Economic Development A Regional Outlook on Thursday March 26 in Edinburg
By David A. Daz - Legislativemedia@aol.com
Keith A. Patridge President and Chief Executive Officer of the McAllen Economic Development Corporation will share his extensive knowledge and experiences about business and how it is impacted by government and politics as one of three high-profile experts serving on a blue-ribbon panel for Economic Development A Regional Outlook on Thursday March 26 in Edinburg.
The event which is open to the public will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Edinburg Conference Center at Renaissance 118 Paseo Del Prado.
Joining Patridge will be Agustn Gus Garca Jr. Executive Director of the Edinburg Economic Development Corporation and Alejandro Alex Meade Chief Executive Officer of the Mission Economic Development Corporation.
The EEDC which is a sponsor of the event is the jobs-creation arm of the Edinburg City Council.
The McAllen Economic Development Corporation is one of that citys pro-business job-creation entities.
According to the McAllen Chamber of Commerce the MEDC is a not-for-profit corporation under contract with the City of McAllen to create jobs for McAllen by attracting new industry and helping existing companies to expand.
The gathering on Thursday which is organized by the Edinburg Chamber of Commerce is also designed to allow business professionals to meet network and create opportunities for the companies they represent costs $18 per person or $200 for a table of eight and includes a hot lunch beverage and dessert.
For more information or to make a reservation individuals may call the Edinburg Chamber of Commerce at 956/383-4974.
The Edinburg Chamber of Commerce is looking forward to the gathering of three of the leading economic development professionals in the Rio Grande Valley said Elva Jackson Garza Vice President of Edwards Abstract and Title Company which is one of the event sponsors and Vice Chair of the Edinburg Chamber of Commerces Public Affairs Committee.
Public Affairs Luncheons are an initiative introduced in 2006 and since then have featured popular topics with speakers who cover important community and legislative issues. The vision is to inform involve and educate chamber investors and civic leaders.
There are several important factors for scheduling the economic development panel. Primarily the growth and vitality of the Rio Grande Valley have been impacted by the continued work and efforts of the economic development corporations Garza explained. The Valley is poised to experience changes in the educational industrial commercial and residential sectors. Bringing these three EDC entities together will help further the regional mindset in the civic business and community leaders.
Fred Sandoval City Manager of Pharr and Director of the Pharr Economic Development Corporation had also been invited to participate but a schedule conflict prevented his valued involvement according to Ronnie Larralde Director of Marketing/ Special Events at Edinburg Chamber of Commerce.
The Thursday March 26 session is consistent with the strategies of the Edinburg Mayor Edinburg City Council and the Edinburg Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors who have made regional cooperation with other South Texas cities a priority as part of their efforts to promote socioeconomic advances in deep South Texas.
In addition to the EEDC and Abstract and Title Company other sponsors are familiar icons in the Edinburg business community: Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson LLC Elsa State Bank and Trust Company Best Western Plus Edinburg Inn & Suites Qube Hotel Group and Rio Valley Realty.
PATRIDGE BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
With 28 years of working at the McAllen Economic Development Corporation and McAllen Foreign Trade Zone Patridge has a great deal of experience in assisting companies with their start-up operations in either McAllen or Reynosa according to his official biography.
Patridge has worked with global companies planning a strategic move or expansion to service their industry from a cost competitive market.
During his almost three decades of service with the McAllen Economic Development Corporation that organization has assisted more than 600 companies in the relocation and start-up of successful operations in its community resulting in the creation of tens of thousands of new jobs.
Patridge and his team maintain a strong international relationship with Mexico and work closely with Mexican officials in Reynosa to attract new investment develop infrastructure enhance workforce education and training and promote the construction of worker housing.
His experience in business development sales operations and general management for a number of national and international companies has provided him insight into the important elements required to successfully start up new operations in McAllen and Reynosa.
Patridge holds two Bachelor degrees from Missouri Western State College and a Doctorate of Jurisprudence from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
ROLES OF McALLEN EDC
The MEDC team works with prospective industrial clients handles marketing and public affairs and provides corporate support to existing manufacturing and supplier companies. Industrial clients are individuals who represent companies or industries looking for a site to expand or relocate their plant or service operation. They include the full realm from suppliers to manufacturers.
The MEDCs primary function is to create jobs and generate business activity for the citizens of McAllen and Reynosa. The teamwork philosophy and a well-focused mission are the driving forces that have enabled MEDC to be one of the most successful economic development organizations in Texas.
Labor availability and cost strategic location for distribution turn-key operations and land availability have promoted companies around the world to view Mexico as an attractive alternative in their relocation decision-making. Many of the companies that have moved to Reynosa have also established offices in McAllen and almost all of them have key employees who live on the U.S. side of the U.S./Mexico border. This location decision creates a win-win situation for both Reynosa and McAllen.
MEDC offers information and assistance for industrial relocations to Reynosa. There is no charge for the services provided by the McAllen Economic Development Corporation.
MEDC provides companies with turnkey location assistance. With its array of locally available services the MEDC facilitates the location process including:
• Project feasibility to site selection;
• Construction of offices and manufacturing plants production; and
• Finding the right service providers to meet a companys needs in logistics transportation accounting legal financial services employee selection and training.
The McAllen Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ) of which Patridge also helps lead is located south of McAllen between McAllen and Reynosa. Commissioned in 1973 it was the first inland FTZ in the United States and continuously ranks among the most active FTZs in the nation. The original McAllen FTZ encompassed 80 acres of developed land that contains more than 575000 square-feet of warehouse and office space.
There is also a Foreign-Trade Zone designation site at the McAllen-Miller International Airport to facilitate air cargo needs. Under U.S. and Mexican laws and NAFTA provisions the FTZ designation offers specific cost-saving opportunities to manufacturers. To enhance the original site the McAllen FTZ has added 695 acres in the new 900-acre Class-A Business Park being developed by Hunt Valley Development a subsidiary of Hunt Oil Company.
Products can be brought into the FTZ duty-free.
While in the FTZ components can be manipulated or stored in a variety of ways. The FTZ services are extremely important to Just-In-Time (JIT) manufacturing. Services have recently extended to include full logistic support services including public warehouse services including pick and pack order processing inventory control incoming/outgoing quality inspection and kitting.
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The Edinburg Economic Development Corporation is the jobs-creation arm of the Edinburg City Council. Its five-member governing board which is appointed by the Edinburg City Council includes Mayor Richard Garca as President Fred Palacios as Secretary-Treasurer and Felipe Garca Dr. Havidn Rodrguez and Steven Edward Cruz II. For more information on the EEDC and the City of Edinburg please log on to www.EdbgCityLimits.com or to www.facebook.com/edinburgedc
