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UT System begins planning for Valley medical school

UT System begins planning for Valley medical school
Regents also consider enhancing science, engineering offerings at Brownsville, Pan American campuses.

By Ralph K.M. Haurwitz
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Updated: 8:55 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 27, 2009
Published: 8:49 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 27, 2009

Responding to demographic realities and some prodding from the state Legislature, officials of the University of Texas System have begun to sketch out the prospects for establishing a medical school in the Lower Rio Grande Valley.


UT System officials also will consider expanding programs in science, technology, engineering and math — the so-called STEM fields that state officials have deemed a high priority — at the Valley's two public universities, UT-Brownsville and UT-Pan American.

The Valley, which is heavily Hispanic and one of the fastest-growing parts of the state, has long been something of a stepchild when it comes to higher education. Neither the Brownsville campus nor the Pan American campus, which is in Edinburg, has a full complement of graduate-level programs.

The region has a shortage of physicians and high rates of poverty, and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board says the need for a medical school serving the Valley and other parts of South Texas is well-documented.

Earlier this year, state lawmakers approved a measure that authorizes — but stops short of requiring — the UT System Board of Regents to establish a medical school in Cameron County, whose major cities are Brownsville and Harlingen. A bill mandating creation of a law school did not advance.

At a retreat for UT regents and campus presidents this month near Austin, a rough consensus emerged on the educational, economic and political merits of expanding the UT System's offerings in South Texas. Regents Gene Powell and Robert Stillwell said the time might be ripe for the system to announce some sort of major initiative — or, as they put it, "plant the flag."

William Powers Jr., president of UT-Austin, urged officials...
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JC Penny Returns to Weslaco

JC Penny Returns to Weslaco

http://www.weslacoedc.com/

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WESLACO, TX – The Weslaco JC Penney store opened October 2, 2009 and the economic impact from local sales tax will be felt for years to come. However, Weslaco has seen a positive impact since the construction began on the 104,000 square foot store more than a year ago. Money has been spent in Weslaco as contractors and equipment were hired to prepare the land and construct the building as well as the folks who are merchandizing the store. Local hotels, eateries and entertainment venues have benefited. The store is getting ready to open and more than 125 people have been hired, most of them from the Weslaco area. Ventures like this create so much more than just sales and property tax for the area; the impact begins from the earliest stages and has a lasting impact.

The Weslaco trade area has more than 200,000 people residing in a ten-mile radius of Texas Blvd and the Expressway. Money from this population for years has been spent in McAllen and other metropolitan areas for goods and services that can now stay in our trade area. Hernan Gonzalez, the Executive Director of the Economic Development Corporation of Weslaco says that bringing in retailers like JC Penney will begin to stop the leakage of those dollars. “Bringing in JC Penney is just the beginning of the phase. We will be able to attract other national retailers and restaurants to our city, which will keep more of our trade dollars here. It’s a cycle,” he adds. “Once you begin this cycle you then can attract more visitors to the area’s attractions like downtown and the nature centers. Everyone benefits.”

The General Manager of the Weslaco JC Penney, Maribel Jacquez, has been a dedicated employee of the retailer for last 16 years but has been a loyal shopper of the store since she was a child. She grew up in a farm community outside El Paso, Texas and has fond memories of driving into the city with her mom to shop at JC Penney, never dreaming that one day she would be running her own store for the company. On one of those outings to the El Paso JC Penney, she applied for a job and was hired on the spot and has been with them since. Reopening a JC Penney store in Weslaco means so much more for Ms. Jacquez, “it means we are back to stay and make a difference in our community!” She feels strongly that the staff at the store is proof of the commitment that Weslaco has in its people and their desire and willingness to grow. She adds “Weslaco has been amazing! We appreciate the support that we have received at our new location. It has been a joy to see the anticipation growing as customers show up daily to see if the store is open.” The customers are excited and ready to shop and the staff cannot wait to open their doors. JC Penney is very committed to the communities which it serves. Ms. Jacquez said in Weslaco they will be supporting the 4H programs with volunteers as well as financial donations.

