HARLINGEN, Texas – Today, Angela Burton, district director for the SBA’s Lower Rio Grande Valley District, announced the 2022 District Small Business Week awardees for ten small business categories. 

 “It is with great honor we congratulate Mr. Christopher De La Cruz Wycoco of WYCOTAX, LLC as the Lower Rio Grande Valley District’s Small Business Person of the Year,” Burton stated. 

 Christopher Wycoco, born and raised in the Philippines, came to the U.S. in 2010 to work in the healthcare industry. Within five years, Wycoco’s journey led him from nursing to entrepreneurship, where he opened WYCOTAX, LLC, a payroll, bookkeeping, and tax service company serving all types of small businesses. 

 The SBA Small Business Person of the Year award – part of National Small Business Week May 1 – May 7, 2022 – recognizes small business owners who demonstrate staying power and substantiated history as an established business with at least three years of business operation. Winners must also show growth in net worth and business expansion, increase in jobs and sales, innovativeness of products or services, response to adversity, and contributions to community-oriented projects.  

 “National Small Business Week is truly an excellent time to celebrate the importance of small businesses and to recognize entrepreneurs who are problem solvers, job creators and contribute to the growth and prosperity of the Lower Rio Grande Valley District,” Angela R. Burton, district director, Lower Rio Grande Valley District Office stated.  “ We encourage small businesses to celebrate with us as two events in honor of all awardees will be hosted on Tuesday, May 3, 2022, in the Rio Grande Valley and the Coastal Bend area.”

 “This is the first year in two years the SBA has been able to return to in-person as well as virtual events for national and district Small Business Week celebrations and certainly, after enduring the last two years of the pandemic, our small businesses deserve this celebration of their endurance and their contributions to our economy,” said Region 6 South Central Regional Administrator Ted James. 

On Tuesday, May 3, 2022, the Rio Grande Valley Partnership invites small businesses and winners to a recognition ceremony from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Rancho Viejo Resort, Casa Grande, located at 401 Bolivar Ave #1, Rancho Viejo, Texas.  For more information and registration, contact Monica Sanchez at (956) 968-3141 or via email at monica@rgvpartnership.com. 

 Additionally, Tuesday, May 3, 2022, Del Mar College Small Business Development Center will host an evening event from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Art Center of Corpus Christi located at 100 N Shoreline Blvd, Corpus Christi, Texas.  For more information and registration, contact Stacie Campanile at (361) 698-2422 or via email at scampanile@delmar.edu. 

 All Lower Rio Grande Valley District Small Business Week awardees include: 

 -2022 National Award Categories

 Small Business Person of the Year 

WYCOTAX, LLC, Christopher De La Cruz Wycoco, Harlingen, Texas, nominated by Erik Mendez. 

 Small Business Exporter of the Year 

Sifsa Plastics, Inc., Luis Vazquez, Brownsville, Texas, self-nomination. 

-2022 District Director Awards 

District Director Award 

Principesa Hair Studio, Marisela Salinas, Rio Grande City, Texas, self-nomination. 

Family-Owned Small Business of the Year 

Vera’s King-O-Meats, Inc., Nadia V. Moralez and Roman Vera, Jr., Edinburg, Texas, nominated by Edinburg Economic Development Department. 

 Home Based Business of the Year 

Jackson Pest Control, Angelina Jackson, Edinburg, Texas, nominated by Edinburg Economic Development Department. 

 Minority Owned Small Business of the Year 

Avenue Planners Corp, Cassandra K Contreras, McAllen, Texas, Jose Luis Contreras, North Park Lexus San Antonio/RGV. 

 Rural Owned Small Business of the Year 

Castaneda Quick Care, PLLC, Ernest and Linda Castaneda, Kingsville, Texas, nominated by Celia Garza, Del Mar College Small Business Development Center (SBDC). 

Veteran Owned Small Business of the Year 

Seasons Primary Home Care, Marina Garcia, Brownsville, Texas, nominated by Dalilah Garcia, FemCity-Brownsville. 

 Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year 

Made in Corpus Christi, LLC, Nicole L. Riojas, Corpus Christi, Texas, nominated by Theresa Moffitt, Del Mar College Small Business Development Center (SBDC). 

 Young Entrepreneur of the Year 

Paradigm Wellness, Devin M Moreno, Corpus Christi, Texas, self-nomination. 

Since 1963, the President has issued a proclamation calling for a National Small Business Week celebration. SBA recognizes outstanding small business owners for their successes and contributions to our nation.  For more information about National Small Business Week, visit www.sba.gov/nsbw.  

About the U.S. Small Business Administration

The U.S. Small Business Administration makes the American dream of business ownership a reality. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.