Medical Research and Education Center Groundbreaking Ceremony

This is it—your final opportunity to join RGV LEAD’s 2026 Student Startup Showdown (S3) Challenge as a sponsor. Be part of an initiative that is shaping the future of entrepreneurship, workforce development, and student success across the Rio Grande Valley. Your support directly impacts the next generation of innovators and leaders. Deadline: Friday, April 24 Act now to secure your sponsorship and champion student innovation in the RGV. Call now: 956-907-1227 Take this fin

“This investment from the Texas Bar Foundation allows us to intentionally build a structured workforce pipeline connecting students to meaningful careers in the legal and criminal justice fields,” said Maricela De León, MPA, CPM, Executive Director of RGV Linking Economic and Academic Development (LEAD).

Building the necessary curriculum around the workforce needs is why RGV LEAD was formed. Join the discussion, share your ideas, and help build the workforce that will take us to Mars.

A sneak peek at the faces and stories behind RGV LEAD. We’re traveling across the Valley to capture the heart of what we do. Stay tuned... the best is yet to come!

Our Executive Director, Maricela De Leon, MPA, CPM, joined Member LJ Francis of the State Board of Education District 2 in Austin, Texas, for the inaugural TEA Civics training, hosted by Region ESC 18 at Region ESC 13.

What a great start to our morning for our Executive Director, Maricela "Mari" De León, engaging with key stakeholders at the #RGVP Water Forum in #brownsvilletx.

Our Executive Director recently met with the leaders at Weslaco EDC to showcase how RGV LEAD is tackling the challenges of today’s labor market. By aligning our programs with local economic needs, we’re creating a clearer path for our students.

ICYMI Productive Days! Excited for our 2026 RGV LEAD Scholars.

RGV LEAD launches the S3 Student Startup Showdown. Valley high school students turn ideas into business concepts through mentorship, training, and a live pitch. We seek partners and sponsors who invest in our region's future leaders.

We are excited to welcome one of the Rio Grande Valley’s fastest-growing school districts into the RGV LEAD network. Through this partnership, Edinburg CISD will gain access to expanded workforce development programs, enhanced career-connected learning, and collaborative support for students and educators across our region.

Big news is shaking up the Rio Grande Valley community. The Weslaco Economic Development Corporation (EDC) has officially stepped up as a Platinum Sponsor for the upcoming Biennial Labor Market Report covering 2026 to 2028.