The assistant store manager, Susie Hernandez has been with JC Penney for many years, starting with the McAllen store and then the Edinburg store last year. She is excited to be part of the growth of the company as she helps in opening another new store in the valley. “Weslaco is an exciting place to be these days – The community wants growth. You can see it in their efforts such as beautification projects and revitalization of downtown,” said Hernandez.

The long anticipated opening of the new JC Penney store in Weslaco has deeper meaning for Sales Manager, Jesse Rodriguez. The Weslaco native started with JC Penney more than thirty three years ago while he was still in high school, and then continued to work for the store while going to college and made it his career once he earned his degree. When JC Penney closed its doors in downtown Weslaco he worked for the McAllen store. It is with great pride that he is part of the opening of the new store in his home town. He knows that the people are starving for this type of establishment. “JC Penney is a company you can be proud to work for, but I take greater pride in the fact that I’m helping to bring this store back to Weslaco and in a big way,” Rodriguez said. “The store front right on the expressway shows people that as a city, we are growing and have a lot to offer visitors and the people who choose to make Weslaco their home,” he added.

The opening of the Weslaco JC Penney store is not just about the economic impact it will have on the city, it is about jobs, the people and more importantly the community.

Rumors Circulate Santa Aiming for World Speed Record for One Night Deliveries

Rumors Circulate Santa Aiming for World Speed Record for One Night Deliveries
http://www.missioneda.org/
Source: Mission Economic Development Authority
Wednesday, 23 December 2009

Residents in South Texas are expressing joy and excitement over the news that Santa may be relying on America's newest International Bridge in his bid to break the previous world speed record for deliveries in a single night.

The Anzalduas International Bridge, a $168 million dollar bridge connecting Mission and McAllen, Texas, to the industrial hub of Reynosa, Mexico, features technology that aims to speed safe crossings.

"I completely understand why Santa would have confidence that the new Anzalduas International Crossing would save him some serious time on his deliveries this year," says Pat Townsend, CEO of the Mission Economic Development Authority in Mission, Texas. "With the strategic location of the Anzalduas Bridge, he would certainly be able to make his Christmas deliveries to the good little boys and girls across North America faster than ever."

Though facts have been difficult to verify, some reports show Santa also holds the previous speed record for single-night global deliveries from 1973, a year besieged by rising oil prices that kept traffic to a minimum.

"We are all rooting for Santa here in South Texas," says Daniel Silva, Project Manager at the Mission Economic Development Authority. "This new International Bridge was designed to speed the flow of traffic safely between our country and our neighbors of Mexico to the south. But even Santa would save some time this year by using Anzalduas."

Louis Grinch, President of the Society to Undermine Perfect International Deliveries (STUPID) is not convinced. "It's not 1973 anymore. Santa is simply not taking into consideration the increases in international security measures and the huge increases in global traffic. That better be one magical bridge if he's placing his hopes in saving enough time there."

The bridge is ready, having opened for traffic only days ago. The Anzalduas Crossing may well hold the key to Santa's successful record breaking attempt. Delays are anticipated in North Korea, Iran, Iraq and Detroit, and Santa will need to make up at least 2 nanoseconds at Anzalduas to have a shot the record.

Others are more supportive. "I love Santa," says 4-year-old Monica Lopez of South Texas. Lopez is planning to be asleep when Santa crosses Anzalduas late on Christmas Eve. "I like toys."

Recent pictures of Santa show that he appears to be up for the challenge, looking more fit and trim than in recent years.

Whether or not Santa succeeds, Mission Economic Development Authority has agreed to post the results on the Anzalduas website the day after Christmas at www.USMexicoBridge.com and on Santa's record-breaking attempt website, www.GoFastSanta.com.

Pat Townsend Jr.
Mission Economic Development Authority
1-800-707-1155
http://www.missioneda.org/
Source: Mission Economic Development Authority

McAllen’s Downtown Is a Destination

McAllen’s Downtown Is a Destination
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McAllen continues to pump more lifeblood into its heart.

In 2004, during the city’s 100th birthday celebration, McAllen officials introduced a Heart of the City initiative. The goal of the project was to restore vitality to the historic downtown area by attracting new businesses‚ providing adequate parking‚ attracting international shoppers‚ creating new jobs and increasing property values.

