The Rio Grande Valley Business Journal welcomed business leaders, elected officials, and community stakeholders for its inaugural 2026 Economic Outlook luncheon, featuring keynote remarks from Pia Orrenius, vice president and senior economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.
RGV Business Journal publisher Ramiro Garza Jr. and other local industry leaders provided deeper context around the economic forces shaping South Texas and the border economy.
Orrenius walked attendees through Texas’s unusually slow job growth in 2025, the impact of declining migration on the labor market, housing affordability challenges, and how trade policy and tariffs are influencing cross-border commerce.
She also explored rising productivity, growing use of AI in business, and what those trends could mean for workforce development heading into 2026.
The event also included an on-stage panel discussion with regional industry leaders, covering LNG development, real estate, infrastructure investment, and the Valley’s long-term growth prospects.
This conversation offers a timely look at where the Valley’s economy stands today — and what lies ahead for businesses, workers, and communities across the region.
