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Monday 8am - 5pm Tuesday 8am - 5pm Wednesday 8am - 5pm Thursday 8am - 5pm Friday 8am - 5pm

http://www.costep.org/, https://www.riosouthtexasregion.com/

Rio South Texas Region, 801 North Bryan Road, Office 167, Mission, TX (2026)

05/29/2026

Manufacturing Outpaces Warehousing & Retail in Regional Economic Impact at Rio South Texas Region

A newly released comparative economic impact assessment prepared for COSTEP by Allied Consulting Group analyzes the regional impact of Manufacturing, Warehousing & Storage, and Retail Trade investments across the Rio South Texas Region.

The report reveals that manufacturing generates the strongest regional multiplier effect, producing:

• 9,010 total regional jobs from 2,500 direct jobs
• Nearly $2 billion in annual economic output
• More than $123 million in annual tax revenue
• The deepest supply chain activation across multiple industries

At the same time, the study highlights the complementary role of warehousing and retail in enabling logistics infrastructure, workforce retention, consumer services, and regional fiscal sustainability.

Rather than competing sectors, the report positions manufacturing, warehousing, and retail as interconnected pillars of a balanced regional growth strategy.

As nearshoring, trade expansion, and industrial reshoring continue reshaping North America, Rio South Texas Region remains uniquely positioned to support integrated growth across production, logistics, and consumer markets.

Read the full report and discover why Rio South Texas Region continues emerging as a strategic destination for industrial investment and expansion: https://costep-my.sharepoint.com/personal/rcarrera_costep_org/_layouts/15/onedrive.aspx?id=%2Fpersonal%2Frcarrera%5Fcostep%5Forg%2FDocuments%2FAttachments%2FRGV%20MSA%20Economic%20Report%5FFinal%2020260507%2Epdf&parent=%2Fpersonal%2Frcarrera%5Fcostep%5Forg%2FDocuments%2FAttachments&ga=1

Rio South Texas Region: One Region. Two Countries. One Future.

Texas Economic Development Corporation Texas Economic Development Corporation Alton EDC Greater Brownsville EDC Cameron County Economic Development Donna Economic Development Corporation Edinburg Economic Development Corporation Elsa Economic Development Corporation Harlingen Economic Development Corporation Hidalgo EDC Economic Development Laredo Economic Development Corporation McAllen Economic Development Corporation Pharr Economic Development Corporation Weslaco Economic Development

05/25/2026

COSTEP Drives New Industrial Investment Across Texas and Tamaulipas Through New Manufacturing Partnership Between CAS Global and ERA Group

The project includes an initial $3 million investment and new job creation on both sides of the border, combining manufacturing operations in Matamoros with logistics and distribution access through Brownsville.

According to ERA Group President Steven Leblond, a regional investment visit organized by COSTEP played a decisive role in selecting the region for expansion, particularly after discovering the area’s highly specialized industrial talent and workforce development capabilities.

This project reflects the growing strength of the Rio South Texas Region as a globally competitive manufacturing and logistics ecosystem where Mexico and the United States work together to drive industrial growth.

Discover why global companies are expanding in the Rio South Texas Region: https://riosouthtexasregion.com/

Rio South Texas Region: One Region. Two Countries. One Future.

Texas Economic Development Corporation Texas Economic Development Gobierno del Estado de Tamaulipas Greater Brownsville EDC City of Brownsville, TX - Municipal Government Gobierno Municipal de Matamoros Texas Southmost College

05/22/2026

Pharr Bridge ExpansionPharr Is Redefining the Future of Cross-Border Trade in North America

The expansion of the Pharr International Bridge represents far more than new infrastructure. It signals a strategic transformation in the way goods move between Mexico and the United States.

With four new commercial lanes scheduled to begin operations in June 2026, Pharr will effectively double its cargo crossing capacity, creating faster, more efficient, and more scalable logistics solutions for manufacturers, distributors, and global supply chains operating across the Rio South Texas Region.

At a time when companies are searching for greater certainty, redundancy, and operational flexibility, the expansion of the Pharr International Bridge delivers something critical:

More options. More capacity. More efficiency.
More resilience for international trade.

Pharr’s long-term vision goes beyond a bridge.

Regional leaders are building an intermodal logistics ecosystem that connects highways, rail, ports, and air cargo infrastructure, including strategic synergies with the Port of Brownsville, creating a smarter and more competitive platform for global commerce.

Discover why more global companies are choosing the Rio South Texas Region as their platform for smarter cross-border growth, logistics efficiency, and North American expansion at https://riosouthtexasregion.com/

The future of North American trade is being built in the Rio South Texas Region: One Region. Two Countries. One Future.

