pat hobbs

BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS - Hiring 5,000 construction workers to build a liquefied natural gas export terminal at the Port of Brownsville will lead to increased wage rates across the lower Rio Grande Valley. 

That is the view of Pat Hobbs, executive director of Workforce Solutions Cameron.

In a wide-ranging interview that also included news of big developments at SpaceX, Hobbs said he expects a decision from NextDecade on their Rio Grande LNG terminal to “pop” any day now. 

“We're expecting the LNG to pop any day… for NextDecade to make their final investment decision. And when they do I think that's going to be the start of a large scale change in the wage rates for the Valley region, which is long overdue.”

So, wage rates are going to go up, Hobbs was asked.

“Rates are gonna go up, I predict. I won't believe it until I see it but all the signs say that the skilled workforce in the Brownsville, Harlingen, (lower) Valley area is going to increase. The value of their services is going to increase on par with the rest of the state. So, our workers our skilled workers won't have to leave the Valley in order to make a decent living.”

Editor's Note: To read the full story go to the Rio Grande Guardian website.

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

BROWNSVILLE, Texas - The executive director of Workforce Solutions Cameron says 70 percent of tomorrow’s jobs will not require a four-year degree. 

Pat Hobbs spoke about the workforce needs of industry at a recent Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation conference held at the Brownsville Events Center. The event was titled Inquieta - Women Maximizing their Impact.

Hobbs said he could count on two hands the number of jobs that require four years of higher education. 

This podcast features an interview Rio Grande Guardian International News Service editor Steve Taylor secured with Hobbs immediately after his presentation at the GBIC event. 

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

LOS FRESNOS, Texas - Los Fresnos city leaders say they are preparing for thousands of new jobs at the Port of Brownsville.

The leaders held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, March 4, for the new Industrial Trades Center. Port of Brownsville Chairman John Reed was in attendance.

Previously, the center was an old fire station. However, with a $44,000 “High Demand Occupation” grant from Texas Workforce Commission, coupled with matching local funds, the center has been converted to an education building and fitted with industrial equipment.

In the day, the Industrial Trades Center will be used by high school students from the Los Fresnos. In the evening, adults can come in and learning trades such as welding and carpentry. 

Among those to speak at the ribbon-cutting event were Julian Alvarez, of the Texas Workforce Commission, Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño, and state Rep. Alex Dominguez.

After the event, the Rio Grande Guardian interviewed Alvarez, Pat Hobbs, executive director of Workforce Solutions Cameron, Los Fresnos Mayor Polo Nevarez, and Rita Hernandez, executive director of CCEI, a nonprofit otherwise known as Cameron County Education Initiative.

The above podcast features those four interviews. 

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

To say that Rutgers fans were shocked when they heard that Greg Schiano and Rutgers parted ways would be an understatement. In the aftermath of the announcement, John and Bobby hopped on the phone and shared some of their thoughts on the situation. 

In our latest podcast, Bobby Deren talks to Rutgers Athletic Director Pat Hobbs. They discuss the big win against UMASS, his thoughts on the rebuilding process, facility upgrades and much more! 

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