Six years after the initiative began, city officials point out that downtown McAllen has become much more energetic, having attracted many more shoppers and several new businesses to the district. Examples of a revitalized look include venues like Buda Bar & Espana that welcomes a more affluent clientele, and the McAllen Chamber of Commerce that has moved into a beautiful downtown building along Ash Avenue.

In addition, the historic Marriott Renaissance Casa de Palmas hotel has been renovated but remains a reminder of the city’s colorful past, and Nuevo Santander Gallery now has a Mediterranean look that reflects McAllen’s history and heritage among the fine art, antiques and Old West collectibles it sells.

Other recent improvements throughout the downtown community include a new bus terminal along with decorative lights along several downtown sidewalks. In addition, a five-story parking garage was constructed and opened downtown in 2007, and the historic El Rey Theatre has been revitalized.

Heart of the City officials point out that continued development of a strong retail sector in the downtown area will bring in even more shoppers to contribute to sales tax revenues, while a more scenic and decorative district further enhances the overall civic image. Future goals for the district include registering McAllen in the Texas Main Street Program, installing a trolley system, creating an arts culture destination for the Rio Grande Valley, and attracting large anchor stores to support and attract new businesses and merchants.

Also, the city hopes to establish more parks and green space areas, and have more high-rise condominiums and lofts available for people looking to live in a downtown environment.

Story by Kevin Litwin
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McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX Ranks 12th in Farmers Insurance Group's Most Secure U.S. Places to Live for 2009

Farmers Insurance Group's Most Secure U.S. Places to Live for 2009:
Large Metro Areas (500,000 or more residents)

Austin-Round Rock, Tex.

Des Moines-West Des Moines, Iowa

Madison, Wis.

Bethesda-Gaithersburg-Frederick, Md.

Rochester, N.Y.

Honolulu, Hawaii

Syracuse, N.Y.

El Paso, Tex.

Portland-South Portland-Biddeford, Me.

Nassau-Suffolk Counties, N.Y.

Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, Minn.

McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, Tex.

Portland-Beaverton, Ore.-Vancouver, Wash.

New Haven-Milford, Conn.

Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, Conn.

Pittsburgh, Pa.

Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, Wash.

Colorado Springs, Colo.

Denver, Colo.

Scranton-Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

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Nelsen: Rio Grande Valley is biggest education lab in U.S.

Nelsen: Rio Grande Valley is biggest education lab in U.S.
Posted: 12/16/2009
Author: Rio Grande Guardian

EDINBURG, Nov. 18 - Robert Nelsen says the Rio Grande Valley is the biggest education laboratory in the United States, which is why he wanted to be president of UT-Pan American.

Nelsen will become UTPA’s eighth president on Jan. 1, 2010. He explained how humbled and thrilled he was to be taking the new position in a brief but passionate speech to students, faculty and staff in the Student Union auditorium on Wednesday afternoon. He has big ambitions for the university.

“I am humbled and thrilled to have this opportunity to partner with you to make UTPA the shining star of education, in the Valley, in Texas, in the nation,” Nelsen said. “We will be the university that everybody else wants to emulate. We will be the one that they will say, ‘we got it right,’ because we will do it together.”

Among those listening to Nelsen’s speech were UT System Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa, UT System Regent Janiece Longoria, and UTPA Interim President Charles Sorber. Longoria was on the search panel that recommended Nelsen to the UT System Board of Regents. She described him as “formidable, articulate and charismatic.” She said he spoke compellingly “from the heart.”

Nelsen threw out a lot of statistics in his speech showing just what a challenge the university and the region face. The Valley covers 116 square miles and has a population of 700,000 people, he said. The region is slated to grow by 15 percent by 2015, he pointed out.

Nelsen said nine out of ten kids in the Valley want to go to college. The good news about those entering UTPA is that 80 percent arrive college-ready, he said. The “sad part,” though, is that 42 percent of them will end up in developmental education class. The Valley is also socio-economically challenged, he explained, stating that 66 percent of its people earn less than $30,000 a year.

