Texas Border Business
By Roberto Hugo González
HARLINGEN, TX – In March, Angela Burton, District Director of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Lower Rio Grande Valley District Office, announced Abygail T. Elizondo, owner of Elizondo Insurance Services, as the 2025 Small Businessperson of the Year. Six additional honorees were also recognized before National Small Business Week, which takes place May 4–10, 2025.
The Rio Grande Valley Partnership hosted a recognition luncheon on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the Rancho Viejo Resort and Country Club Conference Center to celebrate these local awardees. The event included a keynote address by SBA South Central Regional Administrator and Presidential Appointee, Justin Crossie.
Crossie selected the Lower Rio Grande Valley District as one of only three district offices he visited during National Small Business Week. In his remarks, he shared his personal travel experience to the event and emphasized the region’s significance in the broader small business ecosystem.
During his address, Crossie acknowledged the long-standing national recognition of small businesses since 1964, highlighting their contributions to the U.S. economy. He cited that small businesses create two out of every three new jobs and employ nearly half of the American workforce. Specific to Texas, he noted that small businesses provide 45.1% of all jobs in the state.
Crossie outlined the SBA’s key initiatives aimed at supporting small business development. These include reducing regulatory barriers through the revitalized Office of Advocacy, expanding access to capital, and investing in workforce development. He emphasized the role of SBA’s resource partners such as Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs), SCORE chapters, and lending institutions in delivering practical assistance through what he described as the “SBA toolbox.”
He referred to the “SBA toolbox” as a collection of resources available to entrepreneurs, including mentoring, financial assistance programs like the 504-loan program, and technical guidance. Crossie highlighted how these tools are available to help business owners grow, scale, and invest in their operations.
In closing, Crossie acknowledged the diverse backgrounds of small business owners, including veterans, first-generation entrepreneurs, and single parents, and reinforced the SBA’s commitment to supporting their success. He thanked the attendees and resource partners for their contributions and reaffirmed the SBA’s mission to empower American small businesses.
The event marked a key moment in the district’s National Small Business Week celebrations and provided a platform for recognizing the resilience and achievements of local entrepreneurs.
