Manufacturing Jobs Alive and Well Here, Says Rio South Texas Economic Council

EDINBURG, Texas, March 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Jobs. Jobs. Jobs. That's what Rio South Texas has in more plentiful supply than most U.S. cities. In fact, Forbes.com recently ranked McAllen and Brownsville the 3rd and 4th fastest growing job markets in the United States, respectively. Manufacturing jobs are front and center stage.

To ensure continued job health, the 21 economic development members of the Rio South Texas Economic Council (RSTEC) are collaborating to compete on the world stage to bring new manufacturing jobs to the region.

"We know what manufacturers want, and Rio South Texas delivers the goods," says Alma Colleli, Executive Director of San Benito Economic Development Corporation. "We are ideally located to offer the competitive advantages and global logistics companies are demanding. We have the low wage, skilled workforce in Mexican maquiladoras (assembly plants) across the border. The region also has the infrastructure and multi-modal transportation and distribution systems required to compete in the global market – international bridges, rail, seaport, major highways. We have the industrial parks and land to offer build-to-suit solutions. Finally, Rio South Texas has the capital, research base, favorable taxes, incentives and low cost of doing business in a business-friendly area that offers great quality of life."

Extensive research has uncovered six core industry segments that RSTEC will be targeting:

• Auto manufacturing & suppliers
• Aerospace
• Metal products
• Electronics
• Medical devices
• Renewable energy products

"We're already seeing movement into the area," said Carolyn Bogardus, Interim Economic Development & Grant Administrator of Port Isabel Economic Development Corporation. "We have a wind farm on the drawing board for South Padre Island, Tyco is adding jobs in Harlingen, and a new bio-fuels company is working with the University of Texas-Brownsville/Texas Southmost College. The Anzalduas International Bridge speeds access to Reynosa-Monterrey. So we're on track to attract substantial new industry – and more importantly jobs – to the region."

One of the fastest growing areas in the U.S. with a total population of 2.3 million, Rio South Texas encompasses the southernmost tip of Texas and Northeastern Mexico. The region is currently the third largest market in Texas, the 23rd largest market in the country and the largest U.S./Mexico border region in America.

To promote the collective assets of the region, RSTEC was formed in 2008. Representing all economic development interests in the region, the organization's mission is to attract private sector investment, economic diversification and business expansions.

SOURCE Rio South Texas Economic Council