Hidalgo CountyFriday, November 13
Hidalgo County leaders outline plans for jobs, manufacturing and keeping young talent
The Good Day Edinburg team
If you've wondered how the county plans to grow good jobs, County Judge Richard Cortez, Mario Reyna and Skylar C. Howell laid it out at a McAllen Citizens League luncheon. Cortez said the strategy centers on education, employment and better opportunities for low-income residents. He also cited migration figures showing net population losses to several Texas cities.
Hidalgo County lost the most residents to Corpus Christi
Source: Texas Border Business
View as table
| Value | |
|---|---|
| Corpus Christi | 990 |
| San Antonio | 860 |
| Dallas | 480 |
| Houston | 446 |
| Austin | 33 |
Reyna, who leads the Prosperity Task Force and RioPlex, said the region's poverty rate has declined from 26.9% to 24.2%, though he didn't say over what period. RioPlex pitches South Texas and northern Mexico as one economic region to attract industrial investment.
- Manufacturing: fewer than 3% of Valley workers, versus about 6% statewide
- Future Leaders Council: 16 young professionals, ages 21 to 27
- Youth survey on data centers: report due to commissioners by year's end
- Study of young residents' priorities: planned by end of 2027
The Valley's poverty rate has fallen to 24.2%
- 24.2%
- Valley poverty rate, down from 26.9%
- 3.5 million
- residents RioPlex represents
- $5,000
- from South Texas Health System to Texas A&M's McAllen center
Sources: Texas Border Business, MyRGV.com
On the workforce side, South Texas Health System donated $5,000 to the Texas A&M University Higher Education Center at McAllen to support students and help build a pipeline of skilled healthcare professionals.
Sources: Texas Border Business, MyRGV.com