René Xavier González, head of new business development and marketing for Sidee Industrial Development in Matamoros, has given a Mexican perspective to the idea of a bi-national auto cluster initiative.

The idea has been proposed by the Council for South Texas Economic Progress.

González said some companies may need convincing about the data they share but he thinks there will be buy-in.

“Sometimes there are issues about confidentiality and security. A lot of companies would rather kind of keep kind of a low profile,” González said.

“But the fact that everybody's here, the fact that everybody is representing all the individual EDCs is already a huge win for COSTEP. Cobifer is here. We're representing CODEM, the Matamoros business community. It is very encouraging to see.”

Gonzalez continued:

“From the Matamoros side, we’re in. We just need steps. Like, okay, give us a data registry, make sure that it's in Spanish. My job would be to talk to the 30 members of CODEM, sell them on the idea and make sure that this is something viable, something that benefits their individual business.

“So, for example, in order to become part of the cluster, the individual manufacturing companies have to be have to register and pay a fee. So, for example, my job with the three automotive manufacturing companies that I have in my industrial park, I have to go tell them, this is why this benefits you. You have to sign up for this. So, the more informed that we all are, the better that we can actually help sell (the project).

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SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas - South Padre Island City Council Member Kerry Schwartz wants to see an Eco Center District established to capitalize on the amount of interest there is in ecotourism.

Schwartz made his case at a special workshop meeting the council held to discuss expansion of the island’s convention center.

“Our mission really should be about ecotourism, because ecotourism is huge. I'd like to see us form an SPI Eco Center District. We already have an entertainment district for our beaches and all that,” Schwartz said.

“But when you think about it, you've got the World Birding Center there, and you've got Sea Turtle Rescue. Turn that into an eco tourism center, a nature center, adding the theater and exhibition annex to the convention center,” Schwartz said.

In his presentation, Schwartz said “environmental hazards” are being created both by the development of liquefied natural gas export terminals at the Port of Brownsville plants and SpaceX.

Here is an audio recording of his remarks:

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MISSION, Texas - Hidalgo County Commissioner Ever Villarreal has announced what he says is an “amazing” transportation project that will help transform the western part of the county.

Villarreal said the county, working with the City of Mission, is going to become “project sponsor” for two sections of the proposed county loop between Granjeno and Penitas and turn them into non-toll projects.

By becoming project sponsor, Villarreal said, the county, working with the City of Mission, can help find funding for the two sections, ensuring they get built much faster.

“It is an amazing project of not just for the City of Mission, but for the City of McAllen also. That is because the City of McAllen, as you know… they are part owner of the Anzalduas Bridge,” Villarreal said. “And it would be amazing, not just for McAllen and Mission financially, but also for our neighbors on the west side of the county, for the growth this amazing project can usher in.”

Here is an interview the Rio Grande Guardian secured with Commissioner Villarreal.

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