Pharr chamber reports 258 members, welcomes new businesses and lists upcoming ribbon cuttings

At its May meeting the Greater Pharr Chamber of Commerce reported a membership total of 258 as of May 2025 and welcomed 11 recent additions: nine new members and two renewals that together represent $7,150 in membership revenue that staff expects to record.

Eloina (membership coordinator) delivered the membership report and named the chamber's recent silver members as Center Church, Arambula's Land Clearing and Demolition, Moneywise Financial Decisions, Red Line Fire Solutions and Drive Through. She credited board members Tommy Guerra and Mercedes Guerra-Guillen for recruiting two new members. Eloina said cutting-edge and corporate members include Cutting Edge Insurance (gold), Frost Bank and Member Construction (renewals), and new corporate member CIL Capital, which recently opened a 9,000-square-foot plaza housing multiple tenants.

Eloina also described the chamber's social media campaign for National Small Business Week, which spotlights local businesses with daily themes (Monday Mention, Tuesday Takeout, Welcome Wednesday, Thankful Thursday, Friendly Friday and Saturday Self-Care).

Chamber staff detailed upcoming ribbon cuttings and events: a Center Church professional business suites ribbon cutting at 4801 N. Cage Blvd. (noted for May, time given as 11 a.m. in the meeting materials), a Trails on Jackson apartment ribbon cutting with a 4 p.m. gathering and a 4:30 p.m. ribbon cutting, and the Pharr Innovation Technology Building ribbon cutting on May 28 with a 2 p.m. start and a 2:30 p.m. ceremonial cutting followed by tours. Staff also said the Mayor's Prayer Luncheon (the 74th annual day of prayer) is scheduled for May 29 at DTC Church; the city is taking sponsorships for that event.

Staff described a vendor expo organized by the city purchasing department to connect local businesses with city department directors; staff said more than 100 businesses had signed up and the event is scheduled at Pepe Salinas on May 22 from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The chamber encouraged members to sign up to meet department staff and pursue contracting opportunities.

Board members and staff also noted a press conference by the Possible Dream Foundation and the arrival of an adult charter school program to the Pharr Event Center. Chairwoman Sonia Falcon said the program is an adult high-school diploma program (not a GED), part of Region One's initiatives; the program will offer classroom instruction and stackable certificates for students seeking high-demand job training.

The chamber encouraged board members to participate in upcoming ribbon cuttings and community events and to support membership recruitment efforts over the summer.