RGV Business Journal

Starbase is about a year and a half old and has grown from roughly 1,000 acres to about 8,000. On Episode 49 of the Rio Grande Valley Business Journal podcast, host Naxiely Lopez Puente talks with RGVBJ reporter Kristen Mosbrucker-Garza about how SpaceX and its company town are reshaping Cameron County.They cover the Starbase EDC's $3 billion municipal bond strategy, SpaceX's $220 million water deal with Brownsville, a 45-year development agreement for 166 acres near the test launch pad, newly converted Rio Grande water rights, a lawsuit from property owners over launch-related damage, the Starpipe natural gas pipeline and what higher-wage jobs could mean for Valley workers.Read the full transcript and our SpaceX coverage.CHAPTERS0:00 Preview1:09 Introduction1:49 Starbase: a brand-new city takes shape3:13 Highway 4 widening and a new city hall6:22 What's public and what's private8:11 The Launch Point, Starbase's first public business11:26 SpaceX's 54 acres on South Padre Island13:30 The second causeway and the 700-acre land swap6:03 A 45-year deal for 166 acres17:47 Annexation to 8,000 acres20:15 The Starbase EDC's $3 billion bond deal21:19 Who can live in Starbase?25:21 Brownsville's $220 million water deal31:23 Community benefits agreements and Harlingen's data center33:30 SpaceX's Rio Grande water rights39:49 Night construction and a private trucking road42:54 Rocket launches, sonic booms and insurance48:20 Powering Starbase: internet, natural gas and Starpipe55:53 Jobs and wages59:37 Wrap-upSubscribe for weekly conversations on the business and economy of South Texas and the U.S.-Mexico border.#SpaceX #Starbase #RioGrandeValley

How much more will Americans pay for products made in the U.S.? About 5%, according to survey research discussed by Michigan State University professor Jason Miller.On this episode of the Rio Grande Valley Business Journal podcast, reporter Kristen Mosbrucker-Garza talks with Jason Miller about consumer willingness to pay for U.S.-made goods, why younger buyers want both American products and fast delivery, and what it all means for reshoring, nearshoring and small businesses along the Texas-Mexico border.CHAPTERS0:00 Introduction: The Made in America survey1:03 Americans will pay about 5% more2:02 Younger buyers: More willing, less patient3:27 Walmart and “assembled in America”4:53 One in every $6 of exports uses foreign inputs5:55 Cotton, reshoring and the border7:22 Why there’s no fully American-made car8:27 Supply chain advice for RGV small businesses11:13 Tariffs, trade and the construction boom13:08 Why tariffs haven’t spurred domestic production14:17 The AI build-out and Texas15:04 Will preferences hold as costs rise?Rio Grande Valley Business Journal covers business, trade and economic development in South Texas and along the U.S.-Mexico border.#MadeInAmerica #SupplyChain #RioGrandeValley

Edinburg has logged more than $1 billion in construction permits in three years, and the city's economic development chief says the growth isn't slowing down.RGVBJ reporter Kristen Mosbrucker-Garza talks with Raudel Garza, executive director of the Edinburg Economic Development Corp., about Zoho's redevelopment of the former Echo Hotel, the new Workforce Resource Center at Ebony Hills Golf Course, Las Almas Food Hall and downtown revitalization, new hotels tied to UTRGV Vaqueros football, industrial and airport growth, how the EDC uses AI to target companies, and a LiftFund program that helps small businesses borrow at 2.5%.Chapters0:00 Preview0:58 Introduction2:15 What is an EDC?2:46 The IT and STEM job fair8:16 Zoho and the Echo Hotel13:07 Workforce Resource Center and Ebony Hills17:23 Las Almas Food Hall and downtown20:49 The old courthouse site21:35 Downtown drainage and University Drive25:05 UTRGV, Midtown and student life29:09 Vaqueros football and new hotels32:16 Residential growth and $1B in permits35:02 Sales tax outlook38:22 Manufacturing, industrial parks and the airport41:00 AI and the workforce47:19 From logistics algorithms to data centers51:32 What's next for Edinburg54:49 The LiftFund interest buy-downSubscribe to the Rio Grande Valley Business Journal for more on the South Texas and border economy: https://rgvbusinessjournal.com#Edinburg #RGV #EconomicDevelopment

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.CHAPTERS0:00 Introduction & series overview2:58 Meet Andrik Gonzalez & the Caminos Institute17:41 The data set: Deportation Data Project & FOIA requests19:52 Apprehensions vs. deportations, by year and administration22:48 Visa categories: H-2A, H-1B, EB-5 explained25:38 Civil offense vs. felony: the legal history of border crossing31:50 Sizing the undocumented workforce in the RGV33:27 Construction industry impact34:52 Health care & social assistance industry impact35:46 Food & accommodation industry impact38:12 The total economic loss: $180 million42:59 What "Caminos" means45:51 Responding to the "right-sizing" argument49:00 The workforce skills gap: Saronic Technologies & welding aluminum50:21 Key takeawaysAbout 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

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