Harlingen, Texas
Perfect Place for Business

Harlingen, TX, nestled near the U.S.-Mexico border in the Rio Grande Valley, has been enjoying steady growth over the years, as more and more businesses realize the benefits of doing businesses near Mexico. Maquiladoras and many tax benefits in South Texas make Harlingen, located at the Crossroads of the Rio Grande Valley, a city poised for an economic boom.

Harlingen and the State of Texas also have gained much recognition for treating its businesses right. Among the awards and recognition are:

• Texas is America's Top State for Business
  According to the results of a CNBC study that scored each state on 40 different measures of competitiveness. (CNBC, July 2008)
• A new survey of 281 U.S. corporate executives
  This survye shows 40.8% identifying Texas as the No. 1 Business Climate. Respondents cited tax climate, workforce cost and availability and pro-business climate as reasons for their positive perceptions. (Development Counsellors International, July 2008)
• Harlingen Employment Ranked 7th in the Nation.
  According to a survey released March 11, 2008, the by Manpower, Inc., 53 % of firms in Harlingen expect to hire new employees in the second quarter, compared to 26 percent nationally
• Harlingen had the third lowest cost of living in the U.S. during 2007
  According to the ACCRA Cost of Living Index, Harlingen’s cost of living is 16.5% below the national average. (survey compiled by Council for Community and Economic Research released in February 2008)
• Texas Ranked 1st in Business Climate
  A new survey of 281 U.S. corporate executives shows 40.8% identifying Texas as the No. 1 Business Climate. Respondents cited tax climate, workforce cost and availability and pro-business climate as reasons for their positive perceptions. (Development Counselors International, July 2008)
• Texas No. 1 for Automotive Manufacturing Growth
  based on the number of cars and light trucks produced in 2008. (Business Facilities, July 2008)
• Texas won the Gold Shovel award for Economic Development & Job Creation
  The shovel awards are based on information about 10 of the top job-creating and investment projects in 2007. (Area Development, June/July 2008)
• Texas ranks No. 1 on the 2008 FORTUNE 500 and 1000
  lists for the most number of corporate headquarters located within a state. (FORTUNE, April 2008)
• Texas ranked #1 nationally by FDI investment
  with over $14.9 billion invested into the state 2006-2007 (OCO Consulting Ltd, LOCOmonitorTM 2008)
• Texas ranked No. 1 U.S. Exporting State 6 years in a row
  Texas' exports were approximately $168 billion in 2007, representing an 11.45 percent increase from 2006. (WISERTrade, February 2008)
• Texas ranked Best State for Business 3 straight years
  For the third straight year, the nation's leading executives ranked Texas as the best state in which to do business, applauding the state for controlling taxes and spending as well as for its positive regulatory burden, quality of life and infrastructure. (Chief Executive Magazine, January 2008)
• Texas 2007 State of the Year
  The first annual ranking singles out the state with the most economically significant relocation and expansion projects of the year. (Business Facilities, December 2007)
• Texas No. 1 state in the 2007 Legislative Quotient
  for the most business-friendly legislative climate. (Expansion Management, December 2007)

• 2006-2007 Building Permits Harlingen, Texas

  Number of Permits		Value
  227	New Residences	$25,899,744
  28	New Apartments (28 bldgs. 128 units)	$7,629,382
  37	New Commercials	$31,775,669
  117	New Signs	$770,721
  18	New Swimming Pools	$403,595
  54	New Carports/Canopies/GaragesSheds	$255,937
  105	Residential Additions & Remodels	$1,712,370
  108	Commercial Additions & Remodels	$13,944,174
  6	Foundations	$309,966
  7	New Porch/Cabanas	$74,185
  14	Tower	$596,000
  721	Totals	$83,371,743

  Source: City of Harlingen
• Harlingen Housing Sales

  Year	Total Listings Closed	Total Value	Average Price
  2007	405	$47,694,420	$117,764

  Source: Harlingen Board of Realtors
• 2000 County Business Patterns Brownsville/Harlingen/San Benito TX

