Valley's first toll road to open north of Brownsville

by Jonathan Weant

Valleycentral.com

Love them or hate them, toll roads are becoming the new trend across the nation.

Even here in the Rio Grande Valley with a new told road opening up at Paredes Line and FM 511 in Brownsville.

“The idea in using the overpass is to avoid the congestion at the intersection of FM 511 and Paredes line and to avoid the rail road tracks” said Pete Sepulveda with Cameron County's Regional Mobility Authority.

The toll for State Highway 550 will be all electronic.

Cameras just above the overpass will acted as a toll booth, taking pictures of who’s on the road.

Drivers will then get a bill in the mail.

Transportation authorities say this is only phase one of a much larger project.

They are hoping to have more toll roads up and running by summer of 2012.

“When it’s all complete, the idea is to take you from Highway 48 to 77 without having to stop at any traffic lights or major intersection” said Supulveda.

The public will still have the use ...

Click here to read more

McAllen MSA Continues to Outperform at the National Level

McAllen – Unemployment in the McAllen MSA area rose slightly to 12.8 percent in January, up from 12.2 percent in December; still above the Texas unemployment rate of 8.5 percent and U.S. unemployment rate of 9.8 percent, both of which also marked an increase from December. The McAllen MSA area also posted an increase of 1,100 in the Civilian Labor Force in January, increasing by 5,900 since January 2010.

According to a recent study by the Brookings Institute; which profiled 100 of the nation’s largest metropolitan areas – home to three-fourths of the U.S. economy, the McAllen MSA is one of only four metropolitan areas that were among the top 20 metropolitan areas during both the recession and the recovery period.

“The local labor market has consistently showed positive signs. In spite of the current local unemployment rate, the Rio Grande Valley continues to grow and create jobs. I am encouraged job seekers will find good paying jobs and employers will continue to find qualified employees,” said Yvonne ‘Bonnie’ Gonzalez, Chief Executive Officer of Workforce Solutions. “Staff at the Office for Business Partnerships, and six Career Centers in the tri-county region, remain committed to assisting employers and job seekers.”

Workforce Solutions / Lower RGV is one of 28 local workforce development boards located throughout the state. This Board serves Starr, Hidalgo and Willacy counties through a network of partners in the tri-county region. The primary goal of Workforce Solutions / Lower RGV is to respond to the needs of employers, workers and job seekers, and provide the resources needed to succeed in an ever-changing world. All eligible employers, workers and job seekers are encouraged to take advantage of these services.

For more information Contact:
Victor M. de Leon, Public Information Officer – Workforce Solutions
victor@wfsolutions.org

Mike Blum, of NAI Rio Grande Valley named to NAI Global's 2011 Executive Committee!

Mike, the only representative from Texas, will represent the Valley with a strong voice for promoting growth and business for the area. He will provide additional leadership to this experienced and distinguished group.

The NAI Members' Leadership Board is comprised of representatives of NAI member firms and interacts with NAI Global to provide input and develop key strategic initiatives.

For more information about Mike and NAI Rio Grande Valley visit our website at www.NAIRGV.com You can also follow our Tweets http://twitter.com/NAIRGV and Posts on Facebook www.facebook.com/NAIRGV

U.S./Mexico Cargo Truck Agreement Expected To Create Jobs

Posted Thu Mar 03, 2011 | Office of US Congressman Henry Cuellar | Latest News  | Bookmark & Share

From the office of US Congressman Henry Cuellar:

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) released the following statement after President Barack Obama and President Felipe Calderon announced an agreement has been reached between the United States and Mexico on cargo trucks:
“This agreement is great news for Texas producers and an important step to more open, transparent and efficient trade between the two countries. Lower tariffs mean more jobs in the 28th district and around the country.
“This agreement is one more way to create jobs and drive the U.S economy. Everyday, more than $1 billion in goods move across the U.S.-Mexico border. This historic and important agreement has far-reaching implications that will benefit both countries for years to come.”
Background:
The agreement reached today by President Barack Obama and President Felipe Calderon calls for the immediate lift of 50 percent of the tariffs to allow U.S. cargo trucks to travel into Mexico. The agreement also establishes a reciprocal, phased-in pilot program that allows Mexican trucks to operate inside the U.S. provided they comply with a series of safety and driver skills and language tests monitored by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
The remaining 50 percent of tariffs would be lifted when the first Mexican carrier receives authorization under the new program. The Office of U.S. Trade Representative, Ron Kirk, will ensure the tariffs are lifted as agreed.

Stay Connected!

Stay Connected...

Follow our Tweets @ http://twitter.com/NAIRGV

Read our posts on Facebook @ http://www.facebook.com/NAIRGV

City of Edinburg Begins Construction on New Medical Conference Facility

DHR to break ground on Conference Center
By JOEY GOMEZ
Published: Wednesday, March 2, 2011 2:28 PM CST

Aiming to enrich the medical community and the public at large, the city begins construction on a new and lavish medical conference facility this week.

The City of Edinburg and Doctor’s Hospital at Renaissance officially break ground on the future Edinburg Conference Center at Renaissance on March 3, at 10:30 a.m. The facility will be located on the eastside of the Del Prado Business Park, one block south of Alberta Road on McColl in Edinburg.

