HARLINGEN, Texas - Harlingen is in the middle of an incredible period of growth and that growth in intentional.
This is the view of Harlingen Mayor Norma Sepulveda, who gave the welcome remarks at a Commercialization and Investment Tour event co-hosted by the Rio Grande Valley Partnership and Harlingen Economic Development Corporation.
The event was held at Texas State Technical College-Harlingen.
Harlingen is the middle of incredible growth and this growth is really exciting because it's very intentional. This is not happening by accident. We are growing with purpose, with collaboration,” Sepulveda said.
Sepulveda praised TSTC-Harlingen and HEDC. She said it was fitting and appropriate that HEDC was housed in TSTC-Harlingen’s Welcome Center.
“It’s really amazing that our EDC is housed in this campus. The fact that they're housed here… is exactly how we do things here in the City of Harlingen, and that's together. We do it together for the betterment of our community.”
Sepulveda said TSTC is “producing the workforce that keeps industries and our community and the region moving forward.” She said the college was not only training students for the jobs of today, but also those of tomorrow.
“They’re really sitting at sitting down at the table with industry and building their programs around the needs of our industry. And they're doing that because they want to make sure that when their students graduate, when our residents and our communities graduate, that they have a job waiting for them. And not just the jobs of today, but also the jobs of tomorrow.”
Sepulveda noted that attendees would be hearing from Gina Cano-Monreal, the new provost of TSTC-Harlingen.
“Her leadership has really strengthened opportunities between workforce, education and city government,” Sepulveda said.
Sepulveda said Harlingen CISD is a great partner for TSTC.
“We're very proud of all of the great work that they (HCISD) has done. They understand that not all students have that desire or the ability or the need (to go to university). They look at the research and say, hey, you know what, I can get trained and get a skill and have a better paying job tomorrow.”
Sepulveda said HCISD and TSTC are collaborating to “build that pipeline for that workforce that we need here in our community. One that provides an opportunity for the future right here at home.”
Sepulveda said: "Harlingen has had record construction growth over the last few years. Subdivisions going up everywhere we've got commercial coming in.”
Sepulveda said investors like to consider Harlingen because of its central location in the region and because it has “an amazing airport” that is “definitely the premier airport of the region.”
Editor's Note: Here is a video recording of Mayor Sepulveda's remarks at the RGVP-HEDC "Commercialization & Investment Tour" event:
