Booming Weslaco is expanding its industrial park capacity

WESLACO, Texas - With its one industrial park almost full, Weslaco Economic Development Corporation is developing another 15 acres of land for manufacturing, warehousing and distribution. Around $9 million worth of Infrastructure improvements are being made on the land off of FM 1015 and Mile 9.Steve Valdez, executive director of Weslaco EDC , recently gave an exclusive interview to the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service about the new developments. He said Weslaco did not suffer as big a downturn in the economy due to the coronavirus pandemic and is now rebounding well.“Our existing industrial park is full. We have small spaces here and there, but for larger manufacturing companies, warehousing, distribution centers and the like, we just don’t have any more space,” Valdez said.Valdez said he and his predecessor, Marie McDermott, have been looking for the right piece of property to develop as an industrial park for the past four or five years. “That right opportunity just showed up and presented itself - 150 acres right off of FM 1015 and Mile 9. So, we are only two miles off of the expressway. We are on a state highway so that highway is always going to be maintained by the state.”Asked if he would have any trouble filling the new industrial park with manufacturing, warehousing and distribution companies, Valdez said: “It is one thing to be optimistic, it is another thing to have letters of intent in front of you saying, we are ready to break ground, how fast can you get it ready for us. That is just amazingly exciting for us.”The new industrial park is only eight miles from Progreso International Bridge, with a direct connection along an overweight corridor, FM 1015. The bridge, which is privately owned, is currently being expanded also. This will help Weslaco, Valdez argued.“By the end of this year they plan to open up four new lanes of commercial traffic at the bridge,” Valdez said. “We think Weslaco will benefit from this. Cold storage, warehousing, distribution centers. We are going to go after all them.”Valdez said all the ingredients are present to help Weslaco become even more prosperous, including having South Texas College and UT-Rio Grande Valley in the city to train high-skilled workers.“It is a blessing to have good leadership, it is a blessing to have good, smart residents in our community that want to continue growing. Our schools are amazing. We just have a nice formula of success that everyone partners in to make it what it is today.”Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.