MEDC/MFTZ Trains for a Marathon Year of Economic Development

MEDC/MFTZ Trains for a Marathon Year of Economic Development

Friday, January 15th, 2010
By Keith Patridge, President/CEO of McAllen Economic Development Corporation www.texasborderbusiness.com

It seemed like a great idea back in November when staff decided to sign up for the Fiesta Marathon Relay in McAllen. Twenty employees from the McAllen Economic Development Corporation and Foreign Trade Zone formed four teams of five to conquer the 26.2-mile relay early on a Sunday morning in mid-December.

This race became the buzz in the office as several employees met on weekends to train and run laps around the trade zone after business hours. And on race day, we all gathered at the start line before sunrise to take on this marathon.

MEDC/MFTZ staff, joined with friends and family, stood along the race route to cheer on our teams and offer words of encouragement during that foggy, cold morning. Less than six hours later, we all completed the race and despite some soreness, it proved to be a great day. The mileage challenged us, but it drove home the importance of teamwork, efficiency and strategy. It also reminds us of the expression that sometimes in life -and business- it is a marathon, not a sprint. And while we sprint when we have to, this past year tested the endurance of everyone in business.

Economic development in 2009 was a long, grueling marathon. The slow economic conditions have caused some companies to be more cautious and hesitant, but it doesn’t mean we give up. This “marathon” challenges the MEDC team to be patient, more innovative and aggressive.

We have talked about the auto plant for some time, and it is still moving forward. McAllen continues to be in that race and hopefully we will have some positive news to report in 2010. And although the year has proved slower than usual, we have secured 18 new companies in Reynosa and McAllen, plus existing companies added 723,000-square feet of industrial space in the McAllen MSA and in Reynosa.

Also, we have seen an influx of companies transferring divisions and their corporate headquarters to McAllen. In part because of the region’s large local workforce, strategic location and low costs of doing business, Fujitsu-Ten, Panasonic, Hi-Tec and ALPS have located their North American corporate headquarters to McAllen. Bettcher has transferred all of its North American corporate and manufacturing operations to McAllen and Reynosa. Hutchinson Manufacturing has also started transferring several divisions to McAllen.

For more than 17 years, the MEDC team has worked with ALPS, a global leader and manufacturer of electronic and automotive components. Over time, we have helped the company relocate families, hire local students from South Texas College and University of Texas-Pan American and expand their McAllen/Reynosa operations.

Recently, MEDC, along with officials from STC, UTPA, Mission Economic Development Authority and Hunt Valley Development, traveled to ALPS’ headquarters in Japan to meet with Mr. Masataka Kataoka, president/CEO of ALPS and tour their advanced technology and manufacturing centers. Mr. Kataoka announced that ALPS will bring their North American headquarters to McAllen, along with an additional division and 40 more jobs.

This represents a great opportunity to strengthen the partnership we have forged with ALPS over the years. We will continue working with company officials to help them create a global headquarters in McAllen.

The management teams of ALPS and all of our companies have become more like family to us, as we have known many of them for almost 20 years. Like training for a marathon – or even a fun relay- economic development and partnerships take practice and commitment.

And the MEDC team is committed to creating economic opportunity in the Rio Grande Valley and Northern Mexico. If you know of a company that is interested in learning about the advanced manufacturing opportunities in McAllen/Reynosa, contact the MEDC team today at 956.682.2875 or info@medc.org.

Keith Patridge is President and C. E. O. of McAllen Economic Development Corporation.