Brownsville’s new Communications and Marketing Department & Convention and Visitors Bureau Complex is officially opened

Rio Grande Guardian
BY RON WHITLOCK 
JANUARY 15, 2024

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A ribbon cutting ceremony and open house was held Friday, Jan. 12, for the City of Brownsville’s new Communications and Marketing Department & Convention and Visitors Bureau Complex.

The multi-million dollar complex, which is situated on East Adams Street in downtown Brownsville, will also house the Office of Space Commerce. It is located next door to the eBridge Center for Business and Commercialization. 

Brownsville City Commissioner At Large “B” Dr. Rose Gowen and Brownsville City Manager Helen Ramirez were the keynote speakers. The City of Brownsville’s Communications and Marketing Director Manuel Chacon and Brownsville eConvention and Visitors Bureau Director Dafne Maldonado also spoke at the event.

Commissioner Gowen said it was important for the Convention and Visitors Bureau to be relocated to the downtown district so that tourists and residents could experience the revitalization of the city’s downtown.

“So, when you walk by and invite others to join you remember that it was a hard fight but that Brownsville deserves this space. We deserve this revitalized downtown and we are not even finished yet,” Gowen said.

City Manager Ramirez said the city deserves a building that is dedicated to a collaboration of communication, tourism, innovation, and space commerce.

“When we look at innovation and creativity, this is a hub. This is a hub for entrepreneurship, it’s a hub for learning and education. It’s also a place where our city of Brownsville employees can have a place to learn and not always be in a stuffy office, be in this cool scene or patio area. Think of all the collaboration we are going to have with our employees,” Ramirez said.

The building is funded through Public, Educational, and Governmental (PEG) funding, which is used to support public-access channels. A City of Brownsville’s press release said this type of funding is “important for maintaining and equipping facilities dedicated to public broadcasting and educational programming.” PEG funding can be used to purchase of studios, video production facilities, and related equipment. All of these, the City’s press release said, are “essential for producing high-quality content for public access television.”

Guests toured the building including the Brownsville TV live recording studio that will enable the production of high-quality, live-recorded content which is a significant asset for local media and can be used for various community and cultural programs.

The new building features offices, workspace areas, and an outdoor courtyard that will function as an outdoor venue for the City of Brownsville.

The building also houses a gift shop operated by the Convention and Visitors Bureau and a lobby area.

The gift shop will offer souvenirs and items promoting Brownsville, which is beneficial for tourism and local branding.

The lobby is designed for the comfort of guests visiting the downtown area, with amenities like seating and smartphone charging stations, enhancing the overall visitor experience.