eight different communities by cantu construction a locally based award-winning builder

26 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 27 liVabil it ycommc allen 27

liviNg

TECH TOOLS FOSTER STUDEnT SUCCESS

Padding theCurriculum

McAllen Independent School District (ISD) is feeling the benefits of an ambitious technology plan that places an iPod or iPad in the hands of every teacher and student

mcallen independent school district students use system-issued ipads in class

28 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 29

EduCaTiNg FOr ThE 21ST CENTury

The initiative began with a meeting between Dr James Ponce McAllenrsquos superintendent of schools and a ldquocadrerdquo of about 35 teachers administrators and parents

The grouprsquos primary goal was to build a 21st-century classroom environment one that fosters creativity collaboration and entrepreneurship The group also wanted to find a way to harness the 247 educational potential of the Internet ndash and teach students the critical-thinking skills needed to process online content

ldquoItrsquos an environment where the teachers become the primary learners and the students are driven by their examplerdquo Ponce says ldquoSo we asked what tools we would need for this transformation of the way we teach and the way the kids learnrdquo

After much research the group chose iPods (for grades K-2) and iPads (for teachers and grades 3-12) because of their portability

ldquoIrsquove learned more from my fellow teachers than I have in many years just from sharing ideas for how to use the iPads in the classroomrdquo

CarOl aNN allEN LANGuAGEARTSTEACHER

ATMICHAELEFOSSuMMIDDLESCHOOL

relatively low cost and ease of use To implement the planrsquos first stage McAllen ISD issued 5800 of these devices to teachers and students when the rollout is complete it will cover more than 25000 students

Big BENEFiTS FOr TEaChErS aNd STudENTS

Both teachers and students are seeing benefits from the program

ldquoThe iPods help the kids be creative My students are organizing information in new waysrdquo says Ruth Whiddon who teaches first grade at Andrew Jackson Elementary School

For Carol Ann Allen International Baccalaureate coordinator and eighth-grade language arts teacher at Michael E Fossum Middle School the initiative is all about collaboration

ldquoIrsquove learned more from my fellow teachers than I have in many years just from sharing ideas for how to use the iPads in the classroomrdquo she says

Sandra Guerra who teaches seventh- and eighth-grade math

at Fossum says the iPads have changed both her teaching style and the way her students learn

Instead of mapping out the learning process step-by-step she now gives students their goal and lets them choose how to get there

ldquoWith this approach they own their learning and theyrsquove been more willing to learnrdquo Guerra says

The iPads have also been a game-changer for Guerrarsquos family

Her seventh-grade daughter is learning advanced science concepts because of independent iPad projects And because most of her childrenrsquos school materials are on their iPads itrsquos easier than ever for Guerra to check on their progress from home

That kind of scenario says Superintendent Ponce is at the heart of the initiative

ldquoThe entire school system and our community want to lead in this effort to build a 21st-century learning environmentrdquo he says ldquoThis is a direct investment in our children and their familiesrdquo

by Kathryn Royster

High-Tech Learningseventh-grade students use ipads to follow class lectures and take quizzes during a language arts class at michael e fossum middle school

PH

oT

o C

oU

RT

EST

Y o

F M

CA

LLE

N IN

DE

PE

ND

EN

T S

CH

oo

L D

IST

RIC

T

28 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 29

Higher Education

SOuTh TExaS COllEgE

McAllenrsquos South Texas College has more than 30000 students and offers numerous associate and bachelorrsquos degree programs as well as professional certifications in more than 40 areas The college also has online degree courses for students who work full time

liviNg EDUCATIoN

Set for SuccesscolleGe prep is a top priority in mcallen

Education in McAllen is defined by excellent options From elementary school through college McAllen includes numerous institutions designed to prepare students for success By Braxton Shoop

school yourself on more educational offerings at livabilitycommcallen

Public Schools

mCallEN iNdEPENdENT SChOOl diSTriCT

Established in 1915 the mcallen independent School district comprises three high schools seven middle schools and 20 elementary schools Among these schools the district offers an advanced placement college-level curriculum and a dual-enrollment program for students who would like to obtain high school and college credit simultaneously

In addition the district features an International Baccalaureate program that provides students with an advanced curriculum geared toward global standards

Local Inspiration

FOrmEr STudENT FliES high

one of McAllenrsquos successful students is astronaut michael Fossum a graduate of McAllen High School After receiving his commission from the US Air Force by Texas AampM University Fossum graduated Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base and in 1993 he started at NASA Throughout his NASA career Fossum was on crew for three spaceflights He commanded the space station during one of his flights helping him rank seventh on the all-time list for cumulative Extravehicular Activity time

Top-notch Learning Environmentuniversity of texas-pan american offers many undergraduate degrees more than 50 masterrsquos degrees and three doctoral degrees utpa has accreditations from organizations like the commission for collegiate nursing the examining board of nurse examiners for the state of texas and the engineering accreditation commission of the accreditation board for engineering and technology

30 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 31

Charter School

idEa aCadEmy

idEa academy is an innovative institution that offers a fully scaled curriculum for students in kindergarten and in the first second and sixth grades The school which opened in McAllen in 2012 will eventually add more grades each one including approximately 110 students While the school is public students must apply to fill the 460 available spots

To prepare its students to be collegiate scholars IDEA provides International Baccalaureate curriculum as well as the Road to College curriculum which begins in the sixth grade

ldquoWersquore very proud of the connection to our distinguished alumni like NASA astronaut Michael Fossum and we want our students to recognize the kind of education we provide here What he learned here helped catapult him into space and wersquore very proud of thatrdquo

NOrma zamOra-guErra MCALLENINDEPENDENTSCHOOL

DISTRICTCOMMuNITYINFORMATIONDIRECTOR

Michael E Fossum Middle Schoolnamed for astronaut michael e fossum the school is part of the mcallen independent school district

30 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 31

Please call 9566316109 for a representative today

2501 Buddy Owens Blvd McAllen TX 78504

9656316125 Fax

wwwrio-healthcom

RioHealth MedicalWe are here to meet all your

occupational medicine needs

bull Workplace injuries and workersrsquo compensation

bull On site and off site drug screening

bull Physicals

bull Orthopedics

bull Early return to work

bull 247 coverage

bull We accept all types of insurance

WorkplaceInjury

DANIEL J GUERRA MD Diplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

LEONEL G MORENO MDDiplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

HOMERO RIVAS MDDiplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

606 S Broadway bull McAllen TX bull (956) 682-4515 bull wwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

FAMILY PHYSICIANS

CLINICSince 1967

Mon-Fri 8 am-5 pm Sat 8 am-Noon

VALLEY NIGHT CLINIC

Since 1981

Open Every Night of the Year 6 pm-Midnight

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valley supports children of all abilities through child care

services early intervention and parenting support programs

Early Childhood intErvEntion ChildCarE sErviCEs ParEnts as tEaChErs

Easter seals rio Grande valley Programs for Children Birth to Five years

bullChild-Care servicesndashHigh-qualitychildcare sixweekstofiveyears

bullParents as teachers (Pat)ndashDevelopmental parentingsupportforchildrenbirthtofiveyears

bullEarly Childhood intervention (ECi) ndashConcerns indevelopmentforchildrenbirthtothreeyears

For more information about Easter seals

programs and services call (956) 631-9171 or visit wwweasterseals-rgvorg

32 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 33

liviNg HEALTH

Take a Deep Breath and Relaxresidents haVe access to top hospitals

McAllen residents receive quality care from the South Texas Health System Rio Grande Regional Hospital and the Doctors Hospital at Renaissance By Kevin Litwin

Health System

SOuTh TExaS hEalTh SySTEm

South Texas health System is the umbrella organization for a number of fine medical facilities including mcallen medical Center MMC has 441 beds and a staff of more than 400 physicians that represent 50 medical specialties

Also part of South Texas Health System is mcallen heart hospital which opened in 1996 as the first freestanding cardiology and cardiovascular hospital built in the United States It includes 60 beds and a 24-hour emergency center

Healthgrades has awarded McAllen Medical Center and McAllen Heart Hospital with a variety of honors in recent years and both earned a Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence in 2011

Hospital

riO graNdE rEgiONal hOSPiTal

rio grande regional hospital is an acute care medical facility with 320 beds and more than 500 physicians The hospital is the only area Diabetes Management Center accredited by the American Diabetes Association and is the arearsquos first facility to have a Pediatric Heart Program

RGRH also includes a 24-hour emergency room Womenrsquos Services department Level III trauma center and cardiovascular care The hospital is fully accredited by The Joint Commission and the College of American Pathologists and every year since 2007 has been named a Center of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery

32 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 33

Hospital

dOCTOrS hOSPiTal aT rENaiSSaNCE

The 506-bed doctors hospital at renaissance is an acute care facility It provides cardiology neurosurgery and endocrinology as well as a Pediatric Medical Tower that offers pediatric oncology and pediatric ICU services

Doctors Hospital has been ranked among the nationrsquos 100 Top Hospitals by Thomson Reuters and recently invested $32 million to establish an Electronic Medical Record System

DHR was the first in South Texas to acquire a PETCT scanner for diagnosing cancer and the first in the region to introduce da Vinci robotic surgical technology The hospital also oversees Renaissance Behavioral Center which provides treatment for people with mental health problems substance abuse or eating disorders

34 mc allen

COMMUNITyPROFILE COST OF liviNg

$44074Median Household Income

$129554Median Home Price

$689Median Rent for a Two-Bedroom Apartment

TraNSPOrTaTiON

Median Travel Time to Work

agE

TEmPEraTurE

January Average

July Average

EThNiCiTy

19 and Under

20-54

55 and over

White

Black

Hispanic

other

1645minutes

Closest Airport McAllen International Airport

955deg

482deg

South Texasrsquo Finest Gift Store Offers Gifts From Around the World

4300 N 10th St bull Ste C bull McAllen TX 78504 (956) 686-1264 bull ohkaysaolcom

Look for us on Facebook

gOlF COurSES

gOlF TEC

2901 N 10TH ST956-994-9631

mCallEN COuNTry CluB615 WICHITA AVE956-686-0923

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

The national Butterfly Center the national butterfly center dedicates 100 acres to the conservation and scientific study of wild butterflies in their natural habitats the wildlife center is open daily from 8 am until 5 pm september through march and from 9 am until 4 pm april through august

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

liviNg SEE THE CITY

36 mc allen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 37

BUSINESSInfo on McAllenrsquos top employers jobs and success stories

McAllen Convention Centerthe McAllenConventionCenter is located on 185 acres and includes a 60000-square-foot exhibit hall as well as more than 25000 square feet of meeting space in 16 breakout rooms

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

38 mc allen 38 mc allen

38 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 39

BuSiNESS oVERVIEW

McAllenrsquos in the MoneyCultural diversity location and innovation drive cityrsquos top business sectors

As the retail hub of South Texas McAllen is thriving The city draws a customer base of more than 10 million within a 200-mile radius and is represented by 40 of Americarsquos top 100 retailers

By Tiffany Williams

La Plaza MallPumping much of the life into this retail hub is la Plaza mall which annually attracts more than 18 million visitors its anchoring stores such as dillardrsquos and macyrsquos and sought-after retailers including BCBg-max azria and Coach average sales of more than $650 per square foot and are among the most profitable stores in their chains

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

Meetings amp Events

CONvENTiON CENTEr lurES viSiTOrS

The mcallen Convention Center also helps draw businesses to the area The 185-acre complex featuring a 60000-square-foot column-free exhibit hall more than 25000 square feet of meeting space and up to 16 breakout rooms offers bicultural themes and tropical accents that represent the cultural and natural diversity of McAllen

Retail

ShOPPiNg hOT SPOTS

This bicultural city which is located just five miles from the US-Mexico border also has access to three international bridges that flood with visitors and eager shoppers daily many of whom are spending at a rate twice the national average

In addition to La Plaza Mall shopping centers in the McAllen area include Trenton Crossing las Tiendas Plaza and La Plaza Mallrsquos 600sbquo000-square-foot sister shopping center Palms Crossing which hosts such big-name retailers as Barnes amp Noble and Babies rsquoRrsquo Us as well as specialty shops and restaurants Its appeal stems from its open-air design with lots of palm trees water fountains and seating areas

Major Manufacturers

madE FOr maNuFaCTuriNg

Ranked third in Texas in per-capita sales the McAllen area has some of the largest manufacturing and wholesale companies in the nation

valley Coca Cola Bottling Co Value Frozen Foods and Emerson Network Power are just a few who have put down roots here Tri-City Steel which provides a full scope of steel construction by fabricating and erecting structural steel buildings pre-engineered metal buildings stairs handrails and more Texas Citrus Exchange in Mission makes Texas rio red grapefruit juice

learn more about businesses in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

BuSiNESS

RESIDEnTS GET CREATIvE WITH BUSInESS vEnTURES

the BoxOutside

One of McAllenrsquos most innovative startups sprang from the mind of someone who wasnrsquot even interested in business Today Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar is one

of the arearsquos top entrepreneurs and is finding serious success

mcallen entrepreneur dalinda Gonzalez-alcantar founded eJucomm llc

liVabil it ycommc allen 43 42 mc allen

ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the worldrdquo

EllEry BuChaNaN FIBERIOPRESIDENTCEO

Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar the founder of eJucomm LLC simply wanted to make information in her school district more accessible to families The company was a way she could make it happen

She got the idea while working as a teacher at DeLeon Middle School in McAllen and was frustrated that families without computers andor Internet access had difficulty communicating with teachers and administrators So she decided to develop a smartphone application that would solve the problem

With no previous technical experience she researched code online at night and a year later was selling the app to various school districts

ldquoThe app enables Android and iPhone users to access information for things like grades and attendancerdquo Gonzalez-Alcantar says

The entrepreneur also faced unexpected challenges ndash for instance how to tailor individual apps to the roughly seven school districts and 40 campuses that now use them No longer teaching she has partnered with a chief technology officer so she can focus on sales and marketing

One of her biggest hurdles was finding legal fees to fund the startup and a $10000 McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant in 2011 helped pay for a licensing agreement and intellectual property protection for eJucomm to move forward

BaNaNa E-z SPliTAnother McAllen resident

Gerald Guerra faced a similar obstacle when developing a product called Banana E-Z Split A health insurance broker Guerra was inspired at his own kitchen table to create single serving packets with all three syrups

Banana E-Z SplitGerald Guerra inventor of the banana e-Z split single serving syrup packets poses with his daughters Victoria and kaitlyn enthusiastic taste testers for his product

liVabil it ycommc allen 43

To order please call or visit 956-668-0555 or wwwediblearrangementscom 5113-A N 10th St bull McAllen TX 78504

Offer valid at participating locations Offer expires 12312013 Cannot be combined with another offers Offer code must be used when placing order

Containers may vary EDIBLE ARRANGEMENTS and the Fruit Basket Logo Design are registered trademarks of Edible Arrangements LLC

copy2012 Edible Arrangements LLC All rights reserved Frachises available call (888) 727-4258 or visit wwweafranchisescom

DELICIOUSLYd e s i r a b l e

FREE PIECE OF DIPPED FRUIT

Code mctx1213

Living green is making sure the air in your home is healthy for your family to breathe Test your home for radon and build radon-resistant

Its easy Thats living healthy and green

Just call 866-730-green or visit wwwepagovradon

Living greenstarts from the ground up

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

(pineapple chocolate strawberry) needed for a banana split

The concept led to a 2011 McAllen Business Plan Competition grant to fund the necessary patents

ldquoI envisioned a product that could hang easily in refrigerated sections at big box storesrdquo Guerra says ldquoI have lined up a distributor and a broker with my ultimate goal being to have Banana E-Z Split available to customers in large grocery chains It is close to happeningrdquo

FiBEriO TEChNOlOgyAnother startup in McAllen

is already making waves globally FibeRio Technology Corporation another McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant recipient is thriving thanks to ground-breaking nanofiber-producing machinery The nanofibers can be used to make products ranging from diapers to

ballistics using a new way to spin microscopic nanofibers

The technology serves an array of industries that feature filtration textiles or biomedical applications

ldquoDr Karen Lozano at UT-Pan American discovered the process and I was contacted because I am an entrepreneur familiar with launching technology- based companies including nanotechnologyrdquo says FibeRio Technology presidentCEO Ellery Buchanan ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the world Plus we use local McAllen suppliers whenever possible including machine shops parts suppliers IT contractors and other business servicesrdquo

by Kevin Litwin by staff photographer

Michael Conti

FibeRio Technology Corporationnanomaterials processing research equipment is used at FibeRioTechnologyCorporation

FEldmaNrsquoS markET CENTErFeldmanrsquos Market Center features a broad selection of beer as well as wines liquors cigars and a gourmet deli In addition weekly beer and wine tastings are offered(956) 687-9463

PErFECT PawS rESOrTPerfect Paws Resort offers grooming services daycare and boarding to vaccinated dogs and cats that are at least 12 weeks old Boarding suites are climate controlled and under constant supervisionperfectpawsresortcom

mCCrEEry aviaTiON CO iNCMcCreery Aviation Co Inc is a place for pilots and their aircraft to receive top-notch treatment A fuel center flight planning room and hangar storage are availablemccreeryaviationcom

kiTikakE llCKitikake LLC offers gently- used vintage clothing for women from an array of top designers such as Lilly Pulitzer and Catherine Malandrino Vintage home deacutecor and dishes are also availablekitikakecom

krEidlEr FuNEral hOmEFounded owned and operated by the Kreidler family Kreidler Funeral Home has served McAllen for 100 years They offer traditional burial and graveside funeral services direct burials cremations memorial services and morekreidlerfuneralhomecom

Business Spotlight

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

visit ouradvertisersBorder Capital Bankwwwbordercapitalbankcom

City of McAllen Public Info Officewwwexploremcallennet

Courtyard by Marriottwwwmarriottcommtema

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valleywwweasterseals-rgvorg

Edible Arrangementswwwediblearrangementscom

Family Physicians Clinicwwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

Magic Valley Electric Cooperativewwwmagicvalleycoop

McAllen Economic Development Corporationwwwmcallenedcorg

McAllen Independent School Districtwwwmcallenisdorg

McAllen International Airportwwwmcallenairportcom

McAllen Realty

Mr Electricwwwmrelectriccom

Nuevo Santander Gallerywwwnuevosantandercom

OH KAYrsquoS

Preventative Care Institutewwwrgvpcicom

Quinta Mazatlanwwwquintamazatlancom

Rio Health Medicalwwwrio-healthcom

South Texas College wwwsouthtexascollegeedu

South Texas Health Systemwwwsouthtexashealthsystemcom

The Patio on Guerra wwwpatioonguerracom

Valley International Airportwwwflythevalleycom

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

BuSiNESS CHAMBER REPoRT

Whatrsquos the Big Ideachamberrsquos readiness tool kit assists entrepreneurs

The McAllen Chamber of Commerce has helped prepare 25 McAllen entrepreneurs in the continuing quest to launch their ideas ndash all since July 2011

The Chamber has a software package called VentureBusiness Readiness Assessment which is used by states such as oklahoma and Kentucky to assist startup companies The software helps an entrepreneur through the entire process of seeing whether they are truly ready to launch their startup

ldquoVentureBusiness Readiness Assessment is a way that the Chamber assists entrepreneurs who are trying to get funding for their products or projectsrdquo says Steve Ahlenius who serves as President and CEo of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce ldquoThe Chamber awards $50000 a year in innovation grants in $10000 increments and entrepreneurs are always looking for funding But they must earn that money by passing the various stages of the software tool kitrdquo

TEN hOurS TO COmPlETEAhlenius says the assessment

has several specific steps to make sure that a startup company has everything in place to ensure that it is successful

ldquoThe entrepreneurs contact us and set up an appointment to see me then they come to the Chamber office we sign them up and give them passwords to access the software at their conveniencerdquo he says ldquo[The program] takes about 10 hours to complete but doesnrsquot have to be finished in one sitting However the program must be eventually completed in order to qualify for our innovation grantrdquo

CaN iT BE madE QuiCklyThe software asks questions

such as Have you protected your intellectual property Is your product something that can be

made quickly Have you set a value on your idea and do you know how to do that If itrsquos a product that involves high-tech engineering do you have an engineer on your companyrsquos team

ldquoThe entrepreneur needs to know if his venture is worth 20 shares of stock or 200 shares ndash things like thatrdquo Ahlenius says ldquoMany factors go into launching a product or business and Venture Readiness points out a personrsquos strengths and weaknessesrdquo

a grEaT OvErviEwVicente Valle Martinez of

McAllen is an entrepreneur who contacted the Chamber in 2012 about his idea for connecting

people on the Internet who have similar educational experiences and higher learning interests

ldquoI have no background in business but heard one day about an innovation grant competition that the Chamber was sponsoringrdquo Martinez says ldquoSteve told me about the software package and it gave me a great overview of what I need to know before launching my ideardquo

Ahlenius says the various concepts the software package covers include credentials character capabilities commitment and circumstance

ldquoIt is an excellent self-awareness testrdquo he says ldquoItrsquos ideal for entrepreneursrdquo

by Kevin Litwin

the mcallen chamber of commerce on ash avenue

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

Ad Index 41 BorderCapitalBank

21 CityofMCallen puBliCinfooffiCe

4 CourtyardByMarriott

32 easterseals rioGrandeValley

44 ediBlearranGeMents

32 faMilyphysiCiansCliniC

2 MaGiCValley eleCtriCCooperatiVe

C3 MCalleneConoMiC deVelopMentCorporation

46 MCallenindependent sChooldistriCt

1 MCallen internationalairport

C4 MCallenrealty

48 MreleCtriC

46 nueVosantanderGallery

35 ohkayrsquos

34 preVentatiVe

Careinstitute

23 QuintaMazatlan

32 riohealthMediCal

31 southtexasColleGe

C2 southtexas

healthsysteM

18 thepatioonGuerra

44 Valley

internationalairport

ECONOMICPROFILE

3000+

2000- 2999

1999- 500

hOuSEhOld iNCOmE

TOP EmPlOyErS

$200000+

$150000-199999

$100000 and under

McAllen Independent School District

McAllen Medical Center South Texas College City of McAllen

Rio Grande Regional Hospital International Bank of Commerce

EduCaTiON lEvEl

High School Graduate

Associate Degree

Bachelorrsquos Degree

Masterrsquos Degree

TaxES

2City Sales and Use Tax

625State Sales Tax

825Total Sales Tax

SCOrECard

$36BAnnual Retail Sales

$28682Retail sales per capita

$3575MAnnual Hotel and Food Sales

15161Total Number of Firms

TraNSPOrTaTiON

mcallen-miller international airportwwwmcallenairportcom

metro mcallenwwwmcallennetmetro

amtrakwwwamtrakcom

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

everything you need every step of the way

Serving the rio grande valley Since 1989

Rachel Hardison-Oliva Broker

3321 N McColl Rd

McAllen TX 78501

(956) 687-7172 bull (956) 687-7178 Fax

Page 26: Livability McAllen, TX 2013

The Irrigation Workerthe sun sets behind a sculpture ldquothe irrigation Workerrdquo which was created by artist douglas clark and is located on nolana and 25th

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

l iVabil it ycommc allen 25

LIvINGHERESchools health care education and neighborhoods in McAllen

26 mc allen 26 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 27 26 mc allen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 27

see more beautiful photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

Luxury Livingnewcomers have many beautiful home options in mcallen such as those offered in eight different communities by cantu construction a locally based award-winning builder

26 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 27 liVabil it ycommc allen 27

liviNg

TECH TOOLS FOSTER STUDEnT SUCCESS

Padding theCurriculum

McAllen Independent School District (ISD) is feeling the benefits of an ambitious technology plan that places an iPod or iPad in the hands of every teacher and student

mcallen independent school district students use system-issued ipads in class

28 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 29

EduCaTiNg FOr ThE 21ST CENTury

The initiative began with a meeting between Dr James Ponce McAllenrsquos superintendent of schools and a ldquocadrerdquo of about 35 teachers administrators and parents

The grouprsquos primary goal was to build a 21st-century classroom environment one that fosters creativity collaboration and entrepreneurship The group also wanted to find a way to harness the 247 educational potential of the Internet ndash and teach students the critical-thinking skills needed to process online content

ldquoItrsquos an environment where the teachers become the primary learners and the students are driven by their examplerdquo Ponce says ldquoSo we asked what tools we would need for this transformation of the way we teach and the way the kids learnrdquo

After much research the group chose iPods (for grades K-2) and iPads (for teachers and grades 3-12) because of their portability

ldquoIrsquove learned more from my fellow teachers than I have in many years just from sharing ideas for how to use the iPads in the classroomrdquo

CarOl aNN allEN LANGuAGEARTSTEACHER

ATMICHAELEFOSSuMMIDDLESCHOOL

relatively low cost and ease of use To implement the planrsquos first stage McAllen ISD issued 5800 of these devices to teachers and students when the rollout is complete it will cover more than 25000 students

Big BENEFiTS FOr TEaChErS aNd STudENTS

Both teachers and students are seeing benefits from the program

ldquoThe iPods help the kids be creative My students are organizing information in new waysrdquo says Ruth Whiddon who teaches first grade at Andrew Jackson Elementary School

For Carol Ann Allen International Baccalaureate coordinator and eighth-grade language arts teacher at Michael E Fossum Middle School the initiative is all about collaboration

ldquoIrsquove learned more from my fellow teachers than I have in many years just from sharing ideas for how to use the iPads in the classroomrdquo she says

Sandra Guerra who teaches seventh- and eighth-grade math

at Fossum says the iPads have changed both her teaching style and the way her students learn

Instead of mapping out the learning process step-by-step she now gives students their goal and lets them choose how to get there

ldquoWith this approach they own their learning and theyrsquove been more willing to learnrdquo Guerra says

The iPads have also been a game-changer for Guerrarsquos family

Her seventh-grade daughter is learning advanced science concepts because of independent iPad projects And because most of her childrenrsquos school materials are on their iPads itrsquos easier than ever for Guerra to check on their progress from home

That kind of scenario says Superintendent Ponce is at the heart of the initiative

ldquoThe entire school system and our community want to lead in this effort to build a 21st-century learning environmentrdquo he says ldquoThis is a direct investment in our children and their familiesrdquo

by Kathryn Royster

High-Tech Learningseventh-grade students use ipads to follow class lectures and take quizzes during a language arts class at michael e fossum middle school

PH

oT

o C

oU

RT

EST

Y o

F M

CA

LLE

N IN

DE

PE

ND

EN

T S

CH

oo

L D

IST

RIC

T

28 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 29

Higher Education

SOuTh TExaS COllEgE

McAllenrsquos South Texas College has more than 30000 students and offers numerous associate and bachelorrsquos degree programs as well as professional certifications in more than 40 areas The college also has online degree courses for students who work full time

liviNg EDUCATIoN

Set for SuccesscolleGe prep is a top priority in mcallen

Education in McAllen is defined by excellent options From elementary school through college McAllen includes numerous institutions designed to prepare students for success By Braxton Shoop

school yourself on more educational offerings at livabilitycommcallen

Public Schools

mCallEN iNdEPENdENT SChOOl diSTriCT

Established in 1915 the mcallen independent School district comprises three high schools seven middle schools and 20 elementary schools Among these schools the district offers an advanced placement college-level curriculum and a dual-enrollment program for students who would like to obtain high school and college credit simultaneously

In addition the district features an International Baccalaureate program that provides students with an advanced curriculum geared toward global standards

Local Inspiration

FOrmEr STudENT FliES high

one of McAllenrsquos successful students is astronaut michael Fossum a graduate of McAllen High School After receiving his commission from the US Air Force by Texas AampM University Fossum graduated Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base and in 1993 he started at NASA Throughout his NASA career Fossum was on crew for three spaceflights He commanded the space station during one of his flights helping him rank seventh on the all-time list for cumulative Extravehicular Activity time

Top-notch Learning Environmentuniversity of texas-pan american offers many undergraduate degrees more than 50 masterrsquos degrees and three doctoral degrees utpa has accreditations from organizations like the commission for collegiate nursing the examining board of nurse examiners for the state of texas and the engineering accreditation commission of the accreditation board for engineering and technology

30 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 31

Charter School

idEa aCadEmy

idEa academy is an innovative institution that offers a fully scaled curriculum for students in kindergarten and in the first second and sixth grades The school which opened in McAllen in 2012 will eventually add more grades each one including approximately 110 students While the school is public students must apply to fill the 460 available spots

To prepare its students to be collegiate scholars IDEA provides International Baccalaureate curriculum as well as the Road to College curriculum which begins in the sixth grade

ldquoWersquore very proud of the connection to our distinguished alumni like NASA astronaut Michael Fossum and we want our students to recognize the kind of education we provide here What he learned here helped catapult him into space and wersquore very proud of thatrdquo

NOrma zamOra-guErra MCALLENINDEPENDENTSCHOOL

DISTRICTCOMMuNITYINFORMATIONDIRECTOR

Michael E Fossum Middle Schoolnamed for astronaut michael e fossum the school is part of the mcallen independent school district

30 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 31

Please call 9566316109 for a representative today

2501 Buddy Owens Blvd McAllen TX 78504

9656316125 Fax

wwwrio-healthcom

RioHealth MedicalWe are here to meet all your

occupational medicine needs

bull Workplace injuries and workersrsquo compensation

bull On site and off site drug screening

bull Physicals

bull Orthopedics

bull Early return to work

bull 247 coverage

bull We accept all types of insurance

WorkplaceInjury

DANIEL J GUERRA MD Diplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

LEONEL G MORENO MDDiplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

HOMERO RIVAS MDDiplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

606 S Broadway bull McAllen TX bull (956) 682-4515 bull wwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

FAMILY PHYSICIANS

CLINICSince 1967

Mon-Fri 8 am-5 pm Sat 8 am-Noon

VALLEY NIGHT CLINIC

Since 1981

Open Every Night of the Year 6 pm-Midnight

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valley supports children of all abilities through child care

services early intervention and parenting support programs

Early Childhood intErvEntion ChildCarE sErviCEs ParEnts as tEaChErs

Easter seals rio Grande valley Programs for Children Birth to Five years

bullChild-Care servicesndashHigh-qualitychildcare sixweekstofiveyears

bullParents as teachers (Pat)ndashDevelopmental parentingsupportforchildrenbirthtofiveyears

bullEarly Childhood intervention (ECi) ndashConcerns indevelopmentforchildrenbirthtothreeyears

For more information about Easter seals

programs and services call (956) 631-9171 or visit wwweasterseals-rgvorg

32 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 33

liviNg HEALTH

Take a Deep Breath and Relaxresidents haVe access to top hospitals

McAllen residents receive quality care from the South Texas Health System Rio Grande Regional Hospital and the Doctors Hospital at Renaissance By Kevin Litwin

Health System

SOuTh TExaS hEalTh SySTEm

South Texas health System is the umbrella organization for a number of fine medical facilities including mcallen medical Center MMC has 441 beds and a staff of more than 400 physicians that represent 50 medical specialties

Also part of South Texas Health System is mcallen heart hospital which opened in 1996 as the first freestanding cardiology and cardiovascular hospital built in the United States It includes 60 beds and a 24-hour emergency center

Healthgrades has awarded McAllen Medical Center and McAllen Heart Hospital with a variety of honors in recent years and both earned a Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence in 2011

Hospital

riO graNdE rEgiONal hOSPiTal

rio grande regional hospital is an acute care medical facility with 320 beds and more than 500 physicians The hospital is the only area Diabetes Management Center accredited by the American Diabetes Association and is the arearsquos first facility to have a Pediatric Heart Program

RGRH also includes a 24-hour emergency room Womenrsquos Services department Level III trauma center and cardiovascular care The hospital is fully accredited by The Joint Commission and the College of American Pathologists and every year since 2007 has been named a Center of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery

32 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 33

Hospital

dOCTOrS hOSPiTal aT rENaiSSaNCE

The 506-bed doctors hospital at renaissance is an acute care facility It provides cardiology neurosurgery and endocrinology as well as a Pediatric Medical Tower that offers pediatric oncology and pediatric ICU services

Doctors Hospital has been ranked among the nationrsquos 100 Top Hospitals by Thomson Reuters and recently invested $32 million to establish an Electronic Medical Record System

DHR was the first in South Texas to acquire a PETCT scanner for diagnosing cancer and the first in the region to introduce da Vinci robotic surgical technology The hospital also oversees Renaissance Behavioral Center which provides treatment for people with mental health problems substance abuse or eating disorders

34 mc allen

COMMUNITyPROFILE COST OF liviNg

$44074Median Household Income

$129554Median Home Price

$689Median Rent for a Two-Bedroom Apartment

TraNSPOrTaTiON

Median Travel Time to Work

agE

TEmPEraTurE

January Average

July Average

EThNiCiTy

19 and Under

20-54

55 and over

White

Black

Hispanic

other

1645minutes

Closest Airport McAllen International Airport

955deg

482deg

South Texasrsquo Finest Gift Store Offers Gifts From Around the World

4300 N 10th St bull Ste C bull McAllen TX 78504 (956) 686-1264 bull ohkaysaolcom

Look for us on Facebook

gOlF COurSES

gOlF TEC

2901 N 10TH ST956-994-9631

mCallEN COuNTry CluB615 WICHITA AVE956-686-0923

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

The national Butterfly Center the national butterfly center dedicates 100 acres to the conservation and scientific study of wild butterflies in their natural habitats the wildlife center is open daily from 8 am until 5 pm september through march and from 9 am until 4 pm april through august

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

liviNg SEE THE CITY

36 mc allen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 37

BUSINESSInfo on McAllenrsquos top employers jobs and success stories

McAllen Convention Centerthe McAllenConventionCenter is located on 185 acres and includes a 60000-square-foot exhibit hall as well as more than 25000 square feet of meeting space in 16 breakout rooms

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

38 mc allen 38 mc allen

38 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 39

BuSiNESS oVERVIEW

McAllenrsquos in the MoneyCultural diversity location and innovation drive cityrsquos top business sectors

As the retail hub of South Texas McAllen is thriving The city draws a customer base of more than 10 million within a 200-mile radius and is represented by 40 of Americarsquos top 100 retailers

By Tiffany Williams

La Plaza MallPumping much of the life into this retail hub is la Plaza mall which annually attracts more than 18 million visitors its anchoring stores such as dillardrsquos and macyrsquos and sought-after retailers including BCBg-max azria and Coach average sales of more than $650 per square foot and are among the most profitable stores in their chains

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

Meetings amp Events

CONvENTiON CENTEr lurES viSiTOrS

The mcallen Convention Center also helps draw businesses to the area The 185-acre complex featuring a 60000-square-foot column-free exhibit hall more than 25000 square feet of meeting space and up to 16 breakout rooms offers bicultural themes and tropical accents that represent the cultural and natural diversity of McAllen

Retail

ShOPPiNg hOT SPOTS

This bicultural city which is located just five miles from the US-Mexico border also has access to three international bridges that flood with visitors and eager shoppers daily many of whom are spending at a rate twice the national average

In addition to La Plaza Mall shopping centers in the McAllen area include Trenton Crossing las Tiendas Plaza and La Plaza Mallrsquos 600sbquo000-square-foot sister shopping center Palms Crossing which hosts such big-name retailers as Barnes amp Noble and Babies rsquoRrsquo Us as well as specialty shops and restaurants Its appeal stems from its open-air design with lots of palm trees water fountains and seating areas

Major Manufacturers

madE FOr maNuFaCTuriNg

Ranked third in Texas in per-capita sales the McAllen area has some of the largest manufacturing and wholesale companies in the nation

valley Coca Cola Bottling Co Value Frozen Foods and Emerson Network Power are just a few who have put down roots here Tri-City Steel which provides a full scope of steel construction by fabricating and erecting structural steel buildings pre-engineered metal buildings stairs handrails and more Texas Citrus Exchange in Mission makes Texas rio red grapefruit juice

learn more about businesses in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

BuSiNESS

RESIDEnTS GET CREATIvE WITH BUSInESS vEnTURES

the BoxOutside

One of McAllenrsquos most innovative startups sprang from the mind of someone who wasnrsquot even interested in business Today Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar is one

of the arearsquos top entrepreneurs and is finding serious success

mcallen entrepreneur dalinda Gonzalez-alcantar founded eJucomm llc

liVabil it ycommc allen 43 42 mc allen

ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the worldrdquo

EllEry BuChaNaN FIBERIOPRESIDENTCEO

Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar the founder of eJucomm LLC simply wanted to make information in her school district more accessible to families The company was a way she could make it happen

She got the idea while working as a teacher at DeLeon Middle School in McAllen and was frustrated that families without computers andor Internet access had difficulty communicating with teachers and administrators So she decided to develop a smartphone application that would solve the problem

With no previous technical experience she researched code online at night and a year later was selling the app to various school districts

ldquoThe app enables Android and iPhone users to access information for things like grades and attendancerdquo Gonzalez-Alcantar says

The entrepreneur also faced unexpected challenges ndash for instance how to tailor individual apps to the roughly seven school districts and 40 campuses that now use them No longer teaching she has partnered with a chief technology officer so she can focus on sales and marketing

One of her biggest hurdles was finding legal fees to fund the startup and a $10000 McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant in 2011 helped pay for a licensing agreement and intellectual property protection for eJucomm to move forward

BaNaNa E-z SPliTAnother McAllen resident

Gerald Guerra faced a similar obstacle when developing a product called Banana E-Z Split A health insurance broker Guerra was inspired at his own kitchen table to create single serving packets with all three syrups

Banana E-Z SplitGerald Guerra inventor of the banana e-Z split single serving syrup packets poses with his daughters Victoria and kaitlyn enthusiastic taste testers for his product

liVabil it ycommc allen 43

To order please call or visit 956-668-0555 or wwwediblearrangementscom 5113-A N 10th St bull McAllen TX 78504

Offer valid at participating locations Offer expires 12312013 Cannot be combined with another offers Offer code must be used when placing order

Containers may vary EDIBLE ARRANGEMENTS and the Fruit Basket Logo Design are registered trademarks of Edible Arrangements LLC

copy2012 Edible Arrangements LLC All rights reserved Frachises available call (888) 727-4258 or visit wwweafranchisescom

DELICIOUSLYd e s i r a b l e

FREE PIECE OF DIPPED FRUIT

Code mctx1213

Living green is making sure the air in your home is healthy for your family to breathe Test your home for radon and build radon-resistant

Its easy Thats living healthy and green

Just call 866-730-green or visit wwwepagovradon

Living greenstarts from the ground up

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

(pineapple chocolate strawberry) needed for a banana split

The concept led to a 2011 McAllen Business Plan Competition grant to fund the necessary patents

ldquoI envisioned a product that could hang easily in refrigerated sections at big box storesrdquo Guerra says ldquoI have lined up a distributor and a broker with my ultimate goal being to have Banana E-Z Split available to customers in large grocery chains It is close to happeningrdquo

FiBEriO TEChNOlOgyAnother startup in McAllen

is already making waves globally FibeRio Technology Corporation another McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant recipient is thriving thanks to ground-breaking nanofiber-producing machinery The nanofibers can be used to make products ranging from diapers to

ballistics using a new way to spin microscopic nanofibers

The technology serves an array of industries that feature filtration textiles or biomedical applications

ldquoDr Karen Lozano at UT-Pan American discovered the process and I was contacted because I am an entrepreneur familiar with launching technology- based companies including nanotechnologyrdquo says FibeRio Technology presidentCEO Ellery Buchanan ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the world Plus we use local McAllen suppliers whenever possible including machine shops parts suppliers IT contractors and other business servicesrdquo

by Kevin Litwin by staff photographer

Michael Conti

FibeRio Technology Corporationnanomaterials processing research equipment is used at FibeRioTechnologyCorporation

FEldmaNrsquoS markET CENTErFeldmanrsquos Market Center features a broad selection of beer as well as wines liquors cigars and a gourmet deli In addition weekly beer and wine tastings are offered(956) 687-9463

PErFECT PawS rESOrTPerfect Paws Resort offers grooming services daycare and boarding to vaccinated dogs and cats that are at least 12 weeks old Boarding suites are climate controlled and under constant supervisionperfectpawsresortcom

mCCrEEry aviaTiON CO iNCMcCreery Aviation Co Inc is a place for pilots and their aircraft to receive top-notch treatment A fuel center flight planning room and hangar storage are availablemccreeryaviationcom

kiTikakE llCKitikake LLC offers gently- used vintage clothing for women from an array of top designers such as Lilly Pulitzer and Catherine Malandrino Vintage home deacutecor and dishes are also availablekitikakecom

krEidlEr FuNEral hOmEFounded owned and operated by the Kreidler family Kreidler Funeral Home has served McAllen for 100 years They offer traditional burial and graveside funeral services direct burials cremations memorial services and morekreidlerfuneralhomecom

Business Spotlight

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

visit ouradvertisersBorder Capital Bankwwwbordercapitalbankcom

City of McAllen Public Info Officewwwexploremcallennet

Courtyard by Marriottwwwmarriottcommtema

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valleywwweasterseals-rgvorg

Edible Arrangementswwwediblearrangementscom

Family Physicians Clinicwwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

Magic Valley Electric Cooperativewwwmagicvalleycoop

McAllen Economic Development Corporationwwwmcallenedcorg

McAllen Independent School Districtwwwmcallenisdorg

McAllen International Airportwwwmcallenairportcom

McAllen Realty

Mr Electricwwwmrelectriccom

Nuevo Santander Gallerywwwnuevosantandercom

OH KAYrsquoS

Preventative Care Institutewwwrgvpcicom

Quinta Mazatlanwwwquintamazatlancom

Rio Health Medicalwwwrio-healthcom

South Texas College wwwsouthtexascollegeedu

South Texas Health Systemwwwsouthtexashealthsystemcom

The Patio on Guerra wwwpatioonguerracom

Valley International Airportwwwflythevalleycom

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

BuSiNESS CHAMBER REPoRT

Whatrsquos the Big Ideachamberrsquos readiness tool kit assists entrepreneurs

The McAllen Chamber of Commerce has helped prepare 25 McAllen entrepreneurs in the continuing quest to launch their ideas ndash all since July 2011

The Chamber has a software package called VentureBusiness Readiness Assessment which is used by states such as oklahoma and Kentucky to assist startup companies The software helps an entrepreneur through the entire process of seeing whether they are truly ready to launch their startup

ldquoVentureBusiness Readiness Assessment is a way that the Chamber assists entrepreneurs who are trying to get funding for their products or projectsrdquo says Steve Ahlenius who serves as President and CEo of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce ldquoThe Chamber awards $50000 a year in innovation grants in $10000 increments and entrepreneurs are always looking for funding But they must earn that money by passing the various stages of the software tool kitrdquo

TEN hOurS TO COmPlETEAhlenius says the assessment

has several specific steps to make sure that a startup company has everything in place to ensure that it is successful

ldquoThe entrepreneurs contact us and set up an appointment to see me then they come to the Chamber office we sign them up and give them passwords to access the software at their conveniencerdquo he says ldquo[The program] takes about 10 hours to complete but doesnrsquot have to be finished in one sitting However the program must be eventually completed in order to qualify for our innovation grantrdquo

CaN iT BE madE QuiCklyThe software asks questions

such as Have you protected your intellectual property Is your product something that can be

made quickly Have you set a value on your idea and do you know how to do that If itrsquos a product that involves high-tech engineering do you have an engineer on your companyrsquos team

ldquoThe entrepreneur needs to know if his venture is worth 20 shares of stock or 200 shares ndash things like thatrdquo Ahlenius says ldquoMany factors go into launching a product or business and Venture Readiness points out a personrsquos strengths and weaknessesrdquo

a grEaT OvErviEwVicente Valle Martinez of

McAllen is an entrepreneur who contacted the Chamber in 2012 about his idea for connecting

people on the Internet who have similar educational experiences and higher learning interests

ldquoI have no background in business but heard one day about an innovation grant competition that the Chamber was sponsoringrdquo Martinez says ldquoSteve told me about the software package and it gave me a great overview of what I need to know before launching my ideardquo

