Business & Economic Development
Fueling
aviation and aerospace industries
The Rio Grande Valley is positioned strategically to develop
an aerospace industry cluster, touted Bill Looke and Bianca Walker with
the Office of the Governor.
Meeting at the Partnership on October 19, the representatives of the Perry administration explained that the proposed spaceport in Willacy county remains the ideal launch site for aeronautic aircraft because it is close to the equator, near water, and not near a densely-populated area.
To develop a full-service industry cluster to support the spaceport, the whole Valley must work together through an "inclusive effort, applying its transportation, logistics, and workforce advantages to entice corporate expansion and relocation.
Accordingly, the Partnership galvanized support from various entities across four counties in support of the Brownsville-Harlingen join bid to EADS North America for a proposed "AirTanker manufacturing facility, which could employ as many as 1,200 by mid-2006.
Pursuing
an NFL franchise
Mac Tichenor wants to honor the memory of his father; he
also wants to settle a debt he feels his family owes the Rio Grande Valley,
where his father first started their successful business.
"An NFL stadium would be one heck of a memorial, explained Bert Coleman, representing Tichenor & Associates during a meeting at the Partnership on November 10. "And the economic impact of it for this whole area would be fantastic.
Coleman further explained that Tichenor & Associates started preparations more than two years ago to secure an expansion team, researching demographics through Gallup surveys and meeting with current NFL franchise owners. Through this meeting at the Partnership, Tichenor & Associates hopes to galvanize corporate support, the only revenue concern from the NFL following careful review of the local market data. The NFL should issue a decision early 2006.
Accomplishments in Economic Development:
1948 |
Improved mail service among Valley cities and brought airmail service to Valley |
|
1952 |
United listings into one Valley-wide phone directorySuccessfully advocated reactivation of Moore Field ($11,000,000 appropriation)After Southern Pacific Railroad discontinued service, developed highway post office service between Valley and San Antonio, Houston, Corpus Christi, and other intermediate points |
|
1983 |
After 18-months of research, published "Valley Goals 2000, a 148-page master plan for the region; all goals for Valley, including a medical school, are realized |
|
1984 |
Opened Bid Resources Center, serving area manufacturers interested in doing business with the federal government, funded by the Department of Defense |
|
1986 |
Created Commercial Zone covering four Valley counties so that Mexican trucks can travel freely, facilitating Maquilia work which had been limited to only 20 of 80 packing sheds |
|
1994 |
Facilitated Empowerment Zone application, 35 pounds of documentation crammed into four notebooks, resulted in $40 million federal investment in infrastructure and job development over 2 years; anticipated $250 million economic impact; one of only three rural empowerment zones in nation |
|
2005 |
Hosted Carlos Gutierrez, recent presidential appointee as the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, introducing him directly to international trade and other economic issues affecting this border community |