The Trade Map Is Shifting. Laredo Is Right at the Center of It.
May 1, 2026
Building momentum for the Rio South Texas Region at SelectUSA.
May 6, 2026
Leaders shaping the next phase of Texas growth came together in Brownsville for the 2026 YTexas Regional Event.
Representing the Rio South Texas Region, Adam Gonzalez, CEO of COSTEP, and Rick Carrera joined regional and state leaders to address a defining question:
Why is Texas leading the nation in business expansion, and what comes next?
The conversation pointed to a clear advantage:
Texas is not just growing. It is building the conditions for sustained, scalable growth.
- World-class educational institutions
- Research-driven innovation ecosystems
- Business-friendly regulatory frameworks
- A dynamic startup environment solving tomorrow’s challenges
But at the center of it all is one critical driver:
Workforce development aligned with the future of industry.
As AI, automation, and advanced manufacturing accelerate, the discussion focused on how regions must evolve to remain competitive.
And this is where the Rio South Texas Region stands out.
Through collaboration between industry, education, and government, the region is:
- Strengthening talent pipelines
- Aligning skills with real market demand
- Supporting cross-border workforce integration
- Enabling companies to scale with confidence
The event convened a powerful group of regional leaders and decision-makers, including:
- John Cowen Jr., Mayor of Brownsville
- Cori Peña, Brownsville CIC
- Jorge Cardenas, City of Brownsville
- David Elcock, Cyversity
- David Stedman, Laredo EDC
- Roberto Rodriguez, Texas Southmost College
- Linda Leto Head, Leto Consultants
- Sean Herrity, STAMP
- Liz Suarez, McAllen EDC
- William Dietrich, Port of Brownsville
- Tom Ramsey, America First Refining
- Tracye McDaniel, TIP Strategies
- Gilberto Salinas, GBIC
The takeaway is clear:
The future of Texas is being built through regional collaboration, talent alignment, and strategic execution. And the Rio South Texas Region is playing a central role in that equation.
Discover how your company can grow within one of the most dynamic and connected regions in North America:
Rio South Texas Region. One Region. Two Countries. One Future.