“The Edinburg Conference Center at Renaissance is a place where doctors and other healthcare practitioners from throughout South Texas will come together to hear from the leading experts in medicine and healthcare,” said Mayor Richard Garcia. “Already, Doctors Hospital at Renaissance is recognized as one of the leading hospitals in Texas and this facility will further enhance its ability to bring world class healthcare to Edinburg and to the entire region. In the end everybody benefits, the doctors, the patients and the community.” The $9 million square foot conference center, designed by The Warren Group, will provide architectural amenities including a 1000 seat auditorium and two multipurpose rooms, each accommodating over 80 people. The auditorium will feature multiple viewing screens, a 3,100 square foot main stage, a state-of-the-art sound system, and theatrical lighting. LED lighting will be used throughout the conference center. In addition, the auditorium will have satellite broadcasting capabilities, according to DHR staff.

“There is a need to have educational activities for the benefit of our physicians, medical staff, and the community as a whole,” said Marissa Castaneda, DHR Chief Operations Officer. “Healthcare is an industry that grows increasingly complicated, so ongoing education for our staff, patients, and medical staff members is one of the components necessary to continue serving our community and providing optimal health care for the residents of the Rio Grande Valley.”

The 38,000-square-foot facility is aimed to open November 2011, and will provide more than 25 new jobs. The county and city taxes for the conference center will equate to more than $244,000, according to Edinburg Economic Development. There are currently nine hospitals and 7,000 hospital employees in the Edinburg Medical Corridor.

“The Edinburg Conference Center at Renaissance is another key addition to the corridor that further consolidates the City’s position as the South Texas leader in health care and medical education,” said EEDC executive director, Pedro Salazar. “The conference center will also bring a great deal of conference traffic that will help us further develop retail, restaurant, and hospitality services in the corridor.”

Border City McAllen, TX Prospers Despite Mexico Violence

To read article please click here

Rio South Texas Cities Making Top Rank

Cities in the Rio South Texas Region making top spots across multiple national lists.

SOURCE Rio South Texas Economic Council

EDINBURG, Texas, Feb. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Recent national lists regarding job growth, safety and cost of living, among others, have ranked cities in the Rio South Texas region among the top, proving this growing region has much to offer those wishing to invest and relocate here.

Farmers Insurance Group's Most Secure U.S. Places to Live for 2010 ranked the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission MSA 14th on their list for Large Metropolitan areas. This ranking included factors such as: crime statistics, extreme weather, risk of natural disasters, foreclosures, terrorist threats and job loss numbers.

The 2010 ACCRA Cost of Living Index ranked Harlingen, Texas as the city with the lowest cost of living in the nation, while another Rio South Texas city, McAllen, ranked 3rd. The Cost of Living Index is an annual list based on prices for items including housing, utilities, grocery products, transportation, and healthcare. Rio South Texas cities have consistently ranked among the top on this list for multiple years.

Multiple reports have ranked the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission MSA high among metropolitan areas for job growth. Based on information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor, Business First ranked the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission MSA 24th on their list of top 100 Metropolitan Areas in Job growth from 2009 to 2010. Also, the American metro-area economic stability report, released by the Brookings Institution, states the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission MSA is among the 100 largest metropolitan areas that are on the road to recovery, showing the McAllen metro area to have had three consecutive quarters of job growth through 2009 and the beginning of 2010.

"As you can see by these rankings," said Miki McCarthy, RSTEC chair of the Rio South Texas Economic Council and executive director of San Juan Economic Development Corporation, the Rio South Texas region has earned top recognition as the premier place for business expansions, relocations and job creation for advanced manufacturing and new emerging technologies."

The Rio South Texas region is the largest U.S./Mexico border region in America, the third largest market in Texas, and the 23rd largest market in the U.S. The Rio South Texas region encompasses two countries, one region with many choices. For more information about the Rio South Texas region, please visit www.riosouthtexas.com or call toll free at 1-888-RSTEC01.

Media Contact:
Raudel Garza
1-888-RSTEC01 (888-778-3201)
Direct Line: 956-607-1197
rgarza@riosouthtexas.com

Mike Blum of NAI RGV Selected to NAI Global's 2011 Executive Committee

NAI Global Names 2011 Executive Committee

By Debra Hazel

Real Estate Forum

www.globest.com

PRINCETON, NJ-National real estate services network NAI Global has named new Executive Committee leadership for its NAI Members’ Leadership Board, which is comprised of representatives of NAI member firms and interacts with NAI Global to provide input and develop key strategic initiatives.

Heading the committee are: Kevin Fitzgerald, president of NAI Southwest Florida in Fort Myers, FL, who was named chairman of the Members’ Leadership Board; vice chair Maribel Koella, who is also principal of NAI Knoxville in Knoxville, TN; and Michael Flynn, secretary of the Members’ Leadership Board, and also executive vice president of NAI Hiffman in Chicago.

Joining the Leadership Board are: Bob Brehmer of NAI Daus (Cleveland, OH); Carlos Robles of NAI Costa Rica (San Jose, Costa Rica); Jason Richards of NAI Earle Furman (Greenville, SC); Jimmy Barnes of NAI Carolantic Realty (Raleigh, NC); Mike Blum of NAI Rio Grande Valley (McAllen, TX); and Randy Young of NAI Norris, Beggs & Simpson (Portland, OR).

“The NAI Members’ Leadership Board drives strategy and new initiatives that promote collaboration and alignment across the network,” Jeffrey M. Finn, NAI Global president and CEO, said in a statement. “The leadership provided by this experienced group is invaluable in building a seamless global service delivery system that supports the growing and changing needs of our corporate, institutional and entrepreneurial clients around the world.”

January 2011 Global Economic Outlook Web Conference Still Available OnDemand!

Moving Beyond a Disastrous Decade

Where do we stand with the global economic recovery? Will the jobs sector improve in 2011? How will recent elections impact the market? Where will commercial vacancies go? Listen to the January 2011 Global Economic Outlook web conference OnDemand.