Pharr’s cross-border business push earns international recognition

Pharr’s push to turn its border location into a bigger advantage for businesses has earned international recognition.

The Pharr Economic Development Corporation’s Global Business Hub Partnership Initiative was recognized in the Regional or Cross-Border Partnership category of the International Economic Development Council’s 2026 Excellence Awards Program.

The recognition puts a spotlight on Pharr’s effort to build a network connecting businesses and entrepreneurs in South Texas and Mexico with universities, workforce resources and potential investment opportunities.

The International Economic Development Council, one of the world’s largest organizations for economic development professionals, recognizes programs based on factors including collaboration, innovation and economic impact. This year’s awards will be presented in New Orleans in October.

Connecting businesses across the border

The Pharr Global Business Hub works with The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, international business organizations and other regional partners to support business recruitment, entrepreneurship, workforce development, trade and cross-border investment.

For Pharr EDC President and CEO Victor Perez, that network of partnerships is central to what the initiative was built to accomplish.

“The Pharr Global Business Hub was created to connect businesses, entrepreneurs, and international partners with the resources they need to succeed,” Perez said. “Receiving this ranking from the IEDC validates our collaborative approach and reinforces Pharr’s position as a leader in international trade and cross-border economic development.”

The model broadens the traditional role of an economic development organization beyond recruiting companies to one city. Instead, Pharr is using partnerships to connect companies with organizations and resources across the Rio Grande Valley and Mexico.

The recognition comes as cross-border trade continues to play an outsized role in Pharr’s economy and its broader economic development strategy.

Building Pharr’s international profile

Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez, who also chairs the Pharr EDC board, said the recognition supports the city’s effort to establish itself as a hub for international commerce.

“We are proud to work alongside our regional and international partners to create opportunities that benefit businesses, strengthen our workforce, and position Pharr as a gateway for international commerce,” Hernandez said.

The award also gives Pharr outside validation for an initiative designed around something the region increasingly depends on: collaboration across city, institutional and international boundaries.

However, the announcement did not provide figures showing how many companies the Global Business Hub has assisted, how much investment it has generated or how many jobs can be attributed to the initiative.

The International Economic Development Council is expected to formally present its 2026 Excellence Awards in October.