The City of Eagle Pass Riskind Business Incubator was built with a $3.5 million federal grant and $875,000 in local funding, according to the Eagle Pass Business Journal. Local small business owners and taxpayers have raised questions about whether the project still meets its original purpose of helping entrepreneurs build businesses that can operate independently.
The Eagle Pass City Council is scheduled to discuss and possibly act on a commercial lease for a "Despacho Karoke Bar" at the incubator at its meeting on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. Questions raised include whether the city has hired experts in managing incubators, whether it has a written development and accountability plan, and whether the lease fits the federal grant guidelines.
Some local small business owners who asked for leases at the building were declined for various reasons, the Journal reported. Downtown property owners and realtors said many commercial properties are available for rent or sale on Main Street. The Journal also reported that critics say a successful incubator needs professional advisers, business planning and measurable results, not only a building and ribbon cuttings.