Weslaco Economic Development Corporation reports record sales-tax month, honors departing board member JJ Serrano

City and EDC officials told the Weslaco City Commission on March 5 that February was a record month for local sales-tax collections and used the meeting to recognize a departing EDC board member.

George Lozano, reporting for the Weslaco Economic Development Corporation, said local sales tax collections for February were about $2,300,000, representing roughly $118 million in taxable sales within the city limits and extraterritorial jurisdiction. Lozano said the figure reflected growth in both residential and commercial activity and credited residents for keeping spending local.

Earlier in the meeting, the commission and EDC staff recognized JJ Serrano for his six-year term on the Weslaco EDC board. An EDC representative said Serrano helped negotiate or support roughly 13 incentive packages that produced about 1,700 jobs and attracted approximately $125 million in private investment; he also assisted land acquisition for the city's industrial park and participated in attraction and negotiation efforts for high-profile projects. Serrano thanked the commission, EDC staff and his family and said he was honored to have served.

Lozano also listed EDC initiatives and upcoming programs including a new marketing grant for local retail and commercial businesses (digital marketing, photography and advertising), a Kaufman Fast Track seven-week business-coaching cohort with UTRGV's CIC starting in May, recent ribbon cuttings for new businesses, and preliminary approval for a "Keep Weslaco Beautiful" affiliate through Keep Texas Beautiful.

No formal votes were required for the recognition or the informational reports.