weslaco economic development corporation

WESLACO, Texas - Weslaco Economic Development Corporation has made its first foray into Mexico and it plans to make more.

Steve Valdez, the group’s president, and Michelle V. Garcia, who manages digital communications, represented the EDC on a trade mission to Monterrey. 

In an exclusive interview with the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service, Valdez said the trip was very successful. In the interview, he also talked about land availability for development in Weslaco. 

Here is the interview.

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.

WESLACO, Texas - With its one industrial park almost full, Weslaco Economic Development Corporation is developing another 15 acres of land for manufacturing, warehousing and distribution. 

Around $9 million worth of Infrastructure improvements are being made on the land off of FM 1015 and Mile 9.

Steve Valdez, executive director of Weslaco EDC , recently gave an exclusive interview to the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service about the new developments. He said Weslaco did not suffer as big a downturn in the economy due to the coronavirus pandemic and is now rebounding well.

“Our existing industrial park is full. We have small spaces here and there, but for larger manufacturing companies, warehousing, distribution centers and the like, we just don’t have any more space,” Valdez said.

Valdez said he and his predecessor, Marie McDermott, have been looking for the right piece of property to develop as an industrial park for the past four or five years. 

“That right opportunity just showed up and presented itself - 150 acres right off of FM 1015 and Mile 9. So, we are only two miles off of the expressway. We are on a state highway so that highway is always going to be maintained by the state.”

Asked if he would have any trouble filling the new industrial park with manufacturing, warehousing and distribution companies, Valdez said: “It is one thing to be optimistic, it is another thing to have letters of intent in front of you saying, we are ready to break ground, how fast can you get it ready for us. That is just amazingly exciting for us.”

The new industrial park is only eight miles from Progreso International Bridge, with a direct connection along an overweight corridor, FM 1015. The bridge, which is privately owned, is currently being expanded also. This will help Weslaco, Valdez argued.

“By the end of this year they plan to open up four new lanes of commercial traffic at the bridge,” Valdez said. “We think Weslaco will benefit from this. Cold storage, warehousing, distribution centers. We are going to go after all them.”

Valdez said all the ingredients are present to help Weslaco become even more prosperous, including having South Texas College and UT-Rio Grande Valley in the city to train high-skilled workers.

“It is a blessing to have good leadership, it is a blessing to have good, smart residents in our community that want to continue growing. Our schools are amazing. We just have a nice formula of success that everyone partners in to make it what it is today.”

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