Lunch & Learn
Your business works hard for every dollar. Is your real estate working just as hard for you?
Many business owners spend years paying rent or making real estate decisions without realizing they're leaving money and long-term wealth on the table.
Join us for our next Greater Alton Chamber of Commerce Lunch & Learn featuring Juan C. Salas of BIG Realty as he shares practical strategies that can help business owners use real estate to strengthen their business, increase profitability, and build lasting wealth.
You'll learn:
When leasing makes sense... and when owning is the smarter move
Why buying land now could save you thousands later
How commercial and mixed-use properties can become part of your retirement strategy
The costly real estate mistakes many small business owners make and how to avoid them
Whether you're just getting started, looking to expand, or planning for the future, this session will provide insights that could impact your business for years to come.
Tuesday, July 21, 2026
11:30 AM
Arturo Galvan Sr. Development Center
416 S. Alton Blvd., Alton, TX
Lunch is provided. Space is limited, so RSVP is required.
RSVP: chamber@alton-tx.gov
Don't miss this opportunity to invest an hour in learning strategies that could pay dividends for decades. Sometimes the best investment you make isn't another piece of equipment or another marketing campaign. It's learning how to make your real estate become one of your greatest business assets.
1 Million Cups en Español
Join us for a cup of coffee and an interactive session featuring rising entrepreneurs to connect, learn from one another, spark new ideas, and identify opportunities.
AI for Small Businesses
Discover how artificial intelligence (AI) can streamline operations, enhance customer service, and boost your bottom line—without breaking the bank.
Join us for a session designed specifically for small business owners. We’ll break down what AI really is, explore its pros and cons, and show you how even the smallest business can benefit from smart, affordable tools. From marketing automation to inventory management, you’ll leave with actionable ideas and a clear path to get started.
Register here.
1 Million Cups en Español
What Is 1 Million Cups?
1 Million Cups is not a pitch competition—it’s a platform for learning, collaboration, and support. Entrepreneurs present their businesses and challenges, followed by an open discussion where attendees can ask questions, offer insights, and help strengthen each other’s ideas.
What This Means for Our Community
The launch of 1 Million Cups represents a major step forward in supporting entrepreneurship and small business growth in Alton. Through regular meetings, the program will:
Create a welcoming space for local entrepreneurs and startups
Encourage peer-to-peer learning and mentorship
Strengthen connections between businesses, professionals, and community leaders
Help build a stronger, more innovative local economy
1 Million Cups helps foster a culture where ideas are shared, businesses are supported, and the community grows together.
Alton Career Fair
Your future starts here.
Join us for a FREE Job Fair featuring local employers, on-the-spot interviews, and immediate hiring opportunities. Explore available positions, connect with hiring managers, and take the next step in your career. Bring your resume, dress professionally, and come prepared to make a great impression. Come prepared. Leave hired.
Alton Chamber Member Meetup
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
Whether you're a longtime member, a brand new member, or just thinking about joining the Greater Alton Chamber of Commerce, we'd love to see you at our Member Meetup in July.
This casual gathering is a great opportunity to ask questions, meet other local business owners and professionals, and discover how to make the most of your Chamber membership and all the benefits available to you.
Not sure where to start? That's exactly what this event is for. No pressure. No presentations to sit through. Just good conversation, new connections, and a chance to get involved in the community.
If it's your first Chamber event, don't be nervous. Everyone is welcome, and we're excited to help you feel right at home.
Bring your business cards, invite a friend or fellow business, enjoy some light refreshments, and stick around for a raffle.
Thursday, July 16
6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Arturo Galvan, Sr. Development Center
416 S. Alton Blvd.
Alton, Texas 78573
Come see what the Chamber is all about and how we can help your business grow.
Know Your Business Rivals: Basic Tools for Competitor Analysis
Keeping tabs on your competitors isn’t new—it’s something businesses have done for decades. Today, it’s easier than ever and essential for staying competitive. Companies of all sizes, from startups to global brands, use this strategy to make smarter decisions.
Register for this session here.
How to Spot a Community That's Ready for Your Investment.
Separating the Real Partners from Pretenders. A site selector’s perspective.
Register for this seminar here.
SBDC Smart Start
Do you have a business idea? Are you eager to launch your own venture?
Join this webinar to gain essential information and steps for a successful start! Additionally, it will prepare you for your one-on-one business advising session, ensuring you have ongoing support.
Register here.
Insurance 101 for Small Business Owners: Protecting Your Business, Income, and Future Growth
Are you an entrepreneur, small business owner, or someone looking to better protect and grow their business? Enhance your knowledge on the right protection for running your business from this resource!
1 Million Cups en Español
Join us for a cup of coffee and an interactive session featuring rising entrepreneurs to connect, learn from one another, spark new ideas, and identify opportunities.
CO-STEP Industrial Data System Training
Gain exclusive access to manufacturing data generated, revealing where industries are concentrating, how key sectors are evolving, and why Rio South Texas Region is emerging as a strategic platform for scalable investment. This event will be hosted as the Ken Jones Board Room (Building B) 301 W. Railroad, Weslaco, TX.
*bring a laptop or personal device for a hands-on experience
Grande Villas Ground Breaking
The future begins here.
Join us as we celebrate the groundbreaking of Garden Villas, an exciting new community in Alton, Texas. The ceremony will take place at the Garden Villas site on 5 Mile Line Road, between Mayberry Road and Bryan Road. Refreshments will be served. We look forward to celebrating this milestone with you.
Small Business Emergency Preparedness
Preparation today means protection tomorrow. Learn about the critical steps to protecting your business, employees, and the community, as well as resources to develop your own business continuity plan from this webinar.
Summer Kick-Off
Bring the whole family out for a night of fun, food, and community spirit! There will be free hotdogs, moon jumps, food vendors, and plenty of community. Come celebrate summer with your friends, neighbors, and the City of Alton — because this is Where You Belong!
SBDC Smart Start
Join this webinar to gain essential information and steps for a successful start! Additionally, it will prepare you for your one-on-one business advising session, ensuring you have ongoing support.
Networking Breakfast & San Luis Potosi Automotive Cluster Presentation
Join us Wednesday, June 11, from 8:30 to 11:45am at the Cambria Hotel for a networking breakfast!
COSTEP is pleased to invite regional Economic Development Corporations, workforce leaders, and strategic partners to participate in the June 11, 2026 meeting and networking session during the official visit of the Cluster Automotriz de San Luis Potosi to the Rio South Texas Region.
RSVP to asaldanacruz@costep.org or info@costep.org