MISSION, Texas – In addition to looking for more retail and restaurant businesses to bring to the I-2 corridor in Mission, the city’s economic development team is also working to land industrial projects near Anzalduas International Bridge.
In an exclusive audio interview with the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service, Teclo Garcia said he would be heading a trade mission to Mexico later this year.
Garcia, pictured above, is CEO of Mission Economic Development Corporation.
“There are Mexican investors that are looking for properties because they want to be near a bridge. Anytime you say (international) bridge, Steve, you know this, people flock to it,” Garcia said.
“So, yes, there is a lot of excitement. We are planning a trade mission later this year to central Mexico to play up the business park and the bridge and to try to just raise our profile in certain industrial areas in Mexico.”
Developing Anzalduas International Bridge
Anzalduas International Bridge, in south Mission, is owned and operated by the City of McAllen in partnership with the cities of Mission and Hidalgo. It was opened in 2009 but cannot, as yet, carry fully loaded trucks both ways. With expansion at the bridge now underway, cargo should be moving north and south within the next two years.
“Our partners in Pharr, our friends in Pharr, they do a great job in bringing over produce and electronics. But, honestly, there is plenty of business for everybody here. And for us to give business an alternate route to cross into the U.S., also will spur development on this side,” Garcia said.
“We are super happy we can do that with McAllen and get that going. I would be remiss not to mention our friends at Killam (Development). The are developing large tracts of land around Anzalduas and they are very important to this particular project.”
I-2 Corridor
On the retail side, Garcia believes the Mission Gateway project being developed by NewQuest Properties, will be the “lynchpin” for more growth.
“We have two hotels coming in, by the Event Center, which we can’t reveal the names of them yet but we will soon. And then we’ve got some other restaurants that we’re also talking to. They’re very close (to making a decision). And, we’re dealing with about another half dozen companies that want to be located along the expressway here, and the business park.”
Editor’s Note: Here is the audio interview the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service secured with Mission EDC’s Garcia:
Audio
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