Rio Grande Valley Business Journal

Reynosa holiday celebration draws a surge of cross-border visitors to historic downtown

By Anayancy Ulloa • December 6, 2025 • 3 min read

City officials say upgraded plazas, cultural programming, and federal traveler assistance are helping boost seasonal commerce.

Latest News

Tourism

View All

Nuevo Progreso, Mexico, to host welcome festival for Winter Texans as season boosts border economy

December 5, 2025 • 4 min read

This weekend’s event comes as RV parks fill, retailers report steady sales, and officials in South Texas and northern Mexico expand programs tied to Winter Texan visitors.

Immigration

View All

Rio Grande Valley lawmaker to propose new immigrant worker visa program for small businesses

November 24, 2025 • 4 min read

U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez drafted legislation that would enable small businesses to sponsor long-time employees without legal work authorization in a new program.

Economic Trends

View All

Mexico’s minimum wage increase boosts border incomes, but adds new uncertainty for regional employers

December 6, 2025 • 4 min read

The adjustment caps years of steady gains for workers as companies along the border reevaluate costs, staffing, and competitiveness.

International trade

View All

Port of Brownsville ends year strong, sidestepping tariffs and expecting steady cargo through 2026

December 4, 2025 • 3 min read

The port more than doubled its cargo volumes over four years, and despite tariff pressures, officials say 2026 should remain stable as major projects advance.

Real Estate

View All

Harlingen maps a downtown revival with new incentives and a reimagined park system

December 5, 2025 • 5 min read

Valle Vista Mall is likely to be redeveloped into a mixed-use site under Harlingen’s draft plan, which also proposes new downtown incentives, park upgrades, and drainage improvemen

Retail

View All

New 7 Brew Coffee drive-thru planned in Weslaco

December 2, 2025 • 1 min read

The $1.25 million project will build a 541-square-foot, drive-thru-only coffee shop on North Texas Boulevard, according to state records.

Industrial Real Estate

View All

$6.7 million cold-storage warehouse set to break ground in Brownsville

December 4, 2025 • 1 min read

The nearly 53,000-square-foot facility, filed under Produce Nation Cold Storage, is scheduled to begin construction next week.

Energy

View All

Part 3: Mexican bioenergy facility near Brownsville sits idle despite $15 million investment, deepening Tamaulipas’ sorghum crisis

November 30, 2025 • 7 min read

An ethanol plant in Mexico was built to buy sorghum from Tamaulipas farmers and produce cleaner fuel for both countries, but a rule in Mexico leaves the plant with no way forward.

Infrastructure

View All

Hidalgo County loop advances as major tollway, trade corridor projects move forward

December 3, 2025 • 4 min read

The HCRMA's latest report outlines progress on the 365 Tollway, the IBTC, and other planned connectors that will form a 48-mile roadway network across the county.

Uncategorized

View All

COSTEP launches binational higher-ed database to map South Texas and northern Tamaulipas workforce

December 4, 2025 • 4 min read

To attract investment, the platform will catalog degrees, certifications, and training programs across seven South Texas counties and 10 municipalities in Tamaulipas, Mexico.

Healthcare

View All

DHR Health Brownsville plans expansion for surgery, emergency room

December 3, 2025 • 2 min read

The hospital plans to add ER bays, surgical suites, and upgraded imaging after securing city permits for its latest renovation and expansion project.

Water

View All

Why McAllen is turning to a $180M desalination plant to protect its water supply

December 2, 2025 • 5 min read

The project would treat brackish groundwater from the Gulf Coast Aquifer, adding up to 10 million gallons a day of new supply and reducing reliance on the Rio Grande.

Commercial Real Estate

View All

New pickleball facility planned in Harlingen, state filing shows

December 1, 2025 • 1 min read

The $120,000 project will add a nearly 9,000-square-foot covered pickleball facility, according to state records.

Agriculture

View All

Mexico producers lift highway blockades along key trade routes near the Valley after federal agreement

November 28, 2025 • 4 min read

Truckers and farmers ended nationwide protests after federal agencies agreed to review overdue payments and open new policy talks.

Technology

View All

U.K. business plans massive data center in Harlingen, records show

November 25, 2025 • 2 min read

Eneus Energy is under contract to purchase 1,780 acres from a Raymondville-based farmer, Cameron County records show.

Residential Real Estate

View All

Edinburg reports 32% jump in construction activity through October

November 23, 2025 • 1 min read

Residential activity continues to climb, with multi-family construction more than doubling year-over-year, city officials said.

Demographics

View All

Women powering economic development in South Texas, northern Mexico meet in McAllen to chart regional growth

November 23, 2025 • 3 min read

Speakers, including Texas Economic Development Corporation’s Valerie Segovia, highlighted women’s growing influence in investment, nearshoring, and economic strategy.

Education

View All

Human connection takes center stage at South Texas College AI summit

November 23, 2025 • 4 min read

Industry leaders said AI is inevitable but emphasized that human judgment, ethics, and connection remain central.

Finance

View All

Binational bank launches $400M fund for border water projects as Rio Grande Valley faces worsening drought

November 7, 2025 • 3 min read

NADBank has approved a total of $400 million for new border water initiatives, including $100 million in grant-style financing and $300 million in low-interest loans.