RGV Business Journal

RGV Business Journal
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The Rio Grande Valley Business Journal is all about highlighting the businesses, leaders, and stories that keep the Valley thriving. The goal? To connect our communities and keep you in the know about the opportunities shaping the RGV’s future. From small businesses to major developments, the RGV Business Journal is your inside look at what’s happening across the Valley.

  1. Sep 22

    The $180 Million Question: What ICE Enforcement Is Costing the Rio Grande Valley. RGVBJ's interview with Andrik Gonzalez

    Caminos Institute executive producer Andrik Gonzalez sits down with RGVBJ reporter Kristen Mosbrucker-Garza to break down a new report quantifying the economic impact of immigration enforcement on the Rio Grande Valley — from construction and health care to restaurants and remittances. Using FOIA'd federal data from the Deportation Data Project, the Caminos Institute tracked 13,377 apprehensions and 10,142 deportations across the four-county RGV between October 2022 and March 2025, then modeled the direct labor income lost when workers are removed from the local economy. The total: roughly $180 million, with the bulk of that loss concentrated in 2025. CHAPTERS 0:00 Introduction & series overview 2:58 Meet Andrik Gonzalez & the Caminos Institute 17:41 The data set: Deportation Data Project & FOIA requests 19:52 Apprehensions vs. deportations, by year and administration 22:48 Visa categories: H-2A, H-1B, EB-5 explained 25:38 Civil offense vs. felony: the legal history of border crossing 31:50 Sizing the undocumented workforce in the RGV 33:27 Construction industry impact 34:52 Health care & social assistance industry impact 35:46 Food & accommodation industry impact 38:12 The total economic loss: $180 million 42:59 What "Caminos" means 45:51 Responding to the "right-sizing" argument 49:00 The workforce skills gap: Saronic Technologies & welding aluminum 50:21 Key takeaways About the Rio Grande Valley Business Journal: RGVBJ covers the businesses, policy decisions and economic trends shaping South Texas and the U.S.-Mexico border region. #RioGrandeValley #Immigration #SouthTexas #RGVBJ #BorderEconomy #CaminosInstitute

  2. Sep 18

    Mission EDC CEO Teclo Garcia on Retirement, Legacy and Landing a $50M Aluminum Plant

    After nearly two decades of public service in the Rio Grande Valley — including roles in McAllen, Laredo and Mission — Teclo Garcia is retiring as CEO of the Mission Economic Development Corporation.RGVBJ reporter Kristen Mosbrucker-Garza sits down with Garcia to talk about his path from newspaper newsrooms to economic development, what he learned about trade while working in Laredo, and how Mission landed a $50 million Zerluma aluminum plant — the largest private investment in the city's history. Garcia also reflects on the $400 million in investment and roughly 2,000 jobs brought to Mission during his tenure, and shares what's next for him in retirement.Chapters:00:00 Introduction & retirement announcement00:37 Retirement details and TMRS eligibility01:54 Reflecting on his first interview and the Border Trade Alliance02:44 What drew him to a career on the border03:11 Moving to the Rio Grande Valley in 199504:35 From newspapers to City Hall to Mission EDC06:35 Comparing Laredo and the Rio Grande Valley09:47 Applying Laredo's trade lessons to RGV economic development11:59 Logistics wages and job quality16:41 Port of Brownsville workforce training and the welding skills gap20:17 Mission's economic development approach22:55 Retail competition with McAllen24:25 Recent wins: Black & Decker, call centers and Zerluma25:13 Marketing Mission: board support and FDI conferences26:38 Homegrown businesses expanding26:58 Landing the Zerluma aluminum plant deal28:50 Legacy by the numbers: $400M and 2,000 jobs30:14 What's next for GarciaRead more from the Rio Grande Valley Business Journal.#RioGrandeValley #EconomicDevelopment #MissionTX #BorderEconomy #RGVBJ

  3. Sep 15

    444 Acres, $220 Million, One Meeting: The SpaceX Water Deal Explained w/ Sheila McCorkle and Joseph Hollmann

    Reporter Kristen Mosbrucker-Garza breaks down the six-hour Brownsville City Commission vote that let SpaceX de-annex land near the Brownsville landfill for Starbase, then sits down with Southmost Regional Water Authority board member Joseph Hollmann to unpack the two water projects the deal will help fund. SpaceX's own pitch to the council — delivered by Sheila McCorkle — is included in full. What's in this episode: - Why SpaceX asked Brownsville to de-annex 444 acres, and what the city gave up in zoning control - The two water projects behind the deal: indirect potable reuse and an expanded brackish desalination plant - Why brackish desalination costs a fraction of ocean desalination - SpaceX's $220 million pledge, in its own words, from the council floor - What Brownsville Public Utilities says ratepayers will save — and what's still uncertain #SpaceX #Starbase #Brownsville #RioGrandeValley #SouthTexas #WaterInfrastructure #Desalination #BorderEconomy 0:00 Cold open: “A pure-play donation of $220 million” 0:15 Backstory: SpaceX, Starbase and the de-annexation vote 4:15 Interview: Joseph Hollmann on the two water projects 8:15 SpaceX's pitch: Sheila McCorkle addresses the council 9:45 The numbers: what $220 million actually buys Brownsville 12:45 What's next

