Greater Brownsville EDC attracts $183.7M in new investment as industrial surge reshapes Cameron County

The Greater Brownsville Economic Development Corporation attracted $183.7 million in new investment and helped create 3,288 jobs in fiscal year 2025, according to an annual impact report it released Thursday.

The figures offer a measurable snapshot of the broader industrial expansion underway across Cameron County and the Lower Rio Grande Valley, where aerospace, liquefied natural gas, advanced manufacturing and supplier networks continue to scale.

“The eyes of the world are upon us,” GBEDC Chairman Ben Peña said in the report. “This does not happen by chance or accident; this is the result of strong partnerships, thoughtful planning, and a shared commitment to strengthening our city’s economic future.”

President and CEO Gilberto Salinas described fiscal 2025 as a year of “powerful momentum.”

“Brownsville is no longer just competing, it’s winning,” he said.

He attributed that momentum to closer alignment with the City of Brownsville, the Port of Brownsville and workforce partners.

“The results of this year speak for themselves and the opportunities ahead are even greater,” Salinas said.  

Ripple effects take hold

Countywide growth is increasingly tied to supplier activity supporting marquee projects, Peña said.

“The effect of the various tier suppliers providing goods and services to SpaceX and Rio Grande LNG are beginning to create impactful ripple effects in economic development,” Peña said. “And as if that wasn’t enough, other similar sized prospects are in the pipeline.”

GBEDC has been among the most active organizations during a period of large-scale capital deployment along the South Texas coastline.

Last year, it attracted various companies, including Amazon, CIL Development, Grupo Ayusa, Linde, Luceca LLC, RVO Real Estate Holdings Inc., Superior GHQ and Ziwa Corp.

Linde, a global industrial gas and engineering company, represented the largest capital investment among projects cited in the report, while Bechtel, the lead construction contractor for the Rio Grande LNG project at the Port of Brownsville, was identified as the leading employer.

Measuring return

The organization reported $9.24 million in expenditures in fiscal 2025.

For every $1 GBEDC spent, $20 was invested in the local economy, the report said.

The organization said it engaged with 86 businesses during the year and executed two performance agreements, though incentive terms were not disclosed.

Beyond direct recruitment, the organization also supported 27 community organizations with a total contribution of $111,000.

Competitive edge

Brownsville’s population growth and cost structure remain central to its recruitment strategy.

The metropolitan population reached 431,900 in 2024, expanding the region’s labor pool as industrial demand increases.

At the same time, the city’s 2025 cost-of-living index stood at 82.2 — roughly 7% lower than the Corpus Christi metropolitan statistical area at 88.2 and approximately 18% below the U.S. baseline of 100.

“From rising population to surging business activity and lower costs of living, the numbers tell a powerful story,” the report said.

Officials also highlighted the ongoing development of the 730-acre Brownsville Tech District, an industrial park designed to support aerospace, energy and advanced manufacturing firms. Phase 1 spans 98 acres and is under development.