WESLACO, RGV – The Rio Grande Valley is no longer a best kept secret, according to Rio Grande Valley Partnership chairman and Magic Valley Electric Cooperative western division manager Atanacio Hinojosa.
Hinojosa says it has been “exciting to witness all of the wealth of success the region has achieved recently” in the areas of transportation, healthcare, education, water and economic development.
“The Valley is not the best kept secret any longer. Investors have discovered the region and are now taking full advantage of all the great things we have to offer. Companies such as SpaceX, Annova, Royal Technologies, and Paramount Citrus have decided that the Rio Grande Valley is the place to be,” Hinojosa said.
Hinojosa made his views known in the welcome remarks for the Rio Grande Valley Partnership’s latest publication, Snapshot of Economic Progress. The 148-page book is crammed full of data and analysis about the Valley’s economic performance. Hinojosa’s remarks are posted in full at the end of this story.
In an interview about the new publication, RGVP President Julian Alvarez said if economic development corporations in deep South Texas want to lure more businesses to the region, which they do, or if hospitals want to lure more doctors, which they do, Snapshot of Economic Progress will help their cause.
“Two years ago we did an Economic Development Guide to talk about all the exciting things we were going to experience in the Valley. Now, we are experiencing them. It seems like SpaceX is old news, in some respects, because we have got so many other great things happening across the Valley. We wanted to show people that the quality of life is improving in deep South Texas,” Alvarez said.
Asked where the data in the book was obtained, Alvarez said: “UT-Rio Grande Valley, Workforce Solutions, the EDCs, the Port of Brownsville, they all gave us data. They also provided great storylines. I was noticing that the different EDCs were focusing on their own areas of expertise. We felt there needed to be some unity when it came to publications, to pull all of it together.”
Some of the cover stories feature projects that are not yet underway but are either on the drawing board or in development. The headlines of the six cover stories are: McAllen Performing Arts Center, Tourism is Economic Development, United Launch Alliance, Innovative Life Saving Research, Annova LNG, and An Emerging Real Estate Market. The six photos on the front cover are all artist renditions of upcoming attractions. The six photos portray the McAllen Performing Arts Center, the Bert Ogden Arena, Resaca Market/La Sienna, the new Hidalgo County Courthouse, RGVFC Soccer Stadium, and Resaca Walk, San Benito.
Alvarez added that even some of the smaller cities in the Valley, that may not have been able to advertise their community, are featured in the publication. Snapshot of Economic Progress has now been posted on the RGVP’s website in a digital format. Click here to visit the chamber’s website.
Here are RGVP Chairman Hinojosa’s welcome remarks for Snapshot of Economic Progress:
It’s a great honor and privilege to serve as Chairman of the Rio Grande Valley Partnership and work alongside such esteemed business and community leaders. We all serve to fulfill the organization’s mission: To be the leader for regional prosperity in the Rio Grande Valley.
It’s been exciting to witness all of the wealth of success our region has achieved recently in the areas of transportation, healthcare, education, water and economic development.
The region stands to gain from transportation projects such as State Highway 550 in Brownsville and future projects like State Highway 365 in Hidalgo County. As more of these projects are achieved, it opens the door for companies to utilize these arteries to exchange goods via our ports and bridges.
The healthcare industry is experiencing unprecedented growth, offering expanded services to residents through more options of specialized care, technology, and research. Healthcare companies continue to grow in size and investment, providing world class care for patients. And with UTRGV’s new medical school, we will be a leader in healthcare services very soon.
Education of our students will launch the region competitively with other metropolises in the state. Our local school districts and charter schools are working diligently to formulate partnerships with the business community and institutions of higher learning to ensure that our students are ready to compete in a global environment. These institutions are expanding their curriculums to include programs that will make our region relevant in the global marketplace.
We continue to work hand-in-hand with the Regional Water Authority on the water needs of our region; our services, regulatory powers, and authority of irrigation districts, water development supply corporations, counties, municipalities, and other political subdivisions within its borders.
The Valley is not the best kept secret any longer. Investors have discovered the region and are now taking full advantage of all the great things we have to offer. Companies such as SpaceX, Annova, Royal Technologies, and Paramount Citrus have decided that the Rio Grande Valley is the place to be!
I hope you enjoy learning more about the Rio Grande Valley through this publication and find a way to contribute to the prosperity of our region.
Editor’s Note: The main image accompanying this story shows Ro Grande Valley Partnership President and CEO Julian Alvarez holding a copy of Snapshot of Economic Progress.
