How Serious Capital Makes Financial Decisions at Rio South Texas Region

The first Friends of COSTEP meeting of 2026 brought valuable perspective to the Rio South Texas Region.

Hosted at the Cambria Hotel in McAllen, the session featured Carl Quesinberry, Site Selector at Avison Young, during his first visit to the Rio Grande Valley.

Titled “How Serious Capital Makes Financial Decisions,” the session delivered a clear and timely message for communities competing in today’s global investment landscape:

Success depends on how effectively regions position their strengths, communicate their value, and invest in the infrastructure that supports growth.

Beyond the Lunch & Learn, Rick Carrera, Director of Economic Development at COSTEP, hosted a curated 3-day visit across the Rio South Texas Region. The agenda included a regional tour and strategic meetings with Economic Development Corporations across the RGV and Laredo, offering a comprehensive view of the region’s capabilities.

Key takeaway:

While many factors influence site selection, corporate decisions ultimately come down to cost of operations and profit margins. Communities that align their assets, workforce, and infrastructure with these priorities will lead the competition for investment.

The session also reflected the strength of regional collaboration, with participation from key partners, including: McAllen EDC, Elsa EDC, Donna EDC, San Juan EDC, Workforce Solutions, Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council Community & Economic Development, Los Fresnos EDC, PNC, LPS, Texas State Technical College (TSTC Harlingen), UTRGV TMAC, CODEM, Port of Brownsville, UTRGV Small Business Development Center (SBDC), and the UTRGV Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center (TMAC).

Together, these organizations represent a coordinated ecosystem committed to positioning the Rio South Texas Region as a competitive, investment-ready destination.

Rio South Texas Region: One Region. Two Countries. One Future.