Kauffman FastTrac® NewVenture™ Entrepreneurship Program Scholarships Available Building the Future of Your Business Kauffman FastTrac NewVenture training is coming to Harlingen February 26th thanks to a collaborative effort of Tropical Texas Regional Center of Innovation and Commercialization, Harlingen Economic Development Corporation, Texas State Technical College and The International Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center at UTB. FastTrac [...]

-For Immediate Release HARLINGEN, TEXAS (February 4, 2013) – Harlingen, Texas offers the lowest cost of living in the United States, according to The Cost of Living Index, published quarterly by C2ER – The Council for Community and Economic Research. Among the 307 urban areas that participated in the 2012 Cost of Living Index, the [...]

Harlingen, TEXAS – January 9, 2013 – Following a record breaking year in 2011-2012, Harlingen continues its upward trend by recording its second consecutive month with double digit increases to sales tax revenue. According to the Texas Comptroller’s office, Harlingen experienced an increase of 19.48% for the November reporting period and a 13.24% increase in [...]

Contact: Raudel Garza, CEO FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Harlingen Economic Development Corporation (956) 216-5081 Erica Jaeger, Media Relations & Communications LongHorn Steakhouse (407) 245-4614 LongHorn Steakhouse to Open in Harlingen Ribbon Cutting Set for December 3 Harlingen, TEXAS – November 28, 2012 – LongHorn Steakhouse, in partnership with the Harlingen Economic Development Corporation, will celebrate the [...]

    FINSA, a leading company in the development of industrial real estate in Mexico, Argentina and the USborder, announced today that it has leased 20,000 square feet of warehouse space in the Harlingen Industrial Park to Velocity Express. Hector Romeu , Director of Sales for FINSA, praised the Harlingen Economic Development Corporation for vigorously [...]

TRP The Harlingen Economic Development Corporation is pleased to announce the Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening of Tire Recycling and Processing, LLC, (TRP), the newest industry to located in the Harlingen Industrial Park, The center will utilize state of the art technology to process and shred used tires. Once shredded, the product will be separated [...]

COLLABORATIVE INITIATIVE PROMOTES ENTREPRENERUSHIP TRAINING FOR HARLINGEN RESIDENTS Harlingen, TX (April 27, 2012) – Four organizations have banded together to support entrepreneurs throughout Harlingen, TX.  The Harlingen Economic Development Corporation (HEDC), The Tropical Texas Regional Center of Innovation and Commercialization (TTRCIC), Texas State Technical College (TSTC) and The International Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center (IIEC) at UTB [...]

image Darden Restaurants, Inc., on the FORTUNE 100 “Best Companies to Work For” list, has announced that it has selected Harlingen, Texas as the location for a new LongHorn Steakhouse.  The proposed location at Cameron Crossing will employ 30 people and be able to seat approximately 204 guests.  LongHorn Steakhouse is a full-service, casual dining [...]

HARLINGEN EDC TO SPONSOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP TRAINING              The Harlingen Economic Development Corporation announced today it will sponsor a new training program for entrepreneurs.  FastTrac® is a practical, hands-on business development program designed to help entrepreneurs hone the skills needed to create, manage and grow successful businesses. “Small business is the backbone of the Harlingen, Valley and national [...]

HARLINGEN, TEXAS (January 23, 2011) – Harlingen, Texas had the lowest cost of living in the United States in 2011, according to 2011 ACCRA Cost of Living Index prepared by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). Harlingen also had the lowest cost of living in the 2010 ACCRA annual report. The annual ranking [...]

Click here to view entire article. Harlingen, Texas (December 22, 2011) – University Center located on the Texas State Technical College (TSTC) Harlingen campus received a regional Award of Merit in the Green Project category for 2011 from the Engineering News-Record (ENR) magazine.   More News

Harlingen, Texas (November 16, 2011) — Harlingen Mayor Chris Boswell today led a ceremony to open the new Bass Pro Drive and railroad crossing in the Cameron Crossing retail development. The new street and rail crossing will serve the Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World which also opens today. During his remarks, Boswell recognized the efforts [...]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   ITD Precision Announces $1.6 Million Expansion   Harlingen, Texas, (November 9, 2011) – ITD Precision announced a 28,500 square foot expansion of their Harlingen, TX facility with a new investment of $1.6 million. The expansion will result in the creation of five new jobs. One third of the 28,500 square foot expansion will [...]