Ahlenius says the various concepts the software package covers include credentials character capabilities commitment and circumstance

ldquoIt is an excellent self-awareness testrdquo he says ldquoItrsquos ideal for entrepreneursrdquo

by Kevin Litwin

the mcallen chamber of commerce on ash avenue

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

Ad Index 41 BorderCapitalBank

21 CityofMCallen puBliCinfooffiCe

4 CourtyardByMarriott

32 easterseals rioGrandeValley

44 ediBlearranGeMents

32 faMilyphysiCiansCliniC

2 MaGiCValley eleCtriCCooperatiVe

C3 MCalleneConoMiC deVelopMentCorporation

46 MCallenindependent sChooldistriCt

1 MCallen internationalairport

C4 MCallenrealty

48 MreleCtriC

46 nueVosantanderGallery

35 ohkayrsquos

34 preVentatiVe

Careinstitute

23 QuintaMazatlan

32 riohealthMediCal

31 southtexasColleGe

C2 southtexas

healthsysteM

18 thepatioonGuerra

44 Valley

internationalairport

ECONOMICPROFILE

3000+

2000- 2999

1999- 500

hOuSEhOld iNCOmE

TOP EmPlOyErS

$200000+

$150000-199999

$100000 and under

McAllen Independent School District

McAllen Medical Center South Texas College City of McAllen

Rio Grande Regional Hospital International Bank of Commerce

EduCaTiON lEvEl

High School Graduate

Associate Degree

Bachelorrsquos Degree

Masterrsquos Degree

TaxES

2City Sales and Use Tax

625State Sales Tax

825Total Sales Tax

SCOrECard

$36BAnnual Retail Sales

$28682Retail sales per capita

$3575MAnnual Hotel and Food Sales

15161Total Number of Firms

TraNSPOrTaTiON

mcallen-miller international airportwwwmcallenairportcom

metro mcallenwwwmcallennetmetro

amtrakwwwamtrakcom

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

everything you need every step of the way

Serving the rio grande valley Since 1989

Rachel Hardison-Oliva Broker

3321 N McColl Rd

McAllen TX 78501

(956) 687-7172 bull (956) 687-7178 Fax

Page 27: Livability McAllen, TX 2013

LIvINGHERESchools health care education and neighborhoods in McAllen

26 mc allen 26 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 27 26 mc allen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 27

see more beautiful photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

Luxury Livingnewcomers have many beautiful home options in mcallen such as those offered in eight different communities by cantu construction a locally based award-winning builder

26 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 27 liVabil it ycommc allen 27

liviNg

TECH TOOLS FOSTER STUDEnT SUCCESS

Padding theCurriculum

McAllen Independent School District (ISD) is feeling the benefits of an ambitious technology plan that places an iPod or iPad in the hands of every teacher and student

mcallen independent school district students use system-issued ipads in class

28 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 29

EduCaTiNg FOr ThE 21ST CENTury

The initiative began with a meeting between Dr James Ponce McAllenrsquos superintendent of schools and a ldquocadrerdquo of about 35 teachers administrators and parents

The grouprsquos primary goal was to build a 21st-century classroom environment one that fosters creativity collaboration and entrepreneurship The group also wanted to find a way to harness the 247 educational potential of the Internet ndash and teach students the critical-thinking skills needed to process online content

ldquoItrsquos an environment where the teachers become the primary learners and the students are driven by their examplerdquo Ponce says ldquoSo we asked what tools we would need for this transformation of the way we teach and the way the kids learnrdquo

After much research the group chose iPods (for grades K-2) and iPads (for teachers and grades 3-12) because of their portability

ldquoIrsquove learned more from my fellow teachers than I have in many years just from sharing ideas for how to use the iPads in the classroomrdquo

CarOl aNN allEN LANGuAGEARTSTEACHER

ATMICHAELEFOSSuMMIDDLESCHOOL

relatively low cost and ease of use To implement the planrsquos first stage McAllen ISD issued 5800 of these devices to teachers and students when the rollout is complete it will cover more than 25000 students

Big BENEFiTS FOr TEaChErS aNd STudENTS

Both teachers and students are seeing benefits from the program

ldquoThe iPods help the kids be creative My students are organizing information in new waysrdquo says Ruth Whiddon who teaches first grade at Andrew Jackson Elementary School

For Carol Ann Allen International Baccalaureate coordinator and eighth-grade language arts teacher at Michael E Fossum Middle School the initiative is all about collaboration

ldquoIrsquove learned more from my fellow teachers than I have in many years just from sharing ideas for how to use the iPads in the classroomrdquo she says

Sandra Guerra who teaches seventh- and eighth-grade math

at Fossum says the iPads have changed both her teaching style and the way her students learn

Instead of mapping out the learning process step-by-step she now gives students their goal and lets them choose how to get there

ldquoWith this approach they own their learning and theyrsquove been more willing to learnrdquo Guerra says

The iPads have also been a game-changer for Guerrarsquos family

Her seventh-grade daughter is learning advanced science concepts because of independent iPad projects And because most of her childrenrsquos school materials are on their iPads itrsquos easier than ever for Guerra to check on their progress from home

That kind of scenario says Superintendent Ponce is at the heart of the initiative

ldquoThe entire school system and our community want to lead in this effort to build a 21st-century learning environmentrdquo he says ldquoThis is a direct investment in our children and their familiesrdquo

by Kathryn Royster

High-Tech Learningseventh-grade students use ipads to follow class lectures and take quizzes during a language arts class at michael e fossum middle school

PH

oT

o C

oU

RT

EST

Y o

F M

CA

LLE

N IN

DE

PE

ND

EN

T S

CH

oo

L D

IST

RIC

T

28 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 29

Higher Education

SOuTh TExaS COllEgE

McAllenrsquos South Texas College has more than 30000 students and offers numerous associate and bachelorrsquos degree programs as well as professional certifications in more than 40 areas The college also has online degree courses for students who work full time

liviNg EDUCATIoN

Set for SuccesscolleGe prep is a top priority in mcallen

Education in McAllen is defined by excellent options From elementary school through college McAllen includes numerous institutions designed to prepare students for success By Braxton Shoop

school yourself on more educational offerings at livabilitycommcallen

Public Schools

mCallEN iNdEPENdENT SChOOl diSTriCT

Established in 1915 the mcallen independent School district comprises three high schools seven middle schools and 20 elementary schools Among these schools the district offers an advanced placement college-level curriculum and a dual-enrollment program for students who would like to obtain high school and college credit simultaneously

In addition the district features an International Baccalaureate program that provides students with an advanced curriculum geared toward global standards

Local Inspiration

FOrmEr STudENT FliES high

one of McAllenrsquos successful students is astronaut michael Fossum a graduate of McAllen High School After receiving his commission from the US Air Force by Texas AampM University Fossum graduated Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base and in 1993 he started at NASA Throughout his NASA career Fossum was on crew for three spaceflights He commanded the space station during one of his flights helping him rank seventh on the all-time list for cumulative Extravehicular Activity time

Top-notch Learning Environmentuniversity of texas-pan american offers many undergraduate degrees more than 50 masterrsquos degrees and three doctoral degrees utpa has accreditations from organizations like the commission for collegiate nursing the examining board of nurse examiners for the state of texas and the engineering accreditation commission of the accreditation board for engineering and technology

30 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 31

Charter School

idEa aCadEmy

idEa academy is an innovative institution that offers a fully scaled curriculum for students in kindergarten and in the first second and sixth grades The school which opened in McAllen in 2012 will eventually add more grades each one including approximately 110 students While the school is public students must apply to fill the 460 available spots

To prepare its students to be collegiate scholars IDEA provides International Baccalaureate curriculum as well as the Road to College curriculum which begins in the sixth grade

ldquoWersquore very proud of the connection to our distinguished alumni like NASA astronaut Michael Fossum and we want our students to recognize the kind of education we provide here What he learned here helped catapult him into space and wersquore very proud of thatrdquo

NOrma zamOra-guErra MCALLENINDEPENDENTSCHOOL

DISTRICTCOMMuNITYINFORMATIONDIRECTOR

Michael E Fossum Middle Schoolnamed for astronaut michael e fossum the school is part of the mcallen independent school district

30 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 31

Please call 9566316109 for a representative today

2501 Buddy Owens Blvd McAllen TX 78504

9656316125 Fax

wwwrio-healthcom

RioHealth MedicalWe are here to meet all your

occupational medicine needs

bull Workplace injuries and workersrsquo compensation

bull On site and off site drug screening

bull Physicals

bull Orthopedics

bull Early return to work

bull 247 coverage

bull We accept all types of insurance

WorkplaceInjury

DANIEL J GUERRA MD Diplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

LEONEL G MORENO MDDiplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

HOMERO RIVAS MDDiplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

606 S Broadway bull McAllen TX bull (956) 682-4515 bull wwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

FAMILY PHYSICIANS

CLINICSince 1967

Mon-Fri 8 am-5 pm Sat 8 am-Noon

VALLEY NIGHT CLINIC

Since 1981

Open Every Night of the Year 6 pm-Midnight

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valley supports children of all abilities through child care

services early intervention and parenting support programs

Early Childhood intErvEntion ChildCarE sErviCEs ParEnts as tEaChErs

Easter seals rio Grande valley Programs for Children Birth to Five years

bullChild-Care servicesndashHigh-qualitychildcare sixweekstofiveyears

bullParents as teachers (Pat)ndashDevelopmental parentingsupportforchildrenbirthtofiveyears

bullEarly Childhood intervention (ECi) ndashConcerns indevelopmentforchildrenbirthtothreeyears

For more information about Easter seals

programs and services call (956) 631-9171 or visit wwweasterseals-rgvorg

32 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 33

liviNg HEALTH

Take a Deep Breath and Relaxresidents haVe access to top hospitals

McAllen residents receive quality care from the South Texas Health System Rio Grande Regional Hospital and the Doctors Hospital at Renaissance By Kevin Litwin

Health System

SOuTh TExaS hEalTh SySTEm

South Texas health System is the umbrella organization for a number of fine medical facilities including mcallen medical Center MMC has 441 beds and a staff of more than 400 physicians that represent 50 medical specialties

Also part of South Texas Health System is mcallen heart hospital which opened in 1996 as the first freestanding cardiology and cardiovascular hospital built in the United States It includes 60 beds and a 24-hour emergency center

Healthgrades has awarded McAllen Medical Center and McAllen Heart Hospital with a variety of honors in recent years and both earned a Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence in 2011

Hospital

riO graNdE rEgiONal hOSPiTal

rio grande regional hospital is an acute care medical facility with 320 beds and more than 500 physicians The hospital is the only area Diabetes Management Center accredited by the American Diabetes Association and is the arearsquos first facility to have a Pediatric Heart Program

RGRH also includes a 24-hour emergency room Womenrsquos Services department Level III trauma center and cardiovascular care The hospital is fully accredited by The Joint Commission and the College of American Pathologists and every year since 2007 has been named a Center of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery

32 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 33

Hospital

dOCTOrS hOSPiTal aT rENaiSSaNCE

The 506-bed doctors hospital at renaissance is an acute care facility It provides cardiology neurosurgery and endocrinology as well as a Pediatric Medical Tower that offers pediatric oncology and pediatric ICU services

Doctors Hospital has been ranked among the nationrsquos 100 Top Hospitals by Thomson Reuters and recently invested $32 million to establish an Electronic Medical Record System

DHR was the first in South Texas to acquire a PETCT scanner for diagnosing cancer and the first in the region to introduce da Vinci robotic surgical technology The hospital also oversees Renaissance Behavioral Center which provides treatment for people with mental health problems substance abuse or eating disorders

34 mc allen

COMMUNITyPROFILE COST OF liviNg

$44074Median Household Income

$129554Median Home Price

$689Median Rent for a Two-Bedroom Apartment

TraNSPOrTaTiON

Median Travel Time to Work

agE

TEmPEraTurE

January Average

July Average

EThNiCiTy

19 and Under

20-54

55 and over

White

Black

Hispanic

other

1645minutes

Closest Airport McAllen International Airport

955deg

482deg

South Texasrsquo Finest Gift Store Offers Gifts From Around the World

4300 N 10th St bull Ste C bull McAllen TX 78504 (956) 686-1264 bull ohkaysaolcom

Look for us on Facebook

gOlF COurSES

gOlF TEC

2901 N 10TH ST956-994-9631

mCallEN COuNTry CluB615 WICHITA AVE956-686-0923

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

The national Butterfly Center the national butterfly center dedicates 100 acres to the conservation and scientific study of wild butterflies in their natural habitats the wildlife center is open daily from 8 am until 5 pm september through march and from 9 am until 4 pm april through august

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

liviNg SEE THE CITY

36 mc allen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 37

BUSINESSInfo on McAllenrsquos top employers jobs and success stories

McAllen Convention Centerthe McAllenConventionCenter is located on 185 acres and includes a 60000-square-foot exhibit hall as well as more than 25000 square feet of meeting space in 16 breakout rooms

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

38 mc allen 38 mc allen

38 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 39

BuSiNESS oVERVIEW

McAllenrsquos in the MoneyCultural diversity location and innovation drive cityrsquos top business sectors

As the retail hub of South Texas McAllen is thriving The city draws a customer base of more than 10 million within a 200-mile radius and is represented by 40 of Americarsquos top 100 retailers

By Tiffany Williams

La Plaza MallPumping much of the life into this retail hub is la Plaza mall which annually attracts more than 18 million visitors its anchoring stores such as dillardrsquos and macyrsquos and sought-after retailers including BCBg-max azria and Coach average sales of more than $650 per square foot and are among the most profitable stores in their chains

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

Meetings amp Events

CONvENTiON CENTEr lurES viSiTOrS

The mcallen Convention Center also helps draw businesses to the area The 185-acre complex featuring a 60000-square-foot column-free exhibit hall more than 25000 square feet of meeting space and up to 16 breakout rooms offers bicultural themes and tropical accents that represent the cultural and natural diversity of McAllen

Retail

ShOPPiNg hOT SPOTS

This bicultural city which is located just five miles from the US-Mexico border also has access to three international bridges that flood with visitors and eager shoppers daily many of whom are spending at a rate twice the national average

In addition to La Plaza Mall shopping centers in the McAllen area include Trenton Crossing las Tiendas Plaza and La Plaza Mallrsquos 600sbquo000-square-foot sister shopping center Palms Crossing which hosts such big-name retailers as Barnes amp Noble and Babies rsquoRrsquo Us as well as specialty shops and restaurants Its appeal stems from its open-air design with lots of palm trees water fountains and seating areas

Major Manufacturers

madE FOr maNuFaCTuriNg

Ranked third in Texas in per-capita sales the McAllen area has some of the largest manufacturing and wholesale companies in the nation

valley Coca Cola Bottling Co Value Frozen Foods and Emerson Network Power are just a few who have put down roots here Tri-City Steel which provides a full scope of steel construction by fabricating and erecting structural steel buildings pre-engineered metal buildings stairs handrails and more Texas Citrus Exchange in Mission makes Texas rio red grapefruit juice

learn more about businesses in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

BuSiNESS

RESIDEnTS GET CREATIvE WITH BUSInESS vEnTURES

the BoxOutside

One of McAllenrsquos most innovative startups sprang from the mind of someone who wasnrsquot even interested in business Today Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar is one

of the arearsquos top entrepreneurs and is finding serious success

mcallen entrepreneur dalinda Gonzalez-alcantar founded eJucomm llc

liVabil it ycommc allen 43 42 mc allen

ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the worldrdquo

EllEry BuChaNaN FIBERIOPRESIDENTCEO

Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar the founder of eJucomm LLC simply wanted to make information in her school district more accessible to families The company was a way she could make it happen

She got the idea while working as a teacher at DeLeon Middle School in McAllen and was frustrated that families without computers andor Internet access had difficulty communicating with teachers and administrators So she decided to develop a smartphone application that would solve the problem

With no previous technical experience she researched code online at night and a year later was selling the app to various school districts

ldquoThe app enables Android and iPhone users to access information for things like grades and attendancerdquo Gonzalez-Alcantar says

The entrepreneur also faced unexpected challenges ndash for instance how to tailor individual apps to the roughly seven school districts and 40 campuses that now use them No longer teaching she has partnered with a chief technology officer so she can focus on sales and marketing

One of her biggest hurdles was finding legal fees to fund the startup and a $10000 McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant in 2011 helped pay for a licensing agreement and intellectual property protection for eJucomm to move forward

BaNaNa E-z SPliTAnother McAllen resident

Gerald Guerra faced a similar obstacle when developing a product called Banana E-Z Split A health insurance broker Guerra was inspired at his own kitchen table to create single serving packets with all three syrups

Banana E-Z SplitGerald Guerra inventor of the banana e-Z split single serving syrup packets poses with his daughters Victoria and kaitlyn enthusiastic taste testers for his product

liVabil it ycommc allen 43

To order please call or visit 956-668-0555 or wwwediblearrangementscom 5113-A N 10th St bull McAllen TX 78504

Offer valid at participating locations Offer expires 12312013 Cannot be combined with another offers Offer code must be used when placing order

Containers may vary EDIBLE ARRANGEMENTS and the Fruit Basket Logo Design are registered trademarks of Edible Arrangements LLC

copy2012 Edible Arrangements LLC All rights reserved Frachises available call (888) 727-4258 or visit wwweafranchisescom

DELICIOUSLYd e s i r a b l e

FREE PIECE OF DIPPED FRUIT

Code mctx1213

Living green is making sure the air in your home is healthy for your family to breathe Test your home for radon and build radon-resistant

Its easy Thats living healthy and green

Just call 866-730-green or visit wwwepagovradon

Living greenstarts from the ground up

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

(pineapple chocolate strawberry) needed for a banana split

The concept led to a 2011 McAllen Business Plan Competition grant to fund the necessary patents

ldquoI envisioned a product that could hang easily in refrigerated sections at big box storesrdquo Guerra says ldquoI have lined up a distributor and a broker with my ultimate goal being to have Banana E-Z Split available to customers in large grocery chains It is close to happeningrdquo

FiBEriO TEChNOlOgyAnother startup in McAllen

is already making waves globally FibeRio Technology Corporation another McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant recipient is thriving thanks to ground-breaking nanofiber-producing machinery The nanofibers can be used to make products ranging from diapers to

ballistics using a new way to spin microscopic nanofibers

The technology serves an array of industries that feature filtration textiles or biomedical applications

ldquoDr Karen Lozano at UT-Pan American discovered the process and I was contacted because I am an entrepreneur familiar with launching technology- based companies including nanotechnologyrdquo says FibeRio Technology presidentCEO Ellery Buchanan ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the world Plus we use local McAllen suppliers whenever possible including machine shops parts suppliers IT contractors and other business servicesrdquo

by Kevin Litwin by staff photographer

Michael Conti

FibeRio Technology Corporationnanomaterials processing research equipment is used at FibeRioTechnologyCorporation

FEldmaNrsquoS markET CENTErFeldmanrsquos Market Center features a broad selection of beer as well as wines liquors cigars and a gourmet deli In addition weekly beer and wine tastings are offered(956) 687-9463

PErFECT PawS rESOrTPerfect Paws Resort offers grooming services daycare and boarding to vaccinated dogs and cats that are at least 12 weeks old Boarding suites are climate controlled and under constant supervisionperfectpawsresortcom

mCCrEEry aviaTiON CO iNCMcCreery Aviation Co Inc is a place for pilots and their aircraft to receive top-notch treatment A fuel center flight planning room and hangar storage are availablemccreeryaviationcom

kiTikakE llCKitikake LLC offers gently- used vintage clothing for women from an array of top designers such as Lilly Pulitzer and Catherine Malandrino Vintage home deacutecor and dishes are also availablekitikakecom

krEidlEr FuNEral hOmEFounded owned and operated by the Kreidler family Kreidler Funeral Home has served McAllen for 100 years They offer traditional burial and graveside funeral services direct burials cremations memorial services and morekreidlerfuneralhomecom

Business Spotlight

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

visit ouradvertisersBorder Capital Bankwwwbordercapitalbankcom

City of McAllen Public Info Officewwwexploremcallennet

Courtyard by Marriottwwwmarriottcommtema

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valleywwweasterseals-rgvorg

Edible Arrangementswwwediblearrangementscom

Family Physicians Clinicwwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

Magic Valley Electric Cooperativewwwmagicvalleycoop

McAllen Economic Development Corporationwwwmcallenedcorg

McAllen Independent School Districtwwwmcallenisdorg

McAllen International Airportwwwmcallenairportcom

McAllen Realty

Mr Electricwwwmrelectriccom

Nuevo Santander Gallerywwwnuevosantandercom

OH KAYrsquoS

Preventative Care Institutewwwrgvpcicom

Quinta Mazatlanwwwquintamazatlancom

Rio Health Medicalwwwrio-healthcom

South Texas College wwwsouthtexascollegeedu

South Texas Health Systemwwwsouthtexashealthsystemcom

The Patio on Guerra wwwpatioonguerracom

Valley International Airportwwwflythevalleycom

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

BuSiNESS CHAMBER REPoRT

Whatrsquos the Big Ideachamberrsquos readiness tool kit assists entrepreneurs

The McAllen Chamber of Commerce has helped prepare 25 McAllen entrepreneurs in the continuing quest to launch their ideas ndash all since July 2011

The Chamber has a software package called VentureBusiness Readiness Assessment which is used by states such as oklahoma and Kentucky to assist startup companies The software helps an entrepreneur through the entire process of seeing whether they are truly ready to launch their startup

ldquoVentureBusiness Readiness Assessment is a way that the Chamber assists entrepreneurs who are trying to get funding for their products or projectsrdquo says Steve Ahlenius who serves as President and CEo of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce ldquoThe Chamber awards $50000 a year in innovation grants in $10000 increments and entrepreneurs are always looking for funding But they must earn that money by passing the various stages of the software tool kitrdquo

TEN hOurS TO COmPlETEAhlenius says the assessment

has several specific steps to make sure that a startup company has everything in place to ensure that it is successful

ldquoThe entrepreneurs contact us and set up an appointment to see me then they come to the Chamber office we sign them up and give them passwords to access the software at their conveniencerdquo he says ldquo[The program] takes about 10 hours to complete but doesnrsquot have to be finished in one sitting However the program must be eventually completed in order to qualify for our innovation grantrdquo

CaN iT BE madE QuiCklyThe software asks questions

such as Have you protected your intellectual property Is your product something that can be

made quickly Have you set a value on your idea and do you know how to do that If itrsquos a product that involves high-tech engineering do you have an engineer on your companyrsquos team

ldquoThe entrepreneur needs to know if his venture is worth 20 shares of stock or 200 shares ndash things like thatrdquo Ahlenius says ldquoMany factors go into launching a product or business and Venture Readiness points out a personrsquos strengths and weaknessesrdquo

a grEaT OvErviEwVicente Valle Martinez of

McAllen is an entrepreneur who contacted the Chamber in 2012 about his idea for connecting

people on the Internet who have similar educational experiences and higher learning interests

ldquoI have no background in business but heard one day about an innovation grant competition that the Chamber was sponsoringrdquo Martinez says ldquoSteve told me about the software package and it gave me a great overview of what I need to know before launching my ideardquo

Ahlenius says the various concepts the software package covers include credentials character capabilities commitment and circumstance

ldquoIt is an excellent self-awareness testrdquo he says ldquoItrsquos ideal for entrepreneursrdquo

by Kevin Litwin

the mcallen chamber of commerce on ash avenue

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

Ad Index 41 BorderCapitalBank

21 CityofMCallen puBliCinfooffiCe

4 CourtyardByMarriott

32 easterseals rioGrandeValley

44 ediBlearranGeMents

32 faMilyphysiCiansCliniC

2 MaGiCValley eleCtriCCooperatiVe

C3 MCalleneConoMiC deVelopMentCorporation

46 MCallenindependent sChooldistriCt

1 MCallen internationalairport

C4 MCallenrealty

48 MreleCtriC

46 nueVosantanderGallery

35 ohkayrsquos

34 preVentatiVe

Careinstitute

23 QuintaMazatlan

32 riohealthMediCal

31 southtexasColleGe

C2 southtexas

healthsysteM

18 thepatioonGuerra

44 Valley

internationalairport

ECONOMICPROFILE

3000+

2000- 2999

1999- 500

hOuSEhOld iNCOmE

TOP EmPlOyErS

$200000+

$150000-199999

$100000 and under

McAllen Independent School District

McAllen Medical Center South Texas College City of McAllen

Rio Grande Regional Hospital International Bank of Commerce

EduCaTiON lEvEl

High School Graduate

Associate Degree

Bachelorrsquos Degree

Masterrsquos Degree

TaxES

2City Sales and Use Tax

625State Sales Tax

825Total Sales Tax

SCOrECard

$36BAnnual Retail Sales

$28682Retail sales per capita

$3575MAnnual Hotel and Food Sales

15161Total Number of Firms

TraNSPOrTaTiON

mcallen-miller international airportwwwmcallenairportcom

metro mcallenwwwmcallennetmetro

amtrakwwwamtrakcom

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

everything you need every step of the way

Serving the rio grande valley Since 1989

Rachel Hardison-Oliva Broker

3321 N McColl Rd

McAllen TX 78501

(956) 687-7172 bull (956) 687-7178 Fax

Page 28: Livability McAllen, TX 2013

l iVabil it ycommc allen 27

see more beautiful photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

Luxury Livingnewcomers have many beautiful home options in mcallen such as those offered in eight different communities by cantu construction a locally based award-winning builder

26 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 27 liVabil it ycommc allen 27

liviNg

TECH TOOLS FOSTER STUDEnT SUCCESS

Padding theCurriculum

McAllen Independent School District (ISD) is feeling the benefits of an ambitious technology plan that places an iPod or iPad in the hands of every teacher and student

mcallen independent school district students use system-issued ipads in class

28 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 29

EduCaTiNg FOr ThE 21ST CENTury

The initiative began with a meeting between Dr James Ponce McAllenrsquos superintendent of schools and a ldquocadrerdquo of about 35 teachers administrators and parents

The grouprsquos primary goal was to build a 21st-century classroom environment one that fosters creativity collaboration and entrepreneurship The group also wanted to find a way to harness the 247 educational potential of the Internet ndash and teach students the critical-thinking skills needed to process online content

ldquoItrsquos an environment where the teachers become the primary learners and the students are driven by their examplerdquo Ponce says ldquoSo we asked what tools we would need for this transformation of the way we teach and the way the kids learnrdquo

After much research the group chose iPods (for grades K-2) and iPads (for teachers and grades 3-12) because of their portability

ldquoIrsquove learned more from my fellow teachers than I have in many years just from sharing ideas for how to use the iPads in the classroomrdquo

CarOl aNN allEN LANGuAGEARTSTEACHER

ATMICHAELEFOSSuMMIDDLESCHOOL

relatively low cost and ease of use To implement the planrsquos first stage McAllen ISD issued 5800 of these devices to teachers and students when the rollout is complete it will cover more than 25000 students

Big BENEFiTS FOr TEaChErS aNd STudENTS

Both teachers and students are seeing benefits from the program

ldquoThe iPods help the kids be creative My students are organizing information in new waysrdquo says Ruth Whiddon who teaches first grade at Andrew Jackson Elementary School

For Carol Ann Allen International Baccalaureate coordinator and eighth-grade language arts teacher at Michael E Fossum Middle School the initiative is all about collaboration

ldquoIrsquove learned more from my fellow teachers than I have in many years just from sharing ideas for how to use the iPads in the classroomrdquo she says

Sandra Guerra who teaches seventh- and eighth-grade math

at Fossum says the iPads have changed both her teaching style and the way her students learn

Instead of mapping out the learning process step-by-step she now gives students their goal and lets them choose how to get there

ldquoWith this approach they own their learning and theyrsquove been more willing to learnrdquo Guerra says

The iPads have also been a game-changer for Guerrarsquos family

Her seventh-grade daughter is learning advanced science concepts because of independent iPad projects And because most of her childrenrsquos school materials are on their iPads itrsquos easier than ever for Guerra to check on their progress from home

That kind of scenario says Superintendent Ponce is at the heart of the initiative

ldquoThe entire school system and our community want to lead in this effort to build a 21st-century learning environmentrdquo he says ldquoThis is a direct investment in our children and their familiesrdquo

by Kathryn Royster

High-Tech Learningseventh-grade students use ipads to follow class lectures and take quizzes during a language arts class at michael e fossum middle school

PH

oT

o C

oU

RT

EST

Y o

F M

CA

LLE

N IN

DE

PE

ND

EN

T S

CH

oo

L D

IST

RIC

T

28 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 29

Higher Education

SOuTh TExaS COllEgE

McAllenrsquos South Texas College has more than 30000 students and offers numerous associate and bachelorrsquos degree programs as well as professional certifications in more than 40 areas The college also has online degree courses for students who work full time

liviNg EDUCATIoN

Set for SuccesscolleGe prep is a top priority in mcallen

Education in McAllen is defined by excellent options From elementary school through college McAllen includes numerous institutions designed to prepare students for success By Braxton Shoop

school yourself on more educational offerings at livabilitycommcallen

Public Schools

mCallEN iNdEPENdENT SChOOl diSTriCT

Established in 1915 the mcallen independent School district comprises three high schools seven middle schools and 20 elementary schools Among these schools the district offers an advanced placement college-level curriculum and a dual-enrollment program for students who would like to obtain high school and college credit simultaneously

In addition the district features an International Baccalaureate program that provides students with an advanced curriculum geared toward global standards

Local Inspiration

FOrmEr STudENT FliES high

one of McAllenrsquos successful students is astronaut michael Fossum a graduate of McAllen High School After receiving his commission from the US Air Force by Texas AampM University Fossum graduated Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base and in 1993 he started at NASA Throughout his NASA career Fossum was on crew for three spaceflights He commanded the space station during one of his flights helping him rank seventh on the all-time list for cumulative Extravehicular Activity time

Top-notch Learning Environmentuniversity of texas-pan american offers many undergraduate degrees more than 50 masterrsquos degrees and three doctoral degrees utpa has accreditations from organizations like the commission for collegiate nursing the examining board of nurse examiners for the state of texas and the engineering accreditation commission of the accreditation board for engineering and technology

30 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 31

Charter School

idEa aCadEmy

idEa academy is an innovative institution that offers a fully scaled curriculum for students in kindergarten and in the first second and sixth grades The school which opened in McAllen in 2012 will eventually add more grades each one including approximately 110 students While the school is public students must apply to fill the 460 available spots

To prepare its students to be collegiate scholars IDEA provides International Baccalaureate curriculum as well as the Road to College curriculum which begins in the sixth grade

ldquoWersquore very proud of the connection to our distinguished alumni like NASA astronaut Michael Fossum and we want our students to recognize the kind of education we provide here What he learned here helped catapult him into space and wersquore very proud of thatrdquo

NOrma zamOra-guErra MCALLENINDEPENDENTSCHOOL

DISTRICTCOMMuNITYINFORMATIONDIRECTOR

Michael E Fossum Middle Schoolnamed for astronaut michael e fossum the school is part of the mcallen independent school district

30 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 31

Please call 9566316109 for a representative today

2501 Buddy Owens Blvd McAllen TX 78504

9656316125 Fax

wwwrio-healthcom

RioHealth MedicalWe are here to meet all your

occupational medicine needs

bull Workplace injuries and workersrsquo compensation

bull On site and off site drug screening

bull Physicals

bull Orthopedics

bull Early return to work

bull 247 coverage

bull We accept all types of insurance

WorkplaceInjury

DANIEL J GUERRA MD Diplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

LEONEL G MORENO MDDiplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

HOMERO RIVAS MDDiplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

606 S Broadway bull McAllen TX bull (956) 682-4515 bull wwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

FAMILY PHYSICIANS

CLINICSince 1967

Mon-Fri 8 am-5 pm Sat 8 am-Noon

VALLEY NIGHT CLINIC

Since 1981

Open Every Night of the Year 6 pm-Midnight

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valley supports children of all abilities through child care

services early intervention and parenting support programs

Early Childhood intErvEntion ChildCarE sErviCEs ParEnts as tEaChErs

Easter seals rio Grande valley Programs for Children Birth to Five years

bullChild-Care servicesndashHigh-qualitychildcare sixweekstofiveyears

bullParents as teachers (Pat)ndashDevelopmental parentingsupportforchildrenbirthtofiveyears

bullEarly Childhood intervention (ECi) ndashConcerns indevelopmentforchildrenbirthtothreeyears

For more information about Easter seals

programs and services call (956) 631-9171 or visit wwweasterseals-rgvorg

32 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 33

liviNg HEALTH

Take a Deep Breath and Relaxresidents haVe access to top hospitals

McAllen residents receive quality care from the South Texas Health System Rio Grande Regional Hospital and the Doctors Hospital at Renaissance By Kevin Litwin

Health System

SOuTh TExaS hEalTh SySTEm

South Texas health System is the umbrella organization for a number of fine medical facilities including mcallen medical Center MMC has 441 beds and a staff of more than 400 physicians that represent 50 medical specialties

Also part of South Texas Health System is mcallen heart hospital which opened in 1996 as the first freestanding cardiology and cardiovascular hospital built in the United States It includes 60 beds and a 24-hour emergency center

Healthgrades has awarded McAllen Medical Center and McAllen Heart Hospital with a variety of honors in recent years and both earned a Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence in 2011

Hospital

riO graNdE rEgiONal hOSPiTal

rio grande regional hospital is an acute care medical facility with 320 beds and more than 500 physicians The hospital is the only area Diabetes Management Center accredited by the American Diabetes Association and is the arearsquos first facility to have a Pediatric Heart Program

RGRH also includes a 24-hour emergency room Womenrsquos Services department Level III trauma center and cardiovascular care The hospital is fully accredited by The Joint Commission and the College of American Pathologists and every year since 2007 has been named a Center of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery

32 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 33

Hospital

dOCTOrS hOSPiTal aT rENaiSSaNCE

The 506-bed doctors hospital at renaissance is an acute care facility It provides cardiology neurosurgery and endocrinology as well as a Pediatric Medical Tower that offers pediatric oncology and pediatric ICU services

Doctors Hospital has been ranked among the nationrsquos 100 Top Hospitals by Thomson Reuters and recently invested $32 million to establish an Electronic Medical Record System

DHR was the first in South Texas to acquire a PETCT scanner for diagnosing cancer and the first in the region to introduce da Vinci robotic surgical technology The hospital also oversees Renaissance Behavioral Center which provides treatment for people with mental health problems substance abuse or eating disorders

34 mc allen

COMMUNITyPROFILE COST OF liviNg

$44074Median Household Income

$129554Median Home Price

$689Median Rent for a Two-Bedroom Apartment

TraNSPOrTaTiON

Median Travel Time to Work

agE

TEmPEraTurE

January Average

July Average

EThNiCiTy

19 and Under

20-54

55 and over

White

Black

Hispanic

other

1645minutes

Closest Airport McAllen International Airport

955deg

482deg

South Texasrsquo Finest Gift Store Offers Gifts From Around the World

4300 N 10th St bull Ste C bull McAllen TX 78504 (956) 686-1264 bull ohkaysaolcom

Look for us on Facebook

gOlF COurSES

gOlF TEC

2901 N 10TH ST956-994-9631

mCallEN COuNTry CluB615 WICHITA AVE956-686-0923

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

The national Butterfly Center the national butterfly center dedicates 100 acres to the conservation and scientific study of wild butterflies in their natural habitats the wildlife center is open daily from 8 am until 5 pm september through march and from 9 am until 4 pm april through august

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

liviNg SEE THE CITY

36 mc allen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 37

BUSINESSInfo on McAllenrsquos top employers jobs and success stories

McAllen Convention Centerthe McAllenConventionCenter is located on 185 acres and includes a 60000-square-foot exhibit hall as well as more than 25000 square feet of meeting space in 16 breakout rooms

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

38 mc allen 38 mc allen

38 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 39

BuSiNESS oVERVIEW

McAllenrsquos in the MoneyCultural diversity location and innovation drive cityrsquos top business sectors

As the retail hub of South Texas McAllen is thriving The city draws a customer base of more than 10 million within a 200-mile radius and is represented by 40 of Americarsquos top 100 retailers

By Tiffany Williams

La Plaza MallPumping much of the life into this retail hub is la Plaza mall which annually attracts more than 18 million visitors its anchoring stores such as dillardrsquos and macyrsquos and sought-after retailers including BCBg-max azria and Coach average sales of more than $650 per square foot and are among the most profitable stores in their chains

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

Meetings amp Events

CONvENTiON CENTEr lurES viSiTOrS

The mcallen Convention Center also helps draw businesses to the area The 185-acre complex featuring a 60000-square-foot column-free exhibit hall more than 25000 square feet of meeting space and up to 16 breakout rooms offers bicultural themes and tropical accents that represent the cultural and natural diversity of McAllen

Retail

ShOPPiNg hOT SPOTS

This bicultural city which is located just five miles from the US-Mexico border also has access to three international bridges that flood with visitors and eager shoppers daily many of whom are spending at a rate twice the national average

In addition to La Plaza Mall shopping centers in the McAllen area include Trenton Crossing las Tiendas Plaza and La Plaza Mallrsquos 600sbquo000-square-foot sister shopping center Palms Crossing which hosts such big-name retailers as Barnes amp Noble and Babies rsquoRrsquo Us as well as specialty shops and restaurants Its appeal stems from its open-air design with lots of palm trees water fountains and seating areas

Major Manufacturers

madE FOr maNuFaCTuriNg

Ranked third in Texas in per-capita sales the McAllen area has some of the largest manufacturing and wholesale companies in the nation

valley Coca Cola Bottling Co Value Frozen Foods and Emerson Network Power are just a few who have put down roots here Tri-City Steel which provides a full scope of steel construction by fabricating and erecting structural steel buildings pre-engineered metal buildings stairs handrails and more Texas Citrus Exchange in Mission makes Texas rio red grapefruit juice

learn more about businesses in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

BuSiNESS

RESIDEnTS GET CREATIvE WITH BUSInESS vEnTURES

the BoxOutside

One of McAllenrsquos most innovative startups sprang from the mind of someone who wasnrsquot even interested in business Today Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar is one

of the arearsquos top entrepreneurs and is finding serious success

mcallen entrepreneur dalinda Gonzalez-alcantar founded eJucomm llc

liVabil it ycommc allen 43 42 mc allen

ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the worldrdquo

EllEry BuChaNaN FIBERIOPRESIDENTCEO

Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar the founder of eJucomm LLC simply wanted to make information in her school district more accessible to families The company was a way she could make it happen

She got the idea while working as a teacher at DeLeon Middle School in McAllen and was frustrated that families without computers andor Internet access had difficulty communicating with teachers and administrators So she decided to develop a smartphone application that would solve the problem

With no previous technical experience she researched code online at night and a year later was selling the app to various school districts

ldquoThe app enables Android and iPhone users to access information for things like grades and attendancerdquo Gonzalez-Alcantar says

The entrepreneur also faced unexpected challenges ndash for instance how to tailor individual apps to the roughly seven school districts and 40 campuses that now use them No longer teaching she has partnered with a chief technology officer so she can focus on sales and marketing

One of her biggest hurdles was finding legal fees to fund the startup and a $10000 McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant in 2011 helped pay for a licensing agreement and intellectual property protection for eJucomm to move forward

BaNaNa E-z SPliTAnother McAllen resident

Gerald Guerra faced a similar obstacle when developing a product called Banana E-Z Split A health insurance broker Guerra was inspired at his own kitchen table to create single serving packets with all three syrups

Banana E-Z SplitGerald Guerra inventor of the banana e-Z split single serving syrup packets poses with his daughters Victoria and kaitlyn enthusiastic taste testers for his product

liVabil it ycommc allen 43

To order please call or visit 956-668-0555 or wwwediblearrangementscom 5113-A N 10th St bull McAllen TX 78504

Offer valid at participating locations Offer expires 12312013 Cannot be combined with another offers Offer code must be used when placing order

Containers may vary EDIBLE ARRANGEMENTS and the Fruit Basket Logo Design are registered trademarks of Edible Arrangements LLC

copy2012 Edible Arrangements LLC All rights reserved Frachises available call (888) 727-4258 or visit wwweafranchisescom

DELICIOUSLYd e s i r a b l e

FREE PIECE OF DIPPED FRUIT

Code mctx1213

Living green is making sure the air in your home is healthy for your family to breathe Test your home for radon and build radon-resistant

Its easy Thats living healthy and green

Just call 866-730-green or visit wwwepagovradon

Living greenstarts from the ground up

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

(pineapple chocolate strawberry) needed for a banana split

The concept led to a 2011 McAllen Business Plan Competition grant to fund the necessary patents

ldquoI envisioned a product that could hang easily in refrigerated sections at big box storesrdquo Guerra says ldquoI have lined up a distributor and a broker with my ultimate goal being to have Banana E-Z Split available to customers in large grocery chains It is close to happeningrdquo

FiBEriO TEChNOlOgyAnother startup in McAllen

is already making waves globally FibeRio Technology Corporation another McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant recipient is thriving thanks to ground-breaking nanofiber-producing machinery The nanofibers can be used to make products ranging from diapers to

ballistics using a new way to spin microscopic nanofibers

The technology serves an array of industries that feature filtration textiles or biomedical applications

ldquoDr Karen Lozano at UT-Pan American discovered the process and I was contacted because I am an entrepreneur familiar with launching technology- based companies including nanotechnologyrdquo says FibeRio Technology presidentCEO Ellery Buchanan ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the world Plus we use local McAllen suppliers whenever possible including machine shops parts suppliers IT contractors and other business servicesrdquo

by Kevin Litwin by staff photographer

Michael Conti

FibeRio Technology Corporationnanomaterials processing research equipment is used at FibeRioTechnologyCorporation

FEldmaNrsquoS markET CENTErFeldmanrsquos Market Center features a broad selection of beer as well as wines liquors cigars and a gourmet deli In addition weekly beer and wine tastings are offered(956) 687-9463

PErFECT PawS rESOrTPerfect Paws Resort offers grooming services daycare and boarding to vaccinated dogs and cats that are at least 12 weeks old Boarding suites are climate controlled and under constant supervisionperfectpawsresortcom

mCCrEEry aviaTiON CO iNCMcCreery Aviation Co Inc is a place for pilots and their aircraft to receive top-notch treatment A fuel center flight planning room and hangar storage are availablemccreeryaviationcom

kiTikakE llCKitikake LLC offers gently- used vintage clothing for women from an array of top designers such as Lilly Pulitzer and Catherine Malandrino Vintage home deacutecor and dishes are also availablekitikakecom

krEidlEr FuNEral hOmEFounded owned and operated by the Kreidler family Kreidler Funeral Home has served McAllen for 100 years They offer traditional burial and graveside funeral services direct burials cremations memorial services and morekreidlerfuneralhomecom

Business Spotlight

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

visit ouradvertisersBorder Capital Bankwwwbordercapitalbankcom

City of McAllen Public Info Officewwwexploremcallennet

Courtyard by Marriottwwwmarriottcommtema

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valleywwweasterseals-rgvorg

Edible Arrangementswwwediblearrangementscom

Family Physicians Clinicwwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

Magic Valley Electric Cooperativewwwmagicvalleycoop

McAllen Economic Development Corporationwwwmcallenedcorg

McAllen Independent School Districtwwwmcallenisdorg

McAllen International Airportwwwmcallenairportcom

McAllen Realty

Mr Electricwwwmrelectriccom

Nuevo Santander Gallerywwwnuevosantandercom

OH KAYrsquoS

Preventative Care Institutewwwrgvpcicom

Quinta Mazatlanwwwquintamazatlancom

Rio Health Medicalwwwrio-healthcom

South Texas College wwwsouthtexascollegeedu

South Texas Health Systemwwwsouthtexashealthsystemcom

The Patio on Guerra wwwpatioonguerracom

Valley International Airportwwwflythevalleycom

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

BuSiNESS CHAMBER REPoRT

Whatrsquos the Big Ideachamberrsquos readiness tool kit assists entrepreneurs

The McAllen Chamber of Commerce has helped prepare 25 McAllen entrepreneurs in the continuing quest to launch their ideas ndash all since July 2011

The Chamber has a software package called VentureBusiness Readiness Assessment which is used by states such as oklahoma and Kentucky to assist startup companies The software helps an entrepreneur through the entire process of seeing whether they are truly ready to launch their startup

ldquoVentureBusiness Readiness Assessment is a way that the Chamber assists entrepreneurs who are trying to get funding for their products or projectsrdquo says Steve Ahlenius who serves as President and CEo of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce ldquoThe Chamber awards $50000 a year in innovation grants in $10000 increments and entrepreneurs are always looking for funding But they must earn that money by passing the various stages of the software tool kitrdquo

TEN hOurS TO COmPlETEAhlenius says the assessment

has several specific steps to make sure that a startup company has everything in place to ensure that it is successful

ldquoThe entrepreneurs contact us and set up an appointment to see me then they come to the Chamber office we sign them up and give them passwords to access the software at their conveniencerdquo he says ldquo[The program] takes about 10 hours to complete but doesnrsquot have to be finished in one sitting However the program must be eventually completed in order to qualify for our innovation grantrdquo

CaN iT BE madE QuiCklyThe software asks questions

such as Have you protected your intellectual property Is your product something that can be

made quickly Have you set a value on your idea and do you know how to do that If itrsquos a product that involves high-tech engineering do you have an engineer on your companyrsquos team

ldquoThe entrepreneur needs to know if his venture is worth 20 shares of stock or 200 shares ndash things like thatrdquo Ahlenius says ldquoMany factors go into launching a product or business and Venture Readiness points out a personrsquos strengths and weaknessesrdquo

a grEaT OvErviEwVicente Valle Martinez of

McAllen is an entrepreneur who contacted the Chamber in 2012 about his idea for connecting

people on the Internet who have similar educational experiences and higher learning interests

ldquoI have no background in business but heard one day about an innovation grant competition that the Chamber was sponsoringrdquo Martinez says ldquoSteve told me about the software package and it gave me a great overview of what I need to know before launching my ideardquo

