EDINBURG, Texas - The eagerly anticipated 2023 RGV Economic Summit that was due to take place in late June has been put back to August accommodate Gov. Greg Abbott’s schedule.
The change in date was confirmed by Daniel Silva, president of the Rio Grande Valley Partnership.
RGVP is co-hosting the summit with the City of Edinburg.
It will take place at the Bert Ogden Arena in Edinburg.
The exact date has yet to be confirmed.
“Due to the Governor's schedule, we regret to inform you that the Economic Summit will be postponed until August. We apologize for any inconvenience caused and appreciate your understanding. We will share the updated details as soon as they are confirmed,” Silva wrote, in an email to community leaders across the Valley.
Here is the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service’s most recent story on the summit:
EDINBURG, Texas - Plans are underway for a major economic summit in the Rio Grande Valley. And organizers hope it will attract a top keynote speaker.
The event, hosted by the Rio Grande Valley Partnership and the City of Edinburg, will take place at the Bert Ogden Arena in Edinburg later this month. The exact date will be announced later this week but it is expected to be June 29.
Leaders from across the Valley met in Weslaco earlier this week to plan the event.
One of the organizers is Edinburg Mayor Ramiro Garza. In an exclusive interview with the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service, Garza explained why the summit is important.
Edinburg Mayor Ramiro Garza“It's extremely important. We are a fast-growing region. By coming together as a region, we're stronger. We’re stronger together,” Garza said.
“We believe this economic summit could kick off an even greater collaborative effort.”
Garza said that as a region the Valley can compete with just about any other region. In today’s global marketplace it is having to, he said.
“Politically, as you know, our area is characterized a certain way. I think it's important for those of us who live here to share with everyone what is really happening here. We're located along the border and we're proud of that,” Garza said.
“There's a lot of growth here, a lot of opportunities. It is a vibrant area with a rich culture and people. I think this summit is a way to help kick off how we're going to start working together as a region to market our area as a place to live and work.”
Garza pointed out that the Valley has a population of 1.4 million people. Just across the Rio Grande are another two million people, he said.
“We want to ensure that we tell our story about what's really happening. We have over 40 cities here in the Valley and there are positive things happening in everyone of those cities. But, it is also important that we come together, because together we can achieve more.”
Garza said the plan is for all the communities represented at the summit to sign a resolution pledging cooperation.
“We have had a couple of preliminary meetings and everybody's pretty excited about the summit. It wasn't difficult to sell the idea. We have had buy-in from Roma to Brownsville. Every mayor I have talked to has said, it is time.”
Garza said it has been a dream of his to see unity across the Valley on economic development issues.
“I grew up in Cameron County and I moved here to Edinburg over 20 years ago. I have seen how other regions around the world work together for economic development purposes. And we do work together. But we can do more. We can promote ourselves as one region with one voice.”
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