  Major Industry
  Industry Code	Industry Code Description	Number of Employees for week including March 12	1st Quarter	Annual	Total Establishments
  ------	Total	86497	397214	1665686	5796
  11	Forestry, fishing, hunting, and agriculture support	118	400	2733	95
  22	Utilities	290	3163	12407	18
  23	Construction	3382	14903	65962	390
  31	Manufacturing	11182	64351	253365	246
  42	Wholesale trade	3604	21885	88181	356
  44	Retail trade	14025	56741	225821	1123
  48	Transportation & warehousing	4590	27855	119454	288
  51	Information	1226	9525	38983	66
  52	Finance & insurance	2489	17454	67593	366
  53	Real estate & rental & leasing	1431	5998	25178	284
  54	Professional, scientific & technical services	2120	12632	56880	375
  55	Management of companies & enterprises	637	6129	26358	28
  56	Admin, support, waste mgt, remediation services	3931	13707	66020	184
  61	Educational services	2567	11416	51450	45
  62	Health care and social assistance	19842	87246	382214	663
  71	Arts, entertainment & recreation	662	2250	9434	66
  72	Accommodation & food services	9746	22633	93936	538
  81	Other services (except public administration)	4111	13979	57536	571
  95	Auxiliaries (exc corporate, subsidiary & regional mgt)	429	4731	20435	20
  99	Unclassified establishments	115	216	1746	74

  Number of Establishments by Employment-size class
  Industry Code	Industry Code Description	Total Estabs	'1-4'	'5-9'	'10-19'	'20-49'	'50-99'	'100-249'	'250-499'	'500-999'	'1000 or more'
  ------	Total	5796	3030	1171	774	541	144	104	18	9	5
  11	Forestry, fishing, hunting, and agriculture support	95	89	4	2	0	0	0	0	0	0
  22	Utilities	18	6	2	5	3	2	0	0	0	0
  23	Construction	390	225	81	47	27	6	3	1	0	0
  31	Manufacturing	246	98	43	37	28	16	14	3	6	1
  42	Wholesale trade	356	175	92	52	25	6	6	0	0	0
  44	Retail trade	1123	526	302	153	91	21	28	2	0	0
  48	Transportation & warehousing	288	157	38	47	31	10	4	0	0	1
  51	Information	66	33	11	5	10	4	3	0	0	0
  52	Finance & insurance	366	218	74	41	29	4	0	0	0	0
  53	Real estate & rental & leasing	284	196	45	27	15	1	0	0	0	0
  54	Professional, scientific & technical services	375	247	75	35	15	1	2	0	0	0
  55	Management of companies & enterprises	28	10	7	4	2	3	2	0	0	0
  56	Admin, support, waste mgt, remediation services	184	97	34	18	19	6	7	3	0	0
  61	Educational services	45	16	4	7	12	4	1	0	0	1
  62	Health care and social assistance	663	281	147	115	65	21	21	8	3	2
  71	Arts, entertainment & recreation	66	36	11	15	1	2	1	0	0	0
  72	Accommodation & food services	538	195	75	97	132	29	9	1	0	0
  81	Other services (except public administration)	571	349	118	62	33	7	2	0	0	0
  95	Auxiliaries (exc corporate, subsidiary & regional mgt)	20	6	6	4	2	1	1	0	0	0
  99	Unclassified establishments	74	70	2	1	1	0	0	0	0	0

  Source: U.S. Census Bureau
• 2006 County Business Patterns

  Major Industry
  Total for ZIP Code 78550
  Number of establishments: 1541
  First quarter payroll in $1000: 172109
  Number of employees: 29996
  Annual payroll in $1000: 704725
  					Number of Establishments by Employment-size class
  Industry Code	Industry Code Description	Total Estabs	'1-4'	'5-9'	'10-19'	'20-49'	'50-99'	'100-249'	'250-499'	'500-999'	'1000 or more'
  ------	Total	1541	708	346	220	175	53	22	8	8	1
  11	Forestry, fishing, hunting, and agriculture	5	1	2	1	0	1	0	0	0	0
  22	Utilities	3	0	0	1	1	1	0	0	0	0
  23	Construction	82	53	14	6	7	2	0	0	0	0
  31	Manufacturing	60	22	11	10	6	8	3	0	0	0
  42	Wholesale trade	75	30	22	17	5	0	1	0	0	0
  44	Retail trade	240	106	72	33	16	8	5	0	0	0
  48	Transportation & warehousing	48	16	9	10	9	4	0	0	0	0
  51	Information	28	14	2	5	5	1	1	0	0	0
  52	Finance & insurance	128	70	26	19	10	3	0	0	0	0
  53	Real estate & rental & leasing	93	52	22	14	5	0	0	0	0
  54	Professional, scientific & technical service	123	75	29	12	4	1	2	0	0	0
  55	Management of companies & enterprises	14	4	3	2	4	0	0	1	0	0
  56	Admin, support, waste mgt, remediation service	56	28	13	4	6	1	1	1	2	0
  61	Educational services	16	6	0	2	5	2	1	0	0	0
  62	Health care and social assistance	302	118	62	50	40	11	8	6	6	1
  71	Arts, entertainment & recreation	15	10	1	3	1	0	0	0	0	0
  72	Accommodation & food services	114	31	16	19	40	8	0	0	0	0
  81	Other services (except public administration)	131	64	42	12	11	2	0	0	0	0
  99	Unclassified establishments	8	8	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

