At the Mission Economic Development Corporation, we look for projects that will attract significant investment, create jobs and enhance the workforce and community.
This great project checks all those boxes. This Rodco manufacturing and distribution facility is an excellent addition to Mission’s business landscape. Its buildings are striking. Its campus is beautiful, and it’s taking land that otherwise was not used and transforming it into a high yield, high revenue, property and lot. This is very exciting for everyone and good for everyone’s bottom line.
This facility is just the lynchpin for all the development that’s going to happen here in the near future, as Mr. Plata alluded to, along the expressway. We’ve got retail, commercial, industrial all happening up and down Interstate 2. Post COVID, the McAllen and Mission metro area has bounced back with about 30,000 new jobs. In Mission alone, there are some 3,000 new jobs and our unemployment rates are back to what they were before COVID hit. And it is small- to medium-sized businesses like Rodco that are leading the way and this project is especially important because we’re coming back in a strong way. Now few of those jobs that we’ve gained back are manufacturing jobs. In fact, we’ve lost jobs in that sector, the last couple of years. If not for the vision and investment of these businesses like Rodco this region couldn’t move forward.
As manufacturing jobs, these are primary jobs. They’re critical for the economy. Primary jobs produce things. They also have original earnings that will then be invested back into the community through retail sales services, buying, the purchasing of durable goods.
These kind of manufacturing jobs, logistics, international trade are what we’re striving to create here in Mission. We have the space, a ready labor force, the know how and a team in place to make it happen. We have a huge bridge expansion as you all know, the Anzalduas. It is being expanded to handle commercial cargo. That’s on the way. Within 24 months, it’ll be done. And we have the business community like the Rodriguez family here investing. We also have the Killam family that’s taking a huge chunk of south Mission and trying to turn it into businesses of all sorts including industrial. So, we’re ready. We’re ready for this kind of development. It’s Mission’s time.
So, Mr. Rodriguez and the Rodco team and the family. We’re proud to partner with you to launch this facility. Without your investment and business savvy we would not be here today marking the beginning of this great project. I want to thank you and your team for moving forward here in Mission, where great things are possible and we’re very grateful.
Mission is truly a city for business. We are building on our great business heritage. From John Shary to the Bentsen family, to the thousands of entrepreneurs and self starters that have built Mission into what it is today. We stand on their shoulders to move forward. Just like today. But thank you for your time. And once again Mr. Rodriguez and your family, thank you for starting your own Mission here. Thank you.
Editor’s Note: The above commentary was delivered by Teclo Garcia, CEO of Mission Economic Development, at a groundbreaking ceremony for a project that will see a new manufacturing and warehouse center built for Rodco Steel Distributors on the southwest corner of I-2 and Conway Avenue in Mission.
Editor’s Note: The “Mr. Plata” Teclo Garcia referred to in his commentary is Ruben Plata, a banker and mayor pro tem of the City of Mission.
Editor’s Note: Here, below, is a video interview the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service secured with Teclo Garcia at the groundbreaking ceremony for Rodco Steel Distributors:
Video
Quality journalism takes time, effort and…. Money!
Producing quality journalism is not cheap. The coronavirus has resulted in falling revenues across the newsrooms of the United States. However, The Rio Grande Guardian International News Service is committed to producing quality news reporting on the issues that matter to border residents. The support of our members is vital in ensuring our mission gets fulfilled.
Can we count on your support? If so, click HERE. Thank you!