Ahlenius says the various concepts the software package covers include credentials character capabilities commitment and circumstance

ldquoIt is an excellent self-awareness testrdquo he says ldquoItrsquos ideal for entrepreneursrdquo

by Kevin Litwin

the mcallen chamber of commerce on ash avenue

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

Ad Index 41 BorderCapitalBank

21 CityofMCallen puBliCinfooffiCe

4 CourtyardByMarriott

32 easterseals rioGrandeValley

44 ediBlearranGeMents

32 faMilyphysiCiansCliniC

2 MaGiCValley eleCtriCCooperatiVe

C3 MCalleneConoMiC deVelopMentCorporation

46 MCallenindependent sChooldistriCt

1 MCallen internationalairport

C4 MCallenrealty

48 MreleCtriC

46 nueVosantanderGallery

35 ohkayrsquos

34 preVentatiVe

Careinstitute

23 QuintaMazatlan

32 riohealthMediCal

31 southtexasColleGe

C2 southtexas

healthsysteM

18 thepatioonGuerra

44 Valley

internationalairport

ECONOMICPROFILE

3000+

2000- 2999

1999- 500

hOuSEhOld iNCOmE

TOP EmPlOyErS

$200000+

$150000-199999

$100000 and under

McAllen Independent School District

McAllen Medical Center South Texas College City of McAllen

Rio Grande Regional Hospital International Bank of Commerce

EduCaTiON lEvEl

High School Graduate

Associate Degree

Bachelorrsquos Degree

Masterrsquos Degree

TaxES

2City Sales and Use Tax

625State Sales Tax

825Total Sales Tax

SCOrECard

$36BAnnual Retail Sales

$28682Retail sales per capita

$3575MAnnual Hotel and Food Sales

15161Total Number of Firms

TraNSPOrTaTiON

mcallen-miller international airportwwwmcallenairportcom

metro mcallenwwwmcallennetmetro

amtrakwwwamtrakcom

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

everything you need every step of the way

Serving the rio grande valley Since 1989

Rachel Hardison-Oliva Broker

3321 N McColl Rd

McAllen TX 78501

(956) 687-7172 bull (956) 687-7178 Fax

Page 29: Livability McAllen, TX 2013

liviNg

TECH TOOLS FOSTER STUDEnT SUCCESS

Padding theCurriculum

McAllen Independent School District (ISD) is feeling the benefits of an ambitious technology plan that places an iPod or iPad in the hands of every teacher and student

mcallen independent school district students use system-issued ipads in class

28 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 29

EduCaTiNg FOr ThE 21ST CENTury

The initiative began with a meeting between Dr James Ponce McAllenrsquos superintendent of schools and a ldquocadrerdquo of about 35 teachers administrators and parents

The grouprsquos primary goal was to build a 21st-century classroom environment one that fosters creativity collaboration and entrepreneurship The group also wanted to find a way to harness the 247 educational potential of the Internet ndash and teach students the critical-thinking skills needed to process online content

ldquoItrsquos an environment where the teachers become the primary learners and the students are driven by their examplerdquo Ponce says ldquoSo we asked what tools we would need for this transformation of the way we teach and the way the kids learnrdquo

After much research the group chose iPods (for grades K-2) and iPads (for teachers and grades 3-12) because of their portability

ldquoIrsquove learned more from my fellow teachers than I have in many years just from sharing ideas for how to use the iPads in the classroomrdquo

CarOl aNN allEN LANGuAGEARTSTEACHER

ATMICHAELEFOSSuMMIDDLESCHOOL

relatively low cost and ease of use To implement the planrsquos first stage McAllen ISD issued 5800 of these devices to teachers and students when the rollout is complete it will cover more than 25000 students

Big BENEFiTS FOr TEaChErS aNd STudENTS

Both teachers and students are seeing benefits from the program

ldquoThe iPods help the kids be creative My students are organizing information in new waysrdquo says Ruth Whiddon who teaches first grade at Andrew Jackson Elementary School

For Carol Ann Allen International Baccalaureate coordinator and eighth-grade language arts teacher at Michael E Fossum Middle School the initiative is all about collaboration

ldquoIrsquove learned more from my fellow teachers than I have in many years just from sharing ideas for how to use the iPads in the classroomrdquo she says

Sandra Guerra who teaches seventh- and eighth-grade math

at Fossum says the iPads have changed both her teaching style and the way her students learn

Instead of mapping out the learning process step-by-step she now gives students their goal and lets them choose how to get there

ldquoWith this approach they own their learning and theyrsquove been more willing to learnrdquo Guerra says

The iPads have also been a game-changer for Guerrarsquos family

Her seventh-grade daughter is learning advanced science concepts because of independent iPad projects And because most of her childrenrsquos school materials are on their iPads itrsquos easier than ever for Guerra to check on their progress from home

That kind of scenario says Superintendent Ponce is at the heart of the initiative

ldquoThe entire school system and our community want to lead in this effort to build a 21st-century learning environmentrdquo he says ldquoThis is a direct investment in our children and their familiesrdquo

by Kathryn Royster

High-Tech Learningseventh-grade students use ipads to follow class lectures and take quizzes during a language arts class at michael e fossum middle school

PH

oT

o C

oU

RT

EST

Y o

F M

CA

LLE

N IN

DE

PE

ND

EN

T S

CH

oo

L D

IST

RIC

T

28 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 29

Higher Education

SOuTh TExaS COllEgE

McAllenrsquos South Texas College has more than 30000 students and offers numerous associate and bachelorrsquos degree programs as well as professional certifications in more than 40 areas The college also has online degree courses for students who work full time

liviNg EDUCATIoN

Set for SuccesscolleGe prep is a top priority in mcallen

Education in McAllen is defined by excellent options From elementary school through college McAllen includes numerous institutions designed to prepare students for success By Braxton Shoop

school yourself on more educational offerings at livabilitycommcallen

Public Schools

mCallEN iNdEPENdENT SChOOl diSTriCT

Established in 1915 the mcallen independent School district comprises three high schools seven middle schools and 20 elementary schools Among these schools the district offers an advanced placement college-level curriculum and a dual-enrollment program for students who would like to obtain high school and college credit simultaneously

In addition the district features an International Baccalaureate program that provides students with an advanced curriculum geared toward global standards

Local Inspiration

FOrmEr STudENT FliES high

one of McAllenrsquos successful students is astronaut michael Fossum a graduate of McAllen High School After receiving his commission from the US Air Force by Texas AampM University Fossum graduated Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base and in 1993 he started at NASA Throughout his NASA career Fossum was on crew for three spaceflights He commanded the space station during one of his flights helping him rank seventh on the all-time list for cumulative Extravehicular Activity time

Top-notch Learning Environmentuniversity of texas-pan american offers many undergraduate degrees more than 50 masterrsquos degrees and three doctoral degrees utpa has accreditations from organizations like the commission for collegiate nursing the examining board of nurse examiners for the state of texas and the engineering accreditation commission of the accreditation board for engineering and technology

30 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 31

Charter School

idEa aCadEmy

idEa academy is an innovative institution that offers a fully scaled curriculum for students in kindergarten and in the first second and sixth grades The school which opened in McAllen in 2012 will eventually add more grades each one including approximately 110 students While the school is public students must apply to fill the 460 available spots

To prepare its students to be collegiate scholars IDEA provides International Baccalaureate curriculum as well as the Road to College curriculum which begins in the sixth grade

ldquoWersquore very proud of the connection to our distinguished alumni like NASA astronaut Michael Fossum and we want our students to recognize the kind of education we provide here What he learned here helped catapult him into space and wersquore very proud of thatrdquo

NOrma zamOra-guErra MCALLENINDEPENDENTSCHOOL

DISTRICTCOMMuNITYINFORMATIONDIRECTOR

Michael E Fossum Middle Schoolnamed for astronaut michael e fossum the school is part of the mcallen independent school district

30 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 31

Please call 9566316109 for a representative today

2501 Buddy Owens Blvd McAllen TX 78504

9656316125 Fax

wwwrio-healthcom

RioHealth MedicalWe are here to meet all your

occupational medicine needs

bull Workplace injuries and workersrsquo compensation

bull On site and off site drug screening

bull Physicals

bull Orthopedics

bull Early return to work

bull 247 coverage

bull We accept all types of insurance

WorkplaceInjury

DANIEL J GUERRA MD Diplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

LEONEL G MORENO MDDiplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

HOMERO RIVAS MDDiplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

606 S Broadway bull McAllen TX bull (956) 682-4515 bull wwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

FAMILY PHYSICIANS

CLINICSince 1967

Mon-Fri 8 am-5 pm Sat 8 am-Noon

VALLEY NIGHT CLINIC

Since 1981

Open Every Night of the Year 6 pm-Midnight

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valley supports children of all abilities through child care

services early intervention and parenting support programs

Early Childhood intErvEntion ChildCarE sErviCEs ParEnts as tEaChErs

Easter seals rio Grande valley Programs for Children Birth to Five years

bullChild-Care servicesndashHigh-qualitychildcare sixweekstofiveyears

bullParents as teachers (Pat)ndashDevelopmental parentingsupportforchildrenbirthtofiveyears

bullEarly Childhood intervention (ECi) ndashConcerns indevelopmentforchildrenbirthtothreeyears

For more information about Easter seals

programs and services call (956) 631-9171 or visit wwweasterseals-rgvorg

32 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 33

liviNg HEALTH

Take a Deep Breath and Relaxresidents haVe access to top hospitals

McAllen residents receive quality care from the South Texas Health System Rio Grande Regional Hospital and the Doctors Hospital at Renaissance By Kevin Litwin

Health System

SOuTh TExaS hEalTh SySTEm

South Texas health System is the umbrella organization for a number of fine medical facilities including mcallen medical Center MMC has 441 beds and a staff of more than 400 physicians that represent 50 medical specialties

Also part of South Texas Health System is mcallen heart hospital which opened in 1996 as the first freestanding cardiology and cardiovascular hospital built in the United States It includes 60 beds and a 24-hour emergency center

Healthgrades has awarded McAllen Medical Center and McAllen Heart Hospital with a variety of honors in recent years and both earned a Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence in 2011

Hospital

riO graNdE rEgiONal hOSPiTal

rio grande regional hospital is an acute care medical facility with 320 beds and more than 500 physicians The hospital is the only area Diabetes Management Center accredited by the American Diabetes Association and is the arearsquos first facility to have a Pediatric Heart Program

RGRH also includes a 24-hour emergency room Womenrsquos Services department Level III trauma center and cardiovascular care The hospital is fully accredited by The Joint Commission and the College of American Pathologists and every year since 2007 has been named a Center of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery

32 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 33

Hospital

dOCTOrS hOSPiTal aT rENaiSSaNCE

The 506-bed doctors hospital at renaissance is an acute care facility It provides cardiology neurosurgery and endocrinology as well as a Pediatric Medical Tower that offers pediatric oncology and pediatric ICU services

Doctors Hospital has been ranked among the nationrsquos 100 Top Hospitals by Thomson Reuters and recently invested $32 million to establish an Electronic Medical Record System

DHR was the first in South Texas to acquire a PETCT scanner for diagnosing cancer and the first in the region to introduce da Vinci robotic surgical technology The hospital also oversees Renaissance Behavioral Center which provides treatment for people with mental health problems substance abuse or eating disorders

34 mc allen

COMMUNITyPROFILE COST OF liviNg

$44074Median Household Income

$129554Median Home Price

$689Median Rent for a Two-Bedroom Apartment

TraNSPOrTaTiON

Median Travel Time to Work

agE

TEmPEraTurE

January Average

July Average

EThNiCiTy

19 and Under

20-54

55 and over

White

Black

Hispanic

other

1645minutes

Closest Airport McAllen International Airport

955deg

482deg

South Texasrsquo Finest Gift Store Offers Gifts From Around the World

4300 N 10th St bull Ste C bull McAllen TX 78504 (956) 686-1264 bull ohkaysaolcom

Look for us on Facebook

gOlF COurSES

gOlF TEC

2901 N 10TH ST956-994-9631

mCallEN COuNTry CluB615 WICHITA AVE956-686-0923

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

The national Butterfly Center the national butterfly center dedicates 100 acres to the conservation and scientific study of wild butterflies in their natural habitats the wildlife center is open daily from 8 am until 5 pm september through march and from 9 am until 4 pm april through august

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

liviNg SEE THE CITY

36 mc allen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 37

BUSINESSInfo on McAllenrsquos top employers jobs and success stories

McAllen Convention Centerthe McAllenConventionCenter is located on 185 acres and includes a 60000-square-foot exhibit hall as well as more than 25000 square feet of meeting space in 16 breakout rooms

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

38 mc allen 38 mc allen

38 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 39

BuSiNESS oVERVIEW

McAllenrsquos in the MoneyCultural diversity location and innovation drive cityrsquos top business sectors

As the retail hub of South Texas McAllen is thriving The city draws a customer base of more than 10 million within a 200-mile radius and is represented by 40 of Americarsquos top 100 retailers

By Tiffany Williams

La Plaza MallPumping much of the life into this retail hub is la Plaza mall which annually attracts more than 18 million visitors its anchoring stores such as dillardrsquos and macyrsquos and sought-after retailers including BCBg-max azria and Coach average sales of more than $650 per square foot and are among the most profitable stores in their chains

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

Meetings amp Events

CONvENTiON CENTEr lurES viSiTOrS

The mcallen Convention Center also helps draw businesses to the area The 185-acre complex featuring a 60000-square-foot column-free exhibit hall more than 25000 square feet of meeting space and up to 16 breakout rooms offers bicultural themes and tropical accents that represent the cultural and natural diversity of McAllen

Retail

ShOPPiNg hOT SPOTS

This bicultural city which is located just five miles from the US-Mexico border also has access to three international bridges that flood with visitors and eager shoppers daily many of whom are spending at a rate twice the national average

In addition to La Plaza Mall shopping centers in the McAllen area include Trenton Crossing las Tiendas Plaza and La Plaza Mallrsquos 600sbquo000-square-foot sister shopping center Palms Crossing which hosts such big-name retailers as Barnes amp Noble and Babies rsquoRrsquo Us as well as specialty shops and restaurants Its appeal stems from its open-air design with lots of palm trees water fountains and seating areas

Major Manufacturers

madE FOr maNuFaCTuriNg

Ranked third in Texas in per-capita sales the McAllen area has some of the largest manufacturing and wholesale companies in the nation

valley Coca Cola Bottling Co Value Frozen Foods and Emerson Network Power are just a few who have put down roots here Tri-City Steel which provides a full scope of steel construction by fabricating and erecting structural steel buildings pre-engineered metal buildings stairs handrails and more Texas Citrus Exchange in Mission makes Texas rio red grapefruit juice

learn more about businesses in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

BuSiNESS

RESIDEnTS GET CREATIvE WITH BUSInESS vEnTURES

the BoxOutside

One of McAllenrsquos most innovative startups sprang from the mind of someone who wasnrsquot even interested in business Today Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar is one

of the arearsquos top entrepreneurs and is finding serious success

mcallen entrepreneur dalinda Gonzalez-alcantar founded eJucomm llc

liVabil it ycommc allen 43 42 mc allen

ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the worldrdquo

EllEry BuChaNaN FIBERIOPRESIDENTCEO

Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar the founder of eJucomm LLC simply wanted to make information in her school district more accessible to families The company was a way she could make it happen

She got the idea while working as a teacher at DeLeon Middle School in McAllen and was frustrated that families without computers andor Internet access had difficulty communicating with teachers and administrators So she decided to develop a smartphone application that would solve the problem

With no previous technical experience she researched code online at night and a year later was selling the app to various school districts

ldquoThe app enables Android and iPhone users to access information for things like grades and attendancerdquo Gonzalez-Alcantar says

The entrepreneur also faced unexpected challenges ndash for instance how to tailor individual apps to the roughly seven school districts and 40 campuses that now use them No longer teaching she has partnered with a chief technology officer so she can focus on sales and marketing

One of her biggest hurdles was finding legal fees to fund the startup and a $10000 McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant in 2011 helped pay for a licensing agreement and intellectual property protection for eJucomm to move forward

BaNaNa E-z SPliTAnother McAllen resident

Gerald Guerra faced a similar obstacle when developing a product called Banana E-Z Split A health insurance broker Guerra was inspired at his own kitchen table to create single serving packets with all three syrups

Banana E-Z SplitGerald Guerra inventor of the banana e-Z split single serving syrup packets poses with his daughters Victoria and kaitlyn enthusiastic taste testers for his product

liVabil it ycommc allen 43

To order please call or visit 956-668-0555 or wwwediblearrangementscom 5113-A N 10th St bull McAllen TX 78504

Offer valid at participating locations Offer expires 12312013 Cannot be combined with another offers Offer code must be used when placing order

Containers may vary EDIBLE ARRANGEMENTS and the Fruit Basket Logo Design are registered trademarks of Edible Arrangements LLC

copy2012 Edible Arrangements LLC All rights reserved Frachises available call (888) 727-4258 or visit wwweafranchisescom

DELICIOUSLYd e s i r a b l e

FREE PIECE OF DIPPED FRUIT

Code mctx1213

Living green is making sure the air in your home is healthy for your family to breathe Test your home for radon and build radon-resistant

Its easy Thats living healthy and green

Just call 866-730-green or visit wwwepagovradon

Living greenstarts from the ground up

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

(pineapple chocolate strawberry) needed for a banana split

The concept led to a 2011 McAllen Business Plan Competition grant to fund the necessary patents

ldquoI envisioned a product that could hang easily in refrigerated sections at big box storesrdquo Guerra says ldquoI have lined up a distributor and a broker with my ultimate goal being to have Banana E-Z Split available to customers in large grocery chains It is close to happeningrdquo

FiBEriO TEChNOlOgyAnother startup in McAllen

is already making waves globally FibeRio Technology Corporation another McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant recipient is thriving thanks to ground-breaking nanofiber-producing machinery The nanofibers can be used to make products ranging from diapers to

ballistics using a new way to spin microscopic nanofibers

The technology serves an array of industries that feature filtration textiles or biomedical applications

ldquoDr Karen Lozano at UT-Pan American discovered the process and I was contacted because I am an entrepreneur familiar with launching technology- based companies including nanotechnologyrdquo says FibeRio Technology presidentCEO Ellery Buchanan ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the world Plus we use local McAllen suppliers whenever possible including machine shops parts suppliers IT contractors and other business servicesrdquo

by Kevin Litwin by staff photographer

Michael Conti

FibeRio Technology Corporationnanomaterials processing research equipment is used at FibeRioTechnologyCorporation

FEldmaNrsquoS markET CENTErFeldmanrsquos Market Center features a broad selection of beer as well as wines liquors cigars and a gourmet deli In addition weekly beer and wine tastings are offered(956) 687-9463

PErFECT PawS rESOrTPerfect Paws Resort offers grooming services daycare and boarding to vaccinated dogs and cats that are at least 12 weeks old Boarding suites are climate controlled and under constant supervisionperfectpawsresortcom

mCCrEEry aviaTiON CO iNCMcCreery Aviation Co Inc is a place for pilots and their aircraft to receive top-notch treatment A fuel center flight planning room and hangar storage are availablemccreeryaviationcom

kiTikakE llCKitikake LLC offers gently- used vintage clothing for women from an array of top designers such as Lilly Pulitzer and Catherine Malandrino Vintage home deacutecor and dishes are also availablekitikakecom

krEidlEr FuNEral hOmEFounded owned and operated by the Kreidler family Kreidler Funeral Home has served McAllen for 100 years They offer traditional burial and graveside funeral services direct burials cremations memorial services and morekreidlerfuneralhomecom

Business Spotlight

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

visit ouradvertisersBorder Capital Bankwwwbordercapitalbankcom

City of McAllen Public Info Officewwwexploremcallennet

Courtyard by Marriottwwwmarriottcommtema

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valleywwweasterseals-rgvorg

Edible Arrangementswwwediblearrangementscom

Family Physicians Clinicwwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

Magic Valley Electric Cooperativewwwmagicvalleycoop

McAllen Economic Development Corporationwwwmcallenedcorg

McAllen Independent School Districtwwwmcallenisdorg

McAllen International Airportwwwmcallenairportcom

McAllen Realty

Mr Electricwwwmrelectriccom

Nuevo Santander Gallerywwwnuevosantandercom

OH KAYrsquoS

Preventative Care Institutewwwrgvpcicom

Quinta Mazatlanwwwquintamazatlancom

Rio Health Medicalwwwrio-healthcom

South Texas College wwwsouthtexascollegeedu

South Texas Health Systemwwwsouthtexashealthsystemcom

The Patio on Guerra wwwpatioonguerracom

Valley International Airportwwwflythevalleycom

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

BuSiNESS CHAMBER REPoRT

Whatrsquos the Big Ideachamberrsquos readiness tool kit assists entrepreneurs

The McAllen Chamber of Commerce has helped prepare 25 McAllen entrepreneurs in the continuing quest to launch their ideas ndash all since July 2011

The Chamber has a software package called VentureBusiness Readiness Assessment which is used by states such as oklahoma and Kentucky to assist startup companies The software helps an entrepreneur through the entire process of seeing whether they are truly ready to launch their startup

ldquoVentureBusiness Readiness Assessment is a way that the Chamber assists entrepreneurs who are trying to get funding for their products or projectsrdquo says Steve Ahlenius who serves as President and CEo of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce ldquoThe Chamber awards $50000 a year in innovation grants in $10000 increments and entrepreneurs are always looking for funding But they must earn that money by passing the various stages of the software tool kitrdquo

TEN hOurS TO COmPlETEAhlenius says the assessment

has several specific steps to make sure that a startup company has everything in place to ensure that it is successful

ldquoThe entrepreneurs contact us and set up an appointment to see me then they come to the Chamber office we sign them up and give them passwords to access the software at their conveniencerdquo he says ldquo[The program] takes about 10 hours to complete but doesnrsquot have to be finished in one sitting However the program must be eventually completed in order to qualify for our innovation grantrdquo

CaN iT BE madE QuiCklyThe software asks questions

such as Have you protected your intellectual property Is your product something that can be

made quickly Have you set a value on your idea and do you know how to do that If itrsquos a product that involves high-tech engineering do you have an engineer on your companyrsquos team

ldquoThe entrepreneur needs to know if his venture is worth 20 shares of stock or 200 shares ndash things like thatrdquo Ahlenius says ldquoMany factors go into launching a product or business and Venture Readiness points out a personrsquos strengths and weaknessesrdquo

a grEaT OvErviEwVicente Valle Martinez of

McAllen is an entrepreneur who contacted the Chamber in 2012 about his idea for connecting

people on the Internet who have similar educational experiences and higher learning interests

ldquoI have no background in business but heard one day about an innovation grant competition that the Chamber was sponsoringrdquo Martinez says ldquoSteve told me about the software package and it gave me a great overview of what I need to know before launching my ideardquo

Ahlenius says the various concepts the software package covers include credentials character capabilities commitment and circumstance

ldquoIt is an excellent self-awareness testrdquo he says ldquoItrsquos ideal for entrepreneursrdquo

by Kevin Litwin

the mcallen chamber of commerce on ash avenue

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

Ad Index 41 BorderCapitalBank

21 CityofMCallen puBliCinfooffiCe

4 CourtyardByMarriott

32 easterseals rioGrandeValley

44 ediBlearranGeMents

32 faMilyphysiCiansCliniC

2 MaGiCValley eleCtriCCooperatiVe

C3 MCalleneConoMiC deVelopMentCorporation

46 MCallenindependent sChooldistriCt

1 MCallen internationalairport

C4 MCallenrealty

48 MreleCtriC

46 nueVosantanderGallery

35 ohkayrsquos

34 preVentatiVe

Careinstitute

23 QuintaMazatlan

32 riohealthMediCal

31 southtexasColleGe

C2 southtexas

healthsysteM

18 thepatioonGuerra

44 Valley

internationalairport

ECONOMICPROFILE

3000+

2000- 2999

1999- 500

hOuSEhOld iNCOmE

TOP EmPlOyErS

$200000+

$150000-199999

$100000 and under

McAllen Independent School District

McAllen Medical Center South Texas College City of McAllen

Rio Grande Regional Hospital International Bank of Commerce

EduCaTiON lEvEl

High School Graduate

Associate Degree

Bachelorrsquos Degree

Masterrsquos Degree

TaxES

2City Sales and Use Tax

625State Sales Tax

825Total Sales Tax

SCOrECard

$36BAnnual Retail Sales

$28682Retail sales per capita

$3575MAnnual Hotel and Food Sales

15161Total Number of Firms

TraNSPOrTaTiON

mcallen-miller international airportwwwmcallenairportcom

metro mcallenwwwmcallennetmetro

amtrakwwwamtrakcom

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

everything you need every step of the way

Serving the rio grande valley Since 1989

Rachel Hardison-Oliva Broker

3321 N McColl Rd

McAllen TX 78501

(956) 687-7172 bull (956) 687-7178 Fax

Page 30: Livability McAllen, TX 2013

EduCaTiNg FOr ThE 21ST CENTury

The initiative began with a meeting between Dr James Ponce McAllenrsquos superintendent of schools and a ldquocadrerdquo of about 35 teachers administrators and parents

The grouprsquos primary goal was to build a 21st-century classroom environment one that fosters creativity collaboration and entrepreneurship The group also wanted to find a way to harness the 247 educational potential of the Internet ndash and teach students the critical-thinking skills needed to process online content

ldquoItrsquos an environment where the teachers become the primary learners and the students are driven by their examplerdquo Ponce says ldquoSo we asked what tools we would need for this transformation of the way we teach and the way the kids learnrdquo

After much research the group chose iPods (for grades K-2) and iPads (for teachers and grades 3-12) because of their portability

ldquoIrsquove learned more from my fellow teachers than I have in many years just from sharing ideas for how to use the iPads in the classroomrdquo

CarOl aNN allEN LANGuAGEARTSTEACHER

ATMICHAELEFOSSuMMIDDLESCHOOL

relatively low cost and ease of use To implement the planrsquos first stage McAllen ISD issued 5800 of these devices to teachers and students when the rollout is complete it will cover more than 25000 students

Big BENEFiTS FOr TEaChErS aNd STudENTS

Both teachers and students are seeing benefits from the program

ldquoThe iPods help the kids be creative My students are organizing information in new waysrdquo says Ruth Whiddon who teaches first grade at Andrew Jackson Elementary School

For Carol Ann Allen International Baccalaureate coordinator and eighth-grade language arts teacher at Michael E Fossum Middle School the initiative is all about collaboration

ldquoIrsquove learned more from my fellow teachers than I have in many years just from sharing ideas for how to use the iPads in the classroomrdquo she says

Sandra Guerra who teaches seventh- and eighth-grade math

at Fossum says the iPads have changed both her teaching style and the way her students learn

Instead of mapping out the learning process step-by-step she now gives students their goal and lets them choose how to get there

ldquoWith this approach they own their learning and theyrsquove been more willing to learnrdquo Guerra says

The iPads have also been a game-changer for Guerrarsquos family

Her seventh-grade daughter is learning advanced science concepts because of independent iPad projects And because most of her childrenrsquos school materials are on their iPads itrsquos easier than ever for Guerra to check on their progress from home

That kind of scenario says Superintendent Ponce is at the heart of the initiative

ldquoThe entire school system and our community want to lead in this effort to build a 21st-century learning environmentrdquo he says ldquoThis is a direct investment in our children and their familiesrdquo

by Kathryn Royster

High-Tech Learningseventh-grade students use ipads to follow class lectures and take quizzes during a language arts class at michael e fossum middle school

PH

oT

o C

oU

RT

EST

Y o

F M

CA

LLE

N IN

DE

PE

ND

EN

T S

CH

oo

L D

IST

RIC

T

28 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 29

Higher Education

SOuTh TExaS COllEgE

McAllenrsquos South Texas College has more than 30000 students and offers numerous associate and bachelorrsquos degree programs as well as professional certifications in more than 40 areas The college also has online degree courses for students who work full time

liviNg EDUCATIoN

Set for SuccesscolleGe prep is a top priority in mcallen

Education in McAllen is defined by excellent options From elementary school through college McAllen includes numerous institutions designed to prepare students for success By Braxton Shoop

school yourself on more educational offerings at livabilitycommcallen

Public Schools

mCallEN iNdEPENdENT SChOOl diSTriCT

Established in 1915 the mcallen independent School district comprises three high schools seven middle schools and 20 elementary schools Among these schools the district offers an advanced placement college-level curriculum and a dual-enrollment program for students who would like to obtain high school and college credit simultaneously

In addition the district features an International Baccalaureate program that provides students with an advanced curriculum geared toward global standards

Local Inspiration

FOrmEr STudENT FliES high

one of McAllenrsquos successful students is astronaut michael Fossum a graduate of McAllen High School After receiving his commission from the US Air Force by Texas AampM University Fossum graduated Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base and in 1993 he started at NASA Throughout his NASA career Fossum was on crew for three spaceflights He commanded the space station during one of his flights helping him rank seventh on the all-time list for cumulative Extravehicular Activity time

Top-notch Learning Environmentuniversity of texas-pan american offers many undergraduate degrees more than 50 masterrsquos degrees and three doctoral degrees utpa has accreditations from organizations like the commission for collegiate nursing the examining board of nurse examiners for the state of texas and the engineering accreditation commission of the accreditation board for engineering and technology

30 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 31

Charter School

idEa aCadEmy

idEa academy is an innovative institution that offers a fully scaled curriculum for students in kindergarten and in the first second and sixth grades The school which opened in McAllen in 2012 will eventually add more grades each one including approximately 110 students While the school is public students must apply to fill the 460 available spots

To prepare its students to be collegiate scholars IDEA provides International Baccalaureate curriculum as well as the Road to College curriculum which begins in the sixth grade

ldquoWersquore very proud of the connection to our distinguished alumni like NASA astronaut Michael Fossum and we want our students to recognize the kind of education we provide here What he learned here helped catapult him into space and wersquore very proud of thatrdquo

NOrma zamOra-guErra MCALLENINDEPENDENTSCHOOL

DISTRICTCOMMuNITYINFORMATIONDIRECTOR

Michael E Fossum Middle Schoolnamed for astronaut michael e fossum the school is part of the mcallen independent school district

30 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 31

Please call 9566316109 for a representative today

2501 Buddy Owens Blvd McAllen TX 78504

9656316125 Fax

wwwrio-healthcom

RioHealth MedicalWe are here to meet all your

occupational medicine needs

bull Workplace injuries and workersrsquo compensation

bull On site and off site drug screening

bull Physicals

bull Orthopedics

bull Early return to work

bull 247 coverage

bull We accept all types of insurance

WorkplaceInjury

DANIEL J GUERRA MD Diplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

LEONEL G MORENO MDDiplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

HOMERO RIVAS MDDiplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

606 S Broadway bull McAllen TX bull (956) 682-4515 bull wwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

FAMILY PHYSICIANS

CLINICSince 1967

Mon-Fri 8 am-5 pm Sat 8 am-Noon

VALLEY NIGHT CLINIC

Since 1981

Open Every Night of the Year 6 pm-Midnight

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valley supports children of all abilities through child care

services early intervention and parenting support programs

Early Childhood intErvEntion ChildCarE sErviCEs ParEnts as tEaChErs

Easter seals rio Grande valley Programs for Children Birth to Five years

bullChild-Care servicesndashHigh-qualitychildcare sixweekstofiveyears

bullParents as teachers (Pat)ndashDevelopmental parentingsupportforchildrenbirthtofiveyears

bullEarly Childhood intervention (ECi) ndashConcerns indevelopmentforchildrenbirthtothreeyears

For more information about Easter seals

programs and services call (956) 631-9171 or visit wwweasterseals-rgvorg

32 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 33

liviNg HEALTH

Take a Deep Breath and Relaxresidents haVe access to top hospitals

McAllen residents receive quality care from the South Texas Health System Rio Grande Regional Hospital and the Doctors Hospital at Renaissance By Kevin Litwin

Health System

SOuTh TExaS hEalTh SySTEm

South Texas health System is the umbrella organization for a number of fine medical facilities including mcallen medical Center MMC has 441 beds and a staff of more than 400 physicians that represent 50 medical specialties

Also part of South Texas Health System is mcallen heart hospital which opened in 1996 as the first freestanding cardiology and cardiovascular hospital built in the United States It includes 60 beds and a 24-hour emergency center

Healthgrades has awarded McAllen Medical Center and McAllen Heart Hospital with a variety of honors in recent years and both earned a Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence in 2011

Hospital

riO graNdE rEgiONal hOSPiTal

rio grande regional hospital is an acute care medical facility with 320 beds and more than 500 physicians The hospital is the only area Diabetes Management Center accredited by the American Diabetes Association and is the arearsquos first facility to have a Pediatric Heart Program

RGRH also includes a 24-hour emergency room Womenrsquos Services department Level III trauma center and cardiovascular care The hospital is fully accredited by The Joint Commission and the College of American Pathologists and every year since 2007 has been named a Center of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery

32 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 33

Hospital

dOCTOrS hOSPiTal aT rENaiSSaNCE

The 506-bed doctors hospital at renaissance is an acute care facility It provides cardiology neurosurgery and endocrinology as well as a Pediatric Medical Tower that offers pediatric oncology and pediatric ICU services

Doctors Hospital has been ranked among the nationrsquos 100 Top Hospitals by Thomson Reuters and recently invested $32 million to establish an Electronic Medical Record System

DHR was the first in South Texas to acquire a PETCT scanner for diagnosing cancer and the first in the region to introduce da Vinci robotic surgical technology The hospital also oversees Renaissance Behavioral Center which provides treatment for people with mental health problems substance abuse or eating disorders

34 mc allen

COMMUNITyPROFILE COST OF liviNg

$44074Median Household Income

$129554Median Home Price

$689Median Rent for a Two-Bedroom Apartment

TraNSPOrTaTiON

Median Travel Time to Work

agE

TEmPEraTurE

January Average

July Average

EThNiCiTy

19 and Under

20-54

55 and over

White

Black

Hispanic

other

1645minutes

Closest Airport McAllen International Airport

955deg

482deg

South Texasrsquo Finest Gift Store Offers Gifts From Around the World

4300 N 10th St bull Ste C bull McAllen TX 78504 (956) 686-1264 bull ohkaysaolcom

Look for us on Facebook

gOlF COurSES

gOlF TEC

2901 N 10TH ST956-994-9631

mCallEN COuNTry CluB615 WICHITA AVE956-686-0923

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

The national Butterfly Center the national butterfly center dedicates 100 acres to the conservation and scientific study of wild butterflies in their natural habitats the wildlife center is open daily from 8 am until 5 pm september through march and from 9 am until 4 pm april through august

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

liviNg SEE THE CITY

36 mc allen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 37

BUSINESSInfo on McAllenrsquos top employers jobs and success stories

McAllen Convention Centerthe McAllenConventionCenter is located on 185 acres and includes a 60000-square-foot exhibit hall as well as more than 25000 square feet of meeting space in 16 breakout rooms

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

38 mc allen 38 mc allen

38 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 39

BuSiNESS oVERVIEW

McAllenrsquos in the MoneyCultural diversity location and innovation drive cityrsquos top business sectors

As the retail hub of South Texas McAllen is thriving The city draws a customer base of more than 10 million within a 200-mile radius and is represented by 40 of Americarsquos top 100 retailers

By Tiffany Williams

La Plaza MallPumping much of the life into this retail hub is la Plaza mall which annually attracts more than 18 million visitors its anchoring stores such as dillardrsquos and macyrsquos and sought-after retailers including BCBg-max azria and Coach average sales of more than $650 per square foot and are among the most profitable stores in their chains

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

Meetings amp Events

CONvENTiON CENTEr lurES viSiTOrS

The mcallen Convention Center also helps draw businesses to the area The 185-acre complex featuring a 60000-square-foot column-free exhibit hall more than 25000 square feet of meeting space and up to 16 breakout rooms offers bicultural themes and tropical accents that represent the cultural and natural diversity of McAllen

Retail

ShOPPiNg hOT SPOTS

This bicultural city which is located just five miles from the US-Mexico border also has access to three international bridges that flood with visitors and eager shoppers daily many of whom are spending at a rate twice the national average

In addition to La Plaza Mall shopping centers in the McAllen area include Trenton Crossing las Tiendas Plaza and La Plaza Mallrsquos 600sbquo000-square-foot sister shopping center Palms Crossing which hosts such big-name retailers as Barnes amp Noble and Babies rsquoRrsquo Us as well as specialty shops and restaurants Its appeal stems from its open-air design with lots of palm trees water fountains and seating areas

Major Manufacturers

madE FOr maNuFaCTuriNg

Ranked third in Texas in per-capita sales the McAllen area has some of the largest manufacturing and wholesale companies in the nation

valley Coca Cola Bottling Co Value Frozen Foods and Emerson Network Power are just a few who have put down roots here Tri-City Steel which provides a full scope of steel construction by fabricating and erecting structural steel buildings pre-engineered metal buildings stairs handrails and more Texas Citrus Exchange in Mission makes Texas rio red grapefruit juice

learn more about businesses in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

BuSiNESS

RESIDEnTS GET CREATIvE WITH BUSInESS vEnTURES

the BoxOutside

One of McAllenrsquos most innovative startups sprang from the mind of someone who wasnrsquot even interested in business Today Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar is one

of the arearsquos top entrepreneurs and is finding serious success

mcallen entrepreneur dalinda Gonzalez-alcantar founded eJucomm llc

liVabil it ycommc allen 43 42 mc allen

ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the worldrdquo

EllEry BuChaNaN FIBERIOPRESIDENTCEO

Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar the founder of eJucomm LLC simply wanted to make information in her school district more accessible to families The company was a way she could make it happen

She got the idea while working as a teacher at DeLeon Middle School in McAllen and was frustrated that families without computers andor Internet access had difficulty communicating with teachers and administrators So she decided to develop a smartphone application that would solve the problem

With no previous technical experience she researched code online at night and a year later was selling the app to various school districts

ldquoThe app enables Android and iPhone users to access information for things like grades and attendancerdquo Gonzalez-Alcantar says

The entrepreneur also faced unexpected challenges ndash for instance how to tailor individual apps to the roughly seven school districts and 40 campuses that now use them No longer teaching she has partnered with a chief technology officer so she can focus on sales and marketing

One of her biggest hurdles was finding legal fees to fund the startup and a $10000 McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant in 2011 helped pay for a licensing agreement and intellectual property protection for eJucomm to move forward

BaNaNa E-z SPliTAnother McAllen resident

Gerald Guerra faced a similar obstacle when developing a product called Banana E-Z Split A health insurance broker Guerra was inspired at his own kitchen table to create single serving packets with all three syrups

Banana E-Z SplitGerald Guerra inventor of the banana e-Z split single serving syrup packets poses with his daughters Victoria and kaitlyn enthusiastic taste testers for his product

liVabil it ycommc allen 43

To order please call or visit 956-668-0555 or wwwediblearrangementscom 5113-A N 10th St bull McAllen TX 78504

Offer valid at participating locations Offer expires 12312013 Cannot be combined with another offers Offer code must be used when placing order

Containers may vary EDIBLE ARRANGEMENTS and the Fruit Basket Logo Design are registered trademarks of Edible Arrangements LLC

copy2012 Edible Arrangements LLC All rights reserved Frachises available call (888) 727-4258 or visit wwweafranchisescom

DELICIOUSLYd e s i r a b l e

FREE PIECE OF DIPPED FRUIT

Code mctx1213

Living green is making sure the air in your home is healthy for your family to breathe Test your home for radon and build radon-resistant

Its easy Thats living healthy and green

Just call 866-730-green or visit wwwepagovradon

Living greenstarts from the ground up

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

(pineapple chocolate strawberry) needed for a banana split

The concept led to a 2011 McAllen Business Plan Competition grant to fund the necessary patents

ldquoI envisioned a product that could hang easily in refrigerated sections at big box storesrdquo Guerra says ldquoI have lined up a distributor and a broker with my ultimate goal being to have Banana E-Z Split available to customers in large grocery chains It is close to happeningrdquo

FiBEriO TEChNOlOgyAnother startup in McAllen

is already making waves globally FibeRio Technology Corporation another McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant recipient is thriving thanks to ground-breaking nanofiber-producing machinery The nanofibers can be used to make products ranging from diapers to

ballistics using a new way to spin microscopic nanofibers

The technology serves an array of industries that feature filtration textiles or biomedical applications

ldquoDr Karen Lozano at UT-Pan American discovered the process and I was contacted because I am an entrepreneur familiar with launching technology- based companies including nanotechnologyrdquo says FibeRio Technology presidentCEO Ellery Buchanan ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the world Plus we use local McAllen suppliers whenever possible including machine shops parts suppliers IT contractors and other business servicesrdquo

by Kevin Litwin by staff photographer

Michael Conti

FibeRio Technology Corporationnanomaterials processing research equipment is used at FibeRioTechnologyCorporation

FEldmaNrsquoS markET CENTErFeldmanrsquos Market Center features a broad selection of beer as well as wines liquors cigars and a gourmet deli In addition weekly beer and wine tastings are offered(956) 687-9463

PErFECT PawS rESOrTPerfect Paws Resort offers grooming services daycare and boarding to vaccinated dogs and cats that are at least 12 weeks old Boarding suites are climate controlled and under constant supervisionperfectpawsresortcom

mCCrEEry aviaTiON CO iNCMcCreery Aviation Co Inc is a place for pilots and their aircraft to receive top-notch treatment A fuel center flight planning room and hangar storage are availablemccreeryaviationcom

kiTikakE llCKitikake LLC offers gently- used vintage clothing for women from an array of top designers such as Lilly Pulitzer and Catherine Malandrino Vintage home deacutecor and dishes are also availablekitikakecom

krEidlEr FuNEral hOmEFounded owned and operated by the Kreidler family Kreidler Funeral Home has served McAllen for 100 years They offer traditional burial and graveside funeral services direct burials cremations memorial services and morekreidlerfuneralhomecom

Business Spotlight

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

visit ouradvertisersBorder Capital Bankwwwbordercapitalbankcom

City of McAllen Public Info Officewwwexploremcallennet

Courtyard by Marriottwwwmarriottcommtema

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valleywwweasterseals-rgvorg

Edible Arrangementswwwediblearrangementscom

Family Physicians Clinicwwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

Magic Valley Electric Cooperativewwwmagicvalleycoop

McAllen Economic Development Corporationwwwmcallenedcorg

McAllen Independent School Districtwwwmcallenisdorg

McAllen International Airportwwwmcallenairportcom

McAllen Realty

Mr Electricwwwmrelectriccom

Nuevo Santander Gallerywwwnuevosantandercom

OH KAYrsquoS

Preventative Care Institutewwwrgvpcicom

Quinta Mazatlanwwwquintamazatlancom

Rio Health Medicalwwwrio-healthcom

South Texas College wwwsouthtexascollegeedu

South Texas Health Systemwwwsouthtexashealthsystemcom

The Patio on Guerra wwwpatioonguerracom

Valley International Airportwwwflythevalleycom

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

BuSiNESS CHAMBER REPoRT

Whatrsquos the Big Ideachamberrsquos readiness tool kit assists entrepreneurs

The McAllen Chamber of Commerce has helped prepare 25 McAllen entrepreneurs in the continuing quest to launch their ideas ndash all since July 2011

The Chamber has a software package called VentureBusiness Readiness Assessment which is used by states such as oklahoma and Kentucky to assist startup companies The software helps an entrepreneur through the entire process of seeing whether they are truly ready to launch their startup

ldquoVentureBusiness Readiness Assessment is a way that the Chamber assists entrepreneurs who are trying to get funding for their products or projectsrdquo says Steve Ahlenius who serves as President and CEo of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce ldquoThe Chamber awards $50000 a year in innovation grants in $10000 increments and entrepreneurs are always looking for funding But they must earn that money by passing the various stages of the software tool kitrdquo

TEN hOurS TO COmPlETEAhlenius says the assessment

has several specific steps to make sure that a startup company has everything in place to ensure that it is successful

ldquoThe entrepreneurs contact us and set up an appointment to see me then they come to the Chamber office we sign them up and give them passwords to access the software at their conveniencerdquo he says ldquo[The program] takes about 10 hours to complete but doesnrsquot have to be finished in one sitting However the program must be eventually completed in order to qualify for our innovation grantrdquo

CaN iT BE madE QuiCklyThe software asks questions

such as Have you protected your intellectual property Is your product something that can be

made quickly Have you set a value on your idea and do you know how to do that If itrsquos a product that involves high-tech engineering do you have an engineer on your companyrsquos team

ldquoThe entrepreneur needs to know if his venture is worth 20 shares of stock or 200 shares ndash things like thatrdquo Ahlenius says ldquoMany factors go into launching a product or business and Venture Readiness points out a personrsquos strengths and weaknessesrdquo

a grEaT OvErviEwVicente Valle Martinez of

McAllen is an entrepreneur who contacted the Chamber in 2012 about his idea for connecting

people on the Internet who have similar educational experiences and higher learning interests

ldquoI have no background in business but heard one day about an innovation grant competition that the Chamber was sponsoringrdquo Martinez says ldquoSteve told me about the software package and it gave me a great overview of what I need to know before launching my ideardquo