Click here to view entire article   SpawGlass Contractors Inc. received the Excellence in Construction Award from the Associated Buildings and Contractors Inc.-South Texas Chapter for completion of the University Center at Texas State Technical College Harlingen.   (click on the link above to view the entire article)

To Read the Entire Article Click Here   Harlingen, Texas (October 20, 2011) – Near the southern tip of Texas, at the lower end of the Rio Grande Valley, the city of Harlingen is an exciting blend of South Texas hospitality and the rich, colorful traditions of Mexico.  Located just 30 miles from the coast of [...]

                        UNIVERSITY CENTER OPENS IN HARLINGEN   Harlingen, TX, (September 14, 2011) — Representatives from eight partner universities joined local, state and federal dignitaries for the official opening of the University Center on August 31st. The $7.2 million, 38,000 square foot Center is located [...]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   UT to invest $30 million in Rio Grande Valley Medical school closer to reality after move  AUSTIN – The University of Texas System regents voted Thursday to make a $30 million investment in science and health education in South Texas and the Rio Grande Valley, laying the groundwork for a future medical school [...]

HARLINGEN, TEXAS (August 12, 2011) — Tire Recycling & Processing, LLC, (TRP) has announced plans to establish a center to process used tires into granules, carbon black and bio fuels in Harlingen.  The company has purchased a 42,777 square foot facility in the Harlingen Industrial Park and will install new equipment valued at $3.8 million.  [...]

Harlingen, Texas, August 17, 2011 – Panda Express, the California-based national leader in gourmet Chinese quick-service restaurants, has announced the mid-October opening of a new location in Harlingen, Texas.  The company has purchased a 3,000 square foot building located at 2005 West Lincoln Avenue and renovations are underway.  Panda Express will create 12 to 15 new jobs. [...]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE HARLINGEN COST OF LIVING RANKS LOWEST IN U.S. HARLINGEN, TEXAS (August 12, 2011) – Harlingen, Texas offers the lowest cost of living in the United States, according to the ACCRA Cost of Living Index for the second quarter of 2011.  The Cost of Living Index is prepared by the Council for Community and [...]

HARLINGEN, TEXAS (August 1, 2011) — The Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) that includes Harlingen and Brownsville, Texas was ranked as one of the “100 Leading Locations for 2011” in the Spring 2011 issue of Area Development, a leading site location magazine. Area Development based its ranking on thirteen highly regarded location surveys including Forbes, Newgeography, Brookings Metro [...]

HARLINGEN, TEXAS (July 29, 2011) – Finishing touches are being added to the new University Center on the campus of Texas State Technical College in Harlingen.  The 38,000 square foot, $7.2 million building is designed to hold classes offered by eight public and private universities offering 42 bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees.  Classes are scheduled [...]

HARLINGEN, TEXAS (July 29, 2011) – Progress continues on the Bass Pro Outdoor World destination outdoor superstore slated to open in November.  The 150,000 square foot store is being constructed on a 23 acre site in Cameron Crossing, a new retail development at the intersection of Expressway 83 and 77 in Harlingen.  It is the [...]

The Harlingen Economic Development Corporation offices are moving on July 15, 2011 to 2424 Boxwood Street, Suite 125  Harlingen, Texas 78550.  Phone number: 956.216.5081 and Fax number: 956.216.2580

To view Harlingen EDC’s 2009 – 2010 Annual Report, please click the link below.   Harlingen EDC_Annual_Report_2009 – 2010

South Texas Franchise Showcase Friday, June 10th 2011 Valle Vista Mall in Harlingen, Texas Come meet with prospective franchisors and be a part of the booming economy in the Rio Grande Valley! The US-Mexico Border Region in South Texas, Rio Grande Valley or informally “The Valley” continues to grow and develop at an incredible pace, leading way [...]

Bass Pro Shops

Harlingen, Texas, January 14, 2011 – Harlingen has the lowest cost of living in the United States, according to the 2010 ACCRA Cost of Living Index prepared by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER).  The report is based on an annual average of data submitted for the first three quarters in 2010. C2ER compiles [...]

Harlingen, Texas, December 21, 2010 — The Harlingen, Texas Economic Development Corporation is the recipient of Expansion Solutions magazine’s 2010 Award of Excellence in the “Warehouse/Distribution” category. The awards recognize organizations that have demonstrated exceptional programs and potential in the development of their area by successfully recruiting, retaining and growing businesses.     According to Expansion Solutions, Harlingen offers [...]