  4. Aug 28

    McAllen Lands $225M Valeo Plant: Inside the EDC-Chamber Merger with Elizabeth Suarez and Jorge Sanchez

    McAllen Economic Development Corporation President & CEO Elizabeth Suarez and McAllen Chamber of Commerce Senior Vice President of Small Business & Innovation Jorge Sanchez join the Rio Grande Valley Business Journal podcast to break down how the city combined its EDC and chamber leadership, landed a $225 million Valeo manufacturing plant, and built small business programs like Latina HOPE and Project Next Move.They also dig into workforce development and CTE partnerships, the region's power grid and water infrastructure needs, cross-border retail trends, McAllen's new film-friendly designation, and the InnovationTX accelerator behind local success stories like the resale app Cross Flip.0:00 Cold open: "Show up and invest in yourself"0:54 Meet Elizabeth Suarez and Jorge Sanchez2:28 How McAllen merged its EDC and Chamber of Commerce5:07 Budget season and chamber membership renewals9:07 Workforce development and CTE partnerships11:24 Landing Valeo: a tier-one automotive supplier13:44 The immigrant story behind McAllen's growth21:27 AI, Google reviews and the new Main Street economy23:29 The three-legged stool: entrepreneurship and Latina HOPE26:37 Project Next Move: a roadmap for small business37:18 Power, water and the fight for a 765kV line47:51 Mexican national shoppers and cross-border retail51:45 McAllen's new film-friendly designation53:18 Team Texas and a trip to London54:53 FIFA World Cup and holiday parade wins1:01:03 Cross Flip: an InnovationTX success story1:02:38 The magic wand question: what's next for McAllenSubscribe to the Rio Grande Valley Business Journal for more on the RGV border economy. @RGVBusinessJournal#McAllen #RioGrandeValley #EconomicDevelopment #SmallBusiness #Valeo #SouthTexas #BorderEconomy

  5. Aug 21

    Can AI Take Your Job? Inside TSTC's Plan to Fill Thousands of RGV Industrial Jobs with TSTC Provost Gina Cano-Monreal

    Naxiely Lopez-Puente sits down with Dr. Gina Cano-Monreal, provost of Texas State Technical College's Harlingen campus, to talk about how TSTC is retooling its programs to meet the Valley's fast-growing industrial workforce needs.Dr. Cano-Monreal explains why TSTC is phasing out mechatronics in favor of a new Advanced Manufacturing program, how the college builds "triad partnerships" between industry, school districts and higher ed, and what employers like NextDecade, Bechtel, Kiewit, SpaceX and Valeo are telling TSTC they'll need as major projects like Rio Grande LNG ramp up. She also weighs in on whether AI poses a threat to skilled-trade careers.CHAPTERS0:00 Cold open: are these careers AI-proof?0:32 Welcome, Dr. Gina Cano-Monreal1:03 What makes TSTC different3:07 TSTC's mission: higher-paying jobs for Texans4:05 18 years watching workforce needs evolve6:16 Programs TSTC has phased out9:06 Mechatronics vs. Advanced Manufacturing, explained10:39 Building the pipeline from high school to career14:25 Why early exposure to career paths matters15:06 Valeo, Toyota and the McAllen job pipeline16:19 Employer partners: NextDecade, Bechtel, Kiewit, SpaceX19:08 Electrical Lineworker family day20:34 Can AI replace these careers?22:11 How to enroll at TSTC Harlingen23:26 Closing thoughtsLearn more or register at TSTC.edu.#RioGrandeValley #Workforce #TSTC #AdvancedManufacturing #RGVBusiness #SouthTexas #WorkforceDevelopment