Ahlenius says the various concepts the software package covers include credentials character capabilities commitment and circumstance

ldquoIt is an excellent self-awareness testrdquo he says ldquoItrsquos ideal for entrepreneursrdquo

by Kevin Litwin

the mcallen chamber of commerce on ash avenue

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

Ad Index 41 BorderCapitalBank

21 CityofMCallen puBliCinfooffiCe

4 CourtyardByMarriott

32 easterseals rioGrandeValley

44 ediBlearranGeMents

32 faMilyphysiCiansCliniC

2 MaGiCValley eleCtriCCooperatiVe

C3 MCalleneConoMiC deVelopMentCorporation

46 MCallenindependent sChooldistriCt

1 MCallen internationalairport

C4 MCallenrealty

48 MreleCtriC

46 nueVosantanderGallery

35 ohkayrsquos

34 preVentatiVe

Careinstitute

23 QuintaMazatlan

32 riohealthMediCal

31 southtexasColleGe

C2 southtexas

healthsysteM

18 thepatioonGuerra

44 Valley

internationalairport

ECONOMICPROFILE

3000+

2000- 2999

1999- 500

hOuSEhOld iNCOmE

TOP EmPlOyErS

$200000+

$150000-199999

$100000 and under

McAllen Independent School District

McAllen Medical Center South Texas College City of McAllen

Rio Grande Regional Hospital International Bank of Commerce

EduCaTiON lEvEl

High School Graduate

Associate Degree

Bachelorrsquos Degree

Masterrsquos Degree

TaxES

2City Sales and Use Tax

625State Sales Tax

825Total Sales Tax

SCOrECard

$36BAnnual Retail Sales

$28682Retail sales per capita

$3575MAnnual Hotel and Food Sales

15161Total Number of Firms

TraNSPOrTaTiON

mcallen-miller international airportwwwmcallenairportcom

metro mcallenwwwmcallennetmetro

amtrakwwwamtrakcom

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

everything you need every step of the way

Serving the rio grande valley Since 1989

Rachel Hardison-Oliva Broker

3321 N McColl Rd

McAllen TX 78501

(956) 687-7172 bull (956) 687-7178 Fax

Page 31: Livability McAllen, TX 2013

Higher Education

SOuTh TExaS COllEgE

McAllenrsquos South Texas College has more than 30000 students and offers numerous associate and bachelorrsquos degree programs as well as professional certifications in more than 40 areas The college also has online degree courses for students who work full time

liviNg EDUCATIoN

Set for SuccesscolleGe prep is a top priority in mcallen

Education in McAllen is defined by excellent options From elementary school through college McAllen includes numerous institutions designed to prepare students for success By Braxton Shoop

school yourself on more educational offerings at livabilitycommcallen

Public Schools

mCallEN iNdEPENdENT SChOOl diSTriCT

Established in 1915 the mcallen independent School district comprises three high schools seven middle schools and 20 elementary schools Among these schools the district offers an advanced placement college-level curriculum and a dual-enrollment program for students who would like to obtain high school and college credit simultaneously

In addition the district features an International Baccalaureate program that provides students with an advanced curriculum geared toward global standards

Local Inspiration

FOrmEr STudENT FliES high

one of McAllenrsquos successful students is astronaut michael Fossum a graduate of McAllen High School After receiving his commission from the US Air Force by Texas AampM University Fossum graduated Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base and in 1993 he started at NASA Throughout his NASA career Fossum was on crew for three spaceflights He commanded the space station during one of his flights helping him rank seventh on the all-time list for cumulative Extravehicular Activity time

Top-notch Learning Environmentuniversity of texas-pan american offers many undergraduate degrees more than 50 masterrsquos degrees and three doctoral degrees utpa has accreditations from organizations like the commission for collegiate nursing the examining board of nurse examiners for the state of texas and the engineering accreditation commission of the accreditation board for engineering and technology

30 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 31

Charter School

idEa aCadEmy

idEa academy is an innovative institution that offers a fully scaled curriculum for students in kindergarten and in the first second and sixth grades The school which opened in McAllen in 2012 will eventually add more grades each one including approximately 110 students While the school is public students must apply to fill the 460 available spots

To prepare its students to be collegiate scholars IDEA provides International Baccalaureate curriculum as well as the Road to College curriculum which begins in the sixth grade

ldquoWersquore very proud of the connection to our distinguished alumni like NASA astronaut Michael Fossum and we want our students to recognize the kind of education we provide here What he learned here helped catapult him into space and wersquore very proud of thatrdquo

NOrma zamOra-guErra MCALLENINDEPENDENTSCHOOL

DISTRICTCOMMuNITYINFORMATIONDIRECTOR

Michael E Fossum Middle Schoolnamed for astronaut michael e fossum the school is part of the mcallen independent school district

30 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 31

Please call 9566316109 for a representative today

2501 Buddy Owens Blvd McAllen TX 78504

9656316125 Fax

wwwrio-healthcom

RioHealth MedicalWe are here to meet all your

occupational medicine needs

bull Workplace injuries and workersrsquo compensation

bull On site and off site drug screening

bull Physicals

bull Orthopedics

bull Early return to work

bull 247 coverage

bull We accept all types of insurance

WorkplaceInjury

DANIEL J GUERRA MD Diplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

LEONEL G MORENO MDDiplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

HOMERO RIVAS MDDiplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

606 S Broadway bull McAllen TX bull (956) 682-4515 bull wwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

FAMILY PHYSICIANS

CLINICSince 1967

Mon-Fri 8 am-5 pm Sat 8 am-Noon

VALLEY NIGHT CLINIC

Since 1981

Open Every Night of the Year 6 pm-Midnight

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valley supports children of all abilities through child care

services early intervention and parenting support programs

Early Childhood intErvEntion ChildCarE sErviCEs ParEnts as tEaChErs

Easter seals rio Grande valley Programs for Children Birth to Five years

bullChild-Care servicesndashHigh-qualitychildcare sixweekstofiveyears

bullParents as teachers (Pat)ndashDevelopmental parentingsupportforchildrenbirthtofiveyears

bullEarly Childhood intervention (ECi) ndashConcerns indevelopmentforchildrenbirthtothreeyears

For more information about Easter seals

programs and services call (956) 631-9171 or visit wwweasterseals-rgvorg

32 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 33

liviNg HEALTH

Take a Deep Breath and Relaxresidents haVe access to top hospitals

McAllen residents receive quality care from the South Texas Health System Rio Grande Regional Hospital and the Doctors Hospital at Renaissance By Kevin Litwin

Health System

SOuTh TExaS hEalTh SySTEm

South Texas health System is the umbrella organization for a number of fine medical facilities including mcallen medical Center MMC has 441 beds and a staff of more than 400 physicians that represent 50 medical specialties

Also part of South Texas Health System is mcallen heart hospital which opened in 1996 as the first freestanding cardiology and cardiovascular hospital built in the United States It includes 60 beds and a 24-hour emergency center

Healthgrades has awarded McAllen Medical Center and McAllen Heart Hospital with a variety of honors in recent years and both earned a Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence in 2011

Hospital

riO graNdE rEgiONal hOSPiTal

rio grande regional hospital is an acute care medical facility with 320 beds and more than 500 physicians The hospital is the only area Diabetes Management Center accredited by the American Diabetes Association and is the arearsquos first facility to have a Pediatric Heart Program

RGRH also includes a 24-hour emergency room Womenrsquos Services department Level III trauma center and cardiovascular care The hospital is fully accredited by The Joint Commission and the College of American Pathologists and every year since 2007 has been named a Center of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery

32 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 33

Hospital

dOCTOrS hOSPiTal aT rENaiSSaNCE

The 506-bed doctors hospital at renaissance is an acute care facility It provides cardiology neurosurgery and endocrinology as well as a Pediatric Medical Tower that offers pediatric oncology and pediatric ICU services

Doctors Hospital has been ranked among the nationrsquos 100 Top Hospitals by Thomson Reuters and recently invested $32 million to establish an Electronic Medical Record System

DHR was the first in South Texas to acquire a PETCT scanner for diagnosing cancer and the first in the region to introduce da Vinci robotic surgical technology The hospital also oversees Renaissance Behavioral Center which provides treatment for people with mental health problems substance abuse or eating disorders

34 mc allen

COMMUNITyPROFILE COST OF liviNg

$44074Median Household Income

$129554Median Home Price

$689Median Rent for a Two-Bedroom Apartment

TraNSPOrTaTiON

Median Travel Time to Work

agE

TEmPEraTurE

January Average

July Average

EThNiCiTy

19 and Under

20-54

55 and over

White

Black

Hispanic

other

1645minutes

Closest Airport McAllen International Airport

955deg

482deg

South Texasrsquo Finest Gift Store Offers Gifts From Around the World

4300 N 10th St bull Ste C bull McAllen TX 78504 (956) 686-1264 bull ohkaysaolcom

Look for us on Facebook

gOlF COurSES

gOlF TEC

2901 N 10TH ST956-994-9631

mCallEN COuNTry CluB615 WICHITA AVE956-686-0923

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

The national Butterfly Center the national butterfly center dedicates 100 acres to the conservation and scientific study of wild butterflies in their natural habitats the wildlife center is open daily from 8 am until 5 pm september through march and from 9 am until 4 pm april through august

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

liviNg SEE THE CITY

36 mc allen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 37

BUSINESSInfo on McAllenrsquos top employers jobs and success stories

McAllen Convention Centerthe McAllenConventionCenter is located on 185 acres and includes a 60000-square-foot exhibit hall as well as more than 25000 square feet of meeting space in 16 breakout rooms

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

38 mc allen 38 mc allen

38 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 39

BuSiNESS oVERVIEW

McAllenrsquos in the MoneyCultural diversity location and innovation drive cityrsquos top business sectors

As the retail hub of South Texas McAllen is thriving The city draws a customer base of more than 10 million within a 200-mile radius and is represented by 40 of Americarsquos top 100 retailers

By Tiffany Williams

La Plaza MallPumping much of the life into this retail hub is la Plaza mall which annually attracts more than 18 million visitors its anchoring stores such as dillardrsquos and macyrsquos and sought-after retailers including BCBg-max azria and Coach average sales of more than $650 per square foot and are among the most profitable stores in their chains

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

Meetings amp Events

CONvENTiON CENTEr lurES viSiTOrS

The mcallen Convention Center also helps draw businesses to the area The 185-acre complex featuring a 60000-square-foot column-free exhibit hall more than 25000 square feet of meeting space and up to 16 breakout rooms offers bicultural themes and tropical accents that represent the cultural and natural diversity of McAllen

Retail

ShOPPiNg hOT SPOTS

This bicultural city which is located just five miles from the US-Mexico border also has access to three international bridges that flood with visitors and eager shoppers daily many of whom are spending at a rate twice the national average

In addition to La Plaza Mall shopping centers in the McAllen area include Trenton Crossing las Tiendas Plaza and La Plaza Mallrsquos 600sbquo000-square-foot sister shopping center Palms Crossing which hosts such big-name retailers as Barnes amp Noble and Babies rsquoRrsquo Us as well as specialty shops and restaurants Its appeal stems from its open-air design with lots of palm trees water fountains and seating areas

Major Manufacturers

madE FOr maNuFaCTuriNg

Ranked third in Texas in per-capita sales the McAllen area has some of the largest manufacturing and wholesale companies in the nation

valley Coca Cola Bottling Co Value Frozen Foods and Emerson Network Power are just a few who have put down roots here Tri-City Steel which provides a full scope of steel construction by fabricating and erecting structural steel buildings pre-engineered metal buildings stairs handrails and more Texas Citrus Exchange in Mission makes Texas rio red grapefruit juice

learn more about businesses in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

BuSiNESS

RESIDEnTS GET CREATIvE WITH BUSInESS vEnTURES

the BoxOutside

One of McAllenrsquos most innovative startups sprang from the mind of someone who wasnrsquot even interested in business Today Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar is one

of the arearsquos top entrepreneurs and is finding serious success

mcallen entrepreneur dalinda Gonzalez-alcantar founded eJucomm llc

liVabil it ycommc allen 43 42 mc allen

ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the worldrdquo

EllEry BuChaNaN FIBERIOPRESIDENTCEO

Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar the founder of eJucomm LLC simply wanted to make information in her school district more accessible to families The company was a way she could make it happen

She got the idea while working as a teacher at DeLeon Middle School in McAllen and was frustrated that families without computers andor Internet access had difficulty communicating with teachers and administrators So she decided to develop a smartphone application that would solve the problem

With no previous technical experience she researched code online at night and a year later was selling the app to various school districts

ldquoThe app enables Android and iPhone users to access information for things like grades and attendancerdquo Gonzalez-Alcantar says

The entrepreneur also faced unexpected challenges ndash for instance how to tailor individual apps to the roughly seven school districts and 40 campuses that now use them No longer teaching she has partnered with a chief technology officer so she can focus on sales and marketing

One of her biggest hurdles was finding legal fees to fund the startup and a $10000 McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant in 2011 helped pay for a licensing agreement and intellectual property protection for eJucomm to move forward

BaNaNa E-z SPliTAnother McAllen resident

Gerald Guerra faced a similar obstacle when developing a product called Banana E-Z Split A health insurance broker Guerra was inspired at his own kitchen table to create single serving packets with all three syrups

Banana E-Z SplitGerald Guerra inventor of the banana e-Z split single serving syrup packets poses with his daughters Victoria and kaitlyn enthusiastic taste testers for his product

liVabil it ycommc allen 43

To order please call or visit 956-668-0555 or wwwediblearrangementscom 5113-A N 10th St bull McAllen TX 78504

Offer valid at participating locations Offer expires 12312013 Cannot be combined with another offers Offer code must be used when placing order

Containers may vary EDIBLE ARRANGEMENTS and the Fruit Basket Logo Design are registered trademarks of Edible Arrangements LLC

copy2012 Edible Arrangements LLC All rights reserved Frachises available call (888) 727-4258 or visit wwweafranchisescom

DELICIOUSLYd e s i r a b l e

FREE PIECE OF DIPPED FRUIT

Code mctx1213

Living green is making sure the air in your home is healthy for your family to breathe Test your home for radon and build radon-resistant

Its easy Thats living healthy and green

Just call 866-730-green or visit wwwepagovradon

Living greenstarts from the ground up

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

(pineapple chocolate strawberry) needed for a banana split

The concept led to a 2011 McAllen Business Plan Competition grant to fund the necessary patents

ldquoI envisioned a product that could hang easily in refrigerated sections at big box storesrdquo Guerra says ldquoI have lined up a distributor and a broker with my ultimate goal being to have Banana E-Z Split available to customers in large grocery chains It is close to happeningrdquo

FiBEriO TEChNOlOgyAnother startup in McAllen

is already making waves globally FibeRio Technology Corporation another McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant recipient is thriving thanks to ground-breaking nanofiber-producing machinery The nanofibers can be used to make products ranging from diapers to

ballistics using a new way to spin microscopic nanofibers

The technology serves an array of industries that feature filtration textiles or biomedical applications

ldquoDr Karen Lozano at UT-Pan American discovered the process and I was contacted because I am an entrepreneur familiar with launching technology- based companies including nanotechnologyrdquo says FibeRio Technology presidentCEO Ellery Buchanan ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the world Plus we use local McAllen suppliers whenever possible including machine shops parts suppliers IT contractors and other business servicesrdquo

by Kevin Litwin by staff photographer

Michael Conti

FibeRio Technology Corporationnanomaterials processing research equipment is used at FibeRioTechnologyCorporation

FEldmaNrsquoS markET CENTErFeldmanrsquos Market Center features a broad selection of beer as well as wines liquors cigars and a gourmet deli In addition weekly beer and wine tastings are offered(956) 687-9463

PErFECT PawS rESOrTPerfect Paws Resort offers grooming services daycare and boarding to vaccinated dogs and cats that are at least 12 weeks old Boarding suites are climate controlled and under constant supervisionperfectpawsresortcom

mCCrEEry aviaTiON CO iNCMcCreery Aviation Co Inc is a place for pilots and their aircraft to receive top-notch treatment A fuel center flight planning room and hangar storage are availablemccreeryaviationcom

kiTikakE llCKitikake LLC offers gently- used vintage clothing for women from an array of top designers such as Lilly Pulitzer and Catherine Malandrino Vintage home deacutecor and dishes are also availablekitikakecom

krEidlEr FuNEral hOmEFounded owned and operated by the Kreidler family Kreidler Funeral Home has served McAllen for 100 years They offer traditional burial and graveside funeral services direct burials cremations memorial services and morekreidlerfuneralhomecom

Business Spotlight

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

visit ouradvertisersBorder Capital Bankwwwbordercapitalbankcom

City of McAllen Public Info Officewwwexploremcallennet

Courtyard by Marriottwwwmarriottcommtema

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valleywwweasterseals-rgvorg

Edible Arrangementswwwediblearrangementscom

Family Physicians Clinicwwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

Magic Valley Electric Cooperativewwwmagicvalleycoop

McAllen Economic Development Corporationwwwmcallenedcorg

McAllen Independent School Districtwwwmcallenisdorg

McAllen International Airportwwwmcallenairportcom

McAllen Realty

Mr Electricwwwmrelectriccom

Nuevo Santander Gallerywwwnuevosantandercom

OH KAYrsquoS

Preventative Care Institutewwwrgvpcicom

Quinta Mazatlanwwwquintamazatlancom

Rio Health Medicalwwwrio-healthcom

South Texas College wwwsouthtexascollegeedu

South Texas Health Systemwwwsouthtexashealthsystemcom

The Patio on Guerra wwwpatioonguerracom

Valley International Airportwwwflythevalleycom

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

BuSiNESS CHAMBER REPoRT

Whatrsquos the Big Ideachamberrsquos readiness tool kit assists entrepreneurs

The McAllen Chamber of Commerce has helped prepare 25 McAllen entrepreneurs in the continuing quest to launch their ideas ndash all since July 2011

The Chamber has a software package called VentureBusiness Readiness Assessment which is used by states such as oklahoma and Kentucky to assist startup companies The software helps an entrepreneur through the entire process of seeing whether they are truly ready to launch their startup

ldquoVentureBusiness Readiness Assessment is a way that the Chamber assists entrepreneurs who are trying to get funding for their products or projectsrdquo says Steve Ahlenius who serves as President and CEo of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce ldquoThe Chamber awards $50000 a year in innovation grants in $10000 increments and entrepreneurs are always looking for funding But they must earn that money by passing the various stages of the software tool kitrdquo

TEN hOurS TO COmPlETEAhlenius says the assessment

has several specific steps to make sure that a startup company has everything in place to ensure that it is successful

ldquoThe entrepreneurs contact us and set up an appointment to see me then they come to the Chamber office we sign them up and give them passwords to access the software at their conveniencerdquo he says ldquo[The program] takes about 10 hours to complete but doesnrsquot have to be finished in one sitting However the program must be eventually completed in order to qualify for our innovation grantrdquo

CaN iT BE madE QuiCklyThe software asks questions

such as Have you protected your intellectual property Is your product something that can be

made quickly Have you set a value on your idea and do you know how to do that If itrsquos a product that involves high-tech engineering do you have an engineer on your companyrsquos team

ldquoThe entrepreneur needs to know if his venture is worth 20 shares of stock or 200 shares ndash things like thatrdquo Ahlenius says ldquoMany factors go into launching a product or business and Venture Readiness points out a personrsquos strengths and weaknessesrdquo

a grEaT OvErviEwVicente Valle Martinez of

McAllen is an entrepreneur who contacted the Chamber in 2012 about his idea for connecting

people on the Internet who have similar educational experiences and higher learning interests

ldquoI have no background in business but heard one day about an innovation grant competition that the Chamber was sponsoringrdquo Martinez says ldquoSteve told me about the software package and it gave me a great overview of what I need to know before launching my ideardquo

Ahlenius says the various concepts the software package covers include credentials character capabilities commitment and circumstance

ldquoIt is an excellent self-awareness testrdquo he says ldquoItrsquos ideal for entrepreneursrdquo

by Kevin Litwin

the mcallen chamber of commerce on ash avenue

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

Ad Index 41 BorderCapitalBank

21 CityofMCallen puBliCinfooffiCe

4 CourtyardByMarriott

32 easterseals rioGrandeValley

44 ediBlearranGeMents

32 faMilyphysiCiansCliniC

2 MaGiCValley eleCtriCCooperatiVe

C3 MCalleneConoMiC deVelopMentCorporation

46 MCallenindependent sChooldistriCt

1 MCallen internationalairport

C4 MCallenrealty

48 MreleCtriC

46 nueVosantanderGallery

35 ohkayrsquos

34 preVentatiVe

Careinstitute

23 QuintaMazatlan

32 riohealthMediCal

31 southtexasColleGe

C2 southtexas

healthsysteM

18 thepatioonGuerra

44 Valley

internationalairport

ECONOMICPROFILE

3000+

2000- 2999

1999- 500

hOuSEhOld iNCOmE

TOP EmPlOyErS

$200000+

$150000-199999

$100000 and under

McAllen Independent School District

McAllen Medical Center South Texas College City of McAllen

Rio Grande Regional Hospital International Bank of Commerce

EduCaTiON lEvEl

High School Graduate

Associate Degree

Bachelorrsquos Degree

Masterrsquos Degree

TaxES

2City Sales and Use Tax

625State Sales Tax

825Total Sales Tax

SCOrECard

$36BAnnual Retail Sales

$28682Retail sales per capita

$3575MAnnual Hotel and Food Sales

15161Total Number of Firms

TraNSPOrTaTiON

mcallen-miller international airportwwwmcallenairportcom

metro mcallenwwwmcallennetmetro

amtrakwwwamtrakcom

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

everything you need every step of the way

Serving the rio grande valley Since 1989

Rachel Hardison-Oliva Broker

3321 N McColl Rd

McAllen TX 78501

(956) 687-7172 bull (956) 687-7178 Fax

Page 32: Livability McAllen, TX 2013

Charter School

idEa aCadEmy

idEa academy is an innovative institution that offers a fully scaled curriculum for students in kindergarten and in the first second and sixth grades The school which opened in McAllen in 2012 will eventually add more grades each one including approximately 110 students While the school is public students must apply to fill the 460 available spots

To prepare its students to be collegiate scholars IDEA provides International Baccalaureate curriculum as well as the Road to College curriculum which begins in the sixth grade

ldquoWersquore very proud of the connection to our distinguished alumni like NASA astronaut Michael Fossum and we want our students to recognize the kind of education we provide here What he learned here helped catapult him into space and wersquore very proud of thatrdquo

NOrma zamOra-guErra MCALLENINDEPENDENTSCHOOL

DISTRICTCOMMuNITYINFORMATIONDIRECTOR

Michael E Fossum Middle Schoolnamed for astronaut michael e fossum the school is part of the mcallen independent school district

30 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 31

Please call 9566316109 for a representative today

2501 Buddy Owens Blvd McAllen TX 78504

9656316125 Fax

wwwrio-healthcom

RioHealth MedicalWe are here to meet all your

occupational medicine needs

bull Workplace injuries and workersrsquo compensation

bull On site and off site drug screening

bull Physicals

bull Orthopedics

bull Early return to work

bull 247 coverage

bull We accept all types of insurance

WorkplaceInjury

DANIEL J GUERRA MD Diplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

LEONEL G MORENO MDDiplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

HOMERO RIVAS MDDiplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

606 S Broadway bull McAllen TX bull (956) 682-4515 bull wwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

FAMILY PHYSICIANS

CLINICSince 1967

Mon-Fri 8 am-5 pm Sat 8 am-Noon

VALLEY NIGHT CLINIC

Since 1981

Open Every Night of the Year 6 pm-Midnight

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valley supports children of all abilities through child care

services early intervention and parenting support programs

Early Childhood intErvEntion ChildCarE sErviCEs ParEnts as tEaChErs

Easter seals rio Grande valley Programs for Children Birth to Five years

bullChild-Care servicesndashHigh-qualitychildcare sixweekstofiveyears

bullParents as teachers (Pat)ndashDevelopmental parentingsupportforchildrenbirthtofiveyears

bullEarly Childhood intervention (ECi) ndashConcerns indevelopmentforchildrenbirthtothreeyears

For more information about Easter seals

programs and services call (956) 631-9171 or visit wwweasterseals-rgvorg

32 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 33

liviNg HEALTH

Take a Deep Breath and Relaxresidents haVe access to top hospitals

McAllen residents receive quality care from the South Texas Health System Rio Grande Regional Hospital and the Doctors Hospital at Renaissance By Kevin Litwin

Health System

SOuTh TExaS hEalTh SySTEm

South Texas health System is the umbrella organization for a number of fine medical facilities including mcallen medical Center MMC has 441 beds and a staff of more than 400 physicians that represent 50 medical specialties

Also part of South Texas Health System is mcallen heart hospital which opened in 1996 as the first freestanding cardiology and cardiovascular hospital built in the United States It includes 60 beds and a 24-hour emergency center

Healthgrades has awarded McAllen Medical Center and McAllen Heart Hospital with a variety of honors in recent years and both earned a Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence in 2011

Hospital

riO graNdE rEgiONal hOSPiTal

rio grande regional hospital is an acute care medical facility with 320 beds and more than 500 physicians The hospital is the only area Diabetes Management Center accredited by the American Diabetes Association and is the arearsquos first facility to have a Pediatric Heart Program

RGRH also includes a 24-hour emergency room Womenrsquos Services department Level III trauma center and cardiovascular care The hospital is fully accredited by The Joint Commission and the College of American Pathologists and every year since 2007 has been named a Center of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery

32 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 33

Hospital

dOCTOrS hOSPiTal aT rENaiSSaNCE

The 506-bed doctors hospital at renaissance is an acute care facility It provides cardiology neurosurgery and endocrinology as well as a Pediatric Medical Tower that offers pediatric oncology and pediatric ICU services

Doctors Hospital has been ranked among the nationrsquos 100 Top Hospitals by Thomson Reuters and recently invested $32 million to establish an Electronic Medical Record System

DHR was the first in South Texas to acquire a PETCT scanner for diagnosing cancer and the first in the region to introduce da Vinci robotic surgical technology The hospital also oversees Renaissance Behavioral Center which provides treatment for people with mental health problems substance abuse or eating disorders

34 mc allen

COMMUNITyPROFILE COST OF liviNg

$44074Median Household Income

$129554Median Home Price

$689Median Rent for a Two-Bedroom Apartment

TraNSPOrTaTiON

Median Travel Time to Work

agE

TEmPEraTurE

January Average

July Average

EThNiCiTy

19 and Under

20-54

55 and over

White

Black

Hispanic

other

1645minutes

Closest Airport McAllen International Airport

955deg

482deg

South Texasrsquo Finest Gift Store Offers Gifts From Around the World

4300 N 10th St bull Ste C bull McAllen TX 78504 (956) 686-1264 bull ohkaysaolcom

Look for us on Facebook

gOlF COurSES

gOlF TEC

2901 N 10TH ST956-994-9631

mCallEN COuNTry CluB615 WICHITA AVE956-686-0923

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

The national Butterfly Center the national butterfly center dedicates 100 acres to the conservation and scientific study of wild butterflies in their natural habitats the wildlife center is open daily from 8 am until 5 pm september through march and from 9 am until 4 pm april through august

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

liviNg SEE THE CITY

36 mc allen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 37

BUSINESSInfo on McAllenrsquos top employers jobs and success stories

McAllen Convention Centerthe McAllenConventionCenter is located on 185 acres and includes a 60000-square-foot exhibit hall as well as more than 25000 square feet of meeting space in 16 breakout rooms

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

38 mc allen 38 mc allen

38 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 39

BuSiNESS oVERVIEW

McAllenrsquos in the MoneyCultural diversity location and innovation drive cityrsquos top business sectors

As the retail hub of South Texas McAllen is thriving The city draws a customer base of more than 10 million within a 200-mile radius and is represented by 40 of Americarsquos top 100 retailers

By Tiffany Williams

La Plaza MallPumping much of the life into this retail hub is la Plaza mall which annually attracts more than 18 million visitors its anchoring stores such as dillardrsquos and macyrsquos and sought-after retailers including BCBg-max azria and Coach average sales of more than $650 per square foot and are among the most profitable stores in their chains

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

Meetings amp Events

CONvENTiON CENTEr lurES viSiTOrS

The mcallen Convention Center also helps draw businesses to the area The 185-acre complex featuring a 60000-square-foot column-free exhibit hall more than 25000 square feet of meeting space and up to 16 breakout rooms offers bicultural themes and tropical accents that represent the cultural and natural diversity of McAllen

Retail

ShOPPiNg hOT SPOTS

This bicultural city which is located just five miles from the US-Mexico border also has access to three international bridges that flood with visitors and eager shoppers daily many of whom are spending at a rate twice the national average

In addition to La Plaza Mall shopping centers in the McAllen area include Trenton Crossing las Tiendas Plaza and La Plaza Mallrsquos 600sbquo000-square-foot sister shopping center Palms Crossing which hosts such big-name retailers as Barnes amp Noble and Babies rsquoRrsquo Us as well as specialty shops and restaurants Its appeal stems from its open-air design with lots of palm trees water fountains and seating areas

Major Manufacturers

madE FOr maNuFaCTuriNg

Ranked third in Texas in per-capita sales the McAllen area has some of the largest manufacturing and wholesale companies in the nation

valley Coca Cola Bottling Co Value Frozen Foods and Emerson Network Power are just a few who have put down roots here Tri-City Steel which provides a full scope of steel construction by fabricating and erecting structural steel buildings pre-engineered metal buildings stairs handrails and more Texas Citrus Exchange in Mission makes Texas rio red grapefruit juice

learn more about businesses in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

BuSiNESS

RESIDEnTS GET CREATIvE WITH BUSInESS vEnTURES

the BoxOutside

One of McAllenrsquos most innovative startups sprang from the mind of someone who wasnrsquot even interested in business Today Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar is one

of the arearsquos top entrepreneurs and is finding serious success

mcallen entrepreneur dalinda Gonzalez-alcantar founded eJucomm llc

liVabil it ycommc allen 43 42 mc allen

ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the worldrdquo

EllEry BuChaNaN FIBERIOPRESIDENTCEO

Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar the founder of eJucomm LLC simply wanted to make information in her school district more accessible to families The company was a way she could make it happen

She got the idea while working as a teacher at DeLeon Middle School in McAllen and was frustrated that families without computers andor Internet access had difficulty communicating with teachers and administrators So she decided to develop a smartphone application that would solve the problem

With no previous technical experience she researched code online at night and a year later was selling the app to various school districts

ldquoThe app enables Android and iPhone users to access information for things like grades and attendancerdquo Gonzalez-Alcantar says

The entrepreneur also faced unexpected challenges ndash for instance how to tailor individual apps to the roughly seven school districts and 40 campuses that now use them No longer teaching she has partnered with a chief technology officer so she can focus on sales and marketing

One of her biggest hurdles was finding legal fees to fund the startup and a $10000 McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant in 2011 helped pay for a licensing agreement and intellectual property protection for eJucomm to move forward

BaNaNa E-z SPliTAnother McAllen resident

Gerald Guerra faced a similar obstacle when developing a product called Banana E-Z Split A health insurance broker Guerra was inspired at his own kitchen table to create single serving packets with all three syrups

Banana E-Z SplitGerald Guerra inventor of the banana e-Z split single serving syrup packets poses with his daughters Victoria and kaitlyn enthusiastic taste testers for his product

liVabil it ycommc allen 43

To order please call or visit 956-668-0555 or wwwediblearrangementscom 5113-A N 10th St bull McAllen TX 78504

Offer valid at participating locations Offer expires 12312013 Cannot be combined with another offers Offer code must be used when placing order

Containers may vary EDIBLE ARRANGEMENTS and the Fruit Basket Logo Design are registered trademarks of Edible Arrangements LLC

copy2012 Edible Arrangements LLC All rights reserved Frachises available call (888) 727-4258 or visit wwweafranchisescom

DELICIOUSLYd e s i r a b l e

FREE PIECE OF DIPPED FRUIT

Code mctx1213

Living green is making sure the air in your home is healthy for your family to breathe Test your home for radon and build radon-resistant

Its easy Thats living healthy and green

Just call 866-730-green or visit wwwepagovradon

Living greenstarts from the ground up

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

(pineapple chocolate strawberry) needed for a banana split

The concept led to a 2011 McAllen Business Plan Competition grant to fund the necessary patents

ldquoI envisioned a product that could hang easily in refrigerated sections at big box storesrdquo Guerra says ldquoI have lined up a distributor and a broker with my ultimate goal being to have Banana E-Z Split available to customers in large grocery chains It is close to happeningrdquo

FiBEriO TEChNOlOgyAnother startup in McAllen

is already making waves globally FibeRio Technology Corporation another McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant recipient is thriving thanks to ground-breaking nanofiber-producing machinery The nanofibers can be used to make products ranging from diapers to

ballistics using a new way to spin microscopic nanofibers

The technology serves an array of industries that feature filtration textiles or biomedical applications

ldquoDr Karen Lozano at UT-Pan American discovered the process and I was contacted because I am an entrepreneur familiar with launching technology- based companies including nanotechnologyrdquo says FibeRio Technology presidentCEO Ellery Buchanan ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the world Plus we use local McAllen suppliers whenever possible including machine shops parts suppliers IT contractors and other business servicesrdquo

by Kevin Litwin by staff photographer

Michael Conti

FibeRio Technology Corporationnanomaterials processing research equipment is used at FibeRioTechnologyCorporation

FEldmaNrsquoS markET CENTErFeldmanrsquos Market Center features a broad selection of beer as well as wines liquors cigars and a gourmet deli In addition weekly beer and wine tastings are offered(956) 687-9463

PErFECT PawS rESOrTPerfect Paws Resort offers grooming services daycare and boarding to vaccinated dogs and cats that are at least 12 weeks old Boarding suites are climate controlled and under constant supervisionperfectpawsresortcom

mCCrEEry aviaTiON CO iNCMcCreery Aviation Co Inc is a place for pilots and their aircraft to receive top-notch treatment A fuel center flight planning room and hangar storage are availablemccreeryaviationcom

kiTikakE llCKitikake LLC offers gently- used vintage clothing for women from an array of top designers such as Lilly Pulitzer and Catherine Malandrino Vintage home deacutecor and dishes are also availablekitikakecom

krEidlEr FuNEral hOmEFounded owned and operated by the Kreidler family Kreidler Funeral Home has served McAllen for 100 years They offer traditional burial and graveside funeral services direct burials cremations memorial services and morekreidlerfuneralhomecom

Business Spotlight

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

visit ouradvertisersBorder Capital Bankwwwbordercapitalbankcom

City of McAllen Public Info Officewwwexploremcallennet

Courtyard by Marriottwwwmarriottcommtema

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valleywwweasterseals-rgvorg

Edible Arrangementswwwediblearrangementscom

Family Physicians Clinicwwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

Magic Valley Electric Cooperativewwwmagicvalleycoop

McAllen Economic Development Corporationwwwmcallenedcorg

McAllen Independent School Districtwwwmcallenisdorg

McAllen International Airportwwwmcallenairportcom

McAllen Realty

Mr Electricwwwmrelectriccom

Nuevo Santander Gallerywwwnuevosantandercom

OH KAYrsquoS

Preventative Care Institutewwwrgvpcicom

Quinta Mazatlanwwwquintamazatlancom

Rio Health Medicalwwwrio-healthcom

South Texas College wwwsouthtexascollegeedu

South Texas Health Systemwwwsouthtexashealthsystemcom

The Patio on Guerra wwwpatioonguerracom

Valley International Airportwwwflythevalleycom

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

BuSiNESS CHAMBER REPoRT

Whatrsquos the Big Ideachamberrsquos readiness tool kit assists entrepreneurs

The McAllen Chamber of Commerce has helped prepare 25 McAllen entrepreneurs in the continuing quest to launch their ideas ndash all since July 2011

The Chamber has a software package called VentureBusiness Readiness Assessment which is used by states such as oklahoma and Kentucky to assist startup companies The software helps an entrepreneur through the entire process of seeing whether they are truly ready to launch their startup

ldquoVentureBusiness Readiness Assessment is a way that the Chamber assists entrepreneurs who are trying to get funding for their products or projectsrdquo says Steve Ahlenius who serves as President and CEo of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce ldquoThe Chamber awards $50000 a year in innovation grants in $10000 increments and entrepreneurs are always looking for funding But they must earn that money by passing the various stages of the software tool kitrdquo

TEN hOurS TO COmPlETEAhlenius says the assessment

has several specific steps to make sure that a startup company has everything in place to ensure that it is successful

ldquoThe entrepreneurs contact us and set up an appointment to see me then they come to the Chamber office we sign them up and give them passwords to access the software at their conveniencerdquo he says ldquo[The program] takes about 10 hours to complete but doesnrsquot have to be finished in one sitting However the program must be eventually completed in order to qualify for our innovation grantrdquo

CaN iT BE madE QuiCklyThe software asks questions

such as Have you protected your intellectual property Is your product something that can be

made quickly Have you set a value on your idea and do you know how to do that If itrsquos a product that involves high-tech engineering do you have an engineer on your companyrsquos team

ldquoThe entrepreneur needs to know if his venture is worth 20 shares of stock or 200 shares ndash things like thatrdquo Ahlenius says ldquoMany factors go into launching a product or business and Venture Readiness points out a personrsquos strengths and weaknessesrdquo

a grEaT OvErviEwVicente Valle Martinez of

McAllen is an entrepreneur who contacted the Chamber in 2012 about his idea for connecting

people on the Internet who have similar educational experiences and higher learning interests

ldquoI have no background in business but heard one day about an innovation grant competition that the Chamber was sponsoringrdquo Martinez says ldquoSteve told me about the software package and it gave me a great overview of what I need to know before launching my ideardquo

Ahlenius says the various concepts the software package covers include credentials character capabilities commitment and circumstance

ldquoIt is an excellent self-awareness testrdquo he says ldquoItrsquos ideal for entrepreneursrdquo

by Kevin Litwin

the mcallen chamber of commerce on ash avenue

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

Ad Index 41 BorderCapitalBank

21 CityofMCallen puBliCinfooffiCe

4 CourtyardByMarriott

32 easterseals rioGrandeValley

44 ediBlearranGeMents

32 faMilyphysiCiansCliniC

2 MaGiCValley eleCtriCCooperatiVe

C3 MCalleneConoMiC deVelopMentCorporation

46 MCallenindependent sChooldistriCt

1 MCallen internationalairport

C4 MCallenrealty

48 MreleCtriC

46 nueVosantanderGallery

35 ohkayrsquos

34 preVentatiVe

Careinstitute

23 QuintaMazatlan

32 riohealthMediCal

31 southtexasColleGe

C2 southtexas

healthsysteM

18 thepatioonGuerra

44 Valley

internationalairport

ECONOMICPROFILE

3000+

2000- 2999

1999- 500

hOuSEhOld iNCOmE

TOP EmPlOyErS

$200000+

$150000-199999

$100000 and under

McAllen Independent School District

McAllen Medical Center South Texas College City of McAllen

Rio Grande Regional Hospital International Bank of Commerce

EduCaTiON lEvEl

High School Graduate

Associate Degree

Bachelorrsquos Degree

Masterrsquos Degree

TaxES

2City Sales and Use Tax

625State Sales Tax

825Total Sales Tax

SCOrECard

$36BAnnual Retail Sales

$28682Retail sales per capita

$3575MAnnual Hotel and Food Sales

15161Total Number of Firms

TraNSPOrTaTiON

mcallen-miller international airportwwwmcallenairportcom

metro mcallenwwwmcallennetmetro

amtrakwwwamtrakcom

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

everything you need every step of the way

Serving the rio grande valley Since 1989

Rachel Hardison-Oliva Broker

3321 N McColl Rd

McAllen TX 78501

(956) 687-7172 bull (956) 687-7178 Fax

Page 33: Livability McAllen, TX 2013

Please call 9566316109 for a representative today

2501 Buddy Owens Blvd McAllen TX 78504

9656316125 Fax

wwwrio-healthcom

RioHealth MedicalWe are here to meet all your

occupational medicine needs

bull Workplace injuries and workersrsquo compensation

bull On site and off site drug screening

bull Physicals

bull Orthopedics

bull Early return to work

bull 247 coverage

bull We accept all types of insurance

WorkplaceInjury

DANIEL J GUERRA MD Diplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

LEONEL G MORENO MDDiplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

HOMERO RIVAS MDDiplomate AAFP

Fellow AAFP

606 S Broadway bull McAllen TX bull (956) 682-4515 bull wwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

FAMILY PHYSICIANS

CLINICSince 1967

Mon-Fri 8 am-5 pm Sat 8 am-Noon

VALLEY NIGHT CLINIC

Since 1981

Open Every Night of the Year 6 pm-Midnight

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valley supports children of all abilities through child care

services early intervention and parenting support programs

Early Childhood intErvEntion ChildCarE sErviCEs ParEnts as tEaChErs

Easter seals rio Grande valley Programs for Children Birth to Five years

bullChild-Care servicesndashHigh-qualitychildcare sixweekstofiveyears

bullParents as teachers (Pat)ndashDevelopmental parentingsupportforchildrenbirthtofiveyears

bullEarly Childhood intervention (ECi) ndashConcerns indevelopmentforchildrenbirthtothreeyears

For more information about Easter seals

programs and services call (956) 631-9171 or visit wwweasterseals-rgvorg

32 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 33

liviNg HEALTH

Take a Deep Breath and Relaxresidents haVe access to top hospitals

McAllen residents receive quality care from the South Texas Health System Rio Grande Regional Hospital and the Doctors Hospital at Renaissance By Kevin Litwin

Health System

SOuTh TExaS hEalTh SySTEm

South Texas health System is the umbrella organization for a number of fine medical facilities including mcallen medical Center MMC has 441 beds and a staff of more than 400 physicians that represent 50 medical specialties

Also part of South Texas Health System is mcallen heart hospital which opened in 1996 as the first freestanding cardiology and cardiovascular hospital built in the United States It includes 60 beds and a 24-hour emergency center

Healthgrades has awarded McAllen Medical Center and McAllen Heart Hospital with a variety of honors in recent years and both earned a Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence in 2011

Hospital

riO graNdE rEgiONal hOSPiTal

rio grande regional hospital is an acute care medical facility with 320 beds and more than 500 physicians The hospital is the only area Diabetes Management Center accredited by the American Diabetes Association and is the arearsquos first facility to have a Pediatric Heart Program

RGRH also includes a 24-hour emergency room Womenrsquos Services department Level III trauma center and cardiovascular care The hospital is fully accredited by The Joint Commission and the College of American Pathologists and every year since 2007 has been named a Center of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery

32 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 33

Hospital

dOCTOrS hOSPiTal aT rENaiSSaNCE

The 506-bed doctors hospital at renaissance is an acute care facility It provides cardiology neurosurgery and endocrinology as well as a Pediatric Medical Tower that offers pediatric oncology and pediatric ICU services

Doctors Hospital has been ranked among the nationrsquos 100 Top Hospitals by Thomson Reuters and recently invested $32 million to establish an Electronic Medical Record System

DHR was the first in South Texas to acquire a PETCT scanner for diagnosing cancer and the first in the region to introduce da Vinci robotic surgical technology The hospital also oversees Renaissance Behavioral Center which provides treatment for people with mental health problems substance abuse or eating disorders

34 mc allen

COMMUNITyPROFILE COST OF liviNg

$44074Median Household Income

$129554Median Home Price

$689Median Rent for a Two-Bedroom Apartment

TraNSPOrTaTiON

Median Travel Time to Work

agE

TEmPEraTurE

January Average

July Average

EThNiCiTy

19 and Under

20-54

55 and over

White

Black

Hispanic

other

1645minutes

Closest Airport McAllen International Airport

955deg

482deg

South Texasrsquo Finest Gift Store Offers Gifts From Around the World

4300 N 10th St bull Ste C bull McAllen TX 78504 (956) 686-1264 bull ohkaysaolcom

Look for us on Facebook

gOlF COurSES

gOlF TEC

2901 N 10TH ST956-994-9631

mCallEN COuNTry CluB615 WICHITA AVE956-686-0923

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

The national Butterfly Center the national butterfly center dedicates 100 acres to the conservation and scientific study of wild butterflies in their natural habitats the wildlife center is open daily from 8 am until 5 pm september through march and from 9 am until 4 pm april through august

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

liviNg SEE THE CITY

36 mc allen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 37

BUSINESSInfo on McAllenrsquos top employers jobs and success stories

McAllen Convention Centerthe McAllenConventionCenter is located on 185 acres and includes a 60000-square-foot exhibit hall as well as more than 25000 square feet of meeting space in 16 breakout rooms

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

38 mc allen 38 mc allen

38 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 39

BuSiNESS oVERVIEW

McAllenrsquos in the MoneyCultural diversity location and innovation drive cityrsquos top business sectors

As the retail hub of South Texas McAllen is thriving The city draws a customer base of more than 10 million within a 200-mile radius and is represented by 40 of Americarsquos top 100 retailers

