More than a decade after SpaceX chose Greater Brownsville to establish its operations, South Texas is proving that was just the start. SpaceX now directly employs 4,300 people, up from 3,400 in 2025, and its presence supports 24,000 direct and indirect jobs across the region, generating $13 billion in economic output over the past two years alone. Saronic Technologies is the latest to bet big, investing $3.2 billion in its own autonomous vessel shipyard nearby.
For the Brownsville region, however, the investment wasn't a surprise. It validated the growth potential and talent pool that companies are seeing, at last, in South Texas. And with the Port of Brownsville completing a deepening project this year, there are multiple reasons for businesses to eye South Texas eagerly.
As more executives choose Texas, it's time to focus on Brownsville and the untapped advantages it offers across multiple industries. It has a proven track record, and the companies moving now are the ones getting ahead of the curve.
Brownsville is proof positive that economic growth in Texas goes well beyond Dallas or Austin. Companies operating here are working on a larger scale thanks to the region’s proximity to key markets and its cost advantages.
Among key selling points is the Port of Brownsville. The nation’s largest land-owning public port features 17 miles of channel recently deepened to 52 feet. Its 40,000-plus development-ready acres provide opportunity for increased cargo growth.
Constant expansion underscores how effectively the port supports businesses here. Its output has already more than doubled from 11 million tons in 2020 to 28 million tons in 2024, with 30-32 million tons projected by the end of 2026.
Two international airports, four international bridges, and three Class 1 railroads sweeten the deal, making Brownsville a highly accessible place to do business, reaching both the U.S. Heartland and Latin America.
Brownsville has everything in place for businesses to succeed, with room for long-term growth.
Brownsville's momentum extends well beyond aerospace. NextDecade committed up to $36 billion to its Rio Grande LNG project, the largest of multiple recent projects in Brownsville. When exports begin in 2027, Rio Grande LNG will be among the world’s largest exporters of liquefied natural gas.
Energy companies are developing solutions to keep the lights on right here in Brownsville, too. America First Refining is the first new U.S. Gulf Coast refinery built in nearly 50 years, and Texas LNG's new $4 billion terminal adds another major project to the pipeline. Together, they make Brownsville home to an enticingly diverse ecosystem of innovators, spanning aerospace, defense technology, and energy alike.
These varied industries underscore how Brownsville offers broad solutions for companies eyeing South Texas.
Site selectors and businesses looking to expand need more than just great corporate neighbors and infrastructure. They need the right people.
Brownsville’s locals are among its most attractive assets. A young, binational workforce calls Brownsville home, fueled by multiple colleges and the Brownsville Campus of the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. And for Austin-based companies, the region is closer than it looks, a direct flight away and well within reach for regular site visits.
Beyond the talent pool, Brownsville boasts 180 million consumers within a day's drive, making it a powerhouse for manufacturers looking to grow. Its workforce and economic strength are precisely why Area Development ranked it the #1 metro for overall performance in 2024.
Gilberto Salinas, President & CEO, Greater Brownsville EDC, made it clear that the region’s people are pivotal to its success. “What sets Brownsville apart is that our growth is matched by the assets companies need to succeed—a young, bilingual workforce, global trade access, available land and a business environment built for investment. Companies aren’t just looking at Brownsville for what it can become; they’re investing here because of what the region can deliver today,” he said.
Texas is a powerhouse choice for companies to relocate or expand, but choosing the right location is pivotal in such a large state. Brownsville offers something rarer at this scale: proven momentum paired with room to grow and expand internationally.
Momentum requires not just a push, but a pathway that can facilitate constant movement forward. Brownsville removes the friction, and with other industry actors already benefiting from the region, all that’s left is the initial push.
Editor’s Note: The above commentary was penned by Greater Brownsville Economic Development Corporation and published in the Houston Business Journal as sponsored content.
Greater Brownsville EDC promotes economic growth in the southernmost region of Texas by empowering a young, skilled workforce and driving innovation, in partnership with regional and international partners in job creation, training, and manufacturing. Learn more at GreaterBrownsville.com.
