Eagle Pass Council OKs partnership with Salros State University to launch downtown business incubator

The Eagle Pass City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a partnership with Salros State University to operate a business accelerator in a downtown city facility and authorized the city manager to sign a memorandum of understanding.

City leaders said the agreement is intended to help existing local businesses and attract new companies to Eagle Pass by providing incubation services, faculty support and access to the university’s Small Business Development Center. Doctor Sam Gupta, dean of the Rio Grande College of Business at Salros State University, delivered the presentation by video and described a three-part approach — assess innovation level, accelerate go-to-market planning, and support start-up stabilization — that the university will use with participant businesses.

“The first thing the hub will do … will be to understand what level of innovation this is,” Gupta said during the presentation. He told council the college will dedicate faculty and staff time to the program and that the university’s Small Business Development Center will participate.

City Manager Adi Balderas introduced the university team and told council the partnership would make use of the city’s downtown building. Doctor Sumantra Sengupta of the university said President Hernandez plans to attend a signing ceremony the council discussed scheduling for Jan. 21 and that “I already have several companies very excited about participating in this incubator.”

The university’s dean told council the Rio Grande College of Business serves roughly 550 students across undergraduate and graduate programs, has eight current faculty members and plans to add faculty based in Eagle Pass. He said the Texas State system recently approved new degrees and certificates for the college and that the university will jointly market the incubator with the city.

Councilmember Cruz moved to approve the partnership and to grant the city manager authority to sign the MOU; Councilmember Garcia seconded. The vote was unanimous. The motion approved the city entering the partnership and delegating signature authority to the city manager; the council did not attach additional conditions in the meeting record.

Mayor Orlando Salinas and city staff said they expect a formal signing and publicity in late January. The university and city did not provide a detailed budget for the incubator during the presentation; council directed staff to return with the executed MOU and next steps for implementing the program.

The agreement positions Eagle Pass to expand business support services downtown and to funnel the university’s advising, SBDC resources and faculty time into locally based entrepreneurs and small businesses.