By Tiffany Williams

La Plaza MallPumping much of the life into this retail hub is la Plaza mall which annually attracts more than 18 million visitors its anchoring stores such as dillardrsquos and macyrsquos and sought-after retailers including BCBg-max azria and Coach average sales of more than $650 per square foot and are among the most profitable stores in their chains

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

Meetings amp Events

CONvENTiON CENTEr lurES viSiTOrS

The mcallen Convention Center also helps draw businesses to the area The 185-acre complex featuring a 60000-square-foot column-free exhibit hall more than 25000 square feet of meeting space and up to 16 breakout rooms offers bicultural themes and tropical accents that represent the cultural and natural diversity of McAllen

Retail

ShOPPiNg hOT SPOTS

This bicultural city which is located just five miles from the US-Mexico border also has access to three international bridges that flood with visitors and eager shoppers daily many of whom are spending at a rate twice the national average

In addition to La Plaza Mall shopping centers in the McAllen area include Trenton Crossing las Tiendas Plaza and La Plaza Mallrsquos 600sbquo000-square-foot sister shopping center Palms Crossing which hosts such big-name retailers as Barnes amp Noble and Babies rsquoRrsquo Us as well as specialty shops and restaurants Its appeal stems from its open-air design with lots of palm trees water fountains and seating areas

Major Manufacturers

madE FOr maNuFaCTuriNg

Ranked third in Texas in per-capita sales the McAllen area has some of the largest manufacturing and wholesale companies in the nation

valley Coca Cola Bottling Co Value Frozen Foods and Emerson Network Power are just a few who have put down roots here Tri-City Steel which provides a full scope of steel construction by fabricating and erecting structural steel buildings pre-engineered metal buildings stairs handrails and more Texas Citrus Exchange in Mission makes Texas rio red grapefruit juice

learn more about businesses in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

BuSiNESS

RESIDEnTS GET CREATIvE WITH BUSInESS vEnTURES

the BoxOutside

One of McAllenrsquos most innovative startups sprang from the mind of someone who wasnrsquot even interested in business Today Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar is one

of the arearsquos top entrepreneurs and is finding serious success

mcallen entrepreneur dalinda Gonzalez-alcantar founded eJucomm llc

liVabil it ycommc allen 43 42 mc allen

ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the worldrdquo

EllEry BuChaNaN FIBERIOPRESIDENTCEO

Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar the founder of eJucomm LLC simply wanted to make information in her school district more accessible to families The company was a way she could make it happen

She got the idea while working as a teacher at DeLeon Middle School in McAllen and was frustrated that families without computers andor Internet access had difficulty communicating with teachers and administrators So she decided to develop a smartphone application that would solve the problem

With no previous technical experience she researched code online at night and a year later was selling the app to various school districts

ldquoThe app enables Android and iPhone users to access information for things like grades and attendancerdquo Gonzalez-Alcantar says

The entrepreneur also faced unexpected challenges ndash for instance how to tailor individual apps to the roughly seven school districts and 40 campuses that now use them No longer teaching she has partnered with a chief technology officer so she can focus on sales and marketing

One of her biggest hurdles was finding legal fees to fund the startup and a $10000 McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant in 2011 helped pay for a licensing agreement and intellectual property protection for eJucomm to move forward

BaNaNa E-z SPliTAnother McAllen resident

Gerald Guerra faced a similar obstacle when developing a product called Banana E-Z Split A health insurance broker Guerra was inspired at his own kitchen table to create single serving packets with all three syrups

Banana E-Z SplitGerald Guerra inventor of the banana e-Z split single serving syrup packets poses with his daughters Victoria and kaitlyn enthusiastic taste testers for his product

liVabil it ycommc allen 43

To order please call or visit 956-668-0555 or wwwediblearrangementscom 5113-A N 10th St bull McAllen TX 78504

Offer valid at participating locations Offer expires 12312013 Cannot be combined with another offers Offer code must be used when placing order

Containers may vary EDIBLE ARRANGEMENTS and the Fruit Basket Logo Design are registered trademarks of Edible Arrangements LLC

copy2012 Edible Arrangements LLC All rights reserved Frachises available call (888) 727-4258 or visit wwweafranchisescom

DELICIOUSLYd e s i r a b l e

FREE PIECE OF DIPPED FRUIT

Code mctx1213

Living green is making sure the air in your home is healthy for your family to breathe Test your home for radon and build radon-resistant

Its easy Thats living healthy and green

Just call 866-730-green or visit wwwepagovradon

Living greenstarts from the ground up

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

(pineapple chocolate strawberry) needed for a banana split

The concept led to a 2011 McAllen Business Plan Competition grant to fund the necessary patents

ldquoI envisioned a product that could hang easily in refrigerated sections at big box storesrdquo Guerra says ldquoI have lined up a distributor and a broker with my ultimate goal being to have Banana E-Z Split available to customers in large grocery chains It is close to happeningrdquo

FiBEriO TEChNOlOgyAnother startup in McAllen

is already making waves globally FibeRio Technology Corporation another McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant recipient is thriving thanks to ground-breaking nanofiber-producing machinery The nanofibers can be used to make products ranging from diapers to

ballistics using a new way to spin microscopic nanofibers

The technology serves an array of industries that feature filtration textiles or biomedical applications

ldquoDr Karen Lozano at UT-Pan American discovered the process and I was contacted because I am an entrepreneur familiar with launching technology- based companies including nanotechnologyrdquo says FibeRio Technology presidentCEO Ellery Buchanan ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the world Plus we use local McAllen suppliers whenever possible including machine shops parts suppliers IT contractors and other business servicesrdquo

by Kevin Litwin by staff photographer

Michael Conti

FibeRio Technology Corporationnanomaterials processing research equipment is used at FibeRioTechnologyCorporation

FEldmaNrsquoS markET CENTErFeldmanrsquos Market Center features a broad selection of beer as well as wines liquors cigars and a gourmet deli In addition weekly beer and wine tastings are offered(956) 687-9463

PErFECT PawS rESOrTPerfect Paws Resort offers grooming services daycare and boarding to vaccinated dogs and cats that are at least 12 weeks old Boarding suites are climate controlled and under constant supervisionperfectpawsresortcom

mCCrEEry aviaTiON CO iNCMcCreery Aviation Co Inc is a place for pilots and their aircraft to receive top-notch treatment A fuel center flight planning room and hangar storage are availablemccreeryaviationcom

kiTikakE llCKitikake LLC offers gently- used vintage clothing for women from an array of top designers such as Lilly Pulitzer and Catherine Malandrino Vintage home deacutecor and dishes are also availablekitikakecom

krEidlEr FuNEral hOmEFounded owned and operated by the Kreidler family Kreidler Funeral Home has served McAllen for 100 years They offer traditional burial and graveside funeral services direct burials cremations memorial services and morekreidlerfuneralhomecom

Business Spotlight

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

visit ouradvertisersBorder Capital Bankwwwbordercapitalbankcom

City of McAllen Public Info Officewwwexploremcallennet

Courtyard by Marriottwwwmarriottcommtema

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valleywwweasterseals-rgvorg

Edible Arrangementswwwediblearrangementscom

Family Physicians Clinicwwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

Magic Valley Electric Cooperativewwwmagicvalleycoop

McAllen Economic Development Corporationwwwmcallenedcorg

McAllen Independent School Districtwwwmcallenisdorg

McAllen International Airportwwwmcallenairportcom

McAllen Realty

Mr Electricwwwmrelectriccom

Nuevo Santander Gallerywwwnuevosantandercom

OH KAYrsquoS

Preventative Care Institutewwwrgvpcicom

Quinta Mazatlanwwwquintamazatlancom

Rio Health Medicalwwwrio-healthcom

South Texas College wwwsouthtexascollegeedu

South Texas Health Systemwwwsouthtexashealthsystemcom

The Patio on Guerra wwwpatioonguerracom

Valley International Airportwwwflythevalleycom

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

BuSiNESS CHAMBER REPoRT

Whatrsquos the Big Ideachamberrsquos readiness tool kit assists entrepreneurs

The McAllen Chamber of Commerce has helped prepare 25 McAllen entrepreneurs in the continuing quest to launch their ideas ndash all since July 2011

The Chamber has a software package called VentureBusiness Readiness Assessment which is used by states such as oklahoma and Kentucky to assist startup companies The software helps an entrepreneur through the entire process of seeing whether they are truly ready to launch their startup

ldquoVentureBusiness Readiness Assessment is a way that the Chamber assists entrepreneurs who are trying to get funding for their products or projectsrdquo says Steve Ahlenius who serves as President and CEo of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce ldquoThe Chamber awards $50000 a year in innovation grants in $10000 increments and entrepreneurs are always looking for funding But they must earn that money by passing the various stages of the software tool kitrdquo

TEN hOurS TO COmPlETEAhlenius says the assessment

has several specific steps to make sure that a startup company has everything in place to ensure that it is successful

ldquoThe entrepreneurs contact us and set up an appointment to see me then they come to the Chamber office we sign them up and give them passwords to access the software at their conveniencerdquo he says ldquo[The program] takes about 10 hours to complete but doesnrsquot have to be finished in one sitting However the program must be eventually completed in order to qualify for our innovation grantrdquo

CaN iT BE madE QuiCklyThe software asks questions

such as Have you protected your intellectual property Is your product something that can be

made quickly Have you set a value on your idea and do you know how to do that If itrsquos a product that involves high-tech engineering do you have an engineer on your companyrsquos team

ldquoThe entrepreneur needs to know if his venture is worth 20 shares of stock or 200 shares ndash things like thatrdquo Ahlenius says ldquoMany factors go into launching a product or business and Venture Readiness points out a personrsquos strengths and weaknessesrdquo

a grEaT OvErviEwVicente Valle Martinez of

McAllen is an entrepreneur who contacted the Chamber in 2012 about his idea for connecting

people on the Internet who have similar educational experiences and higher learning interests

ldquoI have no background in business but heard one day about an innovation grant competition that the Chamber was sponsoringrdquo Martinez says ldquoSteve told me about the software package and it gave me a great overview of what I need to know before launching my ideardquo

Ahlenius says the various concepts the software package covers include credentials character capabilities commitment and circumstance

ldquoIt is an excellent self-awareness testrdquo he says ldquoItrsquos ideal for entrepreneursrdquo

by Kevin Litwin

the mcallen chamber of commerce on ash avenue

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

Ad Index 41 BorderCapitalBank

21 CityofMCallen puBliCinfooffiCe

4 CourtyardByMarriott

32 easterseals rioGrandeValley

44 ediBlearranGeMents

32 faMilyphysiCiansCliniC

2 MaGiCValley eleCtriCCooperatiVe

C3 MCalleneConoMiC deVelopMentCorporation

46 MCallenindependent sChooldistriCt

1 MCallen internationalairport

C4 MCallenrealty

48 MreleCtriC

46 nueVosantanderGallery

35 ohkayrsquos

34 preVentatiVe

Careinstitute

23 QuintaMazatlan

32 riohealthMediCal

31 southtexasColleGe

C2 southtexas

healthsysteM

18 thepatioonGuerra

44 Valley

internationalairport

ECONOMICPROFILE

3000+

2000- 2999

1999- 500

hOuSEhOld iNCOmE

TOP EmPlOyErS

$200000+

$150000-199999

$100000 and under

McAllen Independent School District

McAllen Medical Center South Texas College City of McAllen

Rio Grande Regional Hospital International Bank of Commerce

EduCaTiON lEvEl

High School Graduate

Associate Degree

Bachelorrsquos Degree

Masterrsquos Degree

TaxES

2City Sales and Use Tax

625State Sales Tax

825Total Sales Tax

SCOrECard

$36BAnnual Retail Sales

$28682Retail sales per capita

$3575MAnnual Hotel and Food Sales

15161Total Number of Firms

TraNSPOrTaTiON

mcallen-miller international airportwwwmcallenairportcom

metro mcallenwwwmcallennetmetro

amtrakwwwamtrakcom

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

everything you need every step of the way

Serving the rio grande valley Since 1989

Rachel Hardison-Oliva Broker

3321 N McColl Rd

McAllen TX 78501

(956) 687-7172 bull (956) 687-7178 Fax

Page 34: Livability McAllen, TX 2013

liviNg HEALTH

Take a Deep Breath and Relaxresidents haVe access to top hospitals

McAllen residents receive quality care from the South Texas Health System Rio Grande Regional Hospital and the Doctors Hospital at Renaissance By Kevin Litwin

Health System

SOuTh TExaS hEalTh SySTEm

South Texas health System is the umbrella organization for a number of fine medical facilities including mcallen medical Center MMC has 441 beds and a staff of more than 400 physicians that represent 50 medical specialties

Also part of South Texas Health System is mcallen heart hospital which opened in 1996 as the first freestanding cardiology and cardiovascular hospital built in the United States It includes 60 beds and a 24-hour emergency center

Healthgrades has awarded McAllen Medical Center and McAllen Heart Hospital with a variety of honors in recent years and both earned a Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence in 2011

Hospital

riO graNdE rEgiONal hOSPiTal

rio grande regional hospital is an acute care medical facility with 320 beds and more than 500 physicians The hospital is the only area Diabetes Management Center accredited by the American Diabetes Association and is the arearsquos first facility to have a Pediatric Heart Program

RGRH also includes a 24-hour emergency room Womenrsquos Services department Level III trauma center and cardiovascular care The hospital is fully accredited by The Joint Commission and the College of American Pathologists and every year since 2007 has been named a Center of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery

32 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 33

Hospital

dOCTOrS hOSPiTal aT rENaiSSaNCE

The 506-bed doctors hospital at renaissance is an acute care facility It provides cardiology neurosurgery and endocrinology as well as a Pediatric Medical Tower that offers pediatric oncology and pediatric ICU services

Doctors Hospital has been ranked among the nationrsquos 100 Top Hospitals by Thomson Reuters and recently invested $32 million to establish an Electronic Medical Record System

DHR was the first in South Texas to acquire a PETCT scanner for diagnosing cancer and the first in the region to introduce da Vinci robotic surgical technology The hospital also oversees Renaissance Behavioral Center which provides treatment for people with mental health problems substance abuse or eating disorders

34 mc allen

COMMUNITyPROFILE COST OF liviNg

$44074Median Household Income

$129554Median Home Price

$689Median Rent for a Two-Bedroom Apartment

TraNSPOrTaTiON

Median Travel Time to Work

agE

TEmPEraTurE

January Average

July Average

EThNiCiTy

19 and Under

20-54

55 and over

White

Black

Hispanic

other

1645minutes

Closest Airport McAllen International Airport

955deg

482deg

South Texasrsquo Finest Gift Store Offers Gifts From Around the World

4300 N 10th St bull Ste C bull McAllen TX 78504 (956) 686-1264 bull ohkaysaolcom

Look for us on Facebook

gOlF COurSES

gOlF TEC

2901 N 10TH ST956-994-9631

mCallEN COuNTry CluB615 WICHITA AVE956-686-0923

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

The national Butterfly Center the national butterfly center dedicates 100 acres to the conservation and scientific study of wild butterflies in their natural habitats the wildlife center is open daily from 8 am until 5 pm september through march and from 9 am until 4 pm april through august

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

liviNg SEE THE CITY

36 mc allen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 37

BUSINESSInfo on McAllenrsquos top employers jobs and success stories

McAllen Convention Centerthe McAllenConventionCenter is located on 185 acres and includes a 60000-square-foot exhibit hall as well as more than 25000 square feet of meeting space in 16 breakout rooms

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

38 mc allen 38 mc allen

38 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 39

BuSiNESS oVERVIEW

McAllenrsquos in the MoneyCultural diversity location and innovation drive cityrsquos top business sectors

As the retail hub of South Texas McAllen is thriving The city draws a customer base of more than 10 million within a 200-mile radius and is represented by 40 of Americarsquos top 100 retailers

By Tiffany Williams

La Plaza MallPumping much of the life into this retail hub is la Plaza mall which annually attracts more than 18 million visitors its anchoring stores such as dillardrsquos and macyrsquos and sought-after retailers including BCBg-max azria and Coach average sales of more than $650 per square foot and are among the most profitable stores in their chains

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

Meetings amp Events

CONvENTiON CENTEr lurES viSiTOrS

The mcallen Convention Center also helps draw businesses to the area The 185-acre complex featuring a 60000-square-foot column-free exhibit hall more than 25000 square feet of meeting space and up to 16 breakout rooms offers bicultural themes and tropical accents that represent the cultural and natural diversity of McAllen

Retail

ShOPPiNg hOT SPOTS

This bicultural city which is located just five miles from the US-Mexico border also has access to three international bridges that flood with visitors and eager shoppers daily many of whom are spending at a rate twice the national average

In addition to La Plaza Mall shopping centers in the McAllen area include Trenton Crossing las Tiendas Plaza and La Plaza Mallrsquos 600sbquo000-square-foot sister shopping center Palms Crossing which hosts such big-name retailers as Barnes amp Noble and Babies rsquoRrsquo Us as well as specialty shops and restaurants Its appeal stems from its open-air design with lots of palm trees water fountains and seating areas

Major Manufacturers

madE FOr maNuFaCTuriNg

Ranked third in Texas in per-capita sales the McAllen area has some of the largest manufacturing and wholesale companies in the nation

valley Coca Cola Bottling Co Value Frozen Foods and Emerson Network Power are just a few who have put down roots here Tri-City Steel which provides a full scope of steel construction by fabricating and erecting structural steel buildings pre-engineered metal buildings stairs handrails and more Texas Citrus Exchange in Mission makes Texas rio red grapefruit juice

learn more about businesses in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

BuSiNESS

RESIDEnTS GET CREATIvE WITH BUSInESS vEnTURES

the BoxOutside

One of McAllenrsquos most innovative startups sprang from the mind of someone who wasnrsquot even interested in business Today Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar is one

of the arearsquos top entrepreneurs and is finding serious success

mcallen entrepreneur dalinda Gonzalez-alcantar founded eJucomm llc

liVabil it ycommc allen 43 42 mc allen

ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the worldrdquo

EllEry BuChaNaN FIBERIOPRESIDENTCEO

Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar the founder of eJucomm LLC simply wanted to make information in her school district more accessible to families The company was a way she could make it happen

She got the idea while working as a teacher at DeLeon Middle School in McAllen and was frustrated that families without computers andor Internet access had difficulty communicating with teachers and administrators So she decided to develop a smartphone application that would solve the problem

With no previous technical experience she researched code online at night and a year later was selling the app to various school districts

ldquoThe app enables Android and iPhone users to access information for things like grades and attendancerdquo Gonzalez-Alcantar says

The entrepreneur also faced unexpected challenges ndash for instance how to tailor individual apps to the roughly seven school districts and 40 campuses that now use them No longer teaching she has partnered with a chief technology officer so she can focus on sales and marketing

One of her biggest hurdles was finding legal fees to fund the startup and a $10000 McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant in 2011 helped pay for a licensing agreement and intellectual property protection for eJucomm to move forward

BaNaNa E-z SPliTAnother McAllen resident

Gerald Guerra faced a similar obstacle when developing a product called Banana E-Z Split A health insurance broker Guerra was inspired at his own kitchen table to create single serving packets with all three syrups

Banana E-Z SplitGerald Guerra inventor of the banana e-Z split single serving syrup packets poses with his daughters Victoria and kaitlyn enthusiastic taste testers for his product

liVabil it ycommc allen 43

To order please call or visit 956-668-0555 or wwwediblearrangementscom 5113-A N 10th St bull McAllen TX 78504

Offer valid at participating locations Offer expires 12312013 Cannot be combined with another offers Offer code must be used when placing order

Containers may vary EDIBLE ARRANGEMENTS and the Fruit Basket Logo Design are registered trademarks of Edible Arrangements LLC

copy2012 Edible Arrangements LLC All rights reserved Frachises available call (888) 727-4258 or visit wwweafranchisescom

DELICIOUSLYd e s i r a b l e

FREE PIECE OF DIPPED FRUIT

Code mctx1213

Living green is making sure the air in your home is healthy for your family to breathe Test your home for radon and build radon-resistant

Its easy Thats living healthy and green

Just call 866-730-green or visit wwwepagovradon

Living greenstarts from the ground up

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

(pineapple chocolate strawberry) needed for a banana split

The concept led to a 2011 McAllen Business Plan Competition grant to fund the necessary patents

ldquoI envisioned a product that could hang easily in refrigerated sections at big box storesrdquo Guerra says ldquoI have lined up a distributor and a broker with my ultimate goal being to have Banana E-Z Split available to customers in large grocery chains It is close to happeningrdquo

FiBEriO TEChNOlOgyAnother startup in McAllen

is already making waves globally FibeRio Technology Corporation another McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant recipient is thriving thanks to ground-breaking nanofiber-producing machinery The nanofibers can be used to make products ranging from diapers to

ballistics using a new way to spin microscopic nanofibers

The technology serves an array of industries that feature filtration textiles or biomedical applications

ldquoDr Karen Lozano at UT-Pan American discovered the process and I was contacted because I am an entrepreneur familiar with launching technology- based companies including nanotechnologyrdquo says FibeRio Technology presidentCEO Ellery Buchanan ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the world Plus we use local McAllen suppliers whenever possible including machine shops parts suppliers IT contractors and other business servicesrdquo

by Kevin Litwin by staff photographer

Michael Conti

FibeRio Technology Corporationnanomaterials processing research equipment is used at FibeRioTechnologyCorporation

FEldmaNrsquoS markET CENTErFeldmanrsquos Market Center features a broad selection of beer as well as wines liquors cigars and a gourmet deli In addition weekly beer and wine tastings are offered(956) 687-9463

PErFECT PawS rESOrTPerfect Paws Resort offers grooming services daycare and boarding to vaccinated dogs and cats that are at least 12 weeks old Boarding suites are climate controlled and under constant supervisionperfectpawsresortcom

mCCrEEry aviaTiON CO iNCMcCreery Aviation Co Inc is a place for pilots and their aircraft to receive top-notch treatment A fuel center flight planning room and hangar storage are availablemccreeryaviationcom

kiTikakE llCKitikake LLC offers gently- used vintage clothing for women from an array of top designers such as Lilly Pulitzer and Catherine Malandrino Vintage home deacutecor and dishes are also availablekitikakecom

krEidlEr FuNEral hOmEFounded owned and operated by the Kreidler family Kreidler Funeral Home has served McAllen for 100 years They offer traditional burial and graveside funeral services direct burials cremations memorial services and morekreidlerfuneralhomecom

Business Spotlight

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

visit ouradvertisersBorder Capital Bankwwwbordercapitalbankcom

City of McAllen Public Info Officewwwexploremcallennet

Courtyard by Marriottwwwmarriottcommtema

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valleywwweasterseals-rgvorg

Edible Arrangementswwwediblearrangementscom

Family Physicians Clinicwwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

Magic Valley Electric Cooperativewwwmagicvalleycoop

McAllen Economic Development Corporationwwwmcallenedcorg

McAllen Independent School Districtwwwmcallenisdorg

McAllen International Airportwwwmcallenairportcom

McAllen Realty

Mr Electricwwwmrelectriccom

Nuevo Santander Gallerywwwnuevosantandercom

OH KAYrsquoS

Preventative Care Institutewwwrgvpcicom

Quinta Mazatlanwwwquintamazatlancom

Rio Health Medicalwwwrio-healthcom

South Texas College wwwsouthtexascollegeedu

South Texas Health Systemwwwsouthtexashealthsystemcom

The Patio on Guerra wwwpatioonguerracom

Valley International Airportwwwflythevalleycom

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

BuSiNESS CHAMBER REPoRT

Whatrsquos the Big Ideachamberrsquos readiness tool kit assists entrepreneurs

The McAllen Chamber of Commerce has helped prepare 25 McAllen entrepreneurs in the continuing quest to launch their ideas ndash all since July 2011

The Chamber has a software package called VentureBusiness Readiness Assessment which is used by states such as oklahoma and Kentucky to assist startup companies The software helps an entrepreneur through the entire process of seeing whether they are truly ready to launch their startup

ldquoVentureBusiness Readiness Assessment is a way that the Chamber assists entrepreneurs who are trying to get funding for their products or projectsrdquo says Steve Ahlenius who serves as President and CEo of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce ldquoThe Chamber awards $50000 a year in innovation grants in $10000 increments and entrepreneurs are always looking for funding But they must earn that money by passing the various stages of the software tool kitrdquo

TEN hOurS TO COmPlETEAhlenius says the assessment

has several specific steps to make sure that a startup company has everything in place to ensure that it is successful

ldquoThe entrepreneurs contact us and set up an appointment to see me then they come to the Chamber office we sign them up and give them passwords to access the software at their conveniencerdquo he says ldquo[The program] takes about 10 hours to complete but doesnrsquot have to be finished in one sitting However the program must be eventually completed in order to qualify for our innovation grantrdquo

CaN iT BE madE QuiCklyThe software asks questions

such as Have you protected your intellectual property Is your product something that can be

made quickly Have you set a value on your idea and do you know how to do that If itrsquos a product that involves high-tech engineering do you have an engineer on your companyrsquos team

ldquoThe entrepreneur needs to know if his venture is worth 20 shares of stock or 200 shares ndash things like thatrdquo Ahlenius says ldquoMany factors go into launching a product or business and Venture Readiness points out a personrsquos strengths and weaknessesrdquo

a grEaT OvErviEwVicente Valle Martinez of

McAllen is an entrepreneur who contacted the Chamber in 2012 about his idea for connecting

people on the Internet who have similar educational experiences and higher learning interests

ldquoI have no background in business but heard one day about an innovation grant competition that the Chamber was sponsoringrdquo Martinez says ldquoSteve told me about the software package and it gave me a great overview of what I need to know before launching my ideardquo

Ahlenius says the various concepts the software package covers include credentials character capabilities commitment and circumstance

ldquoIt is an excellent self-awareness testrdquo he says ldquoItrsquos ideal for entrepreneursrdquo

by Kevin Litwin

the mcallen chamber of commerce on ash avenue

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

Ad Index 41 BorderCapitalBank

21 CityofMCallen puBliCinfooffiCe

4 CourtyardByMarriott

32 easterseals rioGrandeValley

44 ediBlearranGeMents

32 faMilyphysiCiansCliniC

2 MaGiCValley eleCtriCCooperatiVe

C3 MCalleneConoMiC deVelopMentCorporation

46 MCallenindependent sChooldistriCt

1 MCallen internationalairport

C4 MCallenrealty

48 MreleCtriC

46 nueVosantanderGallery

35 ohkayrsquos

34 preVentatiVe

Careinstitute

23 QuintaMazatlan

32 riohealthMediCal

31 southtexasColleGe

C2 southtexas

healthsysteM

18 thepatioonGuerra

44 Valley

internationalairport

ECONOMICPROFILE

3000+

2000- 2999

1999- 500

hOuSEhOld iNCOmE

TOP EmPlOyErS

$200000+

$150000-199999

$100000 and under

McAllen Independent School District

McAllen Medical Center South Texas College City of McAllen

Rio Grande Regional Hospital International Bank of Commerce

EduCaTiON lEvEl

High School Graduate

Associate Degree

Bachelorrsquos Degree

Masterrsquos Degree

TaxES

2City Sales and Use Tax

625State Sales Tax

825Total Sales Tax

SCOrECard

$36BAnnual Retail Sales

$28682Retail sales per capita

$3575MAnnual Hotel and Food Sales

15161Total Number of Firms

TraNSPOrTaTiON

mcallen-miller international airportwwwmcallenairportcom

metro mcallenwwwmcallennetmetro

amtrakwwwamtrakcom

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

everything you need every step of the way

Serving the rio grande valley Since 1989

Rachel Hardison-Oliva Broker

3321 N McColl Rd

McAllen TX 78501

(956) 687-7172 bull (956) 687-7178 Fax

Page 35: Livability McAllen, TX 2013

Hospital

dOCTOrS hOSPiTal aT rENaiSSaNCE

The 506-bed doctors hospital at renaissance is an acute care facility It provides cardiology neurosurgery and endocrinology as well as a Pediatric Medical Tower that offers pediatric oncology and pediatric ICU services

Doctors Hospital has been ranked among the nationrsquos 100 Top Hospitals by Thomson Reuters and recently invested $32 million to establish an Electronic Medical Record System

DHR was the first in South Texas to acquire a PETCT scanner for diagnosing cancer and the first in the region to introduce da Vinci robotic surgical technology The hospital also oversees Renaissance Behavioral Center which provides treatment for people with mental health problems substance abuse or eating disorders

34 mc allen

COMMUNITyPROFILE COST OF liviNg

$44074Median Household Income

$129554Median Home Price

$689Median Rent for a Two-Bedroom Apartment

TraNSPOrTaTiON

Median Travel Time to Work

agE

TEmPEraTurE

January Average

July Average

EThNiCiTy

19 and Under

20-54

55 and over

White

Black

Hispanic

other

1645minutes

Closest Airport McAllen International Airport

955deg

482deg

South Texasrsquo Finest Gift Store Offers Gifts From Around the World

4300 N 10th St bull Ste C bull McAllen TX 78504 (956) 686-1264 bull ohkaysaolcom

Look for us on Facebook

gOlF COurSES

gOlF TEC

2901 N 10TH ST956-994-9631

mCallEN COuNTry CluB615 WICHITA AVE956-686-0923

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

The national Butterfly Center the national butterfly center dedicates 100 acres to the conservation and scientific study of wild butterflies in their natural habitats the wildlife center is open daily from 8 am until 5 pm september through march and from 9 am until 4 pm april through august

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

liviNg SEE THE CITY

36 mc allen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 37

BUSINESSInfo on McAllenrsquos top employers jobs and success stories

McAllen Convention Centerthe McAllenConventionCenter is located on 185 acres and includes a 60000-square-foot exhibit hall as well as more than 25000 square feet of meeting space in 16 breakout rooms

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

38 mc allen 38 mc allen

38 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 39

BuSiNESS oVERVIEW

McAllenrsquos in the MoneyCultural diversity location and innovation drive cityrsquos top business sectors

As the retail hub of South Texas McAllen is thriving The city draws a customer base of more than 10 million within a 200-mile radius and is represented by 40 of Americarsquos top 100 retailers

By Tiffany Williams

La Plaza MallPumping much of the life into this retail hub is la Plaza mall which annually attracts more than 18 million visitors its anchoring stores such as dillardrsquos and macyrsquos and sought-after retailers including BCBg-max azria and Coach average sales of more than $650 per square foot and are among the most profitable stores in their chains

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

Meetings amp Events

CONvENTiON CENTEr lurES viSiTOrS

The mcallen Convention Center also helps draw businesses to the area The 185-acre complex featuring a 60000-square-foot column-free exhibit hall more than 25000 square feet of meeting space and up to 16 breakout rooms offers bicultural themes and tropical accents that represent the cultural and natural diversity of McAllen

Retail

ShOPPiNg hOT SPOTS

This bicultural city which is located just five miles from the US-Mexico border also has access to three international bridges that flood with visitors and eager shoppers daily many of whom are spending at a rate twice the national average

In addition to La Plaza Mall shopping centers in the McAllen area include Trenton Crossing las Tiendas Plaza and La Plaza Mallrsquos 600sbquo000-square-foot sister shopping center Palms Crossing which hosts such big-name retailers as Barnes amp Noble and Babies rsquoRrsquo Us as well as specialty shops and restaurants Its appeal stems from its open-air design with lots of palm trees water fountains and seating areas

Major Manufacturers

madE FOr maNuFaCTuriNg

Ranked third in Texas in per-capita sales the McAllen area has some of the largest manufacturing and wholesale companies in the nation

valley Coca Cola Bottling Co Value Frozen Foods and Emerson Network Power are just a few who have put down roots here Tri-City Steel which provides a full scope of steel construction by fabricating and erecting structural steel buildings pre-engineered metal buildings stairs handrails and more Texas Citrus Exchange in Mission makes Texas rio red grapefruit juice

learn more about businesses in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

BuSiNESS

RESIDEnTS GET CREATIvE WITH BUSInESS vEnTURES

the BoxOutside

One of McAllenrsquos most innovative startups sprang from the mind of someone who wasnrsquot even interested in business Today Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar is one

of the arearsquos top entrepreneurs and is finding serious success

mcallen entrepreneur dalinda Gonzalez-alcantar founded eJucomm llc

liVabil it ycommc allen 43 42 mc allen

ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the worldrdquo

EllEry BuChaNaN FIBERIOPRESIDENTCEO

Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar the founder of eJucomm LLC simply wanted to make information in her school district more accessible to families The company was a way she could make it happen

She got the idea while working as a teacher at DeLeon Middle School in McAllen and was frustrated that families without computers andor Internet access had difficulty communicating with teachers and administrators So she decided to develop a smartphone application that would solve the problem

With no previous technical experience she researched code online at night and a year later was selling the app to various school districts

ldquoThe app enables Android and iPhone users to access information for things like grades and attendancerdquo Gonzalez-Alcantar says

The entrepreneur also faced unexpected challenges ndash for instance how to tailor individual apps to the roughly seven school districts and 40 campuses that now use them No longer teaching she has partnered with a chief technology officer so she can focus on sales and marketing

One of her biggest hurdles was finding legal fees to fund the startup and a $10000 McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant in 2011 helped pay for a licensing agreement and intellectual property protection for eJucomm to move forward

BaNaNa E-z SPliTAnother McAllen resident

Gerald Guerra faced a similar obstacle when developing a product called Banana E-Z Split A health insurance broker Guerra was inspired at his own kitchen table to create single serving packets with all three syrups

Banana E-Z SplitGerald Guerra inventor of the banana e-Z split single serving syrup packets poses with his daughters Victoria and kaitlyn enthusiastic taste testers for his product

liVabil it ycommc allen 43

To order please call or visit 956-668-0555 or wwwediblearrangementscom 5113-A N 10th St bull McAllen TX 78504

Offer valid at participating locations Offer expires 12312013 Cannot be combined with another offers Offer code must be used when placing order

Containers may vary EDIBLE ARRANGEMENTS and the Fruit Basket Logo Design are registered trademarks of Edible Arrangements LLC

copy2012 Edible Arrangements LLC All rights reserved Frachises available call (888) 727-4258 or visit wwweafranchisescom

DELICIOUSLYd e s i r a b l e

FREE PIECE OF DIPPED FRUIT

Code mctx1213

Living green is making sure the air in your home is healthy for your family to breathe Test your home for radon and build radon-resistant

Its easy Thats living healthy and green

Just call 866-730-green or visit wwwepagovradon

Living greenstarts from the ground up

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

(pineapple chocolate strawberry) needed for a banana split

The concept led to a 2011 McAllen Business Plan Competition grant to fund the necessary patents

ldquoI envisioned a product that could hang easily in refrigerated sections at big box storesrdquo Guerra says ldquoI have lined up a distributor and a broker with my ultimate goal being to have Banana E-Z Split available to customers in large grocery chains It is close to happeningrdquo

FiBEriO TEChNOlOgyAnother startup in McAllen

is already making waves globally FibeRio Technology Corporation another McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant recipient is thriving thanks to ground-breaking nanofiber-producing machinery The nanofibers can be used to make products ranging from diapers to

ballistics using a new way to spin microscopic nanofibers

The technology serves an array of industries that feature filtration textiles or biomedical applications

ldquoDr Karen Lozano at UT-Pan American discovered the process and I was contacted because I am an entrepreneur familiar with launching technology- based companies including nanotechnologyrdquo says FibeRio Technology presidentCEO Ellery Buchanan ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the world Plus we use local McAllen suppliers whenever possible including machine shops parts suppliers IT contractors and other business servicesrdquo

by Kevin Litwin by staff photographer

Michael Conti

FibeRio Technology Corporationnanomaterials processing research equipment is used at FibeRioTechnologyCorporation

FEldmaNrsquoS markET CENTErFeldmanrsquos Market Center features a broad selection of beer as well as wines liquors cigars and a gourmet deli In addition weekly beer and wine tastings are offered(956) 687-9463

PErFECT PawS rESOrTPerfect Paws Resort offers grooming services daycare and boarding to vaccinated dogs and cats that are at least 12 weeks old Boarding suites are climate controlled and under constant supervisionperfectpawsresortcom

mCCrEEry aviaTiON CO iNCMcCreery Aviation Co Inc is a place for pilots and their aircraft to receive top-notch treatment A fuel center flight planning room and hangar storage are availablemccreeryaviationcom

kiTikakE llCKitikake LLC offers gently- used vintage clothing for women from an array of top designers such as Lilly Pulitzer and Catherine Malandrino Vintage home deacutecor and dishes are also availablekitikakecom

krEidlEr FuNEral hOmEFounded owned and operated by the Kreidler family Kreidler Funeral Home has served McAllen for 100 years They offer traditional burial and graveside funeral services direct burials cremations memorial services and morekreidlerfuneralhomecom

Business Spotlight

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

visit ouradvertisersBorder Capital Bankwwwbordercapitalbankcom

City of McAllen Public Info Officewwwexploremcallennet

Courtyard by Marriottwwwmarriottcommtema

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valleywwweasterseals-rgvorg

Edible Arrangementswwwediblearrangementscom

Family Physicians Clinicwwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

Magic Valley Electric Cooperativewwwmagicvalleycoop

McAllen Economic Development Corporationwwwmcallenedcorg

McAllen Independent School Districtwwwmcallenisdorg

McAllen International Airportwwwmcallenairportcom

McAllen Realty

Mr Electricwwwmrelectriccom

Nuevo Santander Gallerywwwnuevosantandercom

OH KAYrsquoS

Preventative Care Institutewwwrgvpcicom

Quinta Mazatlanwwwquintamazatlancom

Rio Health Medicalwwwrio-healthcom

South Texas College wwwsouthtexascollegeedu

South Texas Health Systemwwwsouthtexashealthsystemcom

The Patio on Guerra wwwpatioonguerracom

Valley International Airportwwwflythevalleycom

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

BuSiNESS CHAMBER REPoRT

Whatrsquos the Big Ideachamberrsquos readiness tool kit assists entrepreneurs

The McAllen Chamber of Commerce has helped prepare 25 McAllen entrepreneurs in the continuing quest to launch their ideas ndash all since July 2011

The Chamber has a software package called VentureBusiness Readiness Assessment which is used by states such as oklahoma and Kentucky to assist startup companies The software helps an entrepreneur through the entire process of seeing whether they are truly ready to launch their startup

ldquoVentureBusiness Readiness Assessment is a way that the Chamber assists entrepreneurs who are trying to get funding for their products or projectsrdquo says Steve Ahlenius who serves as President and CEo of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce ldquoThe Chamber awards $50000 a year in innovation grants in $10000 increments and entrepreneurs are always looking for funding But they must earn that money by passing the various stages of the software tool kitrdquo

TEN hOurS TO COmPlETEAhlenius says the assessment

has several specific steps to make sure that a startup company has everything in place to ensure that it is successful

ldquoThe entrepreneurs contact us and set up an appointment to see me then they come to the Chamber office we sign them up and give them passwords to access the software at their conveniencerdquo he says ldquo[The program] takes about 10 hours to complete but doesnrsquot have to be finished in one sitting However the program must be eventually completed in order to qualify for our innovation grantrdquo

CaN iT BE madE QuiCklyThe software asks questions

such as Have you protected your intellectual property Is your product something that can be

made quickly Have you set a value on your idea and do you know how to do that If itrsquos a product that involves high-tech engineering do you have an engineer on your companyrsquos team

ldquoThe entrepreneur needs to know if his venture is worth 20 shares of stock or 200 shares ndash things like thatrdquo Ahlenius says ldquoMany factors go into launching a product or business and Venture Readiness points out a personrsquos strengths and weaknessesrdquo

a grEaT OvErviEwVicente Valle Martinez of

McAllen is an entrepreneur who contacted the Chamber in 2012 about his idea for connecting

people on the Internet who have similar educational experiences and higher learning interests

ldquoI have no background in business but heard one day about an innovation grant competition that the Chamber was sponsoringrdquo Martinez says ldquoSteve told me about the software package and it gave me a great overview of what I need to know before launching my ideardquo

Ahlenius says the various concepts the software package covers include credentials character capabilities commitment and circumstance

ldquoIt is an excellent self-awareness testrdquo he says ldquoItrsquos ideal for entrepreneursrdquo

by Kevin Litwin

the mcallen chamber of commerce on ash avenue

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

Ad Index 41 BorderCapitalBank

21 CityofMCallen puBliCinfooffiCe

4 CourtyardByMarriott

32 easterseals rioGrandeValley

44 ediBlearranGeMents

32 faMilyphysiCiansCliniC

2 MaGiCValley eleCtriCCooperatiVe

C3 MCalleneConoMiC deVelopMentCorporation

46 MCallenindependent sChooldistriCt

1 MCallen internationalairport

C4 MCallenrealty

48 MreleCtriC

46 nueVosantanderGallery

35 ohkayrsquos

34 preVentatiVe

Careinstitute

23 QuintaMazatlan

32 riohealthMediCal

31 southtexasColleGe

C2 southtexas

healthsysteM

18 thepatioonGuerra

44 Valley

internationalairport

ECONOMICPROFILE

3000+

2000- 2999

1999- 500

hOuSEhOld iNCOmE

TOP EmPlOyErS

$200000+

$150000-199999

$100000 and under

McAllen Independent School District

McAllen Medical Center South Texas College City of McAllen

Rio Grande Regional Hospital International Bank of Commerce

EduCaTiON lEvEl

High School Graduate

Associate Degree

Bachelorrsquos Degree

Masterrsquos Degree

TaxES

2City Sales and Use Tax

625State Sales Tax

825Total Sales Tax

SCOrECard

$36BAnnual Retail Sales

$28682Retail sales per capita

$3575MAnnual Hotel and Food Sales

15161Total Number of Firms

TraNSPOrTaTiON

mcallen-miller international airportwwwmcallenairportcom

metro mcallenwwwmcallennetmetro

amtrakwwwamtrakcom

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

everything you need every step of the way

Serving the rio grande valley Since 1989

Rachel Hardison-Oliva Broker

3321 N McColl Rd

McAllen TX 78501

(956) 687-7172 bull (956) 687-7178 Fax

Page 36: Livability McAllen, TX 2013

COMMUNITyPROFILE COST OF liviNg

$44074Median Household Income

$129554Median Home Price

$689Median Rent for a Two-Bedroom Apartment

TraNSPOrTaTiON

Median Travel Time to Work

agE

TEmPEraTurE

January Average

July Average

EThNiCiTy

19 and Under

20-54

55 and over

White

Black

Hispanic

other

1645minutes

Closest Airport McAllen International Airport

955deg

482deg

South Texasrsquo Finest Gift Store Offers Gifts From Around the World

4300 N 10th St bull Ste C bull McAllen TX 78504 (956) 686-1264 bull ohkaysaolcom

Look for us on Facebook

gOlF COurSES

gOlF TEC

2901 N 10TH ST956-994-9631

mCallEN COuNTry CluB615 WICHITA AVE956-686-0923

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

The national Butterfly Center the national butterfly center dedicates 100 acres to the conservation and scientific study of wild butterflies in their natural habitats the wildlife center is open daily from 8 am until 5 pm september through march and from 9 am until 4 pm april through august

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

liviNg SEE THE CITY

36 mc allen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 37

BUSINESSInfo on McAllenrsquos top employers jobs and success stories

McAllen Convention Centerthe McAllenConventionCenter is located on 185 acres and includes a 60000-square-foot exhibit hall as well as more than 25000 square feet of meeting space in 16 breakout rooms

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

38 mc allen 38 mc allen

38 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 39

BuSiNESS oVERVIEW

McAllenrsquos in the MoneyCultural diversity location and innovation drive cityrsquos top business sectors

As the retail hub of South Texas McAllen is thriving The city draws a customer base of more than 10 million within a 200-mile radius and is represented by 40 of Americarsquos top 100 retailers

By Tiffany Williams

La Plaza MallPumping much of the life into this retail hub is la Plaza mall which annually attracts more than 18 million visitors its anchoring stores such as dillardrsquos and macyrsquos and sought-after retailers including BCBg-max azria and Coach average sales of more than $650 per square foot and are among the most profitable stores in their chains

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

Meetings amp Events

CONvENTiON CENTEr lurES viSiTOrS

The mcallen Convention Center also helps draw businesses to the area The 185-acre complex featuring a 60000-square-foot column-free exhibit hall more than 25000 square feet of meeting space and up to 16 breakout rooms offers bicultural themes and tropical accents that represent the cultural and natural diversity of McAllen

Retail

ShOPPiNg hOT SPOTS

This bicultural city which is located just five miles from the US-Mexico border also has access to three international bridges that flood with visitors and eager shoppers daily many of whom are spending at a rate twice the national average

In addition to La Plaza Mall shopping centers in the McAllen area include Trenton Crossing las Tiendas Plaza and La Plaza Mallrsquos 600sbquo000-square-foot sister shopping center Palms Crossing which hosts such big-name retailers as Barnes amp Noble and Babies rsquoRrsquo Us as well as specialty shops and restaurants Its appeal stems from its open-air design with lots of palm trees water fountains and seating areas