“At UTPA last year $100 million went in financial aid to these students. Eighty percent of the students were on aid. Fifty eight percent of the students needed Pell grants. We are reaching out there and offering opportunities to a generation that is going to be able to change this Valley and this world and we are doing it because we care about them,” Nelsen said.

Nelsen said that when he was asked why he wanted to be the president of UTPA, the first answer he gave was because it was in the middle of the Rio Grande Valley. “It was in the middle of the biggest lab there is for education in the United States. It was an opportunity to come to that lab and see education blossom and see people’s lives change.”

He said he wanted the job also because of the students. “Because of the chances and opportunities they will have and because of all of the other children in the Valley and in Texas,” he said.

Nelsen said there is no more important a region than the Valley when it comes to education.

“As the Valley goes, so goes Texas. I’ve heard that so many times and I really believe it. But I also believe something else. And that is if we don’t get it right in Texas we aren’t going to get it right anyplace. And if we don’t get it right in the Valley, we aren’t going to get it right anyplace whatsoever,” Nelsen said.

Nelsen said he and the faculty and staff will make UTPA the nation’s “shining star” through collaboration, cooperation and partnerships. “They will be the road to our success and they will be the road to getting it right in South Texas. Instead of building walls we need to be building bridges,” he explained. He then went on to describe where those bridges are needed.

“We need to build bridges to the industries, we need to build bridges to families, we need to build bridges to politicians, we need to build bridges to school districts, we need to build bridges to the community colleges, we need to build bridges to moms and dads out in the Valley so that their kids want to come here,” he said.

“And we as faculty members need to be building bridges amongst the various disciplines, tearing down silos, creating new and exciting things that are out of the box; that are going to allow those students to have opportunities.” There was applause from the audience after that line. “These bridges are the pathways to our success and to the students’ success,” he added.

Nelsen was accompanied by his wife Jody, who is also in higher education. He explained that he was born and raised in a Valley, but one very different to the Rio Grande Valley. In the Montana Valley he grew up in, there were 30 kids in his senior class. That was the highest number the school had seen, he said. Everybody worked on ranches and dreams were hard to come by, he said. He said he got good at tests and was “lucky” to get out of his Valley.

There has been a lot of lip service paid to the Rio Grande Valley over the years, Nelsen said, but there has also been ...

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Just one metro area (McAllen) regained its pre-recession peak employment level...reported recently by The Brookings Institution

In a Recent Report by The Brookings Institution: Just one metro area (McAllen) regained its pre-recession peak employment level
The Brookings Institution
December 2009 — MetroMonitor:
Tracking Economic Recession and Recovery in America’s 100 Largest Metropolitan Areas Cities, Regions and States, U.S. Economy, Unemployment, Housing

Click Here to Read Full Report

Nationwide, the recession is over—at least in the view of most economists in light of third quarter 2009 indicators. They revealed a real U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) increasing at a 2.8 percent annual rate, after four consecutive quarters of contraction. Most interpreted that rate of output growth, along with other signals such as increasing housing prices, as indication that the economic recovery is underway.
...
Six metro areas—Albuquerque, Austin, McAllen, San Antonio, Virginia Beach, and Washington, DC—had regained their pre-recession peak level of output by the third quarter. Just one metro area (McAllen) regained its pre-recession peak employment level. No metropolitan area had a lower unemployment rate in September than it did one year earlier, though increases over that period ranged widely, from a little over 1 percentage point to more than 8 percentage points.

...

Local officials visit Asia to learn about world-class manufacturing; recruit new companies

Local officials visit Asia to learn about world-class manufacturing; recruit new companies

Texas Border Business

Wednesday, December 16th, 2009

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Local officials from the Rio Grande Valley meet with Mr. Masataka Kataoka, President/CEO of ALPS, in early November 2009 in Japan. Kataoka invited the local officials to tour the ALPS headquarters and centers for advanced manufacturing. ALPS already has located several divisions and a corporate headquarters in McAllen/Reynosa.


During a week-long trip in early November, economic development officials and educators traveled to Korea and Japan to visit with prospective companies and meet the leadership team at ALPS, a global leader in the manufacturing of electronic components and switches.

