By KAREN GLEASON
The 830 Times
Diego Rubio has been hired by the city as its new Main Street and business incubator manager.
Rubio was introduced to members of the Del Rio City Council Jan. 18 by outgoing Economic Development Director Ori Fernandez.
Rubio attended Texas A&M University, where he studied business. He also worked in College Station as an inbound sales specialist for Wayfair.
When he returned to Del Rio, he worked as a sales consultant for Premium before opening and operating his own restaurant, Crosby’s Chicken, in Ciudad Acuña, Coah., Mexico.
“I am going to be responsible for overseeing operations for the city’s new business incubator program, as well as the city’s Main Street Program,” Rubio told The 830 Times in a recent interview.
“The business incubator program is going to provide mentorship programs, boot camps, accelerators, so that people that are interested in opening up a new business have the right resources to get them to that next level,” Rubio said.
Someone with an idea or a plan for a new business can speak to Rubio, and he said the first step is to provide the would-be entrepreneur with an assessment.
“We first do what is called a consumer report, which deals with what your market size is, what your consumer profile is, avenues that are available to you for funding, such as loans or grants,” Rubio said.
“My idea is eventually to create a non-profit through the chamber of commerce so we can have grants or a business idea competition, so we can give some funding, seed funding, for them to at least do their paperwork, because it costs money,” he added.
Rubio said he can also assist entrepreneurs by offering his own experience. Rubio will also devote his time to his work as the city’s new Main Street manager.
“I will advocate for volunteers who serve on the Main Street Board, help with businesses looking for façade grants and will be helping develop the ‘Murals on Main Street Program,’” Rubio said.
Rubio said he is excited to work for the city, though he said he stumbled across the job posting by accident.
“I had emailed the chamber because I wanted to open something in Del Rio, and they gave me Ori’s information, so I asked her about the different incentives that were available, and I went to the city’s web page, and saw the job posting, and the business incubator part really drew me, because I am passionate about business development and entrepreneurship,” Rubio said.
“Even since high school, when I went to a national competition in entrepreneurship and got third place, and in college I was in the Entrepreneurship Society, so it’s where my heart’s at, so when I saw the job posting, I just said to myself, that job is for me,” he added.
Rubio said he believes Fernandez’s mentorship will be invaluable as he sets off.
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