  Source: U.S. Census Bureau
• 2006 County Business Patterns

  Major Industry
  Total for ZIP Code 78551
  Number of establishments: 57
  First quarter payroll in $1000: 4062
  Number of employees: 667
  Annual payroll in $1000: 18055
  					Number of Establishments by Employment-size class
  Industry Code	Industry Code Description	Total Estabs	'1-4'	'5-9'	'10-19'	'20-49'	'50-99'	'100-249'	'250-499'	'500-999'	'1000 or more'
  ------	Total	57	21	15	12	8	0	1	0	0	0
  23	Construction	7	2	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
  31	Manufacturing	3	0	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
  42	Wholesale trade	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
  44	Retail trade	7	0	5	2	0	0	0	0	0	0
  48	Transportation & warehousing	2	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0
  52	Finance & insurance	6	1	3	1	1	0	0	0	0	0
  53	Real estate & rental & leasing	4	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
  54	Professional, scientific & technical service	7	4	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
  56	Admin, support, waste mgt, remediation service	3	2	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0
  62	Health care and social assistance	4	0	1	2	1	0	0	0	0	0
  72	Accommodation & food services	7	1	0	2	4	0	0	0	0	0
  81	Other services (except public administration)	4	3	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0
  99	Unclassified establishments	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

  Source: U.S. Census Bureau
• 2006 County Business Patterns

  Major Industry
  Total for ZIP Code 78552
  Number of establishments: 346
  First quarter payroll in $1000: 24627
  Number of employees: 4876
  Annual payroll in $1000: 100069
  					Number of Establishments by Employment-size class
  Industry Code	Industry Code Description	Total Estabs	'1-4'	'5-9'	'10-19'	'20-49'	'50-99'	'100-249'	'250-499'	'500-999'	'1000 or more'
  ------	Total	346	158	94	47	27	10	8	2	0	0
  23	Construction	45	20	16	6	3	0	0	0	0
  31	Manufacturing	3	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
  42	Wholesale trade	17	4	10	2	1	0	0	0	0	0
  44	Retail trade	83	23	29	15	9	3	3	1	0	0
  48	Transportation & warehousing	13	8	0	2	2	1	0	0	0	0
  51	Information	7	3	2	1	0	1	0	0	0
  52	Finance & insurance	21	16	3	2	0	0	0	0	0	0
  53	Real estate & rental & leasing	19	14	3	1	1	0	0	0	0	0
  54	Professional, scientific & technical services	20	14	4	1	1	0	0	0	0	0
  55	Management of companies & enterprises	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
  56	Admin, support, waste mgt, remediation services	17	10	4	2	0	0	1	0	0
  62	Health care and social assistance	40	18	7	6	4	2	2	1	0	0
  71	Arts, entertainment & recreation	8	5	1	0	0	1	1	0	0	0
  72	Accommodation & food services	27	7	5	7	5	2	1	0	0	0
  81	Other services (except public administration)	24	12	9	2	1	0	0	0	0	0
  99	Unclassified establishments	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

  Source: U.S. Census Bureau
• 2006 County Business Patterns

  Major Industry
  Total for ZIP Code 78553
  Number of establishments: 25
  First quarter payroll in $1000: 1756
  Number of employees: 454
  Annualpayroll in $1000: 7582
  					Number of Establishments by Employment-size class
  Industry Code	Industry Code Description	Total Estabs	'1-4'	'5-9'	'10-19'	'20-49'	'50-99'	'100-249'	'250-499'	'500-999'	'1000 or more'
  ------	Total	25	13	3	6	1	1	0	1	0	0
  23	Construction	4	3	0	1	1	0	1	0	0	0
  31	Manufacturing	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
  44	Retail trade	2	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	0
  48	Transportation & warehousing	3	1	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	0
  53	Real estate & rental & leasing	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
  54	Professional, scientific & technical services	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
  56	Admin, support, waste mgt, remediation services	3	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
  62	Health care and social assistance	3	2	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
  81	Other services (except public administration)	6	3	0	2	1	0	0	0	0	0

  Source: U.S. Census Bureau