MCALLEN, Texas – McAllen Economic Development Corporation has been honored with a prestigious statewide award for landing Valeo’s $225 million advanced manufacturing plant, a milestone that comes as the city simultaneously celebrates the official opening of a new Amazon last-mile delivery station on its south side.
The Texas Economic Development Council (TEDC) recently named McAllen EDC the 2026 Community Economic Development Award (CEDA) winner in the 100,001 to 250,000 population tier. The recognition stems from MEDC’s successful recruitment of French automotive technology supplier Valeo’s first Texas production site. Located at Ware Road and Idela Avenue, the facility is projected to create at least 500 permanent direct jobs.
In awarding the honor, state judges highlighted McAllen’s aligned leadership, prepared real estate assets, and strong workforce partnerships with South Texas College and the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Earlier in 2026,McAllen was also named a state finalist for TEDC’s 2026 Workforce Excellence Award in its population category.
Ralph Garcia, chief operating officer for McAllen EDC, shared his thoughts on the achievement following a press conference recognizing the team.
"A proud moment for McAllen and our region," Garcia said. "This past Monday the MEDC team was recognized at a press conference for receiving the Texas Economic Development Council's 2026 Community Economic Development Award for our work in recruiting Valeo's $225 million advanced manufacturing investment, expected to create up to 500 direct jobs.
"McAllen competed alongside communities including Grand Prairie, Abilene, Edinburg, and others, each presenting important projects shaping the future of Texas. To be selected by TEDC among such meaningful achievements makes this recognition especially significant to our team."
Garcia emphasized the collaborative effort behind the recruitment win and thanked the company for investing in the Rio Grande Valley.
"We are extremely grateful to Valeo for placing its trust in McAllen, our people, our workforce, and our communities' future," Garcia said. "Projects like theirs help our region shine and open doors to new opportunities. The award also reflects our partnership with the City of McAllen and the shared commitment that helped bring this investment to our community. Thank you Valeo for choosing McAllen and thank you TEDC for recognizing the work of our team and our partners."
The statewide recognition for landing Valeo underscores McAllen’s broader economic momentum, which was further bolstered by the official opening of a new 110,000-square-foot Amazon delivery station on Tanya Avenue.
The facility powers the "last mile" of Amazon’s fulfillment process, allowing packages transported from regional fulfillment and sortation centers to be processed by local employees and delivered directly to customers' doorsteps across McAllen and surrounding communities.
"This last-mile facility will allow us to better serve customers in McAllen and the surrounding area," said Jessica Breaux,manager of economic development for Amazon. "We're grateful for the support from local leaders and economic development partners who helped make this expansion a reality."
City and economic development officials noted that the Tanya Avenue facility reinforces McAllen’s role as a key logistics and commercial center along the U.S.-Mexico border.
"The opening of this new delivery station is a major milestone, reflecting our position as a premier logistics and economic hub in South Texas," said McAllen City Manager Isaac J. Tawil. "By strengthening our local infrastructure and bringing Amazon's advanced last-mile networks to Tanya Avenue on the city's south side, we are not only ensuring faster services for our residents but also bringing jobs directly to this area. We are proud to welcome this facility, which provides our local workforce with diverse employment opportunities and underscores McAllen's commitment to lasting economic growth."
Elizabeth Suarez, president and CEO of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce and McAllen Economic Development Corporation, echoed Tawil's remarks, pointing to the region's cross-border advantages.
"Amazon's continued investment in McAllen reflects the strength of our local economy and the region's growing competitiveness," Suarez said. "Our strategic location, strong workforce and access to international markets continue to position McAllen as a destination for business investment and growth."
According to Amazon, the new McAllen delivery station is part of the company’s ongoing expansion across Texas. Since 2010, Amazon has created more than 86,000 full- and part-time jobs statewide and invested more than $100 billion in infrastructure and employee compensation. Company figures indicate those investments have contributed an additional $110 billion to the Texas economy and supported more than 90,000 indirect jobs in sectors ranging from construction and logistics to professional services.
