U.S. Grant Will Help Weslaco Expand Industrial Park

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U.S. Grant Will Help Weslaco Expand Industrial Park

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Weslaco's industrial parks are now a focal point for storing and shipping Mexican produce and other agricultural products to many U.S. markets.
Weslaco’s industrial parks are now a focal point for storing and shipping Mexican produce and other agricultural products to many U.S. markets.

Weslaco’s Mid Valley International Industrial Park is the recipient of a $1.5-million federal grant to expand opportunities for commercial, cold storage and warehousing businesses.

The industrial park has seen significant growth in recent years, especially with companies involved in cold storage and shipment of produce from Mexico, as well as other agricultural commodities like cotton. The federal grant to Weslaco comes from the U.S. Commerce Department’s Economic Development Administration. The funds will help pay for the infrastructure and expansion of a second industrial park that sits about a mile from the first site.

Rio Grande Valley-grown cotton ships to markets around the country and world from one of the CiL facilities at Weslaco's Mid Valley International Industrial Park.
Rio Grande Valley-grown cotton ships to markets around the country and world from one of the CiL facilities at Weslaco’s Mid Valley International Industrial Park.

“The support we received from the EDA and our state and national leaders is phenomenal,” said Steven Valdez, the executive director of the Weslaco Economic Development Corporation. “To know they believe in Weslaco and in our potential for economic growth and prosperity, to the point of partnering with us in creating jobs and increase investments, means that our new industrial park is off to an amazing start.”

The EDA states $375,000 in local funds will match its grant. It also expects the expansion to to create 600 jobs and generate $275 million in private investment. 

“The Economic Development Administration is pleased to support the Weslaco Economic Development Corporation as they seek to diversify the region’s economy,” said Alejandra Castillo, an assistant secretary of commerce. “This project will facilitate the location of approximately 20-25 companies in the industrial park, expanding job opportunities in the region.”

Colimex ships limes and other Mexican produce to markets nationwide from its industrial park site in Weslaco.
Colimex ships limes and other Mexican produce to markets nationwide from its industrial park site in Weslaco.

Growing To Second Park

Weslaco’s two industrial parks are located just to the northeast of the Mid-Valley Airport on Mile 9 Road North and extending to FM 1015. 

Weslaco touts the access of its industrial parks to Expressway 83 and the Progreso International Bridge, along with its easy reach to the airport. The city and its park are also located at a midpoint location in the Rio Grande Valley. It makes it an ideal staging ground for distribution and shipment.

In late 2021, Weslaco’s EDC reported that its one industrial park at the time was nearly full. The EDC announced plans to develop an additional 15 acres for manufacturing, warehousing and distribution. About $9 million in infrastructure improvements were set into motion at the site of a second park at Mile 9 and FM 1015.

Valdez has referred in the recent past to having letters of intent from prospective tenants that they will locate in Weslaco if facilities are available at its industrial parks. The $1.5-million federal grant will make all of that more likely.

“It has been the vision of our city leaders at the EDC and our mayor and city commission to expand into a second industrial park for Weslaco, and to offer prime, developed land for companies that see value in our centralized location,” Valdez said.

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