IBC Bank has been named as a finalist for the United States Chamber of Commerce Center for Corporate Citizenship Award, Small/Mid-size Business.

The bank received the nomination in the category of Corporate Stewardship, Small/Mid-size Business.

“IBC is honored to be recognized as a finalist for this prestigious award,” said IBC Chairman and CEO Dennis E. Nixon. “All of our community involvement stems from the bank's ‘We Do More' philosophy, which spirits our corporate-wide outreach. IBC is committed to corporate stewardship, and we believe that when our local communities are successful, we all are successful.”

Winners will be announced Nov. 8 at the National Building Museum in Washington , D.C.

Laredo distinctions

The Laredo Development Foundation's Summer 2005 newsletter points out some impressive statistics about international trade in Laredo .

§ Over 700 of Fortune 1000 companies do international business via Laredo

§ Over 9,000 trucks cross the bridges per day, along with 1,888 loaded rail cars

§ Laredo is ranked first in growth in Texas by Milken Institute and seventh in the United States

§ The population has doubled since 1988

§ There are 54,0000 children in K to 12

§ Laredo has the number one Wal-Mart in the nation

§ Building permits have increased from $156 million in 1994 to $392 in 2004

The newsletter also mentioned the 12 th Annual Manufacturing in Mexico and on the U.S. Border Symposium, which takes place Sept. 21-23. Register at www.laredo-ldf.com.

LMC's Walker up

for Man of Year award

Steve Walker, Laredo Medical Center 's director of operations, has been nominated by the Governing Board of Editors of the American Biographical Institute (ABI) for the prestigious title Man of the Year 2005.

The Institute's International Board of Research decided on the nomination due to Walker 's overall accomplishments and contributions to society.

The ABI Board continually researches the achievements of men and women from around the world and most are recognized in the institute's internationally acclaimed who's who publication.

TWC wins

honorable mention award

The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) won an honorable mention award for its First Generation College Student Pilot Project at the “Workforce innovations 2005” conference, held earlier in Philadelphia, Pa.

The First Generation pilot grants have helped 20 institutions of higher learning provide supplemental scholarship funding to more than 1,200 first generation college students.

More than 95 percent of the scholarship recipients remain in college, greatly exceeding the statewide average retention rate of 70 percent.

The Texas Workforce Commission is a state agency dedicated to helping Texas employers, workers, and communities prosper economically.

State sales tax revenue rises

Texas Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn has announced the collection of $1.45 billion in sales tax revenue in July.

“With just weeks remaining in the 2005 fiscal year, sales tax revenue is running 5.9 percent higher than the same point in FY 2004,” Strayhorn said.

Strayhorn sent sales tax payments of $317.9 million to Texas cities, up 8.9 percent compared to last August. Calendar year to date, city sales tax revenues are up 7.5 percent compared to 2004.

Sales tax payments of $26.6 million went to Texas counties, 3.9 percent higher than last August. So far in calendar year 2005, county sales tax allocations are up 8.8 percent compared to last year.

For details of August sales tax payments to individual cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose districts, locate the Monthly Sales and Use Tax Allocation Comparison Summary Reports on the Comptroller's Web site at www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/allocsum/compsum.html.

Employee health insurance fair

Small employers in the Laredo area will have the opportunity to do “one-stop shopping” for employee health insurance Wednesday, Aug. 2 at a health insurance fair sponsored by the Texas Department of Insurance.

Insurance companies and HMOs will operate booths at the fair to be held from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Laredo Holiday Inn, 800 Garden Street.

Small employers with questions about the health insurance fair can call TDI at (512) 305-7298.

TDI also will also host two small focus group discussions with uninsured individuals and small business owners. The discussion is very informal and will focus on the insurance needs and problems faced by uninsured individuals and small business owners. For more information about the focus groups, call 800-252-3439.

New construction

Watch for new construction on Casa Verde Road -- The Floridian Condominiums Phase I and Casa Verde Phase II, a strip mall with restaurants, retail and office suites being constructed by STFG. Construction

On McPherson, West Village will be going up soon, providing spaces from 1,080 to 10,000 sq. ft.