Pharr International Bridge Pharr Economic Development Corporation City of Pharr Texas Economic Development Corporation Texas Economic Development

05/20/2026

Border Costs Are Rising. Laredo Helps You Control Them.

As truckload linehaul rates continue to climb across North America, companies moving goods through the U.S.-Mexico corridor are facing a growing challenge: the rising cost of inland transportation after crossing the border.

According to Daniel Covarrubias in The Bridge, truck crossings at Laredo increased from 226,648 in January to 265,182 in March 2026, a 17% surge in just two months, while spot trucking rates jumped 25% year-over-year.

Laredo offers a strategic advantage few regions can match:

• Immediate access to the largest inland port in North America
• More than 50 million sq. ft. of warehouse and distribution space
• Faster customs processing and reduced inland trucking exposure
• Specialized cross-border logistics infrastructure
• Direct connectivity to Mexico’s manufacturing hubs and U.S. consumer markets
• Reduced exposure to volatile domestic linehaul rate cycles

As Covarrubias explains, every mile eliminated from inland trucking is a mile companies no longer pay premium rate increases on.

Discover how the Rio South Texas Region can help your company reduce logistics exposure and expand strategically across the U.S.–Mexico corridor: https://riosouthtexasregion.com/

Rio South Texas Region: One Region. Two Countries. One Future.

Laredo Economic Development Corporation City of Laredo - Government Alma Lydia Saldaña Index Matamoros Index Nuevo León INDEX Nuevo Laredo Index Reynosa

05/14/2026

Investing $500,000 in the Workforce Behind South Texas’ Growth

Rio South Texas Education and Community Development Foundation (RSTEF) and Council for South Texas Economic Progress (COSTEP) CEO Adam Gonzalez shared how strategic regional collaboration is helping expand educational opportunities tied directly to industry demand.

Through a coordinated partnership effort:
-Workforce Solutions Lower Rio Grande leveraged a $250,000 RSTEF grant
-That support helped the Texas A&M University College of Nursing secure a $150,000 Texas Industry Partnership Grant from the Texas Workforce Commission
-An additional $100,000 was contributed through donor support from the Texas A&M Foundation
-Total Impact: $500,000 dedicated to educating and preparing more Registered Nurses for the Rio South Texas Region workforce pipeline.

The initiative reflects how public institutions, workforce organizations, philanthropy, and regional economic development leaders are aligning resources to strengthen one of the region’s most critical sectors: healthcare talent.

Over the last three years, RSTEF has invested a total of $500,000 in partnership with Texas A&M University Higher Education Center at McAllen, including a previous $250,000 endowment supporting Construction Science programs and scholarships.

Regional partners participating in the initiative include:
City of McAllen TX Government
McAllen Economic Development Corporation
McAllen Chamber of Commerce
Hidalgo County, Texas
Richard Cortez

Learn more about the Rio South Texas Region and regional economic development initiatives at https://lnkd.in/dmC2NVAB

05/11/2026

South Texas is strengthening one of the most important competitive advantages for modern investment attraction: talent.

A new regional collaboration agreement signed in Cameron County brings together education leaders, economic development organizations, and local governments to align workforce development efforts with the needs of future industry.

For Council for South Texas Economic Progress CEO Adam Gonzalez, the message is clear:

“We are at a very important moment where new industries are looking at us. Major companies want to establish here.”

As companies continue evaluating expansion opportunities across North America, workforce readiness has become a decisive factor.

This initiative reflects a broader regional strategy focused on:
• Building a long-term talent pipeline
• Supporting industrial expansion
• Creating higher-quality job opportunities
• Strengthening regional competitiveness

Harlingen Economic Development Corporation CEO Orlando Campos emphasized that large-scale investment requires regional collaboration:

“No single community can provide the entire workforce for a company. It requires a regional effort.”

South Texas is preparing not only to attract investment, but to sustain it.

Learn more about how to invest and expand in the Rio South Texas Region through Council for South Texas Economic Progress at https://riosouthtexasregion.com/

Rio South Texas Region. One Region. Two Countries. One Future.

Cameron County Economic Development Harlingen Economic Development Corporation Texas Economic Development Corporation Texas Economic Development

05/07/2026

Yesterday at the 2026 NASCO Continental Reunion 2026, leaders from Canada, Mexico, and the United States gathered to discuss the strategic corridors and connections shaping the continent’s future.

Key conversations focused on:
• USMCA resilience and continental trade integration
• North American energy security
• Agricultural competitiveness and food security
• Critical transportation corridors and infrastructure
• Resilient supply chains and trade flows across borders

One of the most important discussions of the day centered on “Moving What Matters: Corridors, Infrastructure, and Trade Flows,” highlighting how rail, highways, ports, and border infrastructure continue serving as the bridges that keep North America connected and competitive.

