iws2

PHARR, Texas - Jose Peña is IT director for the City of Pharr. He recently gave a presentation at IWS2.

IWS is a series of industrial warehouse summits hosted recently by the Pharr Bridge Board and held at the Pharr Development and Research Center. The “2” signifies that this was the second in the series.

Peña’s presentation focused on TeamPharr.net, the City of Pharr’s city-wide, blazing fast internet service.

Peña’s said this service is Pharr’s solution to closing the digital divide. “City of Pharr will now be offering blazing fast fiber internet and the next generation of WiFi technology that better connects all of the devices in your home or business. Expertly installed by a certified technician and includes our CommandIQ/TeamPharr.net App with enhanced parental controls and network security. Fast, reliable and bundled to give you more for less money,” Peña told the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service.

In his remarks from the podium, Peña said: “So, we're building a fiber network throughout the entire city, hitting every property. Our first goal was to get to every home, but… we've got that process up and running, we actually will hit 2,000 subscribers this week. Now our focus is starting to shift to hitting commercial and enterprise customers.”

The businessmen in the audience appeared to be impressed with the speeds Peña was quoting.

“Our network goes up to 100 gigs. So… we can work with anybody to deliver the package they require for their enterprise connectivity needs.”

Peña said the City of Pharr is totally transparent about the pricing and speeds available. “We are transparent. We can't hide what we offer to one customer over another customer. So, we're very transparent, which is obviously not the case for the private sector.”

With the business customer in mind, Peña added: “If you want ten-gig of internet to your facility, we can give you that today. If you require 25-gig because of your higher level computing requirements, we can work with you on that. If you require 25- or 40-gig (we can do it)… our pricing will be transparent.”

Editor’s Note: Here is an audio recording of Jose Peña’s remarks at IWS2. He is introduced by moderator Jorge Torres of InterLink Trade Services.

To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

PHARR, Texas - Steve Valdez executive director of Weslaco Economic Development Corporation, says plans are being developed to bury a canal so that the runway of Mid-Valley Airport can be extended by 1,000 feet.

According to Weslaco Mid-Valley Airport website, the airport currently has a 6,000 x 80 foot lighted runway.

Valdez announced the plans when he spoke at IWS2, the industrial warehouse summit hosted by Pharr Bridge Board and held at Pharr Development and Research Center. 

The theme for the summit was, “Building a Competitive Border Region for Near-Shoring and Industrial Growth.”

Valdez said: “We have a what we believe is the fourth largest airport (in the Rio Grande Valley), behind Harlingen, McAllen and Brownsville. Recently we were awarded with a $5.7 million grant for additional hangars. We just finished about six hangars and so we seem to be growing in terms of the airport.”

Valdez then pointed to a slide in a powerpoint presentation.

“If you can see it… at the very top of the airport there's a canal and the City is looking at ways to cross that canal. Bury the canal process so that you can extend another 1,000 feet for our airport runway.”

Leaders from across Hidalgo County recently attended a press conference to hear the announcement of the $5.7 million grant. Valdez said that the press conference.

“During the announcement of the $5.7 million we went to the Payne Auto Group hangar, a 10,000 square foot hangar that sits about six airplanes, a beautiful location,” Valdez said at IWS2.

“If you get a chance to stop by there at some point, it is a really nice expansion to our airport. On site (customs) inspections, as you can see. Within one hour, if you call ahead of time, you could have Customs Border Protection be there as well for your inspections.”

The grant for the new hangars came from state and federal resources. State lawmakers appropriated $5 million with Hidalgo County adding $750,000 from its American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.

Editor's Note: Go to the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service to read the full story.

To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

PHARR, Texas - Arturo Gomez, deputy port director of operations for Brownsville Navigation District, has given more details about a new 118-acre shovel-ready business park being built at the Port of Brownsville.

In a speech at IWS2, Gomez said the new industrial project will leverage the Port’s logistical advantages to support manufacturing companies and industry clusters with a base of operations that combines access to efficient multimodal transportation and robust storage capabilities. 

Gomez said the new business park will be a critical component in the Port’s mission to attract new industries and businesses to the area, thus creating jobs, and driving economic growth.

IWS2 stands for 2nd Industrial Warehouse Summit. The summit was hosted recently by Pharr Bridge Board and held at Pharr Development and Research Center. 

The theme for the summit was, “Building a Competitive Border Region for Near-Shoring and Industrial Growth.”

IWS2 stands for 2nd Industrial Warehouse Summit. Hosted by Pharr Bridge Board. Held recently at Pharr Development and Research Center. 

Gomez also spoke about plans to deepen the Port of Brownsville's ship channel and a liquefied natural gas export terminal to be built at the Port by NextDecade.

Here is an audio recording of Gomez’s speech at IWS2.

To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

PHARR, Texas - Pharr Bridge Director Luis Bazan spoke about plans for a second span for the bridge when he gave remarks at IWS2.

IWS2 was an industrial warehouse summit hosted recently by the Pharr Bridge Board and held at Pharr Development and Research Center. The theme for the summit was, “Building a Competitive Border Region for Near-Shoring and Industrial Growth.”

Here are his remarks. 

To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

PHARR, Texas - Pharr Economic Development Corporation leaders have given a presentation on the land the EDC has for industrial development.

President Victor Perez and Property and Business Manager Janie Cavazos spoke at IWS2, the industrial warehouse summit recently hosted by Pharr Bridge Board and held at Pharr Development and Research Center. The theme for the summit was, “Building a Competitive Border Region for Near-Shoring and Industrial Growth.”

Perez kicked off the presentation before showing a video of the attractions Pharr has to offer. This was followed by a more in-depth look by Cavozos at the industrial development currently underway in south Pharr. Cavazos said plans to build a second span at the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge was spurring a lot of the growth.

Cavazos’ remarks were similar to those she made at an “investment and commercialization” tour hosted the day before by the Rio Grande Valley Partnership.

Here is an audio recording of the remarks Perez and Cavazos made at IWS2.

To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.