Harlingen, Texas, December 11, 2010 — The Harlingen City Commission and the Harlingen Economic Development Corporation (HEDC) today unanimously approved several measures that will help secure a Bass Pro Outdoor World “destination retail” store in Harlingen. The City Commission and HEDC Board approved a lease agreement and three Chapter 380 Agreements to support the project. 380 [...]

A sweeping change is set to take over downtown Harlingen this New Year as a brand new mixed-use development opens its doors in town. This is a Harlingen project from top to bottom,” John Pearcy, the project manager said. “The developers are from Harlingen. Even though it would’ve made a little more sense maybe to [...]

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In case you missed the 6 pm news Monday on Channel 4, click here for a news story on redevelopment of the former Reese-Wil-Mond Hotel/Heritage Manor property into the mixed-use Reese Plaza.  Please share with others interested in GOOD NEWS about Harlingen!  A similar story in Spanish will air tonight or tomorrow @ 8 pm on Chan 4-2.  Enjoy!

Click here to read the entire article Harlingen, Texas, November 23, 2010 – The two Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) that make up the Rio South Texas region have been named among America’s “Best Performing Cities” by the Milken Institute, a California-based economic think tank. The report was released in October 2010.   More News

  Harlingen, Texas, November 23, 2010 – Harlingen, Texas is ranked as having the best cost of living in the United States, according to the ACCRA Cost of Living Index released by the Council for Community and Economic Research. Harlingen received the top ranking from data collected in 314 urban areas for the third quarter [...]

Harilngen, Texas, November 22, 2010 – Harlingen residents in the market for a college degree soon will be able to earn one without leaving the city limits, while Texas State Technical College graduates continuing their academic careers will find many more degree options available from four-year schools. University Center, currently under construction on TSTC’s Harlingen [...]

Click here to view the article!

Click here to read entire article Harlingen, TX, August 26, 2010 — Increased development of the renewable energy industry in Texas could dramatically improve the state’s economy during the next 10 years, according to a new report.   Job gains would jump to 22,900 per year, the Texas gross state product would increase by $2.7 [...]

William A. Martin The Southern Economic Development Council (SEDC) bestowed its highest honor, Honorary Life Membership, upon Bill Martin, CEO of the Harlingen Economic Development Corporation, at its annual conference in New Orleans. Bill Martin has been a professional economic developer since 1973. In 1981, Bill became the first Executive Director of Leavenworth (KS) Area [...]

Click here to view the HEDC 2009 Annual Report Harlingen, Texas, August 18, 2010 – The Harlingen Economic Development Corporation (HEDC) received an Award of Merit in the 2010 Marketing and Communications Awards Program of the Southern Economic Development Council (SEDC). The awards were announced at the SEDC Annual Conference in New Orleans August 15-17. [...]

After consistently ranking among the ten lowest costs of living in the U.S., Harlingen, TX took over the top position in the nation for the second quarter of 2010. The rankings are compiled by the Council for Community and Economic Research.   Harlingen’s Cost of Living Index was 81.8 compared to a national average of 100. The [...]

Kiplinger, a Washington, D.C.-based publisher of business forecasts and personal finance advice, ranks Harlingen third in their 10 Least-Expensive Cities for Living in the U.S.A. list. The rankings were compiled based on the ACCRA Cost of Living Index produced by the Council for Community and Economic Research. Harlingen’s Cost of Living Index was 86.1 compared [...]

William A. Martin Bill Martin, chief executive officer of the Harlingen Economic Development Corporation, has been recertified by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). Martin became a “Certified Economic Developer” (CEcD) in 1986. At the time, he was among only 650 persons to achieve the Certified Economic Developer status. The Certified Economic Developer is the [...]

    OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR R i c k P e r r y For Immediate Distribution Governor’s Press Office: 512-463-1826 July 13, 2010 Allison Castle: Allison.castle@governor.state.tx.us News Release Katherine Cesinger: kcesinger@governor.state.tx.us Texas Declared America’s Top State for Business CNBC Study Ranks Texas as No. 1 Business Climate in the Nation AUSTIN – Texas [...]

Harlingen, Texas, May 12, 2010 — HHS Rotec, LLC has announced plans to establish a manufacturing operation that could employ up to 200 people in Harlingen, Texas.         The company has leased an 80,000 square foot building in the Harlingen Industrial Park and is moving equipment valued at $2 million to begin [...]

