Texas Border Business
Brownsville, Texas – In a significant gathering of regional leadership, Brownsville Mayor John Cowen, Jr. hosted the quarterly South Texas Alliance of Cities (STAC) Mayoral meeting on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, in Brownsville. The meeting, attended by Mayors from the Cities of Edinburg, Harlingen, Laredo, McAllen, Mission, and Weslaco showcased growth and economic development while discussing collaborative efforts and advocacy related to drought conditions and immigration.
The meeting kicked off in Historic Downtown Brownsville at the City’s Communications and Marketing Department and Convention and Visitors Bureau Complex included tours of key sites such as the City’s non-resident migrant center, the eBridge Center for Business and Commercialization, the Port of Brownsville, and SpaceX’s Starbase.
The STAC meeting included a video conference with Tom Perez, Senior Advisor and Assistant to President Joe Biden and Director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs. During the call with the mayors, he discussed the impacts of recent federal policies on drought issues and immigration. Perez emphasized the effectiveness of President Biden’s June 4, 2024, executive order, which hassignificantly reduced illegal border crossings during peak periods.
The City of Brownsville’s Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security also presented on the “Brownsville Model.” This is a highly structured, efficient process designed to ensure that non-resident migrants are effectively guided through their transition in the U.S. Their journey begins at the City’s “Welcome Center,” which is designed to assist the non-resident migrants by providing them with crucial resources, information, and support.
“Hosting the South Texas Alliance of Cities Mayoral meeting here in Brownsville was a tremendous opportunity for us to showcase our initiatives and learn from one another,” said Mayor John Cowen, Jr.“These meetings are vital for the growth and resilience of the represented communities as we come together to share insights and help one another address challenges. The meetings also give us the opportunity to celebrate successes collectively, reinforcing that our strength truly lies in our unity.”
“It’s vital that we, as mayors, come together to learn from and grow with the developments in each of our cities,” said McAllen Mayor Javier Villalobos. “What happens here in one city can and often does impact allmember cities of our alliance. So, if we can learn from one successful program in one city, other city leaders can take that back to their community.”
Another highlight of the STAC meeting was a presentation by the Brownsville Public Utilities Board (BPUB). The BPUB team discussed the U.S. – Mexico Water Treaty and the Stage 2 Drought status the Brownsville community is facing. The presentation included the latest on the Southmost Regional Water Authority’s Brackish Groundwater Desalination Plan which uses reverse osmosis to produce approximately 7.5MGD of potable water using brackish groundwater from 20 wells.
Economic development was a key focus of the STAC meeting. Brownsville City Manager Helen Ramirez, AICP, outlined the City’s economic boom fueled by international trade, new residential and commercialdevelopments, and the expansion of SpaceX operations. SpaceX’s approximate $3 Billion infrastructureinvestment at Starbase has created more than 6,000 jobs in Cameron County and boosted the economy tothe tune of $903 million gross economic output from the Aggregate Market Value of goods and servicesproduced in the U.S. economy.
“Seeing firsthand what SpaceX is doing to generate jobs and boost the economy in South Texas was a major takeaway for me,” said Weslaco Mayor Adrian Gonzalez. “The work they are doing here inBrownsville is having a ripple effect across the Rio Grande Valley, in a good way.”
“The growth in Brownsville impacts all cities across the Rio Grande Valley as we continue to confront bordercity challenges and wins as one region,” said Edinburg Mayor Ramiro Garza.
Another highlight of the STAC meeting was the presentation and tour of the Port of Brownsville, which continues to be an economic engine for South Texas and northern Mexico. The team from the Port showcased their property leasing agreements’ growth with tenants such as Rio Grande LNG and Texas LNG, who have total combined investments of approximately $22 Billion at the Port.
“It is very important that we come together as one region because when we work together as one, learn fromone another, we can more easily overcome challenges,” said Harlingen
Mayor Norma Sepulveda. “The STAC meetings are valuable for regional collaboration and shared growth.”
The next South Texas Alliance of Cities mayoral meeting is scheduled for October and will take place in the City of McAllen. More details will be announced as the date approaches.