Sun, Dec 08, 2024


















Tres Lagos, McAllen, Texas

Our Mission

To create jobs and generate revenue for the residents of McAllen, Texas.

Our Vision

To be a vibrant center of innovation and economic prosperity to create tomorrow's opportunities.

History

1980s

MEDC committed 56 companies and created 4,216 jobs.

  • Faced with unemployment in the mid 20’s, an agricultural economy decimated with two freezes, and the devaluation of the Mexican peso due to lower Mexico oil prices, the McAllen Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) was founded by Mike Allen.
  • MEDC strategic objectives were to diversify the economy, improve relations with Mexico, and improve the profitability of the Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ)
  • MEDC quickly grew to 6 employees and our current President, Keith Patridge, joined the organization
  • In order to compete with low wages in Asian countries such as Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, and Hong Kong, MEDC focused on recruiting manufacturing companies to Reynosa, Mexico. This gave birth to the booming maquila industries in Reynosa and allowed supplier companies to set up operations in McAllen
  • Whirlpool became one of the first companies to commit approximately 30,000 sq. ft
1990s

MEDC committed 288 companies and created 43,268 jobs.

  • Keith and the leadership team traveled to different cities across the country conducting as many as 5 Hit and Run Seminars to recruit businesses to McAllen/Reynosa metro
  • First students enroll at South Texas Community College to provide industry needed skills
  • McAllen International airport is expanded with the addition of Continental Airlines and American Airlines
  • McAllen named “All American City” which was given to communities that demonstrate the following: civic engagement, collaboration, inclusion and innovation to address local issues
  • McAllen ranked 3rd fastest growing metroplex in the country and is the first MSA with job growth in excess of 23% for 5 years in Forbes Magazine
2000s
Anzalduas Bridge

MEDC committed 272 companies and created 50,948 jobs.

  • McAllen Foreign Trade Zone began offering 3rd party logistic services
  • South Texas Community College became South Texas College and began offering bachelor’s programs in Applied Technology
  • McAllen is ranked Number 1 in job growth and 2nd in income growth by Forbes Magazine
  • In one year MEDC committed 47 companies and created over 11,000 jobs in the McAllen/Reynosa metro
  • The Anzalduas International Bridge opens in 2009
2010s

MEDC committed 5 North American company headquarters to McAllen Reynosa metro

  • McAllen ranked as the 4th top performing city in Milken Institute & one of the top performing metros post recession in Brookings Institute
  • City of McAllen celebrates 100 years (1911-2011)
  • McAllen ISD was named College Ready Gold Performance Acknowledgement School District and Top 25 district with highest number of students applying to Texas Colleges
  • UT – Pan American merges with UT – Brownsville to become University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV)
  • UTRGV School of Medicine opens in 2018 with the inaugural class of 2022
  • Master planned Community Tres Lagos is formed and Texas A&M University opens