Category Archives: Manufacturing/Industrial

STISD & TSTC Partner for Welding Program

e-Brief Features Education Manufacturing/Industrial News Comments
TSTC Welding Technology

Thanks to a new partnership, high school students from South Texas Independent School District’s Science Academy in Mercedes can now participate in a dual credit program in Welding Technology with Texas State Technical College. “The dual credit program pairs well with our hands-on approach to the engineering program of study,” said Vanessa Rivera, the school district’s career and technical education director. “We encourage our students to learn and earn stackable credentials…

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Port’s FTZ Ranks Top 3 in Exports Nationwide

e-Brief Features Manufacturing/Industrial News Comments
The Port of Brownsville’s Foreign Trade Zone No. 62 (photo Port of Brownsville)

In its 85th Annual Report of the Foreign-Trade Zones Board to Congress, published Aug. 28, the Port of Brownsville’s FTZ No. 62 ranked third in the nation marking a 12-year-consecutive streak the value of exports at $7 billion. For the first time, FTZ No. 62 broke through the Top 20 list for the value of imports, ranking 14th with $3.2 billion worth of commodities imported. “Our foreign trade zone is an…

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BND Appoints Port Director and CEO

e-Brief Features Manufacturing/Industrial Moving On Up News Comments
William Dietrich

At a regular board meeting last week, the Brownsville Navigation District Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to appoint William Dietrich as port director and CEO. Dietrich becomes the ninth port director and CEO in the port’s 88-year history. In December, the BND Board named Dietrich interim port director and CEO while the navigation district conducted a national search for a new port director and CEO. “I would like to congratulate…

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Apprenticeship Program Addresses Industry Needs

Education Manufacturing/Industrial News Comments
STC’s construction apprenticeship program such as blueprint reading and management skills. (Courtesy)

The Construction Superintendent Apprenticeship program at South Texas College gives students the opportunity to earn while they learn.  Maribel and Carolina Saenz – two sisters who operate their own utility contracting business – received a certificate of completion from STC’s apprenticeship program. The program is tailored to students already working in an industry. For the Saenz sisters, the STC certifications will help take their Saenz Utility Contractors of Edcouch-Elsa to…

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Rio Grande LNG Reaching Out To Community

Education Manufacturing/Industrial News Comments
Rio Grande LNG representatives emphasized the safety aspects of their plant being built at the Port of Brownsville during a recent event on the TSTC campus in Harlingen.

Rene Rodriguez’s students are huddled around representatives of Rio Grande LNG, a bit wide-eyed and asking plenty of questions. Rodriguez is an instructor with the building construction technology program at Texas State Technical College in Harlingen. Rio Grande LNG representatives had just concluded a presentation on campus regarding their facility, which is currently under construction at the Port of Brownsville. The first phase of the $18 billion-plus liquefied natural gas…

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Port of Brownsville Business Park Lands First Tenant

e-Brief Features Manufacturing/Industrial News Comments
COSTEP CEO Adam Gonzalez, Westa Inc. CEO Zaur Kafkas, and Port of Brownsville Interim Director and CEO William Dietrich join Brownsville District Navigation District members Ralph Cowen, John Reed, Sergio Tito Lopez and John Wood.

The Port of Brownsville recently held a ceremonial groundbreaking for its first tenant at the Port of Brownsville Business Park, Westa Inc. The April 18 ceremony marked a significant milestone in the development of the port’s 118-acre business park. Westa Inc., a major player in the agricultural industry, will invest $20 million to establish a state-of-the-art wheat flour mill and wheat storage silos at the Port of Brownsville. The company…

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Port of Brownsville Awarded $1.1M

e-Brief Features Manufacturing/Industrial News Comments
Port of Brownsville

The Port of Brownsville was recently named the recipient of $1,116,279 in funding from the federal government for its Port of Brownsville Vessel Suitability Analysis and Feasibility project. Congressman Vicente Gonzalez announced the award in March as part of $15,622,100 in Community Project Funding for the 34th Congressional District of Texas. “By passing this final tranche of long-awaited funding bills, the U.S. House of Representatives has avoided a devastating and…

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Texas A&M to Build $30M Training Center at PoB

Manufacturing/Industrial News Comments

On Feb. 8, Regents of The Texas A&M University System approved building a $30 million advanced manufacturing training facility at the Port of Brownsville. The announcement comes after the Brownsville Navigation District Board of Commissioners unanimously voted to approve a lease amendment at a recent regular board meeting, allowing the Texas A&M University System to expand its existing footprint at the port. The South Texas Workforce Development Project is proposed…

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Dietrich Assumes Interim Director at Port

e-Brief Features Manufacturing/Industrial Moving On Up News Comments
William Dietrich

The Port of Brownsville begins 2024 with Port Chief of Police William Dietrich succeeding former Port Director and CEO Eduardo A. Campirano as interim port director. The Brownsville Navigation District Board of Commissioners began a national search for a new port director and CEO in August. Dietrich was named interim in December while the search continues. “Building upon record achievements, the Port of Brownsville is on the path for tremendous…

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Port of Brownsville Recognizes Norma Torres

Featured Manufacturing/Industrial News Comments

Former Brownsville and Rio Grande International Railway President and COO Norma Torres recently received the prestigious 2023 Chairman’s Award in recognition of her exemplary career. The presentation took place during the Port of Brownsville’s Annual Customer Appreciation Luncheon on Dec. 14 at the Ambassador Event Center. The event highlights the achievements of port tenants and customers throughout the year. Torres has played a pivotal role in the short line’s success,…

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