Starr County Industrial Foundation outlines retail, logistics and energy projects in Rio Grande City
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Summary
Starr County Industrial Foundation staff briefed the Rio Grande City EDC on multiple retail leases, a cold-storage and international business center, foreign-trade-zone work and large renewable-energy projects that the foundation says will create jobs and raise local tax revenues.
Starr County Industrial Foundation representatives gave the Rio Grande City Economic Development Corporation a wide-ranging update on May 30, describing retail deals, industrial and logistics projects, and renewable-energy investments the foundation is shepherding into the region.
The presentation, delivered by a foundation spokesperson identified in the meeting as Miss Fernandez, outlined several potential and near-term retail projects. Fernandez said the foundation already has a letter of intent for about 15,180 square feet at the LEX facility and expects a retail user to appear before the EDC at a future meeting to request site or permitting assistance. "We will tell you it is definitely retail," Fernandez said.
Fernandez also reported that AutoZone closed a deal at what the foundation is calling Centerpoint on Hospital Road and that Ross Dress for Less is scheduled to open in July in about 26,000 square feet, creating an estimated 50 to 75 jobs. Fernandez said a planned restaurant (identified by the foundation as a Canes competitor) represents roughly a $1,800,000 investment and would create about 30 to 40 jobs. The foundation described a larger north-side retail project of about 74,000 square feet that it expects to break ground in the third or fourth quarter of the year.
The foundation briefed the board on a public-private road project (Industrial Drive) tied to a bridge that, it said, is unlocking nearby logistics development. Fernandez said that work has helped catalyze a planned 10,000–15,000-square-foot cold-storage facility and related investment of about $18,000,000, and that a private partner is planning an international business center the foundation values at about $22,000,000–$25,000,000.
On trade and logistics, the foundation asked the EDC for letters of support to expand a small Foreign Trade Zone administered with the U.S. Department of Commerce. "We need letters of support from you, so we'll be reaching out to you," Fernandez said.
Fernandez also described large renewable-energy development in the region. She said 20 projects are complete in the county (about $3.5 billion) and 10 are under development (about $1 billion). "One of those projects is actually within the city limits of Rio Grande City; it's a $115,000,000 project," Fernandez said, adding the foundation's estimate that the project could add roughly $500,000 in ad valorem tax revenue to the city and about $1,500,000 to schools.
Fernandez closed by describing broadband and housing interest: a Starr County Broadband Coalition formed during the pandemic has paused while federal funding issues are resolved, and the foundation is receiving inquiries about multifamily housing. She said the foundation will continue outreach and regular briefings.
The item was a presentation; no EDC action was taken on these projects during the meeting.