EDINBURG, Texas - McAllen Economic Development Corporation President and CEO Keith Patridge says he and his team are negotiating with a manufacturing company that could make a $2 billion investment in the Rio Grande Valley.
If MEDC can land the company, Patridge said, it would bring around 1,700 jobs to the region.
However, he said MEDC needs the help of the Texas Comptroller’s Office. Specifically, the Comptroller would need to say “yes” to a 403 tax abatement package.
Patridge spoke about the project at an Inaugural PH.D. Launch Celebration hosted by UT-Rio Grande Valley’s College of Engineering & Computer Science (CECS). He said this could be an “opportune moment” for UTRGV to launch its first doctoral program in the field of engineering.
“I will tell you that Karen is aware we are working with a company right now. And they've already we met with Karen and they said ‘we really want to support that Ph.D. program’,” Patridge said.
The “Karen” Patridge was referring to was Dr. Karen Lozano, an endowed professor within CECS. Lozano also spoke at the event.
Patridge then explained why the company interested in coming to the Valley wants to support UTRGV’s new doctoral program.
“(It is) because they are dealing with a technology that only exists in China. This will be the largest… if we're successful… and we don't have them yet… we're competing with other locations,” Patridge said.
“But, if we're successful with them, this will be the largest commercial production of this product outside of China, in the world.”
Patridge said he was excited about the prospect.
“It will be the only facility in North America that has this technology. So, what we're looking at (is) really developing jobs that don't exist anywhere in the United States right now.”
Patridge said that when this unnamed company first visited the Valley they were keen to learn about the skill sets UTRGV’s engineering students possess, just in case they set up shop in South Texas.
“So, we spent one day… virtually all day… with Dr. Qubbaj and his team. And, we met with students. They actually talked to students. What they told me after we left was, ‘I'm ready to hire them right now.’ And so that's the quality of our students. It's the quality of the university. It's the quality of the faculty. And it's the quality of what has been created here.”
Dr. Ala Qubbaj is dean of UTRGV’s CECS. He, too, spoke at the event.
Patridge said he first started working to secure an engineering program at the university many years ago, when it was called UT-Pan American. He said he worked at the time with Dr. Miguel Nevarez, then president of UTPA. Nevarez also spoke at the event.
“I will tell you that I am really, really, proud of what all of you have done. And I'm very, very proud of the students because you're the ones that are going to continue to build a region that people all around the world are going to know about,” Patridge said.
“And if we're successful with this company, they're looking at 1,700 jobs, and a $2 billion investment. And it's all because of, really, what you have done to support what they see they will need to continue to innovate and develop the technology that is coming into the future.”
Patridge then thanked Dr. Lozano. He said the company looking to come to the Valley was very impressed with her.
“It just kind of cemented that this is a place to be. As I say, they haven't made a decision yet. Some of that is going to depend upon what the Comptroller does with the 403 incentive package. If we can get that done in time, why, we will get them. It we can't, we'll lose ‘em.”
But that's what MEDC has to deal with, Patridge explained.
“It is little things that companies make decisions on. And one of the biggest things right now is the availability of the skill sets that they need, and the workforce that they need, to continue to be successful and grow and innovate as a company.”
Patridge added: “I just want to thank Dr. Qubbaj. I want to thank you, Karen. I want to thank the whole team that's been involved with this. But, I want to thank all of the faculty in the university because I've worked with many of you and will continue to work with many of you. But, you are doing a great job and we have come a long way. Thank you for providing the tools that will allow us to continue to build the workforce of the future and to show the rest of the world what our students are capable of doing. Thank you very much.”
Patridge received warm applause from the audience. The audience included representatives from the National Science Foundation, UT System Regent Nolan Perez, UTRGV President Guy Bailey, UTRGV faculty, most of the 18 students that have signed up for the engineering Ph.D. program, along with family members, and community leaders.
Editor's Note: Here is a video recording of Keith Patridge's remarks at the CECS Inaugural Ph.D. Launch Celebration:
https://youtu.be/XRTyANUklsw