ALPS already has several manufacturing operations in McAllen/Reynosa. Representatives from the McAllen Economic Development Corporation, Mission Economic Development Authority, Hunt Valley Development, South Texas College and the University of Texas-Pan American used this trip as an opportunity to promote the region as the place for advanced manufacturing given the strategic border location, labor force and educational programs.

The trip started in Korea, where the group met with more than 20 companies that expressed an interest in the McAllen/Reynosa area. “We already have several Asian companies doing business in McAllen and Reynosa, so we use this opportunity to promote the area as an ideal location for manufacturing and business and we also can follow-up with our existing clients,” said Keith Patridge, President/CEO of the McAllen Economic Development Corporation.

“This outreach strategy is critical to discuss the advantages of our region with the decision-makers face-to-face in their country.”After the seminars and company visits in Korea, the group traveled to Japan thanks to a personal invitation from Mr. Masataka Kataoka, President/CEO of ALPS. Since the early 1990s, ALPS has had a presence in McAllen/Reynosa and has partnered with STC and UTPA to provide training and educational opportunities for local employees. Over the years, ALPS has hired several UTPA and STC graduates to work within all divisions of the company.

Mr. Kataoka, along with other ALPS executives, has visited McAllen several times and invited the McAllen team to see first-hand the company’s new technology and to announce that they are creating 40 more jobs and relocating an additional division in McAllen.

Mr. Kataoka hopes to start an exchange program for Rio Grande Valley students and instructors to study at the ALPS facility in Japan with potential job opportunities within the McAllen/Reynosa operations. He unveiled the idea to representatives from STC and UTPA.

“During our time in Korea we made contacts with very high-level universities with strong programs for commercialization of research and technology, and it is our intent to develop these relationships for the benefit of regional technology-based entrepreneurship endeavors” said Dr. Miguel Gonzalez with UTPA. “And the opportunity to meet with the ALPS leadership in Japan was priceless as we saw and experienced cutting-edge advanced manufacturing technology at all levels in their operations. This trip will translate to new lessons and techniques in our manufacturing and engineering classes at UTPA.”

Officials from South Texas College, who have worked closely with ALPS for several years on trainings and grants, were also pleased to hear ...

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Anzalduas Bridge ushers in new era of trading opportunities, say Valley leaders

Anzalduas Bridge ushers in new era of trading opportunities, say Valley leaders

Rio Grande Guardian

By Staff

Picture: Carlos I. Garza, chairman of the Anzalduas International Bridge Board.

MISSION, Dec. 15 – The opening of the Anzalduas International Bridge on Tuesday will boost trade between Texas and Mexico and improve the border economy, say local political leaders.

“This bridge increases our capacity for cross border trade and traveling to and from Mexico,” said Carlos I. Garza, chairman of the Anzalduas International Bridge Board. “An increase in cross border activity will improve the economies on both sides of the border.”

Anzalduas International Bridge is situated three miles west of the Hidalgo/Reynosa International Bridge, off of Military Highway and Anzalduas Highway (FM 396) in Mission. It connects Mission, Texas, with the west side of Reynosa, Tamaulipas.

The bridge will operate seven days a week from 6 am to 10 pm. Traffic began flowing on the bridge at 6 a.m. on Tuesday. Unless and until a federal permit is obtained, Anzalduas will not be able to handle commercial traffic. It is restricted at this stage to handling non-commercial vehicular traffic. City officials in Pharr have protested Anzalduas obtaining a permit for commercial traffic because their international bridge is yet to hit capacity for such traffic.

The international port of entry includes southbound tolling and administrative facilities. The federal government’s Customs and Border Protection will operate inspection facilities on the northbound lanes. The General Services Administration built the bridge’s federal facilities.

Garza pointed out that Mexico is Texas’ biggest trading partner. He said he expects the Anzalduas route to significantly reduce travel time to the Mexican city of Monterrey, a major manufacturing center and important trade partner for Texas.