Alma Saldana, Assist. Director of Economic Development for the Council for South Texas Economic Progress (COSTEP), represented the Rio South Texas Region, strengthening relationships with continental leaders while positioning South Texas as one of North America’s most strategic gateways for trade, manufacturing, logistics, and nearshoring growth.

Learn more about the Rio South Texas Region and its strategic role in North American trade and investment at https://riosouthtexasregion.com/

Rio South Texas Region: One Region. Two Countries. One Future.

Texas Economic Development Corporation Alton EDC Greater Brownsville EDC Cameron County Economic Development Donna Economic Development Corporation Edinburg Economic Development Corporation Elsa Economic Development Corporation Harlingen Economic Development Corporation Hidalgo EDC Economic Development Laredo Economic Development Corporation McAllen Economic Development Corporation Pharr Economic Development Corporation Pharr EDC Foundation Weslaco Economic Development

05/07/2026

SelectUSA 2026 Concludes with a Clear Message: The U.S. Continues to Compete for Global Investment

On the third and final day of participation at the 2026 SelectUSA Investment Summit 2026, the momentum around investment attraction, industrial competitiveness, and strategic regional collaboration remained stronger than ever.

Rick Carrera, Director of Economic Development for Council for South Texas Economic Progress (COSTEP) continued engaging with international companies, site selectors, economic development leaders, and institutional partners to showcase the strategic advantages of South Texas as a platform for manufacturing, logistics, trade, and cross-border growth.

The Rio South Texas Region stands ready to support companies looking to expand, relocate, manufacture, or strengthen their presence in the U.S. market.

Learn more about investment opportunities, strategic industries, infrastructure, and regional advantages at https://riosouthtexasregion.com/

Rio South Texas Region: One Region. Two Countries. One Future.

Texas Economic Development Corporation Alton EDC Greater Brownsville EDC Cameron County Economic Development Donna Economic Development Corporation Edinburg Economic Development Corporation Elsa Economic Development Corporation Harlingen Economic Development Corporation Hidalgo EDC Economic Development Laredo Economic Development Corporation McAllen Economic Development Corporation Pharr Economic Development Corporation Pharr EDC Foundation Weslaco Economic Development

05/06/2026

Alma Saldaña Cruz, Assistant Director of Economic Development at COSTEP, participated in the opening of the 2026 NASCO Continental Reunion in Regina, Saskatchewan, joining leaders from across North America to discuss trade, infrastructure, workforce, energy, and continental competitiveness.

The event brings together stakeholders from Canada, the United States, and Mexico to strengthen collaboration and advance the future of integrated North American supply chains and economic development.

In the Photos:

Kent Richard, Laredo Bridge System Assistant Director; Alma Saldaña Cruz; Alma Acevedo, President of Global Tooling Specialties Inc; Andrew Lawson Carranco, President of South Webb County, LTD

Chad Bachynski - Mayor of Regina Saskatchewan

Alma Saldaña Cruz; Alma Martinez, NASCO Relations - Rachel Connell, VicePresident of NASCO - Alma Acevedo, President of Global Tooling Specialties.

Alma Lydia Saldaña Andrew Lawson Carranco Texas Economic Development Corporation Texas Economic Development Corporation

05/06/2026

Building the Workforce Behind the Future of the Rio South Texas Region

On May 5, Adam Gonzalez, CEO of COSTEP / RSTEF, and Rafael Tapia, RSTEF Grant Manager, participated in the RGV LEAD Superintendent Annual Meeting held at the Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council offices in Weslaco, Texas.

During the meeting, RGV LEAD Board President Eloy Garza and Executive Director Maricela de Leon presented current and upcoming initiatives focused on strengthening collaboration between education leaders, workforce organizations, and regional stakeholders.

For the past six years, COSTEP has proudly partnered with RGV LEAD in the development of the bi-annual Labor Market Report, a key resource used to identify high-demand occupations and guide workforce investment priorities across the region. The report also plays an important role in shaping target career clusters and occupations within the RSTEF Fund Grant Program.

Learn more about how RSTEF is supporting workforce development, educational alignment, and regional economic competitiveness across the Rio South Texas Region at: https://rstef.org/

Discover the initiatives helping connect talent, education, and industry for the future of our region.

Rio South Texas Region. One Region. Two Countries. One Future.

RGV LEAD - Rio Grande Valley Linking Economic and Academic Development Eloy Garza Adam Gonzalez Rafael Tapia Texas Economic Development Corporation Texas Economic Development

Rio South Texas Region

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