  6. Aug 14

    Ep. 41-- USMCA Uncertainty Explained: Tariffs and the RGV's Trade Opportunity

    USMCA isn't ending — but it just entered a new phase of year-by-year uncertainty. In this episode of the RGV Business Journal podcast, host Naxiely Lopez-Puente sits down with Jorge Torres, president of Interlink Trade Services and a licensed customs broker, to break down what happened when the U.S. declined to join Mexico and Canada in extending USMCA another 16 years, what the resulting yearly review process means for cross-border trade, and why the Rio Grande Valley may be positioned to benefit from all the uncertainty.Chapters:0:00 Cold open0:39 Welcome & guest introduction1:10 What is USMCA and the sunset clause?3:13 How the yearly review process works5:32 Where trade uncertainty is coming from6:06 Uncertainty since President Trump took office8:20 A customs broker's view on tariff whiplash10:15 New tariffs enacted last week11:27 The $166 billion in collected tariffs & refunds13:40 Real-world example: nearshoring hesitancy15:17 Reynosa's industrial vacancy & the case for optimism17:36 Why USMCA isn't a "free trade" deal anymore19:40 Mexico's own tariffs on Asian imports20:42 Opportunities emerging in the RGV22:24 Infrastructure and workforce challenges24:44 Competing with Laredo27:13 Automotive slowdown, new growth sectors28:55 Data centers and Vertiv's Reynosa footprint32:13 USMCA: what's next34:03 Mexico's path forward37:20 Closing thoughtsSubscribe to the RGV Business Journal for more coverage of trade, real estate, energy and the border economy shaping South Texas.https://www.rgvbusinessjournal.com/#USMCA #RioGrandeValley #CrossBorderTrade #Tariffs #Nearshoring #RGVBusinessJournal

  7. Aug 7

    RGV Leaders Talk Infrastructure & Workforce Growth Ahead of Aug. 13 Summit with Brian Godinez

    The Rio Grande Valley is growing faster than almost anywhere else in Texas — and that growth is testing the region's infrastructure and workforce. In this episode, Brian Godinez, president of the I-LinCP RGV chapter and principal at Aero Architects, joins the RGV Business Journal Podcast to talk about "Powering Texas and Regional Growth: Infrastructure and Workforce Development Exchange," a luncheon set for Aug. 13 at the Harlingen Convention Center.Godinez breaks down the event's two panels — one on capital projects, one on workforce development — featuring speakers from AEP Texas, RGV Desal, Workforce Solutions Cameron County, NextDecade LNG, Texas State Technical College and RGV LEAD, plus why this marks the first time I-LinCP has co-presented an event with an economic development corporation.🎟️ Register: I-LinCP.org📅 Aug. 13 | 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.📍 Harlingen Convention CenterRead more from the Rio Grande Valley Business Journalhttps://tinyurl.com/357977ue #RioGrandeValley #EconomicDevelopment #Infrastructure #WorkforceDevelopment #RGVBusinessJournal #Harlingen

  8. Aug 3

    Inside Reynosa's Industrial Boom | Martín Anzaldúa, Grupo Río San Juan and Why the Border Needs to Sell Itself as One Region

    Martín Anzaldúa of Grupo Río San Juan — the Reynosa, Tamaulipas developer behind industrial parks like Villa Florida and Parque Industrial del Norte — joins host Naxiely López-Puente to make the case for RíoPlex: a binational effort to market Reynosa and the Rio Grande Valley as a single 3.5-million-person region with nearly 20 industrial parks, 14 international bridges and five airports. Anzaldúa talks through Reynosa's post-nearshoring industrial vacancy, tariff-driven investment uncertainty, the electrical infrastructure gap left by reduced Mexican federal investment, and a worsening water shortage pushing the region toward desalination and water reuse regulation. He also gets candid about what's holding cross-border cooperation back — a "crab bucket" mentality where border communities compete instead of working together — and closes with a call for more investment in arts and culture to keep young talent from leaving for Austin, Dallas or Monterrey. Topics covered: • Grupo Río San Juan's history and industrial park development since 1958 • What RíoPlex is and why the border needs to market itself as one region • Post-nearshoring vacancy and why developers are still investing • Tariffs, uncertainty and what investors actually need • Mexico's electrical infrastructure gap and the push for new substations • Water scarcity, desalination and water-reuse regulation • The "crab bucket" mentality holding back regional cooperation • Richard Cortez's "mall" analogy for regional economic development • Keeping young talent in the Rio Grande Valley and Reynosa (EPISODE IN SPANISH) 🔗 Read more and explore our coverage: rgvbusinessjournal.com 📩 Subscribe for weekly conversations on the RGV and border economy. #RíoPlex #Reynosa #RioGrandeValley #BorderEconomy #Nearshoring #IndustrialRealEstate #CrossBorderTrade

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About

The Rio Grande Valley Business Journal is all about highlighting the businesses, leaders, and stories that keep the Valley thriving. The goal? To connect our communities and keep you in the know about the opportunities shaping the RGV’s future. From small businesses to major developments, the RGV Business Journal is your inside look at what’s happening across the Valley.

Information

  • Creator
    RGV Business Journal
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    45
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © RGV Business Journal
  • Show Website
    RGV Business Journal