Harlingen, Texas, May 12, 2010 – The cost of living in Harlingen, Texas is the sixth lowest in the United States, according to the ACCRA Cost of Living Index released by the Council for Community and Economic Research. The Cost of Living Index (COLI) captures data collected in 308 urban areas for the first quarter [...]

Harlingen, Texas – April 22, 2010 –Tyco Flow Control, a business unit of Tyco International Ltd. (NYSE: TYC), broke ground today for their Harlingen, Texas facility expansion. Tyco’s nearly $5 million dollar investment will add 33,000 square feet to their existing 80,000 square foot facility in the Harlingen Industrial Park. In January 2009, Tyco began [...]

HARLINGEN, TX – April 26, 2010 -Advanced Call Center Technologies, LLC is announcing an expansion of operations in Harlingen, TX that will bring over 150 new jobs to the region. A new client project with a national consumer finance and mortgage servicing company will require 150 new customer service associates and an additional 5 supervisors [...]

Today the Harlingen Economic Development Corporation (EDC) released a report from a consultant consortium of JMWatt Consulting/Altman/Verité ¦rom California, outlining a strategic plan to realize the objectives of S.B. 98 by Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr. and to transform the Regional Academic Health Center (RAHC) into a medical school and health science center, The University of Texas [...]

TSTC PLANS GROUND BREAKING FOR UNIVERSITY BUILDING January27, 2010   A new University Articulation & Career Center for Texas State Technical College Harlingen will reach the construction phase with a ground-breaking ceremony at 1 PM Thursday, February 4. The two-story, 38,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art instructional facility will become an opportunity for public and private four-year universities to [...]

Tyco Flow Control Press Conference Pictured: From Left to Right: Armando Elizarde, President of HEDC, Ed Rushing, Vice President of Operations for Tyco Flow Control, Harlingen Mayor Chris Boswell and Will Smyth, Tyco Flow Control Plant Manager Harlingen, Texas – February 3, 2010 – The Harlingen Economic Development Corporation announced today that Tyco Flow Control, [...]

HEDC staff at ICSC The Harlingen EDC staff attended the International Conference of Shopping Centers (ICSC) Trade Show November 2-4, 2009.  Participants of the trade show included shopping center owners, developers, property managers, marketing specialists, investors, lenders, restaurants, retailers, as well as public officials, giving HEDC staff the opportunity to network with national retailers and [...]

Fitch Ratings has affirmed its “A ” rating on the City of Harlingen’s general obligation bonds and certificates of obligation. Their Rating Outlooks is “Stable.”   According to an October 6, 2009 news release from Fitch, “the ‘A ‘ rating reflects the city’s stable financial history and healthy fund balances, an increasingly diversified economic base with [...]

HARLINGEN, Texas (October 23, 2009) — Harlingen, Texas tied for the fourth lowest cost of living in nation, according to the third quarter report of the ACCRA Cost of Living Index prepared by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). Harlingen consistently ranks among the lowest cost of living areas in the nation. Harlingen’s [...]

CLICK HERE TO READ ARTICLE The Rio South Texas Economic Council — a non-profit alliance of local governments, economic development organizations and stakeholders committed to working toward regional prosperity in the four southernmost Texas counties of Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr and Willacy — signed a “collaboration resolution” today. The resolution marked the members commitment to move [...]

CLICK HERE TO READ ARTICLE Read the article printed in the September 2009 Valley Business Report by Keven Knoch on the new regional group — Rio South Texas Economic Council and their goals for Rio South Texas.

View the full story at valleycentral.com. Click here for the article

Click to see SEDC Awards Booklet The Harlingen EDC was recently recognized and awarded two communications awards at the Southern Economic Development Council Annual Meeting in August 2009. The awards were for the Direct Mail Campaign and for Printed Reports categories. As a new organization, the Harlingen Economic Development Corporation used a direct mail campaign [...]

June 9, 2009 – Brownsville-Harlingen area employers expect to hire at a steady pace during the third quarter of 2009, according to the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey. From July to September, 20% of the companies interviewed plan to hire more employees, while 13% expect to reduce their payrolls. Another 64% expect to maintain their current [...]

HEDC and Spring Dynamics Governor Hernandez The Harlingen Economic Development Corporation (HEDC) participated in the Matamoros Maquiladora Association Trade Show held on May 21 and 22. The trade show is held each year to bring the Maquiladoras and their major suppliers together in order to network, find suppliers and customers and to showcase companies and [...]

