This website will offer limited functionality in this browser. We only support the recent versions of major browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge.

Equip Harlingen grant program now accepting applications! Start Here.

Press Releases

Harlingen EDC to Co-Host National Summit with REDNews; Focuses on South Texas Growth

HARLINGEN, TEXAS (March 5, 2021) – Texas commercial estate media company REDNews has invited the Harlingen Economic Development Corporation to co-host a national panel discussion focusing on South Texas.

The event, “2021 Rio Grande Valley Economic Forecast & Marketing Incentives,” will be presented virtually Thursday, March 25 from 8 to 11 a.m. Those interested in the event can register here.

The event is free to view. There is a $59 fee for real estate professionals wishing to receive continuing education (CE) credit towards maintaining their real estate license.

There will be three-panel discussions that will cover the following topics: “Flocking to the RGV: Primed for Rapid Growth,” “Getting from Idea to Done: Utilizing Business Development Resources,” “Already Going Strong: Industrial, Automotive, Aerospace Development in the Area.”

“Events like these are usually attended by real estate professionals, developers, site selectors, industry leaders, and economic development professionals,” Ginger Wheless, REDNews Senior Marketing Director said.

Currently, there are 17 confirmed panelists. Participating industry and regional leaders include Raudel Garza, Harlingen EDC; Teclo Garcia, City of Laredo; Keith Patridge, McAllen Economic Development Corporation; Helen Ramirez, City of Brownsville/Greater Brownsville Incentive Corporation; Michael Blum, NAI Rio Grande Valley; Carlo Molano, SIOR; Richard Sanchez, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley; Walker Smith, Port of Harlingen; Eduardo Campirano, Port of Brownsville; Marv Esterly, Valley International Airport; and others.

“This summit is a great opportunity to let people outside of the Valley know what is going on here,” Garza said. “Our workforce continues to grow and meet the needs of high-demand jobs. Our strong infrastructure and accessibility to markets help keep commodities moving in and out of this region.”

“New projects like the LNGs, aerospace development, industrial and automotive manufacturing, are all positive economic drivers for this region that will change the landscape of the Valley.”

UPDATE: March 30, 2021

The event was held virtually on Thursday, March 26, 2021, and brought together economic development leaders, experts in business development, brokers, higher education leaders, aviation, land, and water port leaders to give viewers an overview of what is happening in this region. This forum was an opportunity to be placed on a national panel before business developers, Realtors, brokers, and decision-makers as speakers shared important information about the Rio Grande Valley's economic vitality.

The agenda and speakers were as followed:

FLOCKING TO RIO GRANDE VALLEY: PRIMED FOR RAPID GROWTH

• Onshoring, Nearshoring picking up steam
• Other Economic Forces Driving Growth in the Rio Grande Valley Region
• Texodus: Corporate Relocations to Texas
• Current Investment & Development Opportunities Available
• Tools & Incentives to Promote Area Growth
• 10-year Projections for the Rio Grande Valley Region
Michael Blum
Partner & Managing Director
NAI Rio Grande Valley

Conrad Madsen III, SIOR
Co-Founder & Partner
Paladin Partners

Noi Mahoney
Cross-Border Market Reporter
Freightwaves.com

Marv Esterly
Aviation Director
Valley International Airport

Walker Smith
Director
Port of Harlingen

Dr. Janna Arney
Deputy President
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Linda Ufland
Entrepreneurship & Commercialization Center Manager
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

GETTING FROM IDEA TO DONE DEAL: UTILIZING BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES

• Community Workforce Assistance
• How Will Housing and Jobs Impact Growth in the Region?
• LNG Construction Impacts on Local Housing
• National & Local Additional Business Development Resources
• I69 Impacts on the Rio Grande Valley Region
• What Impact has COVID-19 had?
• Will the Vaccine Arrive in Time?

Randy Summers, CCIM
Managing Broker
Davis Equity

Josh Mejia
Executive Director
Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation

Raudel Garza
Manager & CEO
Harlingen Economic Development Corporation

Matt Ruszczak
Executive Director
Rio South Texas Economic Council

Sergio Contreras
President/CEO
Rio Grande Valley Partnership

Brian Reed
Team Leader/Broker
The Ryan & Brian Real Estate Team Lead, Broker of Tierra Frontera, LLC

ALREADY GOING STRONG: INDUSTRIAL, AUTOMOTIVE & AERO-SPACE DEVELOPMENT IN THE AREA

• Projections & Impacts of Private Space Launch Facilities
• Current Projections for Automotive & Industrial Development
• Market for Industrial Development, Spec Space
• Growth in the Automotive Region
• Port of Brownsville Update

Selene Guerrero
Marketing Manager
Harlingen Economic Development Corporation

Keith Patridge
President & CEO
McAllen Economic Development Corporation

Teclo Garcia
Economic Development Director
City of Laredo

Carlo Molano, SIOR
Managing Principal
Forum Commercial Real Estate

Helen Ramirez, AICP
Deputy City Manager for the City of Brownsville and Executive Director for the Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation (GBIC)
City of Brownsville

Eduardo Campirano
Port Director & CEO
Port of Brownsville  

                                                         

Read Original Article
;