Harlingen's close proximity to Mexico and a first-class international airport, as well as other major infrastructure, makes us well-positioned to be the perfect location for your biotech firm to do business.

The healthcare and biotech industry is one of the Rio Grande Valley's largest industry in regards to jobs created and contribution to the gross regional product of the economy (14%).

In 2019 there were a total of 116,563 workers employed in the healthcare and biotech industry, representing 30% of the regional workforce. Harlingen's healthcare workforce is made up of more than 9,200 employees.

Valley Baptist Medical Center

Harlingen is a regional leader in Healthcare, and home to leading hospitals and facilities like Valley Baptist Medical Center (VBMC). Valley Baptist Medical Center is the primary referral hospital for comprehensive and sub-specialty care in South Texas. The hospital and Level III Trauma Center provides state-of-the-art medical, surgical, obstetric, and pediatric care.

Harlingen Medical Center

Harlingen Medical Center is a general acute care, Level IV Trauma hospital opened in October 2002. Harlingen Medical Center has been committed to creating the best possible experience for patients by nurturing a culture that is focused on patient care and by supporting the health and wellness of the communities we serve.

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine

The UTRGV School of Medicine hosts both medical students and medical residents that are serving in regional hospital-based training programs.

First and second-year medical students attend classes in Edinburg.  These students then come to Harlingen and continue studies at the UTRGV School of Medicine Clinical Education Building, and begin participating in clinical rotations in local clinics and hospitals.

Harlingen UTRGV School of Medicine facilities also include the GME, or Graduate Medical Education Office, featuring an outstanding library, an amazingly realistic Smart Hospital, a 15,000 square foot, 20-bed simulation hospital.

Clearly the UTRGV School of Medicine is going to have an incredibly positive impact on Harlingen and the entire Rio Grande Valley region.  There are already many new projects being planned that will continue impacting growth for years to come.

VA Texas Valley Coastal Bend Health Care System (VCB)

Harlingen’s South Texas VA Health Center is responsible for an enrollee population of over 40,000 veterans and 300,000 outpatient visits annually. Through the utilization of two complex inpatient/emergency department contracts, approximately 1,600 inpatient admissions and 1,200 ER visits are managed by local hospitals for the VA Health Center at Harlingen.  Affiliated with the Regional Academic Health Center (RAHC), the system has an active ambulatory care program and serves as a teaching and training site for medical residents.

Su Clinica Familiar

Su Clinica Familia is the primary ambulatory medicine site, a JCAHO-accredited community health center providing longitudinal care for primarily indigent residents of the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Su Clinica Familiar has on-site radiology, laboratory and pharmacy services.

South Texas Emergency Care Foundation/Valley AirCare

South Texas Emergency Care Foundation/Valley AirCare has transported thousands of patients using both helicopter and jet aircraft. The Foundation is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems and is the only CAMTS accredited EMS system south of San Antonio.

Aloe Laboratories

Aloe Labs is a high quality source of organic aloe vera, adhering to a strict quality standard of food safety as well as keeping in step with the standards of the International Aloe Science Council as a validated manufacturer. Their products are typically sold wholesale to other companies making health aids, juices, cosmetics and other products. Aloe  Laboratories has been doing business in Harlingen since 2001 and has completed major expansion of their facilities twice.