Governor Perry & Mayor Boswell Governor Perry and UHG Corporate Team HARLINGEN, Texas (March 24, 2009) – Texas Governor Rick Perry and Harlingen Mayor Chris Boswell welcomed leaders from UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) to Harlingen City Hall today, where they announced that the Company will begin accepting job applications immediately for positions at its service [...]

Harlingen, Texas (March 18, 2009) — The cost of living in Harlingen, Texas ranked fourth lowest in the nation for 2008, according to the report prepared by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The report represents the average prices for the first three quarters of 2008. An earlier report, released in October 2008, [...]

UNITEDHEALTH GROUP TO OPEN NEW SERVICE CENTER IN HARLINGEN, TEXAS Vote paves way for construction of facility and the creation of hundreds of new jobs HARLINGEN, TEXAS (Feb. 27, 2009) – The Harlingen City Commission gave final approval today to bring a UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) service center and hundreds of new jobs to Harlingen, Texas. [...]

Harlingen, Texas, February 5, 2009 Aloe Laboratories, Inc., a vertically integrated aloe vera farming and processing company, has announced a decision to expand their Harlingen, Texas facility. With an investment in excess of $500,000, Aloe Laboratories will expand their facility by 20,000 square feet and will employ 16 additional full time positions within the next [...]

Harlingen, Texas, January 8, 2009 Spring Dynamics, Inc., an Almont, Michigan-based manufacturer of custom precision springs for the automotive industry, announced today that it has selected Harlingen, Texas as the site for a new manufacturing facility. Spring Dynamics will lease a 31,411 square foot facility at 710 North Commerce in Harlingen as the location for [...]

Read More… December 9, 2008 – Brownsville-Harlingen area employers expect to hire at a positive pace during the first quarter of 2009, according to the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey. Among survey participants, the Brownsville-Harlingen area employment outlook is the sixth best in the nation.     More News

Ramiro Aleman at the Bi-National Convention December 4, 2008 Harlingen Well Represented at the Bi-National Convention in Altamira, Tamaulipas   The Harlingen Economic Development Corporation (HEDC) joined other local organizations at the Bi-National Convention of Chambers of Commerce from the State of Tamaulipas, Mexico and the Rio Grande Valley, USA. Other organizations in attendance were [...]

Harlingen, TX (November10, 2008) — The Harlingen Economic Development Corporation (HEDC) has placed a high priority on the development of regional alliances that promote economic development. During the past few months, several new initiatives have been implemented. “We recognize the competition for economic development is global,” according to Armando Elizarde, President of the HEDC. “By [...]

November 5, 2008 The Harlingen Economic Development Corporation (HEDC) unveiled a new web site today, designed to attract corporate investment to Harlingen. In unveiling the site, Armando Elizarde, Vice President of HEDC and President of Town and Country Homes in Harlingen, said, “Economic development is very competitive today and our new web site, www.harlingenedc.com, will [...]

Harlingen \Fact File\ The Harlingen “Fact File,” a community profile in the form of a file folder, has received a “Merit Award” in the Literature and Promotion Awards of the Southern Economic Development Council (SEDC). The “Fact File” was developed by the Harlingen (TX) Economic Development Corporation (HEDC). The “Fact File” is a snapshot of [...]

Announcment could open the door to more international traffic. HARLINGEN, TX. – At 10 a.m. on Friday, November 7th, Valley International Airport (VIA) will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony to announce the news that its U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility is now open and ready to service the cargo operators and general aviation needs [...]

Harlingen area employers expect to hire at a vigorous pace during the second quarter of 2008, according to the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey. Among survey participants, the Harlingen area employment outlook is the seventh best in the nation. From April to June, 53% of the companies interviewed plan to hire more employees, while none expect [...]

Harlingen, Texas tied for the third lowest cost of living in nation, according to the report for the first quarter of 2008 prepared by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). An earlier report, released in February 2008, on the annual average cost of living for 2007 also ranked Harlingen third lowest in the [...]

Pocket Communications, a San Antonio, Texas-based wireless voice and data service provider, announced today it has selected Harlingen, Texas as the location for its flagship customer service center. The firm has leased an 18,000 square foot building at 6906 West Expressway 83 in Harlingen to house its customer service operations. Pocket plans to employ 260 [...]