Brownsville economic arm executive receives international award

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Nathan Burkhart, vice president for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation, has been announced as a winner of the 2025 Economic Development 40 Under 40 Award by Development Counsellors International.

The biennial award recognizes rising stars under 40 years of age in the economic development industry. Burkhart, a Brownsville native, is the only Texan to receive the award this year. His role with BCIC is to drive economic growth and create a more robust “ecosystem” for the region’s start-up businesses.

The awards program is hosted by DCI, a New York-based integrated marketing firm that works with economic development and travel organizations around the world, and Jorgenson Pace Inc., a national executive search firm serving organizations in the nonprofit, economic development and community development industries, according to BCIC.

An independent committee of six economic development leaders and site-selection consultants judge the nominations, looking for “strong leadership, commitment and innovation every day in the workplace,” BCIC said.

Julie Curtin, DCI president of the group’s economic development practice, described economic development as a “purpose-driven field that shapes communities worldwide” and said that “young professionals are at the heart of that impact.”

“These 40 rising stars are driving change through their innovation, commitment and leadership,” she said. “Their contributions are already making a difference, and I’m excited to see how they continue to shape the industry in the years to come.”

BCIC President and CEO Cori Pena said Burkhart’s leadership has been “instrumental in advancing Brownsville’s economic development, from leading Startup Texas to fostering the growth of the eBridge Center and other important initiatives that support local entrepreneurs.”

“This national recognition reflects his dedication and impact, and we at BCIC, along with the entire Brownsville community, take great pride in his achievement,” she said.

Under Burkhart’s leadership, BCIC has expanded its eBridge Center for Business and Commercialization, one of South Texas’ largest business start-up incubators, and StartUp Texas, an accelerator program supporting dozens of local businesses, according to BCIC. His work cultivating cross-border entrepreneurship, securing investment and enhancing economic mobility has helped transform Brownsville into a competitive hub for innovation, the organization said.

Todd Jorgenson, Jorgenson Pace Inc. managing director and principal, said this year’s 40 Under 40 honorees “are rising to meet new challenges with expertise and innovation” in an evolving economic development industry, and offered his congratulations.

Burkhart attributed his 40 Under 40 award to “team effort” at BCIC.

“It’s really cliché to say something like that but, I don’t think I’d be able to do what I do without the support and autonomy that’s been granted to me by Cori, my boss, by my board, by the mayor and city manager as well,” he said. “They all kind of contributed to me being able to do what I do, which in turn allowed me to receive such an award.”

Meanwhile, innovation has become more important than ever when it comes to economic development, Burkhart said.

“It’s an interesting time, especially now when we’re seeing a lot of cuts to federal programs and grants,” he said. “There was at one point a grant that we received in 2023 that looked like it was on the chopping block, but thankfully it’s not. But it’s due to time that (economic development) starts to get even more innovative than it thinks it is. We really need to starting thinking extremely outside the box on things.”

Besides the traditional strategies of luring businesses with tax incentives, relocation grants and the like, Brownsville should “really starting thinking about everything that encompasses economic development,” Burkhart said.

“Those things may include child care, housing the homeless and revitalizing downtown — something the city is already keen on doing,” he said.

Burkhart said BCIC has already made a big impact with Startup Texas, an accelerated entrepreneurship training/seed funding program funded by sales tax and already internationally acclaimed.

“Using public sales tax dollars and public partnerships with (University of Texas Rio Grande Valley) or the city of Brownsville, that’s really moved the needle, but we really need to start thinking more outside the box, just with everything that’s going to be coming our way in the next four years,” he said.

Being tapped for an international economic development awards feels validating, Burkhart acknowledged.

“It really does,” he said. “It’s good to know that there are these really large organizations that are paying attention to what we’re doing down in the Rio Grande Valley. It’s an area that’s long been overlooked and ignored, and I think it’s our time shine. But arguably we’re getting that prominence, from Brownsville all the way to McAllen as well.”

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