McAllen’s inclusion on a national top-20 list for small businesses reaffirms the city’s long-standing support for entrepreneurship and development.
McAllen Mayor Javier Villalobos made that assessment after learning of CoworkingCafe listing his city as the ninth best place for small businesses among 136 southern U.S. cities surveyed. Coworking Café is a listing service for flex workplace solutions in supporting remote workers, freelancers and employees from all fields seeking user-friendly platforms.
CoworkingCafe used 11 key metrics in its assessments of cities across the Sunbelt and the South. Among Texas cities, only Austin listed at number five and McAllen ranked ninth made the list’s top 10.
“It adds to something we already knew,” Villalobos said of his city’s ranking on the national list. “McAllen has created a supportive environment where businesses of all sizes can flourish, and we are committed to continuing that progress.”
Gateway To Mexico
Coworking Café gave McAllen high marks for affordability, strong economic growth and favorable economic conditions, which includes lower labor costs. McAllen ranked fifth for high self-employment rate, meaning the city has favorable conditions for owners of small businesses.
McAllen “stands out as a dynamic location,” Coworking Café said in a press release about its rankings. It described McAllen’s geographic proximity to the U.S./Mexico border as a significant advantage in providing businesses with easy access to trade routes and international commerce.
“McAllen acts as a gateway between the two countries, making it a strategic hub for industries such as logistics, warehousing and cross-border retail,” said Andreea Neculae, a writer for Coworking Café. “This access to global markets is particularly attractive for small businesses looking to scale operations and tap into international opportunities without relocating to larger, more expensive metropolitan areas.”
McAllen’s longstanding business and retail ties to Monterrey remain strong. Mayor Villalobos said his city is further boosting its profile in Mexico with trade mission trips to San Luis Potosi, Tampico and Mexico City.
“I get asked sometimes why we go to Mexico so much.” Villalobos said. “My response is that investment and business from Mexico is still very important to our local economy.”
Diversifying Economy
Beyond the ties to Mexico, Coworking Café noted that McAllen has worked to diversify its economy with growth seen in sectors like healthcare, education and technology.
“The city is becoming increasingly attractive to a wider range of entrepreneurs, from tech startups to retail and service-based businesses,” said Neculae, the writer for CoworkingCafe.
The city’s workforce, Neculae said, has many young and bilingual workers who are skilled in trades that are essential to the area’s key industries. This serves as an advantage for companies opening operations in McAllen in having a workforce that is adaptable and knowledgeable in operating in a border region.
McAllen is building on these advantages with guidance and resources offered by the local chamber of commerce and economic development corporation via networking and training sessions. As mayor, Villalobos has worked with the City Commission and staff to streamline permitting to make it easier to start and get a new business going.
“We provide the services, but it’s our business community and local industries that deserve the credit,” Villalobos said of his city’s high ranking in the national survey. “I think in many ways that McAllen is still the economic engine of the Valley.”