Major Manufacturers

madE FOr maNuFaCTuriNg

Ranked third in Texas in per-capita sales the McAllen area has some of the largest manufacturing and wholesale companies in the nation

valley Coca Cola Bottling Co Value Frozen Foods and Emerson Network Power are just a few who have put down roots here Tri-City Steel which provides a full scope of steel construction by fabricating and erecting structural steel buildings pre-engineered metal buildings stairs handrails and more Texas Citrus Exchange in Mission makes Texas rio red grapefruit juice

learn more about businesses in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

BuSiNESS

RESIDEnTS GET CREATIvE WITH BUSInESS vEnTURES

the BoxOutside

One of McAllenrsquos most innovative startups sprang from the mind of someone who wasnrsquot even interested in business Today Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar is one

of the arearsquos top entrepreneurs and is finding serious success

mcallen entrepreneur dalinda Gonzalez-alcantar founded eJucomm llc

liVabil it ycommc allen 43 42 mc allen

ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the worldrdquo

EllEry BuChaNaN FIBERIOPRESIDENTCEO

Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar the founder of eJucomm LLC simply wanted to make information in her school district more accessible to families The company was a way she could make it happen

She got the idea while working as a teacher at DeLeon Middle School in McAllen and was frustrated that families without computers andor Internet access had difficulty communicating with teachers and administrators So she decided to develop a smartphone application that would solve the problem

With no previous technical experience she researched code online at night and a year later was selling the app to various school districts

ldquoThe app enables Android and iPhone users to access information for things like grades and attendancerdquo Gonzalez-Alcantar says

The entrepreneur also faced unexpected challenges ndash for instance how to tailor individual apps to the roughly seven school districts and 40 campuses that now use them No longer teaching she has partnered with a chief technology officer so she can focus on sales and marketing

One of her biggest hurdles was finding legal fees to fund the startup and a $10000 McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant in 2011 helped pay for a licensing agreement and intellectual property protection for eJucomm to move forward

BaNaNa E-z SPliTAnother McAllen resident

Gerald Guerra faced a similar obstacle when developing a product called Banana E-Z Split A health insurance broker Guerra was inspired at his own kitchen table to create single serving packets with all three syrups

Banana E-Z SplitGerald Guerra inventor of the banana e-Z split single serving syrup packets poses with his daughters Victoria and kaitlyn enthusiastic taste testers for his product

liVabil it ycommc allen 43

To order please call or visit 956-668-0555 or wwwediblearrangementscom 5113-A N 10th St bull McAllen TX 78504

Offer valid at participating locations Offer expires 12312013 Cannot be combined with another offers Offer code must be used when placing order

Containers may vary EDIBLE ARRANGEMENTS and the Fruit Basket Logo Design are registered trademarks of Edible Arrangements LLC

copy2012 Edible Arrangements LLC All rights reserved Frachises available call (888) 727-4258 or visit wwweafranchisescom

DELICIOUSLYd e s i r a b l e

FREE PIECE OF DIPPED FRUIT

Code mctx1213

Living green is making sure the air in your home is healthy for your family to breathe Test your home for radon and build radon-resistant

Its easy Thats living healthy and green

Just call 866-730-green or visit wwwepagovradon

Living greenstarts from the ground up

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

(pineapple chocolate strawberry) needed for a banana split

The concept led to a 2011 McAllen Business Plan Competition grant to fund the necessary patents

ldquoI envisioned a product that could hang easily in refrigerated sections at big box storesrdquo Guerra says ldquoI have lined up a distributor and a broker with my ultimate goal being to have Banana E-Z Split available to customers in large grocery chains It is close to happeningrdquo

FiBEriO TEChNOlOgyAnother startup in McAllen

is already making waves globally FibeRio Technology Corporation another McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant recipient is thriving thanks to ground-breaking nanofiber-producing machinery The nanofibers can be used to make products ranging from diapers to

ballistics using a new way to spin microscopic nanofibers

The technology serves an array of industries that feature filtration textiles or biomedical applications

ldquoDr Karen Lozano at UT-Pan American discovered the process and I was contacted because I am an entrepreneur familiar with launching technology- based companies including nanotechnologyrdquo says FibeRio Technology presidentCEO Ellery Buchanan ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the world Plus we use local McAllen suppliers whenever possible including machine shops parts suppliers IT contractors and other business servicesrdquo

by Kevin Litwin by staff photographer

Michael Conti

FibeRio Technology Corporationnanomaterials processing research equipment is used at FibeRioTechnologyCorporation

FEldmaNrsquoS markET CENTErFeldmanrsquos Market Center features a broad selection of beer as well as wines liquors cigars and a gourmet deli In addition weekly beer and wine tastings are offered(956) 687-9463

PErFECT PawS rESOrTPerfect Paws Resort offers grooming services daycare and boarding to vaccinated dogs and cats that are at least 12 weeks old Boarding suites are climate controlled and under constant supervisionperfectpawsresortcom

mCCrEEry aviaTiON CO iNCMcCreery Aviation Co Inc is a place for pilots and their aircraft to receive top-notch treatment A fuel center flight planning room and hangar storage are availablemccreeryaviationcom

kiTikakE llCKitikake LLC offers gently- used vintage clothing for women from an array of top designers such as Lilly Pulitzer and Catherine Malandrino Vintage home deacutecor and dishes are also availablekitikakecom

krEidlEr FuNEral hOmEFounded owned and operated by the Kreidler family Kreidler Funeral Home has served McAllen for 100 years They offer traditional burial and graveside funeral services direct burials cremations memorial services and morekreidlerfuneralhomecom

Business Spotlight

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

visit ouradvertisersBorder Capital Bankwwwbordercapitalbankcom

City of McAllen Public Info Officewwwexploremcallennet

Courtyard by Marriottwwwmarriottcommtema

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valleywwweasterseals-rgvorg

Edible Arrangementswwwediblearrangementscom

Family Physicians Clinicwwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

Magic Valley Electric Cooperativewwwmagicvalleycoop

McAllen Economic Development Corporationwwwmcallenedcorg

McAllen Independent School Districtwwwmcallenisdorg

McAllen International Airportwwwmcallenairportcom

McAllen Realty

Mr Electricwwwmrelectriccom

Nuevo Santander Gallerywwwnuevosantandercom

OH KAYrsquoS

Preventative Care Institutewwwrgvpcicom

Quinta Mazatlanwwwquintamazatlancom

Rio Health Medicalwwwrio-healthcom

South Texas College wwwsouthtexascollegeedu

South Texas Health Systemwwwsouthtexashealthsystemcom

The Patio on Guerra wwwpatioonguerracom

Valley International Airportwwwflythevalleycom

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

BuSiNESS CHAMBER REPoRT

Whatrsquos the Big Ideachamberrsquos readiness tool kit assists entrepreneurs

The McAllen Chamber of Commerce has helped prepare 25 McAllen entrepreneurs in the continuing quest to launch their ideas ndash all since July 2011

The Chamber has a software package called VentureBusiness Readiness Assessment which is used by states such as oklahoma and Kentucky to assist startup companies The software helps an entrepreneur through the entire process of seeing whether they are truly ready to launch their startup

ldquoVentureBusiness Readiness Assessment is a way that the Chamber assists entrepreneurs who are trying to get funding for their products or projectsrdquo says Steve Ahlenius who serves as President and CEo of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce ldquoThe Chamber awards $50000 a year in innovation grants in $10000 increments and entrepreneurs are always looking for funding But they must earn that money by passing the various stages of the software tool kitrdquo

TEN hOurS TO COmPlETEAhlenius says the assessment

has several specific steps to make sure that a startup company has everything in place to ensure that it is successful

ldquoThe entrepreneurs contact us and set up an appointment to see me then they come to the Chamber office we sign them up and give them passwords to access the software at their conveniencerdquo he says ldquo[The program] takes about 10 hours to complete but doesnrsquot have to be finished in one sitting However the program must be eventually completed in order to qualify for our innovation grantrdquo

CaN iT BE madE QuiCklyThe software asks questions

such as Have you protected your intellectual property Is your product something that can be

made quickly Have you set a value on your idea and do you know how to do that If itrsquos a product that involves high-tech engineering do you have an engineer on your companyrsquos team

ldquoThe entrepreneur needs to know if his venture is worth 20 shares of stock or 200 shares ndash things like thatrdquo Ahlenius says ldquoMany factors go into launching a product or business and Venture Readiness points out a personrsquos strengths and weaknessesrdquo

a grEaT OvErviEwVicente Valle Martinez of

McAllen is an entrepreneur who contacted the Chamber in 2012 about his idea for connecting

people on the Internet who have similar educational experiences and higher learning interests

ldquoI have no background in business but heard one day about an innovation grant competition that the Chamber was sponsoringrdquo Martinez says ldquoSteve told me about the software package and it gave me a great overview of what I need to know before launching my ideardquo

Ahlenius says the various concepts the software package covers include credentials character capabilities commitment and circumstance

ldquoIt is an excellent self-awareness testrdquo he says ldquoItrsquos ideal for entrepreneursrdquo

by Kevin Litwin

the mcallen chamber of commerce on ash avenue

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

Ad Index 41 BorderCapitalBank

21 CityofMCallen puBliCinfooffiCe

4 CourtyardByMarriott

32 easterseals rioGrandeValley

44 ediBlearranGeMents

32 faMilyphysiCiansCliniC

2 MaGiCValley eleCtriCCooperatiVe

C3 MCalleneConoMiC deVelopMentCorporation

46 MCallenindependent sChooldistriCt

1 MCallen internationalairport

C4 MCallenrealty

48 MreleCtriC

46 nueVosantanderGallery

35 ohkayrsquos

34 preVentatiVe

Careinstitute

23 QuintaMazatlan

32 riohealthMediCal

31 southtexasColleGe

C2 southtexas

healthsysteM

18 thepatioonGuerra

44 Valley

internationalairport

ECONOMICPROFILE

3000+

2000- 2999

1999- 500

hOuSEhOld iNCOmE

TOP EmPlOyErS

$200000+

$150000-199999

$100000 and under

McAllen Independent School District

McAllen Medical Center South Texas College City of McAllen

Rio Grande Regional Hospital International Bank of Commerce

EduCaTiON lEvEl

High School Graduate

Associate Degree

Bachelorrsquos Degree

Masterrsquos Degree

TaxES

2City Sales and Use Tax

625State Sales Tax

825Total Sales Tax

SCOrECard

$36BAnnual Retail Sales

$28682Retail sales per capita

$3575MAnnual Hotel and Food Sales

15161Total Number of Firms

TraNSPOrTaTiON

mcallen-miller international airportwwwmcallenairportcom

metro mcallenwwwmcallennetmetro

amtrakwwwamtrakcom

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

everything you need every step of the way

Serving the rio grande valley Since 1989

Rachel Hardison-Oliva Broker

3321 N McColl Rd

McAllen TX 78501

(956) 687-7172 bull (956) 687-7178 Fax

Page 37: Livability McAllen, TX 2013

The national Butterfly Center the national butterfly center dedicates 100 acres to the conservation and scientific study of wild butterflies in their natural habitats the wildlife center is open daily from 8 am until 5 pm september through march and from 9 am until 4 pm april through august

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

liviNg SEE THE CITY

36 mc allen

l iVabil it ycommc allen 37

BUSINESSInfo on McAllenrsquos top employers jobs and success stories

McAllen Convention Centerthe McAllenConventionCenter is located on 185 acres and includes a 60000-square-foot exhibit hall as well as more than 25000 square feet of meeting space in 16 breakout rooms

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

38 mc allen 38 mc allen

38 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 39

BuSiNESS oVERVIEW

McAllenrsquos in the MoneyCultural diversity location and innovation drive cityrsquos top business sectors

As the retail hub of South Texas McAllen is thriving The city draws a customer base of more than 10 million within a 200-mile radius and is represented by 40 of Americarsquos top 100 retailers

By Tiffany Williams

La Plaza MallPumping much of the life into this retail hub is la Plaza mall which annually attracts more than 18 million visitors its anchoring stores such as dillardrsquos and macyrsquos and sought-after retailers including BCBg-max azria and Coach average sales of more than $650 per square foot and are among the most profitable stores in their chains

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

Meetings amp Events

CONvENTiON CENTEr lurES viSiTOrS

The mcallen Convention Center also helps draw businesses to the area The 185-acre complex featuring a 60000-square-foot column-free exhibit hall more than 25000 square feet of meeting space and up to 16 breakout rooms offers bicultural themes and tropical accents that represent the cultural and natural diversity of McAllen

Retail

ShOPPiNg hOT SPOTS

This bicultural city which is located just five miles from the US-Mexico border also has access to three international bridges that flood with visitors and eager shoppers daily many of whom are spending at a rate twice the national average

In addition to La Plaza Mall shopping centers in the McAllen area include Trenton Crossing las Tiendas Plaza and La Plaza Mallrsquos 600sbquo000-square-foot sister shopping center Palms Crossing which hosts such big-name retailers as Barnes amp Noble and Babies rsquoRrsquo Us as well as specialty shops and restaurants Its appeal stems from its open-air design with lots of palm trees water fountains and seating areas

Major Manufacturers

madE FOr maNuFaCTuriNg

Ranked third in Texas in per-capita sales the McAllen area has some of the largest manufacturing and wholesale companies in the nation

valley Coca Cola Bottling Co Value Frozen Foods and Emerson Network Power are just a few who have put down roots here Tri-City Steel which provides a full scope of steel construction by fabricating and erecting structural steel buildings pre-engineered metal buildings stairs handrails and more Texas Citrus Exchange in Mission makes Texas rio red grapefruit juice

learn more about businesses in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

BuSiNESS

RESIDEnTS GET CREATIvE WITH BUSInESS vEnTURES

the BoxOutside

One of McAllenrsquos most innovative startups sprang from the mind of someone who wasnrsquot even interested in business Today Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar is one

of the arearsquos top entrepreneurs and is finding serious success

mcallen entrepreneur dalinda Gonzalez-alcantar founded eJucomm llc

liVabil it ycommc allen 43 42 mc allen

ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the worldrdquo

EllEry BuChaNaN FIBERIOPRESIDENTCEO

Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar the founder of eJucomm LLC simply wanted to make information in her school district more accessible to families The company was a way she could make it happen

She got the idea while working as a teacher at DeLeon Middle School in McAllen and was frustrated that families without computers andor Internet access had difficulty communicating with teachers and administrators So she decided to develop a smartphone application that would solve the problem

With no previous technical experience she researched code online at night and a year later was selling the app to various school districts

ldquoThe app enables Android and iPhone users to access information for things like grades and attendancerdquo Gonzalez-Alcantar says

The entrepreneur also faced unexpected challenges ndash for instance how to tailor individual apps to the roughly seven school districts and 40 campuses that now use them No longer teaching she has partnered with a chief technology officer so she can focus on sales and marketing

One of her biggest hurdles was finding legal fees to fund the startup and a $10000 McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant in 2011 helped pay for a licensing agreement and intellectual property protection for eJucomm to move forward

BaNaNa E-z SPliTAnother McAllen resident

Gerald Guerra faced a similar obstacle when developing a product called Banana E-Z Split A health insurance broker Guerra was inspired at his own kitchen table to create single serving packets with all three syrups

Banana E-Z SplitGerald Guerra inventor of the banana e-Z split single serving syrup packets poses with his daughters Victoria and kaitlyn enthusiastic taste testers for his product

liVabil it ycommc allen 43

To order please call or visit 956-668-0555 or wwwediblearrangementscom 5113-A N 10th St bull McAllen TX 78504

Offer valid at participating locations Offer expires 12312013 Cannot be combined with another offers Offer code must be used when placing order

Containers may vary EDIBLE ARRANGEMENTS and the Fruit Basket Logo Design are registered trademarks of Edible Arrangements LLC

copy2012 Edible Arrangements LLC All rights reserved Frachises available call (888) 727-4258 or visit wwweafranchisescom

DELICIOUSLYd e s i r a b l e

FREE PIECE OF DIPPED FRUIT

Code mctx1213

Living green is making sure the air in your home is healthy for your family to breathe Test your home for radon and build radon-resistant

Its easy Thats living healthy and green

Just call 866-730-green or visit wwwepagovradon

Living greenstarts from the ground up

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

(pineapple chocolate strawberry) needed for a banana split

The concept led to a 2011 McAllen Business Plan Competition grant to fund the necessary patents

ldquoI envisioned a product that could hang easily in refrigerated sections at big box storesrdquo Guerra says ldquoI have lined up a distributor and a broker with my ultimate goal being to have Banana E-Z Split available to customers in large grocery chains It is close to happeningrdquo

FiBEriO TEChNOlOgyAnother startup in McAllen

is already making waves globally FibeRio Technology Corporation another McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant recipient is thriving thanks to ground-breaking nanofiber-producing machinery The nanofibers can be used to make products ranging from diapers to

ballistics using a new way to spin microscopic nanofibers

The technology serves an array of industries that feature filtration textiles or biomedical applications

ldquoDr Karen Lozano at UT-Pan American discovered the process and I was contacted because I am an entrepreneur familiar with launching technology- based companies including nanotechnologyrdquo says FibeRio Technology presidentCEO Ellery Buchanan ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the world Plus we use local McAllen suppliers whenever possible including machine shops parts suppliers IT contractors and other business servicesrdquo

by Kevin Litwin by staff photographer

Michael Conti

FibeRio Technology Corporationnanomaterials processing research equipment is used at FibeRioTechnologyCorporation

FEldmaNrsquoS markET CENTErFeldmanrsquos Market Center features a broad selection of beer as well as wines liquors cigars and a gourmet deli In addition weekly beer and wine tastings are offered(956) 687-9463

PErFECT PawS rESOrTPerfect Paws Resort offers grooming services daycare and boarding to vaccinated dogs and cats that are at least 12 weeks old Boarding suites are climate controlled and under constant supervisionperfectpawsresortcom

mCCrEEry aviaTiON CO iNCMcCreery Aviation Co Inc is a place for pilots and their aircraft to receive top-notch treatment A fuel center flight planning room and hangar storage are availablemccreeryaviationcom

kiTikakE llCKitikake LLC offers gently- used vintage clothing for women from an array of top designers such as Lilly Pulitzer and Catherine Malandrino Vintage home deacutecor and dishes are also availablekitikakecom

krEidlEr FuNEral hOmEFounded owned and operated by the Kreidler family Kreidler Funeral Home has served McAllen for 100 years They offer traditional burial and graveside funeral services direct burials cremations memorial services and morekreidlerfuneralhomecom

Business Spotlight

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

visit ouradvertisersBorder Capital Bankwwwbordercapitalbankcom

City of McAllen Public Info Officewwwexploremcallennet

Courtyard by Marriottwwwmarriottcommtema

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valleywwweasterseals-rgvorg

Edible Arrangementswwwediblearrangementscom

Family Physicians Clinicwwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

Magic Valley Electric Cooperativewwwmagicvalleycoop

McAllen Economic Development Corporationwwwmcallenedcorg

McAllen Independent School Districtwwwmcallenisdorg

McAllen International Airportwwwmcallenairportcom

McAllen Realty

Mr Electricwwwmrelectriccom

Nuevo Santander Gallerywwwnuevosantandercom

OH KAYrsquoS

Preventative Care Institutewwwrgvpcicom

Quinta Mazatlanwwwquintamazatlancom

Rio Health Medicalwwwrio-healthcom

South Texas College wwwsouthtexascollegeedu

South Texas Health Systemwwwsouthtexashealthsystemcom

The Patio on Guerra wwwpatioonguerracom

Valley International Airportwwwflythevalleycom

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

BuSiNESS CHAMBER REPoRT

Whatrsquos the Big Ideachamberrsquos readiness tool kit assists entrepreneurs

The McAllen Chamber of Commerce has helped prepare 25 McAllen entrepreneurs in the continuing quest to launch their ideas ndash all since July 2011

The Chamber has a software package called VentureBusiness Readiness Assessment which is used by states such as oklahoma and Kentucky to assist startup companies The software helps an entrepreneur through the entire process of seeing whether they are truly ready to launch their startup

ldquoVentureBusiness Readiness Assessment is a way that the Chamber assists entrepreneurs who are trying to get funding for their products or projectsrdquo says Steve Ahlenius who serves as President and CEo of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce ldquoThe Chamber awards $50000 a year in innovation grants in $10000 increments and entrepreneurs are always looking for funding But they must earn that money by passing the various stages of the software tool kitrdquo

TEN hOurS TO COmPlETEAhlenius says the assessment

has several specific steps to make sure that a startup company has everything in place to ensure that it is successful

ldquoThe entrepreneurs contact us and set up an appointment to see me then they come to the Chamber office we sign them up and give them passwords to access the software at their conveniencerdquo he says ldquo[The program] takes about 10 hours to complete but doesnrsquot have to be finished in one sitting However the program must be eventually completed in order to qualify for our innovation grantrdquo

CaN iT BE madE QuiCklyThe software asks questions

such as Have you protected your intellectual property Is your product something that can be

made quickly Have you set a value on your idea and do you know how to do that If itrsquos a product that involves high-tech engineering do you have an engineer on your companyrsquos team

ldquoThe entrepreneur needs to know if his venture is worth 20 shares of stock or 200 shares ndash things like thatrdquo Ahlenius says ldquoMany factors go into launching a product or business and Venture Readiness points out a personrsquos strengths and weaknessesrdquo

a grEaT OvErviEwVicente Valle Martinez of

McAllen is an entrepreneur who contacted the Chamber in 2012 about his idea for connecting

people on the Internet who have similar educational experiences and higher learning interests

ldquoI have no background in business but heard one day about an innovation grant competition that the Chamber was sponsoringrdquo Martinez says ldquoSteve told me about the software package and it gave me a great overview of what I need to know before launching my ideardquo

Ahlenius says the various concepts the software package covers include credentials character capabilities commitment and circumstance

ldquoIt is an excellent self-awareness testrdquo he says ldquoItrsquos ideal for entrepreneursrdquo

by Kevin Litwin

the mcallen chamber of commerce on ash avenue

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

Ad Index 41 BorderCapitalBank

21 CityofMCallen puBliCinfooffiCe

4 CourtyardByMarriott

32 easterseals rioGrandeValley

44 ediBlearranGeMents

32 faMilyphysiCiansCliniC

2 MaGiCValley eleCtriCCooperatiVe

C3 MCalleneConoMiC deVelopMentCorporation

46 MCallenindependent sChooldistriCt

1 MCallen internationalairport

C4 MCallenrealty

48 MreleCtriC

46 nueVosantanderGallery

35 ohkayrsquos

34 preVentatiVe

Careinstitute

23 QuintaMazatlan

32 riohealthMediCal

31 southtexasColleGe

C2 southtexas

healthsysteM

18 thepatioonGuerra

44 Valley

internationalairport

ECONOMICPROFILE

3000+

2000- 2999

1999- 500

hOuSEhOld iNCOmE

TOP EmPlOyErS

$200000+

$150000-199999

$100000 and under

McAllen Independent School District

McAllen Medical Center South Texas College City of McAllen

Rio Grande Regional Hospital International Bank of Commerce

EduCaTiON lEvEl

High School Graduate

Associate Degree

Bachelorrsquos Degree

Masterrsquos Degree

TaxES

2City Sales and Use Tax

625State Sales Tax

825Total Sales Tax

SCOrECard

$36BAnnual Retail Sales

$28682Retail sales per capita

$3575MAnnual Hotel and Food Sales

15161Total Number of Firms

TraNSPOrTaTiON

mcallen-miller international airportwwwmcallenairportcom

metro mcallenwwwmcallennetmetro

amtrakwwwamtrakcom

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

everything you need every step of the way

Serving the rio grande valley Since 1989

Rachel Hardison-Oliva Broker

3321 N McColl Rd

McAllen TX 78501

(956) 687-7172 bull (956) 687-7178 Fax

Page 38: Livability McAllen, TX 2013

l iVabil it ycommc allen 37

BUSINESSInfo on McAllenrsquos top employers jobs and success stories

McAllen Convention Centerthe McAllenConventionCenter is located on 185 acres and includes a 60000-square-foot exhibit hall as well as more than 25000 square feet of meeting space in 16 breakout rooms

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

38 mc allen 38 mc allen

38 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 39

BuSiNESS oVERVIEW

McAllenrsquos in the MoneyCultural diversity location and innovation drive cityrsquos top business sectors

As the retail hub of South Texas McAllen is thriving The city draws a customer base of more than 10 million within a 200-mile radius and is represented by 40 of Americarsquos top 100 retailers

By Tiffany Williams

La Plaza MallPumping much of the life into this retail hub is la Plaza mall which annually attracts more than 18 million visitors its anchoring stores such as dillardrsquos and macyrsquos and sought-after retailers including BCBg-max azria and Coach average sales of more than $650 per square foot and are among the most profitable stores in their chains

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

Meetings amp Events

CONvENTiON CENTEr lurES viSiTOrS

The mcallen Convention Center also helps draw businesses to the area The 185-acre complex featuring a 60000-square-foot column-free exhibit hall more than 25000 square feet of meeting space and up to 16 breakout rooms offers bicultural themes and tropical accents that represent the cultural and natural diversity of McAllen

Retail

ShOPPiNg hOT SPOTS

This bicultural city which is located just five miles from the US-Mexico border also has access to three international bridges that flood with visitors and eager shoppers daily many of whom are spending at a rate twice the national average

In addition to La Plaza Mall shopping centers in the McAllen area include Trenton Crossing las Tiendas Plaza and La Plaza Mallrsquos 600sbquo000-square-foot sister shopping center Palms Crossing which hosts such big-name retailers as Barnes amp Noble and Babies rsquoRrsquo Us as well as specialty shops and restaurants Its appeal stems from its open-air design with lots of palm trees water fountains and seating areas

Major Manufacturers

madE FOr maNuFaCTuriNg

Ranked third in Texas in per-capita sales the McAllen area has some of the largest manufacturing and wholesale companies in the nation

valley Coca Cola Bottling Co Value Frozen Foods and Emerson Network Power are just a few who have put down roots here Tri-City Steel which provides a full scope of steel construction by fabricating and erecting structural steel buildings pre-engineered metal buildings stairs handrails and more Texas Citrus Exchange in Mission makes Texas rio red grapefruit juice

learn more about businesses in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

BuSiNESS

RESIDEnTS GET CREATIvE WITH BUSInESS vEnTURES

the BoxOutside

One of McAllenrsquos most innovative startups sprang from the mind of someone who wasnrsquot even interested in business Today Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar is one

of the arearsquos top entrepreneurs and is finding serious success

mcallen entrepreneur dalinda Gonzalez-alcantar founded eJucomm llc

liVabil it ycommc allen 43 42 mc allen

ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the worldrdquo

EllEry BuChaNaN FIBERIOPRESIDENTCEO

Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar the founder of eJucomm LLC simply wanted to make information in her school district more accessible to families The company was a way she could make it happen

She got the idea while working as a teacher at DeLeon Middle School in McAllen and was frustrated that families without computers andor Internet access had difficulty communicating with teachers and administrators So she decided to develop a smartphone application that would solve the problem

With no previous technical experience she researched code online at night and a year later was selling the app to various school districts

ldquoThe app enables Android and iPhone users to access information for things like grades and attendancerdquo Gonzalez-Alcantar says

The entrepreneur also faced unexpected challenges ndash for instance how to tailor individual apps to the roughly seven school districts and 40 campuses that now use them No longer teaching she has partnered with a chief technology officer so she can focus on sales and marketing

One of her biggest hurdles was finding legal fees to fund the startup and a $10000 McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant in 2011 helped pay for a licensing agreement and intellectual property protection for eJucomm to move forward

BaNaNa E-z SPliTAnother McAllen resident

Gerald Guerra faced a similar obstacle when developing a product called Banana E-Z Split A health insurance broker Guerra was inspired at his own kitchen table to create single serving packets with all three syrups

Banana E-Z SplitGerald Guerra inventor of the banana e-Z split single serving syrup packets poses with his daughters Victoria and kaitlyn enthusiastic taste testers for his product

liVabil it ycommc allen 43

To order please call or visit 956-668-0555 or wwwediblearrangementscom 5113-A N 10th St bull McAllen TX 78504

Offer valid at participating locations Offer expires 12312013 Cannot be combined with another offers Offer code must be used when placing order

Containers may vary EDIBLE ARRANGEMENTS and the Fruit Basket Logo Design are registered trademarks of Edible Arrangements LLC

copy2012 Edible Arrangements LLC All rights reserved Frachises available call (888) 727-4258 or visit wwweafranchisescom

DELICIOUSLYd e s i r a b l e

FREE PIECE OF DIPPED FRUIT

Code mctx1213

Living green is making sure the air in your home is healthy for your family to breathe Test your home for radon and build radon-resistant

Its easy Thats living healthy and green

Just call 866-730-green or visit wwwepagovradon

Living greenstarts from the ground up

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

(pineapple chocolate strawberry) needed for a banana split

The concept led to a 2011 McAllen Business Plan Competition grant to fund the necessary patents

ldquoI envisioned a product that could hang easily in refrigerated sections at big box storesrdquo Guerra says ldquoI have lined up a distributor and a broker with my ultimate goal being to have Banana E-Z Split available to customers in large grocery chains It is close to happeningrdquo

FiBEriO TEChNOlOgyAnother startup in McAllen

is already making waves globally FibeRio Technology Corporation another McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant recipient is thriving thanks to ground-breaking nanofiber-producing machinery The nanofibers can be used to make products ranging from diapers to

ballistics using a new way to spin microscopic nanofibers

The technology serves an array of industries that feature filtration textiles or biomedical applications

ldquoDr Karen Lozano at UT-Pan American discovered the process and I was contacted because I am an entrepreneur familiar with launching technology- based companies including nanotechnologyrdquo says FibeRio Technology presidentCEO Ellery Buchanan ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the world Plus we use local McAllen suppliers whenever possible including machine shops parts suppliers IT contractors and other business servicesrdquo

by Kevin Litwin by staff photographer

Michael Conti

FibeRio Technology Corporationnanomaterials processing research equipment is used at FibeRioTechnologyCorporation

FEldmaNrsquoS markET CENTErFeldmanrsquos Market Center features a broad selection of beer as well as wines liquors cigars and a gourmet deli In addition weekly beer and wine tastings are offered(956) 687-9463

PErFECT PawS rESOrTPerfect Paws Resort offers grooming services daycare and boarding to vaccinated dogs and cats that are at least 12 weeks old Boarding suites are climate controlled and under constant supervisionperfectpawsresortcom

mCCrEEry aviaTiON CO iNCMcCreery Aviation Co Inc is a place for pilots and their aircraft to receive top-notch treatment A fuel center flight planning room and hangar storage are availablemccreeryaviationcom

kiTikakE llCKitikake LLC offers gently- used vintage clothing for women from an array of top designers such as Lilly Pulitzer and Catherine Malandrino Vintage home deacutecor and dishes are also availablekitikakecom

krEidlEr FuNEral hOmEFounded owned and operated by the Kreidler family Kreidler Funeral Home has served McAllen for 100 years They offer traditional burial and graveside funeral services direct burials cremations memorial services and morekreidlerfuneralhomecom

Business Spotlight

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

visit ouradvertisersBorder Capital Bankwwwbordercapitalbankcom

City of McAllen Public Info Officewwwexploremcallennet

Courtyard by Marriottwwwmarriottcommtema

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valleywwweasterseals-rgvorg

Edible Arrangementswwwediblearrangementscom

Family Physicians Clinicwwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

Magic Valley Electric Cooperativewwwmagicvalleycoop

McAllen Economic Development Corporationwwwmcallenedcorg

McAllen Independent School Districtwwwmcallenisdorg

McAllen International Airportwwwmcallenairportcom

McAllen Realty

Mr Electricwwwmrelectriccom

Nuevo Santander Gallerywwwnuevosantandercom

OH KAYrsquoS

Preventative Care Institutewwwrgvpcicom

Quinta Mazatlanwwwquintamazatlancom

Rio Health Medicalwwwrio-healthcom

South Texas College wwwsouthtexascollegeedu

South Texas Health Systemwwwsouthtexashealthsystemcom

The Patio on Guerra wwwpatioonguerracom

Valley International Airportwwwflythevalleycom

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

BuSiNESS CHAMBER REPoRT

Whatrsquos the Big Ideachamberrsquos readiness tool kit assists entrepreneurs

The McAllen Chamber of Commerce has helped prepare 25 McAllen entrepreneurs in the continuing quest to launch their ideas ndash all since July 2011

The Chamber has a software package called VentureBusiness Readiness Assessment which is used by states such as oklahoma and Kentucky to assist startup companies The software helps an entrepreneur through the entire process of seeing whether they are truly ready to launch their startup

ldquoVentureBusiness Readiness Assessment is a way that the Chamber assists entrepreneurs who are trying to get funding for their products or projectsrdquo says Steve Ahlenius who serves as President and CEo of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce ldquoThe Chamber awards $50000 a year in innovation grants in $10000 increments and entrepreneurs are always looking for funding But they must earn that money by passing the various stages of the software tool kitrdquo

TEN hOurS TO COmPlETEAhlenius says the assessment

has several specific steps to make sure that a startup company has everything in place to ensure that it is successful

ldquoThe entrepreneurs contact us and set up an appointment to see me then they come to the Chamber office we sign them up and give them passwords to access the software at their conveniencerdquo he says ldquo[The program] takes about 10 hours to complete but doesnrsquot have to be finished in one sitting However the program must be eventually completed in order to qualify for our innovation grantrdquo

CaN iT BE madE QuiCklyThe software asks questions

such as Have you protected your intellectual property Is your product something that can be

made quickly Have you set a value on your idea and do you know how to do that If itrsquos a product that involves high-tech engineering do you have an engineer on your companyrsquos team

ldquoThe entrepreneur needs to know if his venture is worth 20 shares of stock or 200 shares ndash things like thatrdquo Ahlenius says ldquoMany factors go into launching a product or business and Venture Readiness points out a personrsquos strengths and weaknessesrdquo

a grEaT OvErviEwVicente Valle Martinez of

McAllen is an entrepreneur who contacted the Chamber in 2012 about his idea for connecting

people on the Internet who have similar educational experiences and higher learning interests

ldquoI have no background in business but heard one day about an innovation grant competition that the Chamber was sponsoringrdquo Martinez says ldquoSteve told me about the software package and it gave me a great overview of what I need to know before launching my ideardquo

Ahlenius says the various concepts the software package covers include credentials character capabilities commitment and circumstance

ldquoIt is an excellent self-awareness testrdquo he says ldquoItrsquos ideal for entrepreneursrdquo

by Kevin Litwin

the mcallen chamber of commerce on ash avenue

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

Ad Index 41 BorderCapitalBank

21 CityofMCallen puBliCinfooffiCe

4 CourtyardByMarriott

32 easterseals rioGrandeValley

44 ediBlearranGeMents

32 faMilyphysiCiansCliniC

2 MaGiCValley eleCtriCCooperatiVe

C3 MCalleneConoMiC deVelopMentCorporation

46 MCallenindependent sChooldistriCt

1 MCallen internationalairport

C4 MCallenrealty

48 MreleCtriC

46 nueVosantanderGallery

35 ohkayrsquos

34 preVentatiVe

Careinstitute

23 QuintaMazatlan

32 riohealthMediCal

31 southtexasColleGe

C2 southtexas

healthsysteM

18 thepatioonGuerra

44 Valley

internationalairport

ECONOMICPROFILE

3000+

2000- 2999

1999- 500

hOuSEhOld iNCOmE

TOP EmPlOyErS

$200000+

$150000-199999

$100000 and under

McAllen Independent School District

McAllen Medical Center South Texas College City of McAllen

Rio Grande Regional Hospital International Bank of Commerce

EduCaTiON lEvEl

High School Graduate

Associate Degree

Bachelorrsquos Degree

Masterrsquos Degree

TaxES

2City Sales and Use Tax

625State Sales Tax

825Total Sales Tax

SCOrECard

$36BAnnual Retail Sales

$28682Retail sales per capita

$3575MAnnual Hotel and Food Sales

15161Total Number of Firms

TraNSPOrTaTiON

mcallen-miller international airportwwwmcallenairportcom

metro mcallenwwwmcallennetmetro

amtrakwwwamtrakcom

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

everything you need every step of the way

Serving the rio grande valley Since 1989

Rachel Hardison-Oliva Broker

3321 N McColl Rd

McAllen TX 78501

(956) 687-7172 bull (956) 687-7178 Fax

Page 39: Livability McAllen, TX 2013

BUSINESSInfo on McAllenrsquos top employers jobs and success stories

McAllen Convention Centerthe McAllenConventionCenter is located on 185 acres and includes a 60000-square-foot exhibit hall as well as more than 25000 square feet of meeting space in 16 breakout rooms

View a collection of photos from mcallen at livabilitycommcallentxphotos-video

38 mc allen 38 mc allen

38 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 39

BuSiNESS oVERVIEW

McAllenrsquos in the MoneyCultural diversity location and innovation drive cityrsquos top business sectors

As the retail hub of South Texas McAllen is thriving The city draws a customer base of more than 10 million within a 200-mile radius and is represented by 40 of Americarsquos top 100 retailers

By Tiffany Williams

La Plaza MallPumping much of the life into this retail hub is la Plaza mall which annually attracts more than 18 million visitors its anchoring stores such as dillardrsquos and macyrsquos and sought-after retailers including BCBg-max azria and Coach average sales of more than $650 per square foot and are among the most profitable stores in their chains

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

Meetings amp Events

CONvENTiON CENTEr lurES viSiTOrS

The mcallen Convention Center also helps draw businesses to the area The 185-acre complex featuring a 60000-square-foot column-free exhibit hall more than 25000 square feet of meeting space and up to 16 breakout rooms offers bicultural themes and tropical accents that represent the cultural and natural diversity of McAllen

Retail

ShOPPiNg hOT SPOTS

This bicultural city which is located just five miles from the US-Mexico border also has access to three international bridges that flood with visitors and eager shoppers daily many of whom are spending at a rate twice the national average

In addition to La Plaza Mall shopping centers in the McAllen area include Trenton Crossing las Tiendas Plaza and La Plaza Mallrsquos 600sbquo000-square-foot sister shopping center Palms Crossing which hosts such big-name retailers as Barnes amp Noble and Babies rsquoRrsquo Us as well as specialty shops and restaurants Its appeal stems from its open-air design with lots of palm trees water fountains and seating areas

Major Manufacturers

madE FOr maNuFaCTuriNg

Ranked third in Texas in per-capita sales the McAllen area has some of the largest manufacturing and wholesale companies in the nation

valley Coca Cola Bottling Co Value Frozen Foods and Emerson Network Power are just a few who have put down roots here Tri-City Steel which provides a full scope of steel construction by fabricating and erecting structural steel buildings pre-engineered metal buildings stairs handrails and more Texas Citrus Exchange in Mission makes Texas rio red grapefruit juice

learn more about businesses in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

BuSiNESS

RESIDEnTS GET CREATIvE WITH BUSInESS vEnTURES

the BoxOutside

One of McAllenrsquos most innovative startups sprang from the mind of someone who wasnrsquot even interested in business Today Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar is one

of the arearsquos top entrepreneurs and is finding serious success

mcallen entrepreneur dalinda Gonzalez-alcantar founded eJucomm llc

liVabil it ycommc allen 43 42 mc allen

ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the worldrdquo

EllEry BuChaNaN FIBERIOPRESIDENTCEO

Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar the founder of eJucomm LLC simply wanted to make information in her school district more accessible to families The company was a way she could make it happen

She got the idea while working as a teacher at DeLeon Middle School in McAllen and was frustrated that families without computers andor Internet access had difficulty communicating with teachers and administrators So she decided to develop a smartphone application that would solve the problem

With no previous technical experience she researched code online at night and a year later was selling the app to various school districts

ldquoThe app enables Android and iPhone users to access information for things like grades and attendancerdquo Gonzalez-Alcantar says

The entrepreneur also faced unexpected challenges ndash for instance how to tailor individual apps to the roughly seven school districts and 40 campuses that now use them No longer teaching she has partnered with a chief technology officer so she can focus on sales and marketing

One of her biggest hurdles was finding legal fees to fund the startup and a $10000 McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant in 2011 helped pay for a licensing agreement and intellectual property protection for eJucomm to move forward

BaNaNa E-z SPliTAnother McAllen resident

Gerald Guerra faced a similar obstacle when developing a product called Banana E-Z Split A health insurance broker Guerra was inspired at his own kitchen table to create single serving packets with all three syrups

Banana E-Z SplitGerald Guerra inventor of the banana e-Z split single serving syrup packets poses with his daughters Victoria and kaitlyn enthusiastic taste testers for his product

liVabil it ycommc allen 43

To order please call or visit 956-668-0555 or wwwediblearrangementscom 5113-A N 10th St bull McAllen TX 78504

Offer valid at participating locations Offer expires 12312013 Cannot be combined with another offers Offer code must be used when placing order

Containers may vary EDIBLE ARRANGEMENTS and the Fruit Basket Logo Design are registered trademarks of Edible Arrangements LLC

copy2012 Edible Arrangements LLC All rights reserved Frachises available call (888) 727-4258 or visit wwweafranchisescom

DELICIOUSLYd e s i r a b l e

FREE PIECE OF DIPPED FRUIT

Code mctx1213

Living green is making sure the air in your home is healthy for your family to breathe Test your home for radon and build radon-resistant

Its easy Thats living healthy and green

Just call 866-730-green or visit wwwepagovradon

Living greenstarts from the ground up

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

(pineapple chocolate strawberry) needed for a banana split

The concept led to a 2011 McAllen Business Plan Competition grant to fund the necessary patents

ldquoI envisioned a product that could hang easily in refrigerated sections at big box storesrdquo Guerra says ldquoI have lined up a distributor and a broker with my ultimate goal being to have Banana E-Z Split available to customers in large grocery chains It is close to happeningrdquo

FiBEriO TEChNOlOgyAnother startup in McAllen

is already making waves globally FibeRio Technology Corporation another McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant recipient is thriving thanks to ground-breaking nanofiber-producing machinery The nanofibers can be used to make products ranging from diapers to

ballistics using a new way to spin microscopic nanofibers

The technology serves an array of industries that feature filtration textiles or biomedical applications

ldquoDr Karen Lozano at UT-Pan American discovered the process and I was contacted because I am an entrepreneur familiar with launching technology- based companies including nanotechnologyrdquo says FibeRio Technology presidentCEO Ellery Buchanan ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the world Plus we use local McAllen suppliers whenever possible including machine shops parts suppliers IT contractors and other business servicesrdquo

by Kevin Litwin by staff photographer

Michael Conti

FibeRio Technology Corporationnanomaterials processing research equipment is used at FibeRioTechnologyCorporation

FEldmaNrsquoS markET CENTErFeldmanrsquos Market Center features a broad selection of beer as well as wines liquors cigars and a gourmet deli In addition weekly beer and wine tastings are offered(956) 687-9463

PErFECT PawS rESOrTPerfect Paws Resort offers grooming services daycare and boarding to vaccinated dogs and cats that are at least 12 weeks old Boarding suites are climate controlled and under constant supervisionperfectpawsresortcom

mCCrEEry aviaTiON CO iNCMcCreery Aviation Co Inc is a place for pilots and their aircraft to receive top-notch treatment A fuel center flight planning room and hangar storage are availablemccreeryaviationcom

kiTikakE llCKitikake LLC offers gently- used vintage clothing for women from an array of top designers such as Lilly Pulitzer and Catherine Malandrino Vintage home deacutecor and dishes are also availablekitikakecom

krEidlEr FuNEral hOmEFounded owned and operated by the Kreidler family Kreidler Funeral Home has served McAllen for 100 years They offer traditional burial and graveside funeral services direct burials cremations memorial services and morekreidlerfuneralhomecom

Business Spotlight

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

visit ouradvertisersBorder Capital Bankwwwbordercapitalbankcom

City of McAllen Public Info Officewwwexploremcallennet

Courtyard by Marriottwwwmarriottcommtema

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valleywwweasterseals-rgvorg

Edible Arrangementswwwediblearrangementscom

Family Physicians Clinicwwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

Magic Valley Electric Cooperativewwwmagicvalleycoop

McAllen Economic Development Corporationwwwmcallenedcorg

McAllen Independent School Districtwwwmcallenisdorg

McAllen International Airportwwwmcallenairportcom

McAllen Realty

Mr Electricwwwmrelectriccom

Nuevo Santander Gallerywwwnuevosantandercom

OH KAYrsquoS

Preventative Care Institutewwwrgvpcicom

Quinta Mazatlanwwwquintamazatlancom

Rio Health Medicalwwwrio-healthcom

South Texas College wwwsouthtexascollegeedu

South Texas Health Systemwwwsouthtexashealthsystemcom

The Patio on Guerra wwwpatioonguerracom

Valley International Airportwwwflythevalleycom

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

BuSiNESS CHAMBER REPoRT

Whatrsquos the Big Ideachamberrsquos readiness tool kit assists entrepreneurs

The McAllen Chamber of Commerce has helped prepare 25 McAllen entrepreneurs in the continuing quest to launch their ideas ndash all since July 2011

