PHARR, Texas – Pharr Economic Development Corporation is now working to bring manufacturing companies to their city that need one million square feet of industrial space.
Some of those same companies also need 700 acres of land for their project.
Pharr EDC’s interest in landing bigger manufacturers coincides with the arrival of Janie Cavazos as property and business development manager for Pharr EDC. Cavazos was vice president of McAllen Economic Development Corporation for many years.
“We are no longer just talking to companies that want ten or 20 acres of land. We have had a couple of developers and investors that want a million square feet of space,” said Pharr EDC Executive Director Victor Perez. “We are talking to one potential investor that is looking for 700 acres.”
Asked if Pharr has the space for such a big manufacturing project, Perez said: “We have the land. We have land on Military Highway, on 281, all the way east to Stewart Road.”
Asked if he could add any details on the big projects his team is working on, Perez said: “Stay tuned. We are going to have some good projects in the near future.”
Asked why developers are interested in Pharr, Perez said: “Because of the Pharr leadership, our mayor Ambrosio Hernandez, our city commission, our EDC board of directors. Plus, we have the expansion of the (international) bridge coming soon. Our bridge is the No. 1 bridge in the nation for fresh produce.”
Perez said Cavazos is working with the potential clients that want a million square feet of industrial space, those that need 700 acres.
“Janie has the experience we were looking for,” Perez said. “One thing I wanted to focus on was getting someone on board who has experience in the manufacturing and industrial area. Someone who could bring something big to the table. I felt we were lacking in that regard.”
Perez revealed he had tried to lure Cavazos from McAllen EDC in the past, but without success.
“I talked to this lady a couple of times at certain events. I asked, would you like to join us? She would say, no, not really, I am okay. I ran in to her a couple of months ago and asked again. She said, you know what, may be I am interested now.”
Asked why Cavazos is an important part of the Pharr EDC team, Perez said: “We all know Janie Cavazos. She has been with the McAllen EDC for over 30 years. She decided to come and join the Pharr EDC team and it has been great. She brings a lot of expertise, experience and knowledge on the industrial and manufacturing side. We want to focus more on this. I thought about this four or five years ago.”
Perez added: “Janie has been to China to work on bringing manufacturers to the Valley. She has traveled to all the trade shows. The contacts she has, the people that know her… she is very well liked and respected.”
Editor’s Note: The main image accompanying the above news story shows Janie Cavazos, property and business development manager for Pharr EDC, Rose Benavidez, president of Starr County Industrial Foundation, Pharr EDC Executive Director Victor Perez, and Myrta Tijerina, Pharr EDC’s international relations manager. (Photo: RGG/Steve Taylor)
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