Higher Local Sales During Pandemic

By J. Noel Espinoza/RioGradeInfo.com

With a business partner’s mixer to honor the local economic recovery, the San Benito Economic Development Corporation gathered new business owners and city officials on Thursday at its headquarters.

The event, the first one launched by EDC since the pandemic, gives new local business owners the optimism to continue their startups as well as the encouragement for prospect entrepreneurs.

“This is an end-of-the-year celebration,” said Rebecca Castillo, San Benito’s EDC executive director.  “It’s to celebrate the (economic) success of our community.”

Castillo said the event also brings elected officials, EDC board members and small business owners, especially new, or new prospects, which are coming in so they can network with other businesses.

City Commissioner Rene Garcia said EDC has had a vital role in the prospect of getting people back into business especially during the pandemic.

The commissioner, who’s also an EDC board member, said he feels that the increase of sale taxes are due to the fact that people stayed closer to home to purchase their goods and services.

“They didn’t travel out of town,” Garcia said. “Therefore, whatever they needed, well, guess what, we do have it here in San Benito.”

David Garcia, who owns with his wife, Stacey, Vida Nueva Creations, a shop specializing in rustic décor, said they have been busy throughout the whole pandemic.

“Business has been really good,” Garcia, whose shop is at 844 N. Sam Houston, said. “During Covid we were busy throughout the whole time. Even though we were in quarantine, we were working the whole time.

The gathering, Castillo said, provides new prospects to network with the right people such as personnel from city planning, management, and EDC who can provide information about grants for new business owners.

“This is so they can make better decisions about additional funding and grants,” Castillo said.

Ironically, Castillo said San Benito had a successful economic year during the year 2020 of the pandemic.

“The year 2020 was the most successful year that San Benito has had in over 10 years,” she said.

Castillo said sale taxes has increased by $1.4 million.

In the year 2019, sale taxes in San Benito hit the $5 million mark. By the end of 2020, the city hit $5.7 million and now they have reached $6.2 million.

In the past two years, she said there are over 45 new businesses in the city.

“They are mostly boutiques, small restaurants, antique shops, Mexican curious, and a new bake shop,” she said. In the future, Castillo said they hope to continue planning events like this one in an effort to keep new businesses networking with other businesses, investors, and local city officials.