The Chamber has a software package called VentureBusiness Readiness Assessment which is used by states such as oklahoma and Kentucky to assist startup companies The software helps an entrepreneur through the entire process of seeing whether they are truly ready to launch their startup

ldquoVentureBusiness Readiness Assessment is a way that the Chamber assists entrepreneurs who are trying to get funding for their products or projectsrdquo says Steve Ahlenius who serves as President and CEo of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce ldquoThe Chamber awards $50000 a year in innovation grants in $10000 increments and entrepreneurs are always looking for funding But they must earn that money by passing the various stages of the software tool kitrdquo

TEN hOurS TO COmPlETEAhlenius says the assessment

has several specific steps to make sure that a startup company has everything in place to ensure that it is successful

ldquoThe entrepreneurs contact us and set up an appointment to see me then they come to the Chamber office we sign them up and give them passwords to access the software at their conveniencerdquo he says ldquo[The program] takes about 10 hours to complete but doesnrsquot have to be finished in one sitting However the program must be eventually completed in order to qualify for our innovation grantrdquo

CaN iT BE madE QuiCklyThe software asks questions

such as Have you protected your intellectual property Is your product something that can be

made quickly Have you set a value on your idea and do you know how to do that If itrsquos a product that involves high-tech engineering do you have an engineer on your companyrsquos team

ldquoThe entrepreneur needs to know if his venture is worth 20 shares of stock or 200 shares ndash things like thatrdquo Ahlenius says ldquoMany factors go into launching a product or business and Venture Readiness points out a personrsquos strengths and weaknessesrdquo

a grEaT OvErviEwVicente Valle Martinez of

McAllen is an entrepreneur who contacted the Chamber in 2012 about his idea for connecting

people on the Internet who have similar educational experiences and higher learning interests

ldquoI have no background in business but heard one day about an innovation grant competition that the Chamber was sponsoringrdquo Martinez says ldquoSteve told me about the software package and it gave me a great overview of what I need to know before launching my ideardquo

Ahlenius says the various concepts the software package covers include credentials character capabilities commitment and circumstance

ldquoIt is an excellent self-awareness testrdquo he says ldquoItrsquos ideal for entrepreneursrdquo

by Kevin Litwin

the mcallen chamber of commerce on ash avenue

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

Ad Index 41 BorderCapitalBank

21 CityofMCallen puBliCinfooffiCe

4 CourtyardByMarriott

32 easterseals rioGrandeValley

44 ediBlearranGeMents

32 faMilyphysiCiansCliniC

2 MaGiCValley eleCtriCCooperatiVe

C3 MCalleneConoMiC deVelopMentCorporation

46 MCallenindependent sChooldistriCt

1 MCallen internationalairport

C4 MCallenrealty

48 MreleCtriC

46 nueVosantanderGallery

35 ohkayrsquos

34 preVentatiVe

Careinstitute

23 QuintaMazatlan

32 riohealthMediCal

31 southtexasColleGe

C2 southtexas

healthsysteM

18 thepatioonGuerra

44 Valley

internationalairport

ECONOMICPROFILE

3000+

2000- 2999

1999- 500

hOuSEhOld iNCOmE

TOP EmPlOyErS

$200000+

$150000-199999

$100000 and under

McAllen Independent School District

McAllen Medical Center South Texas College City of McAllen

Rio Grande Regional Hospital International Bank of Commerce

EduCaTiON lEvEl

High School Graduate

Associate Degree

Bachelorrsquos Degree

Masterrsquos Degree

TaxES

2City Sales and Use Tax

625State Sales Tax

825Total Sales Tax

SCOrECard

$36BAnnual Retail Sales

$28682Retail sales per capita

$3575MAnnual Hotel and Food Sales

15161Total Number of Firms

TraNSPOrTaTiON

mcallen-miller international airportwwwmcallenairportcom

metro mcallenwwwmcallennetmetro

amtrakwwwamtrakcom

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

everything you need every step of the way

Serving the rio grande valley Since 1989

Rachel Hardison-Oliva Broker

3321 N McColl Rd

McAllen TX 78501

(956) 687-7172 bull (956) 687-7178 Fax

Page 40: Livability McAllen, TX 2013

38 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 39

BuSiNESS oVERVIEW

McAllenrsquos in the MoneyCultural diversity location and innovation drive cityrsquos top business sectors

As the retail hub of South Texas McAllen is thriving The city draws a customer base of more than 10 million within a 200-mile radius and is represented by 40 of Americarsquos top 100 retailers

By Tiffany Williams

La Plaza MallPumping much of the life into this retail hub is la Plaza mall which annually attracts more than 18 million visitors its anchoring stores such as dillardrsquos and macyrsquos and sought-after retailers including BCBg-max azria and Coach average sales of more than $650 per square foot and are among the most profitable stores in their chains

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

Meetings amp Events

CONvENTiON CENTEr lurES viSiTOrS

The mcallen Convention Center also helps draw businesses to the area The 185-acre complex featuring a 60000-square-foot column-free exhibit hall more than 25000 square feet of meeting space and up to 16 breakout rooms offers bicultural themes and tropical accents that represent the cultural and natural diversity of McAllen

Retail

ShOPPiNg hOT SPOTS

This bicultural city which is located just five miles from the US-Mexico border also has access to three international bridges that flood with visitors and eager shoppers daily many of whom are spending at a rate twice the national average

In addition to La Plaza Mall shopping centers in the McAllen area include Trenton Crossing las Tiendas Plaza and La Plaza Mallrsquos 600sbquo000-square-foot sister shopping center Palms Crossing which hosts such big-name retailers as Barnes amp Noble and Babies rsquoRrsquo Us as well as specialty shops and restaurants Its appeal stems from its open-air design with lots of palm trees water fountains and seating areas

Major Manufacturers

madE FOr maNuFaCTuriNg

Ranked third in Texas in per-capita sales the McAllen area has some of the largest manufacturing and wholesale companies in the nation

valley Coca Cola Bottling Co Value Frozen Foods and Emerson Network Power are just a few who have put down roots here Tri-City Steel which provides a full scope of steel construction by fabricating and erecting structural steel buildings pre-engineered metal buildings stairs handrails and more Texas Citrus Exchange in Mission makes Texas rio red grapefruit juice

learn more about businesses in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

BuSiNESS

RESIDEnTS GET CREATIvE WITH BUSInESS vEnTURES

the BoxOutside

One of McAllenrsquos most innovative startups sprang from the mind of someone who wasnrsquot even interested in business Today Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar is one

of the arearsquos top entrepreneurs and is finding serious success

mcallen entrepreneur dalinda Gonzalez-alcantar founded eJucomm llc

liVabil it ycommc allen 43 42 mc allen

ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the worldrdquo

EllEry BuChaNaN FIBERIOPRESIDENTCEO

Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar the founder of eJucomm LLC simply wanted to make information in her school district more accessible to families The company was a way she could make it happen

She got the idea while working as a teacher at DeLeon Middle School in McAllen and was frustrated that families without computers andor Internet access had difficulty communicating with teachers and administrators So she decided to develop a smartphone application that would solve the problem

With no previous technical experience she researched code online at night and a year later was selling the app to various school districts

ldquoThe app enables Android and iPhone users to access information for things like grades and attendancerdquo Gonzalez-Alcantar says

The entrepreneur also faced unexpected challenges ndash for instance how to tailor individual apps to the roughly seven school districts and 40 campuses that now use them No longer teaching she has partnered with a chief technology officer so she can focus on sales and marketing

One of her biggest hurdles was finding legal fees to fund the startup and a $10000 McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant in 2011 helped pay for a licensing agreement and intellectual property protection for eJucomm to move forward

BaNaNa E-z SPliTAnother McAllen resident

Gerald Guerra faced a similar obstacle when developing a product called Banana E-Z Split A health insurance broker Guerra was inspired at his own kitchen table to create single serving packets with all three syrups

Banana E-Z SplitGerald Guerra inventor of the banana e-Z split single serving syrup packets poses with his daughters Victoria and kaitlyn enthusiastic taste testers for his product

liVabil it ycommc allen 43

To order please call or visit 956-668-0555 or wwwediblearrangementscom 5113-A N 10th St bull McAllen TX 78504

Offer valid at participating locations Offer expires 12312013 Cannot be combined with another offers Offer code must be used when placing order

Containers may vary EDIBLE ARRANGEMENTS and the Fruit Basket Logo Design are registered trademarks of Edible Arrangements LLC

copy2012 Edible Arrangements LLC All rights reserved Frachises available call (888) 727-4258 or visit wwweafranchisescom

DELICIOUSLYd e s i r a b l e

FREE PIECE OF DIPPED FRUIT

Code mctx1213

Living green is making sure the air in your home is healthy for your family to breathe Test your home for radon and build radon-resistant

Its easy Thats living healthy and green

Just call 866-730-green or visit wwwepagovradon

Living greenstarts from the ground up

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

(pineapple chocolate strawberry) needed for a banana split

The concept led to a 2011 McAllen Business Plan Competition grant to fund the necessary patents

ldquoI envisioned a product that could hang easily in refrigerated sections at big box storesrdquo Guerra says ldquoI have lined up a distributor and a broker with my ultimate goal being to have Banana E-Z Split available to customers in large grocery chains It is close to happeningrdquo

FiBEriO TEChNOlOgyAnother startup in McAllen

is already making waves globally FibeRio Technology Corporation another McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant recipient is thriving thanks to ground-breaking nanofiber-producing machinery The nanofibers can be used to make products ranging from diapers to

ballistics using a new way to spin microscopic nanofibers

The technology serves an array of industries that feature filtration textiles or biomedical applications

ldquoDr Karen Lozano at UT-Pan American discovered the process and I was contacted because I am an entrepreneur familiar with launching technology- based companies including nanotechnologyrdquo says FibeRio Technology presidentCEO Ellery Buchanan ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the world Plus we use local McAllen suppliers whenever possible including machine shops parts suppliers IT contractors and other business servicesrdquo

by Kevin Litwin by staff photographer

Michael Conti

FibeRio Technology Corporationnanomaterials processing research equipment is used at FibeRioTechnologyCorporation

FEldmaNrsquoS markET CENTErFeldmanrsquos Market Center features a broad selection of beer as well as wines liquors cigars and a gourmet deli In addition weekly beer and wine tastings are offered(956) 687-9463

PErFECT PawS rESOrTPerfect Paws Resort offers grooming services daycare and boarding to vaccinated dogs and cats that are at least 12 weeks old Boarding suites are climate controlled and under constant supervisionperfectpawsresortcom

mCCrEEry aviaTiON CO iNCMcCreery Aviation Co Inc is a place for pilots and their aircraft to receive top-notch treatment A fuel center flight planning room and hangar storage are availablemccreeryaviationcom

kiTikakE llCKitikake LLC offers gently- used vintage clothing for women from an array of top designers such as Lilly Pulitzer and Catherine Malandrino Vintage home deacutecor and dishes are also availablekitikakecom

krEidlEr FuNEral hOmEFounded owned and operated by the Kreidler family Kreidler Funeral Home has served McAllen for 100 years They offer traditional burial and graveside funeral services direct burials cremations memorial services and morekreidlerfuneralhomecom

Business Spotlight

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

visit ouradvertisersBorder Capital Bankwwwbordercapitalbankcom

City of McAllen Public Info Officewwwexploremcallennet

Courtyard by Marriottwwwmarriottcommtema

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valleywwweasterseals-rgvorg

Edible Arrangementswwwediblearrangementscom

Family Physicians Clinicwwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

Magic Valley Electric Cooperativewwwmagicvalleycoop

McAllen Economic Development Corporationwwwmcallenedcorg

McAllen Independent School Districtwwwmcallenisdorg

McAllen International Airportwwwmcallenairportcom

McAllen Realty

Mr Electricwwwmrelectriccom

Nuevo Santander Gallerywwwnuevosantandercom

OH KAYrsquoS

Preventative Care Institutewwwrgvpcicom

Quinta Mazatlanwwwquintamazatlancom

Rio Health Medicalwwwrio-healthcom

South Texas College wwwsouthtexascollegeedu

South Texas Health Systemwwwsouthtexashealthsystemcom

The Patio on Guerra wwwpatioonguerracom

Valley International Airportwwwflythevalleycom

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

BuSiNESS CHAMBER REPoRT

Whatrsquos the Big Ideachamberrsquos readiness tool kit assists entrepreneurs

The McAllen Chamber of Commerce has helped prepare 25 McAllen entrepreneurs in the continuing quest to launch their ideas ndash all since July 2011

The Chamber has a software package called VentureBusiness Readiness Assessment which is used by states such as oklahoma and Kentucky to assist startup companies The software helps an entrepreneur through the entire process of seeing whether they are truly ready to launch their startup

ldquoVentureBusiness Readiness Assessment is a way that the Chamber assists entrepreneurs who are trying to get funding for their products or projectsrdquo says Steve Ahlenius who serves as President and CEo of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce ldquoThe Chamber awards $50000 a year in innovation grants in $10000 increments and entrepreneurs are always looking for funding But they must earn that money by passing the various stages of the software tool kitrdquo

TEN hOurS TO COmPlETEAhlenius says the assessment

has several specific steps to make sure that a startup company has everything in place to ensure that it is successful

ldquoThe entrepreneurs contact us and set up an appointment to see me then they come to the Chamber office we sign them up and give them passwords to access the software at their conveniencerdquo he says ldquo[The program] takes about 10 hours to complete but doesnrsquot have to be finished in one sitting However the program must be eventually completed in order to qualify for our innovation grantrdquo

CaN iT BE madE QuiCklyThe software asks questions

such as Have you protected your intellectual property Is your product something that can be

made quickly Have you set a value on your idea and do you know how to do that If itrsquos a product that involves high-tech engineering do you have an engineer on your companyrsquos team

ldquoThe entrepreneur needs to know if his venture is worth 20 shares of stock or 200 shares ndash things like thatrdquo Ahlenius says ldquoMany factors go into launching a product or business and Venture Readiness points out a personrsquos strengths and weaknessesrdquo

a grEaT OvErviEwVicente Valle Martinez of

McAllen is an entrepreneur who contacted the Chamber in 2012 about his idea for connecting

people on the Internet who have similar educational experiences and higher learning interests

ldquoI have no background in business but heard one day about an innovation grant competition that the Chamber was sponsoringrdquo Martinez says ldquoSteve told me about the software package and it gave me a great overview of what I need to know before launching my ideardquo

Ahlenius says the various concepts the software package covers include credentials character capabilities commitment and circumstance

ldquoIt is an excellent self-awareness testrdquo he says ldquoItrsquos ideal for entrepreneursrdquo

by Kevin Litwin

the mcallen chamber of commerce on ash avenue

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

Ad Index 41 BorderCapitalBank

21 CityofMCallen puBliCinfooffiCe

4 CourtyardByMarriott

32 easterseals rioGrandeValley

44 ediBlearranGeMents

32 faMilyphysiCiansCliniC

2 MaGiCValley eleCtriCCooperatiVe

C3 MCalleneConoMiC deVelopMentCorporation

46 MCallenindependent sChooldistriCt

1 MCallen internationalairport

C4 MCallenrealty

48 MreleCtriC

46 nueVosantanderGallery

35 ohkayrsquos

34 preVentatiVe

Careinstitute

23 QuintaMazatlan

32 riohealthMediCal

31 southtexasColleGe

C2 southtexas

healthsysteM

18 thepatioonGuerra

44 Valley

internationalairport

ECONOMICPROFILE

3000+

2000- 2999

1999- 500

hOuSEhOld iNCOmE

TOP EmPlOyErS

$200000+

$150000-199999

$100000 and under

McAllen Independent School District

McAllen Medical Center South Texas College City of McAllen

Rio Grande Regional Hospital International Bank of Commerce

EduCaTiON lEvEl

High School Graduate

Associate Degree

Bachelorrsquos Degree

Masterrsquos Degree

TaxES

2City Sales and Use Tax

625State Sales Tax

825Total Sales Tax

SCOrECard

$36BAnnual Retail Sales

$28682Retail sales per capita

$3575MAnnual Hotel and Food Sales

15161Total Number of Firms

TraNSPOrTaTiON

mcallen-miller international airportwwwmcallenairportcom

metro mcallenwwwmcallennetmetro

amtrakwwwamtrakcom

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

everything you need every step of the way

Serving the rio grande valley Since 1989

Rachel Hardison-Oliva Broker

3321 N McColl Rd

McAllen TX 78501

(956) 687-7172 bull (956) 687-7178 Fax

Page 41: Livability McAllen, TX 2013

BuSiNESS oVERVIEW

McAllenrsquos in the MoneyCultural diversity location and innovation drive cityrsquos top business sectors

As the retail hub of South Texas McAllen is thriving The city draws a customer base of more than 10 million within a 200-mile radius and is represented by 40 of Americarsquos top 100 retailers

By Tiffany Williams

La Plaza MallPumping much of the life into this retail hub is la Plaza mall which annually attracts more than 18 million visitors its anchoring stores such as dillardrsquos and macyrsquos and sought-after retailers including BCBg-max azria and Coach average sales of more than $650 per square foot and are among the most profitable stores in their chains

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

Meetings amp Events

CONvENTiON CENTEr lurES viSiTOrS

The mcallen Convention Center also helps draw businesses to the area The 185-acre complex featuring a 60000-square-foot column-free exhibit hall more than 25000 square feet of meeting space and up to 16 breakout rooms offers bicultural themes and tropical accents that represent the cultural and natural diversity of McAllen

Retail

ShOPPiNg hOT SPOTS

This bicultural city which is located just five miles from the US-Mexico border also has access to three international bridges that flood with visitors and eager shoppers daily many of whom are spending at a rate twice the national average

In addition to La Plaza Mall shopping centers in the McAllen area include Trenton Crossing las Tiendas Plaza and La Plaza Mallrsquos 600sbquo000-square-foot sister shopping center Palms Crossing which hosts such big-name retailers as Barnes amp Noble and Babies rsquoRrsquo Us as well as specialty shops and restaurants Its appeal stems from its open-air design with lots of palm trees water fountains and seating areas

Major Manufacturers

madE FOr maNuFaCTuriNg

Ranked third in Texas in per-capita sales the McAllen area has some of the largest manufacturing and wholesale companies in the nation

valley Coca Cola Bottling Co Value Frozen Foods and Emerson Network Power are just a few who have put down roots here Tri-City Steel which provides a full scope of steel construction by fabricating and erecting structural steel buildings pre-engineered metal buildings stairs handrails and more Texas Citrus Exchange in Mission makes Texas rio red grapefruit juice

learn more about businesses in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

BuSiNESS

RESIDEnTS GET CREATIvE WITH BUSInESS vEnTURES

the BoxOutside

One of McAllenrsquos most innovative startups sprang from the mind of someone who wasnrsquot even interested in business Today Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar is one

of the arearsquos top entrepreneurs and is finding serious success

mcallen entrepreneur dalinda Gonzalez-alcantar founded eJucomm llc

liVabil it ycommc allen 43 42 mc allen

ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the worldrdquo

EllEry BuChaNaN FIBERIOPRESIDENTCEO

Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar the founder of eJucomm LLC simply wanted to make information in her school district more accessible to families The company was a way she could make it happen

She got the idea while working as a teacher at DeLeon Middle School in McAllen and was frustrated that families without computers andor Internet access had difficulty communicating with teachers and administrators So she decided to develop a smartphone application that would solve the problem

With no previous technical experience she researched code online at night and a year later was selling the app to various school districts

ldquoThe app enables Android and iPhone users to access information for things like grades and attendancerdquo Gonzalez-Alcantar says

The entrepreneur also faced unexpected challenges ndash for instance how to tailor individual apps to the roughly seven school districts and 40 campuses that now use them No longer teaching she has partnered with a chief technology officer so she can focus on sales and marketing

One of her biggest hurdles was finding legal fees to fund the startup and a $10000 McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant in 2011 helped pay for a licensing agreement and intellectual property protection for eJucomm to move forward

BaNaNa E-z SPliTAnother McAllen resident

Gerald Guerra faced a similar obstacle when developing a product called Banana E-Z Split A health insurance broker Guerra was inspired at his own kitchen table to create single serving packets with all three syrups

Banana E-Z SplitGerald Guerra inventor of the banana e-Z split single serving syrup packets poses with his daughters Victoria and kaitlyn enthusiastic taste testers for his product

liVabil it ycommc allen 43

To order please call or visit 956-668-0555 or wwwediblearrangementscom 5113-A N 10th St bull McAllen TX 78504

Offer valid at participating locations Offer expires 12312013 Cannot be combined with another offers Offer code must be used when placing order

Containers may vary EDIBLE ARRANGEMENTS and the Fruit Basket Logo Design are registered trademarks of Edible Arrangements LLC

copy2012 Edible Arrangements LLC All rights reserved Frachises available call (888) 727-4258 or visit wwweafranchisescom

DELICIOUSLYd e s i r a b l e

FREE PIECE OF DIPPED FRUIT

Code mctx1213

Living green is making sure the air in your home is healthy for your family to breathe Test your home for radon and build radon-resistant

Its easy Thats living healthy and green

Just call 866-730-green or visit wwwepagovradon

Living greenstarts from the ground up

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

(pineapple chocolate strawberry) needed for a banana split

The concept led to a 2011 McAllen Business Plan Competition grant to fund the necessary patents

ldquoI envisioned a product that could hang easily in refrigerated sections at big box storesrdquo Guerra says ldquoI have lined up a distributor and a broker with my ultimate goal being to have Banana E-Z Split available to customers in large grocery chains It is close to happeningrdquo

FiBEriO TEChNOlOgyAnother startup in McAllen

is already making waves globally FibeRio Technology Corporation another McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant recipient is thriving thanks to ground-breaking nanofiber-producing machinery The nanofibers can be used to make products ranging from diapers to

ballistics using a new way to spin microscopic nanofibers

The technology serves an array of industries that feature filtration textiles or biomedical applications

ldquoDr Karen Lozano at UT-Pan American discovered the process and I was contacted because I am an entrepreneur familiar with launching technology- based companies including nanotechnologyrdquo says FibeRio Technology presidentCEO Ellery Buchanan ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the world Plus we use local McAllen suppliers whenever possible including machine shops parts suppliers IT contractors and other business servicesrdquo

by Kevin Litwin by staff photographer

Michael Conti

FibeRio Technology Corporationnanomaterials processing research equipment is used at FibeRioTechnologyCorporation

FEldmaNrsquoS markET CENTErFeldmanrsquos Market Center features a broad selection of beer as well as wines liquors cigars and a gourmet deli In addition weekly beer and wine tastings are offered(956) 687-9463

PErFECT PawS rESOrTPerfect Paws Resort offers grooming services daycare and boarding to vaccinated dogs and cats that are at least 12 weeks old Boarding suites are climate controlled and under constant supervisionperfectpawsresortcom

mCCrEEry aviaTiON CO iNCMcCreery Aviation Co Inc is a place for pilots and their aircraft to receive top-notch treatment A fuel center flight planning room and hangar storage are availablemccreeryaviationcom

kiTikakE llCKitikake LLC offers gently- used vintage clothing for women from an array of top designers such as Lilly Pulitzer and Catherine Malandrino Vintage home deacutecor and dishes are also availablekitikakecom

krEidlEr FuNEral hOmEFounded owned and operated by the Kreidler family Kreidler Funeral Home has served McAllen for 100 years They offer traditional burial and graveside funeral services direct burials cremations memorial services and morekreidlerfuneralhomecom

Business Spotlight

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

visit ouradvertisersBorder Capital Bankwwwbordercapitalbankcom

City of McAllen Public Info Officewwwexploremcallennet

Courtyard by Marriottwwwmarriottcommtema

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valleywwweasterseals-rgvorg

Edible Arrangementswwwediblearrangementscom

Family Physicians Clinicwwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

Magic Valley Electric Cooperativewwwmagicvalleycoop

McAllen Economic Development Corporationwwwmcallenedcorg

McAllen Independent School Districtwwwmcallenisdorg

McAllen International Airportwwwmcallenairportcom

McAllen Realty

Mr Electricwwwmrelectriccom

Nuevo Santander Gallerywwwnuevosantandercom

OH KAYrsquoS

Preventative Care Institutewwwrgvpcicom

Quinta Mazatlanwwwquintamazatlancom

Rio Health Medicalwwwrio-healthcom

South Texas College wwwsouthtexascollegeedu

South Texas Health Systemwwwsouthtexashealthsystemcom

The Patio on Guerra wwwpatioonguerracom

Valley International Airportwwwflythevalleycom

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

BuSiNESS CHAMBER REPoRT

Whatrsquos the Big Ideachamberrsquos readiness tool kit assists entrepreneurs

The McAllen Chamber of Commerce has helped prepare 25 McAllen entrepreneurs in the continuing quest to launch their ideas ndash all since July 2011

The Chamber has a software package called VentureBusiness Readiness Assessment which is used by states such as oklahoma and Kentucky to assist startup companies The software helps an entrepreneur through the entire process of seeing whether they are truly ready to launch their startup

ldquoVentureBusiness Readiness Assessment is a way that the Chamber assists entrepreneurs who are trying to get funding for their products or projectsrdquo says Steve Ahlenius who serves as President and CEo of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce ldquoThe Chamber awards $50000 a year in innovation grants in $10000 increments and entrepreneurs are always looking for funding But they must earn that money by passing the various stages of the software tool kitrdquo

TEN hOurS TO COmPlETEAhlenius says the assessment

has several specific steps to make sure that a startup company has everything in place to ensure that it is successful

ldquoThe entrepreneurs contact us and set up an appointment to see me then they come to the Chamber office we sign them up and give them passwords to access the software at their conveniencerdquo he says ldquo[The program] takes about 10 hours to complete but doesnrsquot have to be finished in one sitting However the program must be eventually completed in order to qualify for our innovation grantrdquo

CaN iT BE madE QuiCklyThe software asks questions

such as Have you protected your intellectual property Is your product something that can be

made quickly Have you set a value on your idea and do you know how to do that If itrsquos a product that involves high-tech engineering do you have an engineer on your companyrsquos team

ldquoThe entrepreneur needs to know if his venture is worth 20 shares of stock or 200 shares ndash things like thatrdquo Ahlenius says ldquoMany factors go into launching a product or business and Venture Readiness points out a personrsquos strengths and weaknessesrdquo

a grEaT OvErviEwVicente Valle Martinez of

McAllen is an entrepreneur who contacted the Chamber in 2012 about his idea for connecting

people on the Internet who have similar educational experiences and higher learning interests

ldquoI have no background in business but heard one day about an innovation grant competition that the Chamber was sponsoringrdquo Martinez says ldquoSteve told me about the software package and it gave me a great overview of what I need to know before launching my ideardquo

Ahlenius says the various concepts the software package covers include credentials character capabilities commitment and circumstance

ldquoIt is an excellent self-awareness testrdquo he says ldquoItrsquos ideal for entrepreneursrdquo

by Kevin Litwin

the mcallen chamber of commerce on ash avenue

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

Ad Index 41 BorderCapitalBank

21 CityofMCallen puBliCinfooffiCe

4 CourtyardByMarriott

32 easterseals rioGrandeValley

44 ediBlearranGeMents

32 faMilyphysiCiansCliniC

2 MaGiCValley eleCtriCCooperatiVe

C3 MCalleneConoMiC deVelopMentCorporation

46 MCallenindependent sChooldistriCt

1 MCallen internationalairport

C4 MCallenrealty

48 MreleCtriC

46 nueVosantanderGallery

35 ohkayrsquos

34 preVentatiVe

Careinstitute

23 QuintaMazatlan

32 riohealthMediCal

31 southtexasColleGe

C2 southtexas

healthsysteM

18 thepatioonGuerra

44 Valley

internationalairport

ECONOMICPROFILE

3000+

2000- 2999

1999- 500

hOuSEhOld iNCOmE

TOP EmPlOyErS

$200000+

$150000-199999

$100000 and under

McAllen Independent School District

McAllen Medical Center South Texas College City of McAllen

Rio Grande Regional Hospital International Bank of Commerce

EduCaTiON lEvEl

High School Graduate

Associate Degree

Bachelorrsquos Degree

Masterrsquos Degree

TaxES

2City Sales and Use Tax

625State Sales Tax

825Total Sales Tax

SCOrECard

$36BAnnual Retail Sales

$28682Retail sales per capita

$3575MAnnual Hotel and Food Sales

15161Total Number of Firms

TraNSPOrTaTiON

mcallen-miller international airportwwwmcallenairportcom

metro mcallenwwwmcallennetmetro

amtrakwwwamtrakcom

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

everything you need every step of the way

Serving the rio grande valley Since 1989

Rachel Hardison-Oliva Broker

3321 N McColl Rd

McAllen TX 78501

(956) 687-7172 bull (956) 687-7178 Fax

Page 42: Livability McAllen, TX 2013

Meetings amp Events

CONvENTiON CENTEr lurES viSiTOrS

The mcallen Convention Center also helps draw businesses to the area The 185-acre complex featuring a 60000-square-foot column-free exhibit hall more than 25000 square feet of meeting space and up to 16 breakout rooms offers bicultural themes and tropical accents that represent the cultural and natural diversity of McAllen

Retail

ShOPPiNg hOT SPOTS

This bicultural city which is located just five miles from the US-Mexico border also has access to three international bridges that flood with visitors and eager shoppers daily many of whom are spending at a rate twice the national average

In addition to La Plaza Mall shopping centers in the McAllen area include Trenton Crossing las Tiendas Plaza and La Plaza Mallrsquos 600sbquo000-square-foot sister shopping center Palms Crossing which hosts such big-name retailers as Barnes amp Noble and Babies rsquoRrsquo Us as well as specialty shops and restaurants Its appeal stems from its open-air design with lots of palm trees water fountains and seating areas

Major Manufacturers

madE FOr maNuFaCTuriNg

Ranked third in Texas in per-capita sales the McAllen area has some of the largest manufacturing and wholesale companies in the nation

valley Coca Cola Bottling Co Value Frozen Foods and Emerson Network Power are just a few who have put down roots here Tri-City Steel which provides a full scope of steel construction by fabricating and erecting structural steel buildings pre-engineered metal buildings stairs handrails and more Texas Citrus Exchange in Mission makes Texas rio red grapefruit juice

learn more about businesses in mcallen at livabilitycommcallen

40 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 41

BuSiNESS

RESIDEnTS GET CREATIvE WITH BUSInESS vEnTURES

the BoxOutside

One of McAllenrsquos most innovative startups sprang from the mind of someone who wasnrsquot even interested in business Today Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar is one

of the arearsquos top entrepreneurs and is finding serious success

mcallen entrepreneur dalinda Gonzalez-alcantar founded eJucomm llc

liVabil it ycommc allen 43 42 mc allen

ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the worldrdquo

EllEry BuChaNaN FIBERIOPRESIDENTCEO

Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar the founder of eJucomm LLC simply wanted to make information in her school district more accessible to families The company was a way she could make it happen

She got the idea while working as a teacher at DeLeon Middle School in McAllen and was frustrated that families without computers andor Internet access had difficulty communicating with teachers and administrators So she decided to develop a smartphone application that would solve the problem

With no previous technical experience she researched code online at night and a year later was selling the app to various school districts

ldquoThe app enables Android and iPhone users to access information for things like grades and attendancerdquo Gonzalez-Alcantar says

The entrepreneur also faced unexpected challenges ndash for instance how to tailor individual apps to the roughly seven school districts and 40 campuses that now use them No longer teaching she has partnered with a chief technology officer so she can focus on sales and marketing

One of her biggest hurdles was finding legal fees to fund the startup and a $10000 McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant in 2011 helped pay for a licensing agreement and intellectual property protection for eJucomm to move forward

BaNaNa E-z SPliTAnother McAllen resident

Gerald Guerra faced a similar obstacle when developing a product called Banana E-Z Split A health insurance broker Guerra was inspired at his own kitchen table to create single serving packets with all three syrups

Banana E-Z SplitGerald Guerra inventor of the banana e-Z split single serving syrup packets poses with his daughters Victoria and kaitlyn enthusiastic taste testers for his product

liVabil it ycommc allen 43

To order please call or visit 956-668-0555 or wwwediblearrangementscom 5113-A N 10th St bull McAllen TX 78504

Offer valid at participating locations Offer expires 12312013 Cannot be combined with another offers Offer code must be used when placing order

Containers may vary EDIBLE ARRANGEMENTS and the Fruit Basket Logo Design are registered trademarks of Edible Arrangements LLC

copy2012 Edible Arrangements LLC All rights reserved Frachises available call (888) 727-4258 or visit wwweafranchisescom

DELICIOUSLYd e s i r a b l e

FREE PIECE OF DIPPED FRUIT

Code mctx1213

Living green is making sure the air in your home is healthy for your family to breathe Test your home for radon and build radon-resistant

Its easy Thats living healthy and green

Just call 866-730-green or visit wwwepagovradon

Living greenstarts from the ground up

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

(pineapple chocolate strawberry) needed for a banana split

The concept led to a 2011 McAllen Business Plan Competition grant to fund the necessary patents

ldquoI envisioned a product that could hang easily in refrigerated sections at big box storesrdquo Guerra says ldquoI have lined up a distributor and a broker with my ultimate goal being to have Banana E-Z Split available to customers in large grocery chains It is close to happeningrdquo

FiBEriO TEChNOlOgyAnother startup in McAllen

is already making waves globally FibeRio Technology Corporation another McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant recipient is thriving thanks to ground-breaking nanofiber-producing machinery The nanofibers can be used to make products ranging from diapers to

ballistics using a new way to spin microscopic nanofibers

The technology serves an array of industries that feature filtration textiles or biomedical applications

ldquoDr Karen Lozano at UT-Pan American discovered the process and I was contacted because I am an entrepreneur familiar with launching technology- based companies including nanotechnologyrdquo says FibeRio Technology presidentCEO Ellery Buchanan ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the world Plus we use local McAllen suppliers whenever possible including machine shops parts suppliers IT contractors and other business servicesrdquo

by Kevin Litwin by staff photographer

Michael Conti

FibeRio Technology Corporationnanomaterials processing research equipment is used at FibeRioTechnologyCorporation

FEldmaNrsquoS markET CENTErFeldmanrsquos Market Center features a broad selection of beer as well as wines liquors cigars and a gourmet deli In addition weekly beer and wine tastings are offered(956) 687-9463

PErFECT PawS rESOrTPerfect Paws Resort offers grooming services daycare and boarding to vaccinated dogs and cats that are at least 12 weeks old Boarding suites are climate controlled and under constant supervisionperfectpawsresortcom

mCCrEEry aviaTiON CO iNCMcCreery Aviation Co Inc is a place for pilots and their aircraft to receive top-notch treatment A fuel center flight planning room and hangar storage are availablemccreeryaviationcom

kiTikakE llCKitikake LLC offers gently- used vintage clothing for women from an array of top designers such as Lilly Pulitzer and Catherine Malandrino Vintage home deacutecor and dishes are also availablekitikakecom

krEidlEr FuNEral hOmEFounded owned and operated by the Kreidler family Kreidler Funeral Home has served McAllen for 100 years They offer traditional burial and graveside funeral services direct burials cremations memorial services and morekreidlerfuneralhomecom

Business Spotlight

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

visit ouradvertisersBorder Capital Bankwwwbordercapitalbankcom

City of McAllen Public Info Officewwwexploremcallennet

Courtyard by Marriottwwwmarriottcommtema

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valleywwweasterseals-rgvorg

Edible Arrangementswwwediblearrangementscom

Family Physicians Clinicwwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

Magic Valley Electric Cooperativewwwmagicvalleycoop

McAllen Economic Development Corporationwwwmcallenedcorg

McAllen Independent School Districtwwwmcallenisdorg

McAllen International Airportwwwmcallenairportcom

McAllen Realty

Mr Electricwwwmrelectriccom

Nuevo Santander Gallerywwwnuevosantandercom

OH KAYrsquoS

Preventative Care Institutewwwrgvpcicom

Quinta Mazatlanwwwquintamazatlancom

Rio Health Medicalwwwrio-healthcom

South Texas College wwwsouthtexascollegeedu

South Texas Health Systemwwwsouthtexashealthsystemcom

The Patio on Guerra wwwpatioonguerracom

Valley International Airportwwwflythevalleycom

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

BuSiNESS CHAMBER REPoRT

Whatrsquos the Big Ideachamberrsquos readiness tool kit assists entrepreneurs

The McAllen Chamber of Commerce has helped prepare 25 McAllen entrepreneurs in the continuing quest to launch their ideas ndash all since July 2011

The Chamber has a software package called VentureBusiness Readiness Assessment which is used by states such as oklahoma and Kentucky to assist startup companies The software helps an entrepreneur through the entire process of seeing whether they are truly ready to launch their startup

ldquoVentureBusiness Readiness Assessment is a way that the Chamber assists entrepreneurs who are trying to get funding for their products or projectsrdquo says Steve Ahlenius who serves as President and CEo of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce ldquoThe Chamber awards $50000 a year in innovation grants in $10000 increments and entrepreneurs are always looking for funding But they must earn that money by passing the various stages of the software tool kitrdquo

TEN hOurS TO COmPlETEAhlenius says the assessment

has several specific steps to make sure that a startup company has everything in place to ensure that it is successful

ldquoThe entrepreneurs contact us and set up an appointment to see me then they come to the Chamber office we sign them up and give them passwords to access the software at their conveniencerdquo he says ldquo[The program] takes about 10 hours to complete but doesnrsquot have to be finished in one sitting However the program must be eventually completed in order to qualify for our innovation grantrdquo

CaN iT BE madE QuiCklyThe software asks questions

such as Have you protected your intellectual property Is your product something that can be

made quickly Have you set a value on your idea and do you know how to do that If itrsquos a product that involves high-tech engineering do you have an engineer on your companyrsquos team

ldquoThe entrepreneur needs to know if his venture is worth 20 shares of stock or 200 shares ndash things like thatrdquo Ahlenius says ldquoMany factors go into launching a product or business and Venture Readiness points out a personrsquos strengths and weaknessesrdquo

a grEaT OvErviEwVicente Valle Martinez of

McAllen is an entrepreneur who contacted the Chamber in 2012 about his idea for connecting

people on the Internet who have similar educational experiences and higher learning interests

ldquoI have no background in business but heard one day about an innovation grant competition that the Chamber was sponsoringrdquo Martinez says ldquoSteve told me about the software package and it gave me a great overview of what I need to know before launching my ideardquo

Ahlenius says the various concepts the software package covers include credentials character capabilities commitment and circumstance

ldquoIt is an excellent self-awareness testrdquo he says ldquoItrsquos ideal for entrepreneursrdquo

by Kevin Litwin

the mcallen chamber of commerce on ash avenue

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

Ad Index 41 BorderCapitalBank

21 CityofMCallen puBliCinfooffiCe

4 CourtyardByMarriott

32 easterseals rioGrandeValley

44 ediBlearranGeMents

32 faMilyphysiCiansCliniC

2 MaGiCValley eleCtriCCooperatiVe

C3 MCalleneConoMiC deVelopMentCorporation

46 MCallenindependent sChooldistriCt

1 MCallen internationalairport

C4 MCallenrealty

48 MreleCtriC

46 nueVosantanderGallery

35 ohkayrsquos

34 preVentatiVe

Careinstitute

23 QuintaMazatlan

32 riohealthMediCal

31 southtexasColleGe

C2 southtexas

healthsysteM

18 thepatioonGuerra

44 Valley

internationalairport

ECONOMICPROFILE

3000+

2000- 2999

1999- 500

hOuSEhOld iNCOmE

TOP EmPlOyErS

$200000+

$150000-199999

$100000 and under

McAllen Independent School District

McAllen Medical Center South Texas College City of McAllen

Rio Grande Regional Hospital International Bank of Commerce

EduCaTiON lEvEl

High School Graduate

Associate Degree

Bachelorrsquos Degree

Masterrsquos Degree

TaxES

2City Sales and Use Tax

625State Sales Tax

825Total Sales Tax

SCOrECard

$36BAnnual Retail Sales

$28682Retail sales per capita

$3575MAnnual Hotel and Food Sales

15161Total Number of Firms

TraNSPOrTaTiON

mcallen-miller international airportwwwmcallenairportcom

metro mcallenwwwmcallennetmetro

amtrakwwwamtrakcom

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

everything you need every step of the way

Serving the rio grande valley Since 1989

Rachel Hardison-Oliva Broker

3321 N McColl Rd

McAllen TX 78501

(956) 687-7172 bull (956) 687-7178 Fax

Page 43: Livability McAllen, TX 2013

BuSiNESS

RESIDEnTS GET CREATIvE WITH BUSInESS vEnTURES

the BoxOutside

One of McAllenrsquos most innovative startups sprang from the mind of someone who wasnrsquot even interested in business Today Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar is one

of the arearsquos top entrepreneurs and is finding serious success

mcallen entrepreneur dalinda Gonzalez-alcantar founded eJucomm llc

liVabil it ycommc allen 43 42 mc allen

ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the worldrdquo

EllEry BuChaNaN FIBERIOPRESIDENTCEO

Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar the founder of eJucomm LLC simply wanted to make information in her school district more accessible to families The company was a way she could make it happen

She got the idea while working as a teacher at DeLeon Middle School in McAllen and was frustrated that families without computers andor Internet access had difficulty communicating with teachers and administrators So she decided to develop a smartphone application that would solve the problem

With no previous technical experience she researched code online at night and a year later was selling the app to various school districts

ldquoThe app enables Android and iPhone users to access information for things like grades and attendancerdquo Gonzalez-Alcantar says

The entrepreneur also faced unexpected challenges ndash for instance how to tailor individual apps to the roughly seven school districts and 40 campuses that now use them No longer teaching she has partnered with a chief technology officer so she can focus on sales and marketing

One of her biggest hurdles was finding legal fees to fund the startup and a $10000 McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant in 2011 helped pay for a licensing agreement and intellectual property protection for eJucomm to move forward

BaNaNa E-z SPliTAnother McAllen resident

Gerald Guerra faced a similar obstacle when developing a product called Banana E-Z Split A health insurance broker Guerra was inspired at his own kitchen table to create single serving packets with all three syrups

Banana E-Z SplitGerald Guerra inventor of the banana e-Z split single serving syrup packets poses with his daughters Victoria and kaitlyn enthusiastic taste testers for his product

liVabil it ycommc allen 43

To order please call or visit 956-668-0555 or wwwediblearrangementscom 5113-A N 10th St bull McAllen TX 78504

Offer valid at participating locations Offer expires 12312013 Cannot be combined with another offers Offer code must be used when placing order

Containers may vary EDIBLE ARRANGEMENTS and the Fruit Basket Logo Design are registered trademarks of Edible Arrangements LLC

copy2012 Edible Arrangements LLC All rights reserved Frachises available call (888) 727-4258 or visit wwweafranchisescom

DELICIOUSLYd e s i r a b l e

FREE PIECE OF DIPPED FRUIT

Code mctx1213

Living green is making sure the air in your home is healthy for your family to breathe Test your home for radon and build radon-resistant

Its easy Thats living healthy and green

Just call 866-730-green or visit wwwepagovradon

Living greenstarts from the ground up

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

(pineapple chocolate strawberry) needed for a banana split

The concept led to a 2011 McAllen Business Plan Competition grant to fund the necessary patents

ldquoI envisioned a product that could hang easily in refrigerated sections at big box storesrdquo Guerra says ldquoI have lined up a distributor and a broker with my ultimate goal being to have Banana E-Z Split available to customers in large grocery chains It is close to happeningrdquo

FiBEriO TEChNOlOgyAnother startup in McAllen

is already making waves globally FibeRio Technology Corporation another McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant recipient is thriving thanks to ground-breaking nanofiber-producing machinery The nanofibers can be used to make products ranging from diapers to

ballistics using a new way to spin microscopic nanofibers

The technology serves an array of industries that feature filtration textiles or biomedical applications

ldquoDr Karen Lozano at UT-Pan American discovered the process and I was contacted because I am an entrepreneur familiar with launching technology- based companies including nanotechnologyrdquo says FibeRio Technology presidentCEO Ellery Buchanan ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the world Plus we use local McAllen suppliers whenever possible including machine shops parts suppliers IT contractors and other business servicesrdquo

by Kevin Litwin by staff photographer

Michael Conti

FibeRio Technology Corporationnanomaterials processing research equipment is used at FibeRioTechnologyCorporation

FEldmaNrsquoS markET CENTErFeldmanrsquos Market Center features a broad selection of beer as well as wines liquors cigars and a gourmet deli In addition weekly beer and wine tastings are offered(956) 687-9463

