Texas Border Business
A business boom is unfolding in Weslaco and the city’s economic development corporation announces that $19 million in new investments is expected to generate 100 new jobs in the community.
“These are exciting times for the region of South Texas and Weslaco where we’ve seen growth on every scale,’’ said Steven M. Valdez, the executive director for the Weslaco Economic Development Corporation.
Weslaco’s surge in industrial growth can be seen in five ongoing projects that represent $19 million in new investments for the city.
Three private sector companies – ColiMex, Inc., Clean Label Foods, LLC, and La Abuela Mexican Foods Inc. – are launching or expanding current operations in Weslaco. Two public sector entities, the Weslaco Economic Development Corporation’s expanded industrial park and the Mid Valley Airport, are busy improving and adding space to their current facilities.
All of these projects will generate approximately 100 new jobs in Weslaco, Valdez said.
Weslaco has emerged a regional leader in distribution, warehousing, manufacturing, cold storage, and processing of food products. ColiMex is but one example of this growth as it adds 35,000 square feet and 35 new jobs to Weslaco. The company has laid the concrete foundation and erected steel beams at its second $5 million facility in the city. When completed, ColiMex will have 55,000 square feet of cold storage operations in Weslaco. The company has asked the Weslaco EDC to reserve another 10 acres in the city’s new industrial park for future growth.
At Clean Label Foods, the company is preparing the foundation for a new 25,000-square-foot building. The new facility will be used to process legume free, high protein, low sodium, low carbs, short based pasta. It’s the first phase of a three-part plan Clean Label Foods, LLC has for Weslaco.
The company is investing just over $2 million for its new Weslaco building and the necessary equipment. Clean Label Foods is expected to bring 20 new jobs to Weslaco in its first year in the city.
La Abuela Mexican Foods, Inc. meanwhile, is adding 40 new jobs with a $1.1 million capital investment in adding 10,000 square feet to its operations in Weslaco. The company currently makes two million tortillas per day. The added space and equipment will push that daily production to 5 million tortillas, with its largest account in Texas being H.E.B.
“Each of the companies expanding here have experienced a cost saving value and efficiency in being centrally located with close highway access,’’ says Benita Valadez, President of the EDC of Weslaco, “And that‘s one of the most predominant benefits of doing business in Weslaco.”
The Mid Valley Airport is working to complement and support the industrial growth as it moves ahead with plans to add six new hangar spaces to house Citation Jet 5’s. The Weslaco airport is known for providing cost effective and convenient air travel for corporate executives, with its central location in the Rio Grande Valley being ideal for accessibility to the entire region.
Another exciting development for the city is the expansion of the Mid Valley Industrial Park. About 150 acres are being cleared to make way for nearly $9 million in infrastructure improvements. Space at the current industrial park is at capacity and the EDC and city are working together to add new grounds for additional companies that will lead to more jobs and development for Weslaco.
“This type of growth is an example of the leadership and stability in Weslaco,’’ Valdez said. “Our EDC board of directors introduces projects that make sense and foster a more balanced economy to the City Commission, and often work side-by-side in incentivizing companies to Weslaco.”For more information on these projects and availability of land at Weslaco’s new industrial park, contact the EDC of Weslaco at 956-969-0838 or send an email to [email protected].
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