The Rio Grande Valley Business Journal is all about highlighting the businesses, leaders, and stories that keep the Valley thriving. The goal? To connect our communities and keep you in the know about the opportunities shaping the RGV’s future. From small businesses to major developments, the RGV Business Journal is your inside look at what’s happening across the Valley.
RGV Business Journal
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37 episodes
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Podcast Overview
The Rio Grande Valley Business Journal is all about highlighting the businesses, leaders, and stories that keep the Valley thriving. The goal? To connect our communities and keep you in the know about the opportunities shaping the RGV’s future. From small businesses to major developments, the RGV Business Journal is your inside look at what’s happening across the Valley.
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Publishing Since
9/12/2025
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Recent Episodes
July 17, 2026
Inside the $3.2B Saronic Deal: Gilberto Salinas on how Brownsville landed 10,000 Jobs
<p>It's not every day the governor of Texas stands alongside the CEO of a hot Austin tech startup to announce a $3.2 billion investment in South Texas. In this special edition, RGVBJ reporter Kristen Mosbrucker-Garza sits down with Gilberto Salinas, president and CEO of the Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation, to break down how Brownsville landed autonomous vessel maker Saronic Technologies — a deal expected to bring 10,000 direct jobs to Cameron County over the next decade. They dig into the incentives package, the workforce pipeline that helped seal the deal, what it means for the Port of Brownsville's shrimping legacy, and why Salinas thinks Brownsville is entering a new industrial era alongside SpaceX and the LNG sector.</p><p><br></p><p>00:00 Intro — a special day for Brownsville</p><p>00:17 Why the governor's visit is a big deal</p><p>01:24 Federal-level momentum and D.C. conversations</p><p>01:47 How the Saronic deal came together</p><p>04:12 10,000 direct jobs — becoming the Valley's largest employer</p><p>05:05 Building the workforce pipeline (20 institutions, one weekend)</p><p>07:55 Defining success beyond the announcement</p><p>09:50 Manufacturing pay and the supply chain ripple effect</p><p>10:44 From McAllen to Matamoros — building the ecosystem</p><p>17:10 Brownsville vs. Houston, Corpus and San Antonio</p><p>18:30 Amazon as an economic bellwether</p><p>20:13 Breaking down the incentives package</p><p>21:14 Inside the $80M Texas Enterprise Fund</p><p>21:49 How GBIC's incentive fund is actually paid for</p><p>23:11 Texas' 20-year run as the No. 1 state for recruitment</p><p>24:33 The $3.2B build-out and the shift to retention</p><p>26:12 Advice for other communities chasing next-gen industry</p><p>28:14 The Port's shrimping legacy and the Fathom & Fillet closure</p><p>29:44 Why some industries cycle out — and others cycle in</p><p>30:31 The Henry Ford analogy: space as the new industrial revolution</p><p>31:50 The "Cyber Beach" debate and Brownsville's identity</p><p>33:24 Closing thoughts</p>
July 10, 2026
Tokenization is coming: Vantage Bank's Shawn Main breaks down the future of banking
<p>"Tokenization" is banking's biggest buzzword right now — but what does it actually mean for your business? In this episode of the Rio Grande Valley Business Journal Podcast, host Naxiely Lopez-Puente talks with Shawn Main, chief business architect at Vantage Bank and founder of the Hazel Network, about how stablecoins and tokenized deposits could change the way RGV businesses move money — especially across the U.S.-Mexico border.</p><p><br></p><p>Shawn breaks down what tokenization really means, how it compares to a digital cashier's check, why community banks finally have a shot at building their own payment infrastructure, and whether AI is coming for banking's back-office jobs.</p><p><br></p><p>CHAPTERS</p><p>0:00 Tokenization: more buzzword than mystery</p><p>3:21 Meet Shawn Main: from Rackspace to Vantage Bank</p><p>4:34 Building the Hazel Network</p><p>8:05 Explaining tokenization over coffee</p><p>11:01 Is there risk in tokenized deposits?</p><p>12:39 Faster, cheaper cross-border payments</p><p>15:12 Will AI replace bank jobs?</p><p>19:15 How community banks and credit unions can join</p><p>24:32 The "golden opportunity" for community banks</p><p>28:37 How to connect with Shawn Main and Vantage Bank</p><p><br></p><p>ABOUT THE GUEST</p><p>Shawn Main is chief business architect at Vantage Bank and founder of the Hazel Network, a platform helping community banks and credit unions access tokenization and stablecoin technology.</p><p><br></p><p>RGV Business Journal covers the people, companies, and trends shaping business across the Rio Grande Valley and the U.S.-Mexico border region.</p><p><br></p><p>🔗 Learn more about the Hazel Network: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vantage-bank-and-custodia-release-white-paper-unveiling-hazel-network-302804851.html</p><p>🔗 Read the full transcript: https://www.rgvbusinessjournal.com/podcast/shawn-main-vantage-bank-tokenization-hazel-network/</p><p>🔔 Subscribe for new episodes every week.</p><p><br></p><p>#RGVBusiness #Tokenization #Banking #Fintech #VantageBank #RioGrandeValley</p>
July 2, 2026
Don't Wait for Rates: Why RGV's Housing Window Is Open Right Now, The Ryan and Brian Real Estate Team
<p>Is the Rio Grande Valley housing market really overpriced? And is now the right time to buy — even with rates in the mid-sixes? We sit down with Brian Reed of the Ryan and Brian Real Estate Team for a candid conversation on where the RGV real estate market stands today, what the data actually says, and why waiting could be the most expensive decision a buyer makes. Brian brings 23 years of experience, 20 years in the Rio Grande Valley, and more than 2,000 homes sold to the table. He doesn't sugarcoat it — and the numbers tell a compelling story. In this episode: • Why the "overpriced market" national report is misleading — and what RVM vs. AVM data actually shows • McAllen vs. Brownsville: why Cameron County's per-square-foot price now tops Hidalgo County • The buyer's market opportunity hiding behind high interest rates • How builders and sellers are negotiating right now — appliances, rate buy-downs, repairs • Why the average first-time homebuyer is nearly 40 — and what that delay costs them • What happens to the market when rates drop to 6% (NAR's 1.5 million buyer projection) • The No. 1 mistake sellers are making right now: overpricing CHAPTERS 0:00 — Introduction 1:30 — Brian Reed's background: 23 years, 2,000+ homes in the RGV 3:45 — The "overpriced market" report — myth vs. reality 7:10 — AVM vs. RVM: why Zillow gets it wrong 10:20 — McAllen vs. Brownsville: a market comparison 13:00 — Outside investor interest and what's driving it 15:30 — Are buyers sitting on the sidelines? 18:45 — Rate buy-downs and builder incentives explained 22:10 — First-time homebuyers: what $150K–$300K gets you now 26:00 — The overpricing problem and how to fix it 31:15 — Home flipping in the RGV today 34:00 — The net worth gap: homeowners vs. renters 37:30 — Brian's 12-month outlook for the RGV 🔔 Subscribe to the RGV Business Journal Podcast for in-depth conversations on business, real estate, and economic development across the Rio Grande Valley. 🌐 RGV Business Journal: https://www.rgvbusinessjournal.com/ 📞 Ryan and Brian Real Estate Team: ryanandbrian.com/ #rgvrealestate #RioGrandeValley #RealEstatePodcast #McAllen #Brownsville #HousingMarket #BuyersMarket #SouthTexas #RGVBusinessJournal #BrianReed</p>
37 total episodes available
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