The new crossing will cut down commute time for thousands of U.S. workers employed at maquiladoras, manufacturing plants immediately across the border in Mexico, Garza said, pointing out that the span also connects McAllen’s Foreign Trade Zone and the massive Sharyland Plantation development directly to Reynosa’s fast-growing west side and its modern industrial parks.

McAllen Mayor Richard Cortez said the new crossing is the result of intense collaboration on the international, federal, state and local levels and an investment worth more than $100 million. It is a collaborative project between the cities of McAllen, Mission, Hidalgo and Granjeno and a decade in the making.

“The opening of the Anzalduas International Bridge will get us closer to being the destination of choice for international business development and it will make it easier for Mexican tourists to cross more efficiently,” Cortez said. “It is a complement to the many assets we are developing to make our region the choice to many who are seeking quality of life.”

Bringing Anzalduas International Bridge from concept to reality has taken more than a decade. Mission Mayor Norbeto “Beto” Salinas said he was excited to finally be celebrating the bridge’s opening.

“We have been working really hard on this project for the last 12 years along with McAllen, Hidalgo and Granjeno,” Salinas said. “This is going to be very good for our communities, including Mexico; it will stimulate business and tourism for both countries. We built this bridge that will strengthen our ties with our neighbors to the South as well as a stronger economic future for our area.”

Hidalgo Mayor John David Franz also expressed excitement about the completion and opening of the bridge.

“The opening of the Anzalduas International Bridge brings us closer to being the best option for international business development and it facilitates travel for Mexican tourists, allowing faster crossings,” Franz said.

The official bridge inauguration is scheduled for January 2010.

Here is an Anzalduas International Bridge Project Fact Sheet produced by the Anzalduas International Bridge Board:

• Bridge is located in Mission, Texas south of Military Highway and Bryan Road. Crossing is 3 miles west of the Hidalgo-Reynosa International Bridge, off of Military Highway and Anzalduas Highway (FM 396).

• Anzalduas is the closest international crossing to Mexico City and Monterrey. Route will reduce travel time to Monterrey by 30-45 minutes.

• Anzalduas International Bridge has four entrance lanes, including a SENTRI Lane in the United States. Bridge span is 3.2 miles (5.1 KM) from port to port and features 4 lanes, two safety bump-out spaces, and a pedestrian walkway. Lanes elevated to preserve nearby U.S. Fish and Wildlife Refuge.

• Anzalduas is a joint public project between the cities of McAllen, Mission, Hidalgo and Granjeno, TX DOT, the federal government (GSA) and the Republic of Mexico worth over $100 million dollars.

• In Texas, the Anzalduas International Bridge connects to the McAllen Foreign Trade Zone, where more than 410 companies are based; and the Sharyland Plantation, a 6,000 acre residential, industrial and retail development.

• Dozens of multi-national corporations are located in state of the art industrial areas near Anzalduas’ entry in west Reynosa, MX. The companies include: Nokia, Matsushita, Black and Decker, Fujitsu, Seimens, Corning, TRW and Symbol Technologies

• Anzalduas International Bridge hours of operation: 6 am to 10 pm, daily

• Official bridge inauguration is planned for January of 2010


Time Line

1992-1998 Preliminary design and site location studies by Halff and Associates

1994 Wilbur Smith Associates complete traffic study

1994-1998 Review of preliminary application for U.S. Permit by U.S. federal agencies

1995 Four party agreement with federal agencies for land use at site

July 1999 U.S. Presidential Permit issued by President Clinton

Feb 2001 Initial exchange of diplomatic notes with Mexico

Fall 2003 Approval by federal agencies of construction plans

Fall 2007 June 2007, bridge groundbreaking ceremony

Fall of 2009 Anzalduas International Bridge Completed


Anzalduas Bridge Board Summary of Costs from 2007 to 2009

Bridge Contract to Williams Bros - $28,713, 014

Toll Plaza Building & Landscaping - $3,078,014

Roadways, Drainage & Site Improvements - $3,961,122

Water, Sanitary Sewer Lines - $2,296,078

Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment - $909,011

Electrical Utilities & Lighting - $1,543,206

All other owner’s expense - $2,796,171

Grand Total - $43,296,616

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