PErFECT PawS rESOrTPerfect Paws Resort offers grooming services daycare and boarding to vaccinated dogs and cats that are at least 12 weeks old Boarding suites are climate controlled and under constant supervisionperfectpawsresortcom

mCCrEEry aviaTiON CO iNCMcCreery Aviation Co Inc is a place for pilots and their aircraft to receive top-notch treatment A fuel center flight planning room and hangar storage are availablemccreeryaviationcom

kiTikakE llCKitikake LLC offers gently- used vintage clothing for women from an array of top designers such as Lilly Pulitzer and Catherine Malandrino Vintage home deacutecor and dishes are also availablekitikakecom

krEidlEr FuNEral hOmEFounded owned and operated by the Kreidler family Kreidler Funeral Home has served McAllen for 100 years They offer traditional burial and graveside funeral services direct burials cremations memorial services and morekreidlerfuneralhomecom

Business Spotlight

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

visit ouradvertisersBorder Capital Bankwwwbordercapitalbankcom

City of McAllen Public Info Officewwwexploremcallennet

Courtyard by Marriottwwwmarriottcommtema

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valleywwweasterseals-rgvorg

Edible Arrangementswwwediblearrangementscom

Family Physicians Clinicwwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

Magic Valley Electric Cooperativewwwmagicvalleycoop

McAllen Economic Development Corporationwwwmcallenedcorg

McAllen Independent School Districtwwwmcallenisdorg

McAllen International Airportwwwmcallenairportcom

McAllen Realty

Mr Electricwwwmrelectriccom

Nuevo Santander Gallerywwwnuevosantandercom

OH KAYrsquoS

Preventative Care Institutewwwrgvpcicom

Quinta Mazatlanwwwquintamazatlancom

Rio Health Medicalwwwrio-healthcom

South Texas College wwwsouthtexascollegeedu

South Texas Health Systemwwwsouthtexashealthsystemcom

The Patio on Guerra wwwpatioonguerracom

Valley International Airportwwwflythevalleycom

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

BuSiNESS CHAMBER REPoRT

Whatrsquos the Big Ideachamberrsquos readiness tool kit assists entrepreneurs

The McAllen Chamber of Commerce has helped prepare 25 McAllen entrepreneurs in the continuing quest to launch their ideas ndash all since July 2011

The Chamber has a software package called VentureBusiness Readiness Assessment which is used by states such as oklahoma and Kentucky to assist startup companies The software helps an entrepreneur through the entire process of seeing whether they are truly ready to launch their startup

ldquoVentureBusiness Readiness Assessment is a way that the Chamber assists entrepreneurs who are trying to get funding for their products or projectsrdquo says Steve Ahlenius who serves as President and CEo of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce ldquoThe Chamber awards $50000 a year in innovation grants in $10000 increments and entrepreneurs are always looking for funding But they must earn that money by passing the various stages of the software tool kitrdquo

TEN hOurS TO COmPlETEAhlenius says the assessment

has several specific steps to make sure that a startup company has everything in place to ensure that it is successful

ldquoThe entrepreneurs contact us and set up an appointment to see me then they come to the Chamber office we sign them up and give them passwords to access the software at their conveniencerdquo he says ldquo[The program] takes about 10 hours to complete but doesnrsquot have to be finished in one sitting However the program must be eventually completed in order to qualify for our innovation grantrdquo

CaN iT BE madE QuiCklyThe software asks questions

such as Have you protected your intellectual property Is your product something that can be

made quickly Have you set a value on your idea and do you know how to do that If itrsquos a product that involves high-tech engineering do you have an engineer on your companyrsquos team

ldquoThe entrepreneur needs to know if his venture is worth 20 shares of stock or 200 shares ndash things like thatrdquo Ahlenius says ldquoMany factors go into launching a product or business and Venture Readiness points out a personrsquos strengths and weaknessesrdquo

a grEaT OvErviEwVicente Valle Martinez of

McAllen is an entrepreneur who contacted the Chamber in 2012 about his idea for connecting

people on the Internet who have similar educational experiences and higher learning interests

ldquoI have no background in business but heard one day about an innovation grant competition that the Chamber was sponsoringrdquo Martinez says ldquoSteve told me about the software package and it gave me a great overview of what I need to know before launching my ideardquo

Ahlenius says the various concepts the software package covers include credentials character capabilities commitment and circumstance

ldquoIt is an excellent self-awareness testrdquo he says ldquoItrsquos ideal for entrepreneursrdquo

by Kevin Litwin

the mcallen chamber of commerce on ash avenue

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

Ad Index 41 BorderCapitalBank

21 CityofMCallen puBliCinfooffiCe

4 CourtyardByMarriott

32 easterseals rioGrandeValley

44 ediBlearranGeMents

32 faMilyphysiCiansCliniC

2 MaGiCValley eleCtriCCooperatiVe

C3 MCalleneConoMiC deVelopMentCorporation

46 MCallenindependent sChooldistriCt

1 MCallen internationalairport

C4 MCallenrealty

48 MreleCtriC

46 nueVosantanderGallery

35 ohkayrsquos

34 preVentatiVe

Careinstitute

23 QuintaMazatlan

32 riohealthMediCal

31 southtexasColleGe

C2 southtexas

healthsysteM

18 thepatioonGuerra

44 Valley

internationalairport

ECONOMICPROFILE

3000+

2000- 2999

1999- 500

hOuSEhOld iNCOmE

TOP EmPlOyErS

$200000+

$150000-199999

$100000 and under

McAllen Independent School District

McAllen Medical Center South Texas College City of McAllen

Rio Grande Regional Hospital International Bank of Commerce

EduCaTiON lEvEl

High School Graduate

Associate Degree

Bachelorrsquos Degree

Masterrsquos Degree

TaxES

2City Sales and Use Tax

625State Sales Tax

825Total Sales Tax

SCOrECard

$36BAnnual Retail Sales

$28682Retail sales per capita

$3575MAnnual Hotel and Food Sales

15161Total Number of Firms

TraNSPOrTaTiON

mcallen-miller international airportwwwmcallenairportcom

metro mcallenwwwmcallennetmetro

amtrakwwwamtrakcom

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

everything you need every step of the way

Serving the rio grande valley Since 1989

Rachel Hardison-Oliva Broker

3321 N McColl Rd

McAllen TX 78501

(956) 687-7172 bull (956) 687-7178 Fax

Page 44: Livability McAllen, TX 2013

ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the worldrdquo

EllEry BuChaNaN FIBERIOPRESIDENTCEO

Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar the founder of eJucomm LLC simply wanted to make information in her school district more accessible to families The company was a way she could make it happen

She got the idea while working as a teacher at DeLeon Middle School in McAllen and was frustrated that families without computers andor Internet access had difficulty communicating with teachers and administrators So she decided to develop a smartphone application that would solve the problem

With no previous technical experience she researched code online at night and a year later was selling the app to various school districts

ldquoThe app enables Android and iPhone users to access information for things like grades and attendancerdquo Gonzalez-Alcantar says

The entrepreneur also faced unexpected challenges ndash for instance how to tailor individual apps to the roughly seven school districts and 40 campuses that now use them No longer teaching she has partnered with a chief technology officer so she can focus on sales and marketing

One of her biggest hurdles was finding legal fees to fund the startup and a $10000 McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant in 2011 helped pay for a licensing agreement and intellectual property protection for eJucomm to move forward

BaNaNa E-z SPliTAnother McAllen resident

Gerald Guerra faced a similar obstacle when developing a product called Banana E-Z Split A health insurance broker Guerra was inspired at his own kitchen table to create single serving packets with all three syrups

Banana E-Z SplitGerald Guerra inventor of the banana e-Z split single serving syrup packets poses with his daughters Victoria and kaitlyn enthusiastic taste testers for his product

liVabil it ycommc allen 43

To order please call or visit 956-668-0555 or wwwediblearrangementscom 5113-A N 10th St bull McAllen TX 78504

Offer valid at participating locations Offer expires 12312013 Cannot be combined with another offers Offer code must be used when placing order

Containers may vary EDIBLE ARRANGEMENTS and the Fruit Basket Logo Design are registered trademarks of Edible Arrangements LLC

copy2012 Edible Arrangements LLC All rights reserved Frachises available call (888) 727-4258 or visit wwweafranchisescom

DELICIOUSLYd e s i r a b l e

FREE PIECE OF DIPPED FRUIT

Code mctx1213

Living green is making sure the air in your home is healthy for your family to breathe Test your home for radon and build radon-resistant

Its easy Thats living healthy and green

Just call 866-730-green or visit wwwepagovradon

Living greenstarts from the ground up

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

(pineapple chocolate strawberry) needed for a banana split

The concept led to a 2011 McAllen Business Plan Competition grant to fund the necessary patents

ldquoI envisioned a product that could hang easily in refrigerated sections at big box storesrdquo Guerra says ldquoI have lined up a distributor and a broker with my ultimate goal being to have Banana E-Z Split available to customers in large grocery chains It is close to happeningrdquo

FiBEriO TEChNOlOgyAnother startup in McAllen

is already making waves globally FibeRio Technology Corporation another McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant recipient is thriving thanks to ground-breaking nanofiber-producing machinery The nanofibers can be used to make products ranging from diapers to

ballistics using a new way to spin microscopic nanofibers

The technology serves an array of industries that feature filtration textiles or biomedical applications

ldquoDr Karen Lozano at UT-Pan American discovered the process and I was contacted because I am an entrepreneur familiar with launching technology- based companies including nanotechnologyrdquo says FibeRio Technology presidentCEO Ellery Buchanan ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the world Plus we use local McAllen suppliers whenever possible including machine shops parts suppliers IT contractors and other business servicesrdquo

by Kevin Litwin by staff photographer

Michael Conti

FibeRio Technology Corporationnanomaterials processing research equipment is used at FibeRioTechnologyCorporation

FEldmaNrsquoS markET CENTErFeldmanrsquos Market Center features a broad selection of beer as well as wines liquors cigars and a gourmet deli In addition weekly beer and wine tastings are offered(956) 687-9463

PErFECT PawS rESOrTPerfect Paws Resort offers grooming services daycare and boarding to vaccinated dogs and cats that are at least 12 weeks old Boarding suites are climate controlled and under constant supervisionperfectpawsresortcom

mCCrEEry aviaTiON CO iNCMcCreery Aviation Co Inc is a place for pilots and their aircraft to receive top-notch treatment A fuel center flight planning room and hangar storage are availablemccreeryaviationcom

kiTikakE llCKitikake LLC offers gently- used vintage clothing for women from an array of top designers such as Lilly Pulitzer and Catherine Malandrino Vintage home deacutecor and dishes are also availablekitikakecom

krEidlEr FuNEral hOmEFounded owned and operated by the Kreidler family Kreidler Funeral Home has served McAllen for 100 years They offer traditional burial and graveside funeral services direct burials cremations memorial services and morekreidlerfuneralhomecom

Business Spotlight

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

visit ouradvertisersBorder Capital Bankwwwbordercapitalbankcom

City of McAllen Public Info Officewwwexploremcallennet

Courtyard by Marriottwwwmarriottcommtema

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valleywwweasterseals-rgvorg

Edible Arrangementswwwediblearrangementscom

Family Physicians Clinicwwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

Magic Valley Electric Cooperativewwwmagicvalleycoop

McAllen Economic Development Corporationwwwmcallenedcorg

McAllen Independent School Districtwwwmcallenisdorg

McAllen International Airportwwwmcallenairportcom

McAllen Realty

Mr Electricwwwmrelectriccom

Nuevo Santander Gallerywwwnuevosantandercom

OH KAYrsquoS

Preventative Care Institutewwwrgvpcicom

Quinta Mazatlanwwwquintamazatlancom

Rio Health Medicalwwwrio-healthcom

South Texas College wwwsouthtexascollegeedu

South Texas Health Systemwwwsouthtexashealthsystemcom

The Patio on Guerra wwwpatioonguerracom

Valley International Airportwwwflythevalleycom

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

BuSiNESS CHAMBER REPoRT

Whatrsquos the Big Ideachamberrsquos readiness tool kit assists entrepreneurs

The McAllen Chamber of Commerce has helped prepare 25 McAllen entrepreneurs in the continuing quest to launch their ideas ndash all since July 2011

The Chamber has a software package called VentureBusiness Readiness Assessment which is used by states such as oklahoma and Kentucky to assist startup companies The software helps an entrepreneur through the entire process of seeing whether they are truly ready to launch their startup

ldquoVentureBusiness Readiness Assessment is a way that the Chamber assists entrepreneurs who are trying to get funding for their products or projectsrdquo says Steve Ahlenius who serves as President and CEo of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce ldquoThe Chamber awards $50000 a year in innovation grants in $10000 increments and entrepreneurs are always looking for funding But they must earn that money by passing the various stages of the software tool kitrdquo

TEN hOurS TO COmPlETEAhlenius says the assessment

has several specific steps to make sure that a startup company has everything in place to ensure that it is successful

ldquoThe entrepreneurs contact us and set up an appointment to see me then they come to the Chamber office we sign them up and give them passwords to access the software at their conveniencerdquo he says ldquo[The program] takes about 10 hours to complete but doesnrsquot have to be finished in one sitting However the program must be eventually completed in order to qualify for our innovation grantrdquo

CaN iT BE madE QuiCklyThe software asks questions

such as Have you protected your intellectual property Is your product something that can be

made quickly Have you set a value on your idea and do you know how to do that If itrsquos a product that involves high-tech engineering do you have an engineer on your companyrsquos team

ldquoThe entrepreneur needs to know if his venture is worth 20 shares of stock or 200 shares ndash things like thatrdquo Ahlenius says ldquoMany factors go into launching a product or business and Venture Readiness points out a personrsquos strengths and weaknessesrdquo

a grEaT OvErviEwVicente Valle Martinez of

McAllen is an entrepreneur who contacted the Chamber in 2012 about his idea for connecting

people on the Internet who have similar educational experiences and higher learning interests

ldquoI have no background in business but heard one day about an innovation grant competition that the Chamber was sponsoringrdquo Martinez says ldquoSteve told me about the software package and it gave me a great overview of what I need to know before launching my ideardquo

Ahlenius says the various concepts the software package covers include credentials character capabilities commitment and circumstance

ldquoIt is an excellent self-awareness testrdquo he says ldquoItrsquos ideal for entrepreneursrdquo

by Kevin Litwin

the mcallen chamber of commerce on ash avenue

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

Ad Index 41 BorderCapitalBank

21 CityofMCallen puBliCinfooffiCe

4 CourtyardByMarriott

32 easterseals rioGrandeValley

44 ediBlearranGeMents

32 faMilyphysiCiansCliniC

2 MaGiCValley eleCtriCCooperatiVe

C3 MCalleneConoMiC deVelopMentCorporation

46 MCallenindependent sChooldistriCt

1 MCallen internationalairport

C4 MCallenrealty

48 MreleCtriC

46 nueVosantanderGallery

35 ohkayrsquos

34 preVentatiVe

Careinstitute

23 QuintaMazatlan

32 riohealthMediCal

31 southtexasColleGe

C2 southtexas

healthsysteM

18 thepatioonGuerra

44 Valley

internationalairport

ECONOMICPROFILE

3000+

2000- 2999

1999- 500

hOuSEhOld iNCOmE

TOP EmPlOyErS

$200000+

$150000-199999

$100000 and under

McAllen Independent School District

McAllen Medical Center South Texas College City of McAllen

Rio Grande Regional Hospital International Bank of Commerce

EduCaTiON lEvEl

High School Graduate

Associate Degree

Bachelorrsquos Degree

Masterrsquos Degree

TaxES

2City Sales and Use Tax

625State Sales Tax

825Total Sales Tax

SCOrECard

$36BAnnual Retail Sales

$28682Retail sales per capita

$3575MAnnual Hotel and Food Sales

15161Total Number of Firms

TraNSPOrTaTiON

mcallen-miller international airportwwwmcallenairportcom

metro mcallenwwwmcallennetmetro

amtrakwwwamtrakcom

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

everything you need every step of the way

Serving the rio grande valley Since 1989

Rachel Hardison-Oliva Broker

3321 N McColl Rd

McAllen TX 78501

(956) 687-7172 bull (956) 687-7178 Fax

Page 45: Livability McAllen, TX 2013

To order please call or visit 956-668-0555 or wwwediblearrangementscom 5113-A N 10th St bull McAllen TX 78504

Offer valid at participating locations Offer expires 12312013 Cannot be combined with another offers Offer code must be used when placing order

Containers may vary EDIBLE ARRANGEMENTS and the Fruit Basket Logo Design are registered trademarks of Edible Arrangements LLC

copy2012 Edible Arrangements LLC All rights reserved Frachises available call (888) 727-4258 or visit wwweafranchisescom

DELICIOUSLYd e s i r a b l e

FREE PIECE OF DIPPED FRUIT

Code mctx1213

Living green is making sure the air in your home is healthy for your family to breathe Test your home for radon and build radon-resistant

Its easy Thats living healthy and green

Just call 866-730-green or visit wwwepagovradon

Living greenstarts from the ground up

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

(pineapple chocolate strawberry) needed for a banana split

The concept led to a 2011 McAllen Business Plan Competition grant to fund the necessary patents

ldquoI envisioned a product that could hang easily in refrigerated sections at big box storesrdquo Guerra says ldquoI have lined up a distributor and a broker with my ultimate goal being to have Banana E-Z Split available to customers in large grocery chains It is close to happeningrdquo

FiBEriO TEChNOlOgyAnother startup in McAllen

is already making waves globally FibeRio Technology Corporation another McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant recipient is thriving thanks to ground-breaking nanofiber-producing machinery The nanofibers can be used to make products ranging from diapers to

ballistics using a new way to spin microscopic nanofibers

The technology serves an array of industries that feature filtration textiles or biomedical applications

ldquoDr Karen Lozano at UT-Pan American discovered the process and I was contacted because I am an entrepreneur familiar with launching technology- based companies including nanotechnologyrdquo says FibeRio Technology presidentCEO Ellery Buchanan ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the world Plus we use local McAllen suppliers whenever possible including machine shops parts suppliers IT contractors and other business servicesrdquo

by Kevin Litwin by staff photographer

Michael Conti

FibeRio Technology Corporationnanomaterials processing research equipment is used at FibeRioTechnologyCorporation

FEldmaNrsquoS markET CENTErFeldmanrsquos Market Center features a broad selection of beer as well as wines liquors cigars and a gourmet deli In addition weekly beer and wine tastings are offered(956) 687-9463

PErFECT PawS rESOrTPerfect Paws Resort offers grooming services daycare and boarding to vaccinated dogs and cats that are at least 12 weeks old Boarding suites are climate controlled and under constant supervisionperfectpawsresortcom

mCCrEEry aviaTiON CO iNCMcCreery Aviation Co Inc is a place for pilots and their aircraft to receive top-notch treatment A fuel center flight planning room and hangar storage are availablemccreeryaviationcom

kiTikakE llCKitikake LLC offers gently- used vintage clothing for women from an array of top designers such as Lilly Pulitzer and Catherine Malandrino Vintage home deacutecor and dishes are also availablekitikakecom

krEidlEr FuNEral hOmEFounded owned and operated by the Kreidler family Kreidler Funeral Home has served McAllen for 100 years They offer traditional burial and graveside funeral services direct burials cremations memorial services and morekreidlerfuneralhomecom

Business Spotlight

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

visit ouradvertisersBorder Capital Bankwwwbordercapitalbankcom

City of McAllen Public Info Officewwwexploremcallennet

Courtyard by Marriottwwwmarriottcommtema

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valleywwweasterseals-rgvorg

Edible Arrangementswwwediblearrangementscom

Family Physicians Clinicwwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

Magic Valley Electric Cooperativewwwmagicvalleycoop

McAllen Economic Development Corporationwwwmcallenedcorg

McAllen Independent School Districtwwwmcallenisdorg

McAllen International Airportwwwmcallenairportcom

McAllen Realty

Mr Electricwwwmrelectriccom

Nuevo Santander Gallerywwwnuevosantandercom

OH KAYrsquoS

Preventative Care Institutewwwrgvpcicom

Quinta Mazatlanwwwquintamazatlancom

Rio Health Medicalwwwrio-healthcom

South Texas College wwwsouthtexascollegeedu

South Texas Health Systemwwwsouthtexashealthsystemcom

The Patio on Guerra wwwpatioonguerracom

Valley International Airportwwwflythevalleycom

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

BuSiNESS CHAMBER REPoRT

Whatrsquos the Big Ideachamberrsquos readiness tool kit assists entrepreneurs

The McAllen Chamber of Commerce has helped prepare 25 McAllen entrepreneurs in the continuing quest to launch their ideas ndash all since July 2011

The Chamber has a software package called VentureBusiness Readiness Assessment which is used by states such as oklahoma and Kentucky to assist startup companies The software helps an entrepreneur through the entire process of seeing whether they are truly ready to launch their startup

ldquoVentureBusiness Readiness Assessment is a way that the Chamber assists entrepreneurs who are trying to get funding for their products or projectsrdquo says Steve Ahlenius who serves as President and CEo of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce ldquoThe Chamber awards $50000 a year in innovation grants in $10000 increments and entrepreneurs are always looking for funding But they must earn that money by passing the various stages of the software tool kitrdquo

TEN hOurS TO COmPlETEAhlenius says the assessment

has several specific steps to make sure that a startup company has everything in place to ensure that it is successful

ldquoThe entrepreneurs contact us and set up an appointment to see me then they come to the Chamber office we sign them up and give them passwords to access the software at their conveniencerdquo he says ldquo[The program] takes about 10 hours to complete but doesnrsquot have to be finished in one sitting However the program must be eventually completed in order to qualify for our innovation grantrdquo

CaN iT BE madE QuiCklyThe software asks questions

such as Have you protected your intellectual property Is your product something that can be

made quickly Have you set a value on your idea and do you know how to do that If itrsquos a product that involves high-tech engineering do you have an engineer on your companyrsquos team

ldquoThe entrepreneur needs to know if his venture is worth 20 shares of stock or 200 shares ndash things like thatrdquo Ahlenius says ldquoMany factors go into launching a product or business and Venture Readiness points out a personrsquos strengths and weaknessesrdquo

a grEaT OvErviEwVicente Valle Martinez of

McAllen is an entrepreneur who contacted the Chamber in 2012 about his idea for connecting

people on the Internet who have similar educational experiences and higher learning interests

ldquoI have no background in business but heard one day about an innovation grant competition that the Chamber was sponsoringrdquo Martinez says ldquoSteve told me about the software package and it gave me a great overview of what I need to know before launching my ideardquo

Ahlenius says the various concepts the software package covers include credentials character capabilities commitment and circumstance

ldquoIt is an excellent self-awareness testrdquo he says ldquoItrsquos ideal for entrepreneursrdquo

by Kevin Litwin

the mcallen chamber of commerce on ash avenue

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

Ad Index 41 BorderCapitalBank

21 CityofMCallen puBliCinfooffiCe

4 CourtyardByMarriott

32 easterseals rioGrandeValley

44 ediBlearranGeMents

32 faMilyphysiCiansCliniC

2 MaGiCValley eleCtriCCooperatiVe

C3 MCalleneConoMiC deVelopMentCorporation

46 MCallenindependent sChooldistriCt

1 MCallen internationalairport

C4 MCallenrealty

48 MreleCtriC

46 nueVosantanderGallery

35 ohkayrsquos

34 preVentatiVe

Careinstitute

23 QuintaMazatlan

32 riohealthMediCal

31 southtexasColleGe

C2 southtexas

healthsysteM

18 thepatioonGuerra

44 Valley

internationalairport

ECONOMICPROFILE

3000+

2000- 2999

1999- 500

hOuSEhOld iNCOmE

TOP EmPlOyErS

$200000+

$150000-199999

$100000 and under

McAllen Independent School District

McAllen Medical Center South Texas College City of McAllen

Rio Grande Regional Hospital International Bank of Commerce

EduCaTiON lEvEl

High School Graduate

Associate Degree

Bachelorrsquos Degree

Masterrsquos Degree

TaxES

2City Sales and Use Tax

625State Sales Tax

825Total Sales Tax

SCOrECard

$36BAnnual Retail Sales

$28682Retail sales per capita

$3575MAnnual Hotel and Food Sales

15161Total Number of Firms

TraNSPOrTaTiON

mcallen-miller international airportwwwmcallenairportcom

metro mcallenwwwmcallennetmetro

amtrakwwwamtrakcom

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

everything you need every step of the way

Serving the rio grande valley Since 1989

Rachel Hardison-Oliva Broker

3321 N McColl Rd

McAllen TX 78501

(956) 687-7172 bull (956) 687-7178 Fax

Page 46: Livability McAllen, TX 2013

(pineapple chocolate strawberry) needed for a banana split

The concept led to a 2011 McAllen Business Plan Competition grant to fund the necessary patents

ldquoI envisioned a product that could hang easily in refrigerated sections at big box storesrdquo Guerra says ldquoI have lined up a distributor and a broker with my ultimate goal being to have Banana E-Z Split available to customers in large grocery chains It is close to happeningrdquo

FiBEriO TEChNOlOgyAnother startup in McAllen

is already making waves globally FibeRio Technology Corporation another McAllen Chamber of Commerce Innovation Grant recipient is thriving thanks to ground-breaking nanofiber-producing machinery The nanofibers can be used to make products ranging from diapers to

ballistics using a new way to spin microscopic nanofibers

The technology serves an array of industries that feature filtration textiles or biomedical applications

ldquoDr Karen Lozano at UT-Pan American discovered the process and I was contacted because I am an entrepreneur familiar with launching technology- based companies including nanotechnologyrdquo says FibeRio Technology presidentCEO Ellery Buchanan ldquoI assisted in making the process more cost effective and now we are producing laboratory-related and industrial products that will be sold around the world Plus we use local McAllen suppliers whenever possible including machine shops parts suppliers IT contractors and other business servicesrdquo

by Kevin Litwin by staff photographer

Michael Conti

FibeRio Technology Corporationnanomaterials processing research equipment is used at FibeRioTechnologyCorporation

FEldmaNrsquoS markET CENTErFeldmanrsquos Market Center features a broad selection of beer as well as wines liquors cigars and a gourmet deli In addition weekly beer and wine tastings are offered(956) 687-9463

PErFECT PawS rESOrTPerfect Paws Resort offers grooming services daycare and boarding to vaccinated dogs and cats that are at least 12 weeks old Boarding suites are climate controlled and under constant supervisionperfectpawsresortcom

mCCrEEry aviaTiON CO iNCMcCreery Aviation Co Inc is a place for pilots and their aircraft to receive top-notch treatment A fuel center flight planning room and hangar storage are availablemccreeryaviationcom

kiTikakE llCKitikake LLC offers gently- used vintage clothing for women from an array of top designers such as Lilly Pulitzer and Catherine Malandrino Vintage home deacutecor and dishes are also availablekitikakecom

krEidlEr FuNEral hOmEFounded owned and operated by the Kreidler family Kreidler Funeral Home has served McAllen for 100 years They offer traditional burial and graveside funeral services direct burials cremations memorial services and morekreidlerfuneralhomecom

Business Spotlight

44 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 45

visit ouradvertisersBorder Capital Bankwwwbordercapitalbankcom

City of McAllen Public Info Officewwwexploremcallennet

Courtyard by Marriottwwwmarriottcommtema

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valleywwweasterseals-rgvorg

Edible Arrangementswwwediblearrangementscom

Family Physicians Clinicwwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

Magic Valley Electric Cooperativewwwmagicvalleycoop

McAllen Economic Development Corporationwwwmcallenedcorg

McAllen Independent School Districtwwwmcallenisdorg

McAllen International Airportwwwmcallenairportcom

McAllen Realty

Mr Electricwwwmrelectriccom

Nuevo Santander Gallerywwwnuevosantandercom

OH KAYrsquoS

Preventative Care Institutewwwrgvpcicom

Quinta Mazatlanwwwquintamazatlancom

Rio Health Medicalwwwrio-healthcom

South Texas College wwwsouthtexascollegeedu

South Texas Health Systemwwwsouthtexashealthsystemcom

The Patio on Guerra wwwpatioonguerracom

Valley International Airportwwwflythevalleycom

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

BuSiNESS CHAMBER REPoRT

Whatrsquos the Big Ideachamberrsquos readiness tool kit assists entrepreneurs

The McAllen Chamber of Commerce has helped prepare 25 McAllen entrepreneurs in the continuing quest to launch their ideas ndash all since July 2011

The Chamber has a software package called VentureBusiness Readiness Assessment which is used by states such as oklahoma and Kentucky to assist startup companies The software helps an entrepreneur through the entire process of seeing whether they are truly ready to launch their startup

ldquoVentureBusiness Readiness Assessment is a way that the Chamber assists entrepreneurs who are trying to get funding for their products or projectsrdquo says Steve Ahlenius who serves as President and CEo of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce ldquoThe Chamber awards $50000 a year in innovation grants in $10000 increments and entrepreneurs are always looking for funding But they must earn that money by passing the various stages of the software tool kitrdquo

TEN hOurS TO COmPlETEAhlenius says the assessment

has several specific steps to make sure that a startup company has everything in place to ensure that it is successful

ldquoThe entrepreneurs contact us and set up an appointment to see me then they come to the Chamber office we sign them up and give them passwords to access the software at their conveniencerdquo he says ldquo[The program] takes about 10 hours to complete but doesnrsquot have to be finished in one sitting However the program must be eventually completed in order to qualify for our innovation grantrdquo

CaN iT BE madE QuiCklyThe software asks questions

such as Have you protected your intellectual property Is your product something that can be

made quickly Have you set a value on your idea and do you know how to do that If itrsquos a product that involves high-tech engineering do you have an engineer on your companyrsquos team

ldquoThe entrepreneur needs to know if his venture is worth 20 shares of stock or 200 shares ndash things like thatrdquo Ahlenius says ldquoMany factors go into launching a product or business and Venture Readiness points out a personrsquos strengths and weaknessesrdquo

a grEaT OvErviEwVicente Valle Martinez of

McAllen is an entrepreneur who contacted the Chamber in 2012 about his idea for connecting

people on the Internet who have similar educational experiences and higher learning interests

ldquoI have no background in business but heard one day about an innovation grant competition that the Chamber was sponsoringrdquo Martinez says ldquoSteve told me about the software package and it gave me a great overview of what I need to know before launching my ideardquo

Ahlenius says the various concepts the software package covers include credentials character capabilities commitment and circumstance

ldquoIt is an excellent self-awareness testrdquo he says ldquoItrsquos ideal for entrepreneursrdquo

by Kevin Litwin

the mcallen chamber of commerce on ash avenue

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

Ad Index 41 BorderCapitalBank

21 CityofMCallen puBliCinfooffiCe

4 CourtyardByMarriott

32 easterseals rioGrandeValley

44 ediBlearranGeMents

32 faMilyphysiCiansCliniC

2 MaGiCValley eleCtriCCooperatiVe

C3 MCalleneConoMiC deVelopMentCorporation

46 MCallenindependent sChooldistriCt

1 MCallen internationalairport

C4 MCallenrealty

48 MreleCtriC

46 nueVosantanderGallery

35 ohkayrsquos

34 preVentatiVe

Careinstitute

23 QuintaMazatlan

32 riohealthMediCal

31 southtexasColleGe

C2 southtexas

healthsysteM

18 thepatioonGuerra

44 Valley

internationalairport

ECONOMICPROFILE

3000+

2000- 2999

1999- 500

hOuSEhOld iNCOmE

TOP EmPlOyErS

$200000+

$150000-199999

$100000 and under

McAllen Independent School District

McAllen Medical Center South Texas College City of McAllen

Rio Grande Regional Hospital International Bank of Commerce

EduCaTiON lEvEl

High School Graduate

Associate Degree

Bachelorrsquos Degree

Masterrsquos Degree

TaxES

2City Sales and Use Tax

625State Sales Tax

825Total Sales Tax

SCOrECard

$36BAnnual Retail Sales

$28682Retail sales per capita

$3575MAnnual Hotel and Food Sales

15161Total Number of Firms

TraNSPOrTaTiON

mcallen-miller international airportwwwmcallenairportcom

metro mcallenwwwmcallennetmetro

amtrakwwwamtrakcom

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

everything you need every step of the way

Serving the rio grande valley Since 1989

Rachel Hardison-Oliva Broker

3321 N McColl Rd

McAllen TX 78501

(956) 687-7172 bull (956) 687-7178 Fax

Page 47: Livability McAllen, TX 2013

visit ouradvertisersBorder Capital Bankwwwbordercapitalbankcom

City of McAllen Public Info Officewwwexploremcallennet

Courtyard by Marriottwwwmarriottcommtema

Easter Seals Rio Grande Valleywwweasterseals-rgvorg

Edible Arrangementswwwediblearrangementscom

Family Physicians Clinicwwwfamilyphysicianscliniccom

Magic Valley Electric Cooperativewwwmagicvalleycoop

McAllen Economic Development Corporationwwwmcallenedcorg

McAllen Independent School Districtwwwmcallenisdorg

McAllen International Airportwwwmcallenairportcom

McAllen Realty

Mr Electricwwwmrelectriccom

Nuevo Santander Gallerywwwnuevosantandercom

OH KAYrsquoS

Preventative Care Institutewwwrgvpcicom

Quinta Mazatlanwwwquintamazatlancom

Rio Health Medicalwwwrio-healthcom

South Texas College wwwsouthtexascollegeedu

South Texas Health Systemwwwsouthtexashealthsystemcom

The Patio on Guerra wwwpatioonguerracom

Valley International Airportwwwflythevalleycom

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

BuSiNESS CHAMBER REPoRT

Whatrsquos the Big Ideachamberrsquos readiness tool kit assists entrepreneurs

The McAllen Chamber of Commerce has helped prepare 25 McAllen entrepreneurs in the continuing quest to launch their ideas ndash all since July 2011

The Chamber has a software package called VentureBusiness Readiness Assessment which is used by states such as oklahoma and Kentucky to assist startup companies The software helps an entrepreneur through the entire process of seeing whether they are truly ready to launch their startup

ldquoVentureBusiness Readiness Assessment is a way that the Chamber assists entrepreneurs who are trying to get funding for their products or projectsrdquo says Steve Ahlenius who serves as President and CEo of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce ldquoThe Chamber awards $50000 a year in innovation grants in $10000 increments and entrepreneurs are always looking for funding But they must earn that money by passing the various stages of the software tool kitrdquo

TEN hOurS TO COmPlETEAhlenius says the assessment

has several specific steps to make sure that a startup company has everything in place to ensure that it is successful

ldquoThe entrepreneurs contact us and set up an appointment to see me then they come to the Chamber office we sign them up and give them passwords to access the software at their conveniencerdquo he says ldquo[The program] takes about 10 hours to complete but doesnrsquot have to be finished in one sitting However the program must be eventually completed in order to qualify for our innovation grantrdquo

CaN iT BE madE QuiCklyThe software asks questions

such as Have you protected your intellectual property Is your product something that can be

made quickly Have you set a value on your idea and do you know how to do that If itrsquos a product that involves high-tech engineering do you have an engineer on your companyrsquos team

ldquoThe entrepreneur needs to know if his venture is worth 20 shares of stock or 200 shares ndash things like thatrdquo Ahlenius says ldquoMany factors go into launching a product or business and Venture Readiness points out a personrsquos strengths and weaknessesrdquo

a grEaT OvErviEwVicente Valle Martinez of

McAllen is an entrepreneur who contacted the Chamber in 2012 about his idea for connecting

people on the Internet who have similar educational experiences and higher learning interests

ldquoI have no background in business but heard one day about an innovation grant competition that the Chamber was sponsoringrdquo Martinez says ldquoSteve told me about the software package and it gave me a great overview of what I need to know before launching my ideardquo

Ahlenius says the various concepts the software package covers include credentials character capabilities commitment and circumstance

ldquoIt is an excellent self-awareness testrdquo he says ldquoItrsquos ideal for entrepreneursrdquo

by Kevin Litwin

the mcallen chamber of commerce on ash avenue

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

Ad Index 41 BorderCapitalBank

21 CityofMCallen puBliCinfooffiCe

4 CourtyardByMarriott

32 easterseals rioGrandeValley

44 ediBlearranGeMents

32 faMilyphysiCiansCliniC

2 MaGiCValley eleCtriCCooperatiVe

C3 MCalleneConoMiC deVelopMentCorporation

46 MCallenindependent sChooldistriCt

1 MCallen internationalairport

C4 MCallenrealty

48 MreleCtriC

46 nueVosantanderGallery

35 ohkayrsquos

34 preVentatiVe

Careinstitute

23 QuintaMazatlan

32 riohealthMediCal

31 southtexasColleGe

C2 southtexas

healthsysteM

18 thepatioonGuerra

44 Valley

internationalairport

ECONOMICPROFILE

3000+

2000- 2999

1999- 500

hOuSEhOld iNCOmE

TOP EmPlOyErS

$200000+

$150000-199999

$100000 and under

McAllen Independent School District

McAllen Medical Center South Texas College City of McAllen

Rio Grande Regional Hospital International Bank of Commerce

EduCaTiON lEvEl

High School Graduate

Associate Degree

Bachelorrsquos Degree

Masterrsquos Degree

TaxES

2City Sales and Use Tax

625State Sales Tax

825Total Sales Tax

SCOrECard

$36BAnnual Retail Sales

$28682Retail sales per capita

$3575MAnnual Hotel and Food Sales

15161Total Number of Firms

TraNSPOrTaTiON

mcallen-miller international airportwwwmcallenairportcom

metro mcallenwwwmcallennetmetro

amtrakwwwamtrakcom

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

everything you need every step of the way

Serving the rio grande valley Since 1989

Rachel Hardison-Oliva Broker

3321 N McColl Rd

McAllen TX 78501

(956) 687-7172 bull (956) 687-7178 Fax

Page 48: Livability McAllen, TX 2013

BuSiNESS CHAMBER REPoRT

Whatrsquos the Big Ideachamberrsquos readiness tool kit assists entrepreneurs

The McAllen Chamber of Commerce has helped prepare 25 McAllen entrepreneurs in the continuing quest to launch their ideas ndash all since July 2011

The Chamber has a software package called VentureBusiness Readiness Assessment which is used by states such as oklahoma and Kentucky to assist startup companies The software helps an entrepreneur through the entire process of seeing whether they are truly ready to launch their startup

ldquoVentureBusiness Readiness Assessment is a way that the Chamber assists entrepreneurs who are trying to get funding for their products or projectsrdquo says Steve Ahlenius who serves as President and CEo of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce ldquoThe Chamber awards $50000 a year in innovation grants in $10000 increments and entrepreneurs are always looking for funding But they must earn that money by passing the various stages of the software tool kitrdquo

TEN hOurS TO COmPlETEAhlenius says the assessment

has several specific steps to make sure that a startup company has everything in place to ensure that it is successful

ldquoThe entrepreneurs contact us and set up an appointment to see me then they come to the Chamber office we sign them up and give them passwords to access the software at their conveniencerdquo he says ldquo[The program] takes about 10 hours to complete but doesnrsquot have to be finished in one sitting However the program must be eventually completed in order to qualify for our innovation grantrdquo

CaN iT BE madE QuiCklyThe software asks questions

such as Have you protected your intellectual property Is your product something that can be

made quickly Have you set a value on your idea and do you know how to do that If itrsquos a product that involves high-tech engineering do you have an engineer on your companyrsquos team

ldquoThe entrepreneur needs to know if his venture is worth 20 shares of stock or 200 shares ndash things like thatrdquo Ahlenius says ldquoMany factors go into launching a product or business and Venture Readiness points out a personrsquos strengths and weaknessesrdquo

a grEaT OvErviEwVicente Valle Martinez of

McAllen is an entrepreneur who contacted the Chamber in 2012 about his idea for connecting

people on the Internet who have similar educational experiences and higher learning interests

ldquoI have no background in business but heard one day about an innovation grant competition that the Chamber was sponsoringrdquo Martinez says ldquoSteve told me about the software package and it gave me a great overview of what I need to know before launching my ideardquo

Ahlenius says the various concepts the software package covers include credentials character capabilities commitment and circumstance

ldquoIt is an excellent self-awareness testrdquo he says ldquoItrsquos ideal for entrepreneursrdquo

by Kevin Litwin

the mcallen chamber of commerce on ash avenue

46 mc allen liVabil it ycommc allen 47

Ad Index 41 BorderCapitalBank

21 CityofMCallen puBliCinfooffiCe

4 CourtyardByMarriott

32 easterseals rioGrandeValley

44 ediBlearranGeMents

32 faMilyphysiCiansCliniC

2 MaGiCValley eleCtriCCooperatiVe

C3 MCalleneConoMiC deVelopMentCorporation

46 MCallenindependent sChooldistriCt

1 MCallen internationalairport

C4 MCallenrealty

48 MreleCtriC

46 nueVosantanderGallery

35 ohkayrsquos

34 preVentatiVe

Careinstitute

23 QuintaMazatlan

32 riohealthMediCal

31 southtexasColleGe

C2 southtexas

healthsysteM

18 thepatioonGuerra

44 Valley

internationalairport

ECONOMICPROFILE

3000+

2000- 2999

1999- 500

hOuSEhOld iNCOmE

TOP EmPlOyErS

$200000+

$150000-199999

$100000 and under

McAllen Independent School District

McAllen Medical Center South Texas College City of McAllen

Rio Grande Regional Hospital International Bank of Commerce

EduCaTiON lEvEl

High School Graduate

Associate Degree

Bachelorrsquos Degree

Masterrsquos Degree

TaxES

2City Sales and Use Tax

625State Sales Tax

825Total Sales Tax

SCOrECard

$36BAnnual Retail Sales

$28682Retail sales per capita

$3575MAnnual Hotel and Food Sales

15161Total Number of Firms

TraNSPOrTaTiON

mcallen-miller international airportwwwmcallenairportcom

metro mcallenwwwmcallennetmetro

amtrakwwwamtrakcom

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

everything you need every step of the way

Serving the rio grande valley Since 1989

Rachel Hardison-Oliva Broker

3321 N McColl Rd

McAllen TX 78501

(956) 687-7172 bull (956) 687-7178 Fax

Page 49: Livability McAllen, TX 2013

Ad Index 41 BorderCapitalBank

21 CityofMCallen puBliCinfooffiCe

4 CourtyardByMarriott

32 easterseals rioGrandeValley

44 ediBlearranGeMents

32 faMilyphysiCiansCliniC

2 MaGiCValley eleCtriCCooperatiVe

C3 MCalleneConoMiC deVelopMentCorporation

46 MCallenindependent sChooldistriCt

1 MCallen internationalairport

C4 MCallenrealty

48 MreleCtriC

46 nueVosantanderGallery

35 ohkayrsquos

34 preVentatiVe

Careinstitute

23 QuintaMazatlan

32 riohealthMediCal

31 southtexasColleGe

C2 southtexas

healthsysteM

18 thepatioonGuerra

44 Valley

internationalairport

ECONOMICPROFILE

3000+

2000- 2999

1999- 500

hOuSEhOld iNCOmE

TOP EmPlOyErS

$200000+

$150000-199999

$100000 and under

McAllen Independent School District

McAllen Medical Center South Texas College City of McAllen

Rio Grande Regional Hospital International Bank of Commerce

EduCaTiON lEvEl

High School Graduate

Associate Degree

Bachelorrsquos Degree

Masterrsquos Degree

TaxES

2City Sales and Use Tax

625State Sales Tax

825Total Sales Tax

SCOrECard

$36BAnnual Retail Sales

$28682Retail sales per capita

$3575MAnnual Hotel and Food Sales

15161Total Number of Firms

TraNSPOrTaTiON

mcallen-miller international airportwwwmcallenairportcom

metro mcallenwwwmcallennetmetro

amtrakwwwamtrakcom

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

everything you need every step of the way

Serving the rio grande valley Since 1989

Rachel Hardison-Oliva Broker

3321 N McColl Rd

McAllen TX 78501

(956) 687-7172 bull (956) 687-7178 Fax

Page 50: Livability McAllen, TX 2013

ECONOMICPROFILE

3000+

2000- 2999

1999- 500

hOuSEhOld iNCOmE

TOP EmPlOyErS

$200000+

$150000-199999

$100000 and under

McAllen Independent School District

McAllen Medical Center South Texas College City of McAllen

Rio Grande Regional Hospital International Bank of Commerce

EduCaTiON lEvEl

High School Graduate

Associate Degree

Bachelorrsquos Degree

Masterrsquos Degree

TaxES

2City Sales and Use Tax

625State Sales Tax

825Total Sales Tax

SCOrECard

$36BAnnual Retail Sales

$28682Retail sales per capita

$3575MAnnual Hotel and Food Sales

15161Total Number of Firms

TraNSPOrTaTiON

mcallen-miller international airportwwwmcallenairportcom

metro mcallenwwwmcallennetmetro

amtrakwwwamtrakcom

ThiS SECTiON iS SPONSOrEd By

everything you need every step of the way

Serving the rio grande valley Since 1989

Rachel Hardison-Oliva Broker

3321 N McColl Rd

McAllen TX 78501

(956) 687-7172 bull (956) 687-7178 Fax

Page 51: Livability McAllen, TX 2013

everything you need every step of the way

Serving the rio grande valley Since 1989

Rachel Hardison-Oliva Broker

3321 N McColl Rd

McAllen TX 78501

(956) 687-7172 bull (956) 687-7178 Fax