BROWNSVILLE, Texas – The Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation has announced that Josh Mejia is leaving the organization.
Mejia has been with BCIC for five years, most recently serving as president and CEO. A news release from the group says Mejia is leaving to accept another job. He will continue to serve BCIC until June 28.
Here is the BCIC news release in full:
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – The Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation (BCIC), a “type b” economic development organization, announced today that President & Chief Executive Officer, Josh Mejia, is stepping down to accept a new job.
During the regularly scheduled monthly board meeting on Thursday, May 26th, Mr. Mejia, who has served the community for over five years, had his resignation letter approved by the BCIC board of directors. Current plans call for Mr. Mejia to continue to serve as CEO until Tuesday, June 28th, 2022.
“There is nothing more gratifying than serving in a position that allows you to work for the ultimate benefit of the community you were born and raised in. There is a reason these types of organizations are so valuable to communities and an even better reason why we should continue to support the staff and board of directors at the BCIC to continue excelling at what they do best,” said Josh Mejia.
“Alongside elected officials and appointed board members, we have been able to transform the organization into a leading economic development corporation that now autonomously invests in the fabric of what makes Brownsville, Texas great – its human capital. From new entrepreneurs to seasoned business owners, the BCIC is there to help our people play a larger role in economic development.”
Mr. Mejia was an instrumental founding member of key projects such as the eBridge Center for Business & Commercialization, which will serve the entire Rio Grande Valley as the largest entrepreneurial center of its kind south of San Antonio, Texas.
Mr. Mejia, who also received awards such as the “Young Economic Development Professional of the Year” award by the International Economic Development Council and the “40 Under 40” award by the Developers Council International, led the organization in fostering close relationships with the U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Small Business Administration, Texas Workforce Commission, Housing & Urban Development Department, and private foundations which resulted in over eight million dollars in additional funding for the organization to accelerate economic development in the community. In addition, the BCIC, under Mr. Mejia’s leadership, was able to pivot quickly during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic to offer a grant program for local businesses in search of financial assistance, which resulted in over 1,063 job retains and over $13,000,000 in federal monies obtained for Brownsville, Texas alone.
The BCIC, under Mr. Mejia’s tenure, experienced substantial growth financially and positioned itself as an economic development organization capable of providing equitable opportunities for entrepreneurs who desired to play a role in diversifying the region’s economy with a special focus on prioritizing local human capital. The strategies developed and implemented under Mr. Mejia’s tenure were adopted as part of IEDC’s global certification curriculum for other economic development professionals that wish to specialize in entrepreneurship-led economic development.
“The Board of Directors joins me in wishing Mr. Mejia well as he takes this next step in his career. It has been a joy to watch him develop personally and professionally during his time with BCIC,” said BCIC Chairwoman, Traci Wickett. “We are committed to sustaining BCIC’s incredible momentum during this transition. BCIC is blessed with a strong, talented, and committed staff and board, and we will continue working to expand opportunities for local people to build and grow their own businesses, making Brownsville a better place for all of us to prosper.”
The BCIC wishes Mr. Mejia the absolute best in his next endeavor.
For more information related to this press release, please contact Michelle Lopez, BCIC Director of Development and Communications, at [email protected]
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