MCALLEN, Texas - Rio Grande City Mayor Joel Villarreal has given Rio Grande Guardian readers and viewers a sneak preview of his 2024 State of the City Address.
The State of the City does not take place until April. However, the Guardian caught up with Mayor Villarreal at the recent McAllen State of the City Address and in an exclusive video interview he was happy to provide a snapshot on what is currently happening in his fast-growing city.
“Let’s start off with the fact that Rio Grande City continues to enjoy tremendous growth, prosperity and success,” Villarreal said.
“When you consider what we've created, and I say we as an entire organization… historical job creation; historical fund balance; historical sales tax revenues, up 11 percent compared to the previous year; historical homeownership at 72 percent, above the national and state averages of 64 and 62 percent.”
Villarreal continued with the historical milestones.
“Historical investments in infrastructure safety and security, medicine, education. Historical investments in mobility and connectivity, transportation, trade, commerce, hospitality, retail tourism. We are phenomenally in an historical position.
“Unprecedented historical highs when it comes to all the figures. Again, safety, security, medicine, you name it. So, absolutely we're firing on all eight cylinders.”
Asked why the growth is happening, Villarreal said Rio Grande City has a “phenomenal” economic development corporation. He also praised the city commission. He said all the leaders do a good job promoting the city, including in Mexico.
“When you consider where we're at, it's incredible. And the numbers speak for themselves.”
By way of example, Villarreal said that on average, around 85,000 vehicles pass Walmart on US 83 every day.
Other topics covered in the video interview included TxDOT’s plans to build a relief route to the north of the city so that US 83 is not so congested. He predicted that once the relief route is built Rio Grande City would grow northward.
“State Loop 195 is going to happen and we are going to see it happen in our lifetime,” Villarreal predicted. “TxDOT will be securing the properties and then they will start construction in the next two years. They are already working on the environmental and securing the properties. It is going to be built in four different phases. You are looking at a $280 million project and probably even more by the time construction starts.”
In the interview, Villarreal also spoke about additional security for Ruta 54, which connects Monterrey to Rio Grande City, the impact of the oil and gas industry on his city, expansion of the Starr Camargo International Bridge, and the first ever medical residency program coming to Starr County.
Editor's Note: Here is the video interview with Rio Grande City Mayor Joel Villarreal:
https://youtu.be/pRS1ULrqSzw
