RGV Business Journal

The Rio Grande Valley Business Journal is all about highlighting the businesses, leaders, and stories that keep the Valley thriving.The goal? To connect our communities and keep you in the know about the opportunities shaping the RGV’s future. From small businesses to major developments, the RGV Business Journal is your inside look at what’s happening across the Valley.

RGV Business Journal is a business podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 45 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Unknown Host hosts RGV Business Journal, a business show with 45 episodes published.

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  Episode #46

  The $180 Million Question: What ICE Enforcement Is Costing the Rio Grande Valley. RGVBJ's interview with Andrik Gonzalez

  Sep 21, 202647 minS1

  Caminos Institute executive producer Andrik Gonzalez sits down with RGVBJ reporter Kristen Mosbrucker-Garza to break down a new report quantifying the economic impact of immigration enforcement on the Rio Grande Valley — from construction and health care to restaurants and remittances. Using FOIA'd federal data from the Deportation Data Project, the Caminos Institute tracked 13,377 apprehensions and 10,142 deportations across the four-county RGV between October 2022 and March 2025, then modeled the direct labor income lost when workers are removed from the local economy. The total: roughly $180 million, with the bulk of that loss concentrated in 2025. CHAPTERS 0:00 Introduction & series overview 2:58 Meet Andrik Gonzalez & the Caminos Institute 17:41 The data set: Deportation Data Project & FOIA requests 19:52 Apprehensions vs. deportations, by year and administration 22:48 Visa categories: H-2A, H-1B, EB-5 explained 25:38 Civil offense vs. felony: the legal history of border crossing 31:50 Sizing the undocumented workforce in the RGV 33:27 Construction industry impact 34:52 Health care & social assistance industry impact 35:46 Food & accommodation industry impact 38:12 The total economic loss: $180 million 42:59 What "Caminos" means 45:51 Responding to the "right-sizing" argument 49:00 The workforce skills gap: Saronic Technologies & welding aluminum 50:21 Key takeaways About the Rio Grande Valley Business Journal: RGVBJ covers the businesses, policy decisions and economic trends shaping South Texas and the U.S.-Mexico border region. #RioGrandeValley #Immigration #SouthTexas #RGVBJ #BorderEconomy #CaminosInstitute

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  Episode #45

  Mission EDC CEO Teclo Garcia on Retirement, Legacy and Landing a $50M Aluminum Plant

  Sep 17, 202628 minS1

  After nearly two decades of public service in the Rio Grande Valley — including roles in McAllen, Laredo and Mission — Teclo Garcia is retiring as CEO of the Mission Economic Development Corporation.RGVBJ reporter Kristen Mosbrucker-Garza sits down with Garcia to talk about his path from newspaper newsrooms to economic development, what he learned about trade while working in Laredo, and how Mission landed a $50 million Zerluma aluminum plant — the largest private investment in the city's history. Garcia also reflects on the $400 million in investment and roughly 2,000 jobs brought to Mission during his tenure, and shares what's next for him in retirement.Chapters:00:00 Introduction & retirement announcement00:37 Retirement details and TMRS eligibility01:54 Reflecting on his first interview and the Border Trade Alliance02:44 What drew him to a career on the border03:11 Moving to the Rio Grande Valley in 199504:35 From newspapers to City Hall to Mission EDC06:35 Comparing Laredo and the Rio Grande Valley09:47 Applying Laredo's trade lessons to RGV economic development11:59 Logistics wages and job quality16:41 Port of Brownsville workforce training and the welding skills gap20:17 Mission's economic development approach22:55 Retail competition with McAllen24:25 Recent wins: Black & Decker, call centers and Zerluma25:13 Marketing Mission: board support and FDI conferences26:38 Homegrown businesses expanding26:58 Landing the Zerluma aluminum plant deal28:50 Legacy by the numbers: $400M and 2,000 jobs30:14 What's next for GarciaRead more from the Rio Grande Valley Business Journal.#RioGrandeValley #EconomicDevelopment #MissionTX #BorderEconomy #RGVBJ

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  Episode #44

  444 Acres, $220 Million, One Meeting: The SpaceX Water Deal Explained w/ Sheila McCorkle and Joseph Hollmann

  Sep 14, 202614 minS1

  Reporter Kristen Mosbrucker-Garza breaks down the six-hour Brownsville City Commission vote that let SpaceX de-annex land near the Brownsville landfill for Starbase, then sits down with Southmost Regional Water Authority board member Joseph Hollmann to unpack the two water projects the deal will help fund. SpaceX's own pitch to the council — delivered by Sheila McCorkle — is included in full. What's in this episode: - Why SpaceX asked Brownsville to de-annex 444 acres, and what the city gave up in zoning control - The two water projects behind the deal: indirect potable reuse and an expanded brackish desalination plant - Why brackish desalination costs a fraction of ocean desalination - SpaceX's $220 million pledge, in its own words, from the council floor - What Brownsville Public Utilities says ratepayers will save — and what's still uncertain #SpaceX #Starbase #Brownsville #RioGrandeValley #SouthTexas #WaterInfrastructure #Desalination #BorderEconomy 0:00 Cold open: “A pure-play donation of $220 million” 0:15 Backstory: SpaceX, Starbase and the de-annexation vote 4:15 Interview: Joseph Hollmann on the two water projects 8:15 SpaceX's pitch: Sheila McCorkle addresses the council 9:45 The numbers: what $220 million actually buys Brownsville 12:45 What's next

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  Episode #43

  McAllen Lands $225M Valeo Plant: Inside the EDC-Chamber Merger with Elizabeth Suarez and Jorge Sanchez

  Aug 28, 20261h 9mS1

  McAllen Economic Development Corporation President & CEO Elizabeth Suarez and McAllen Chamber of Commerce Senior Vice President of Small Business & Innovation Jorge Sanchez join the Rio Grande Valley Business Journal podcast to break down how the city combined its EDC and chamber leadership, landed a $225 million Valeo manufacturing plant, and built small business programs like Latina HOPE and Project Next Move.They also dig into workforce development and CTE partnerships, the region's power grid and water infrastructure needs, cross-border retail trends, McAllen's new film-friendly designation, and the InnovationTX accelerator behind local success stories like the resale app Cross Flip.0:00 Cold open: "Show up and invest in yourself"0:54 Meet Elizabeth Suarez and Jorge Sanchez2:28 How McAllen merged its EDC and Chamber of Commerce5:07 Budget season and chamber membership renewals9:07 Workforce development and CTE partnerships11:24 Landing Valeo: a tier-one automotive supplier13:44 The immigrant story behind McAllen's growth21:27 AI, Google reviews and the new Main Street economy23:29 The three-legged stool: entrepreneurship and Latina HOPE26:37 Project Next Move: a roadmap for small business37:18 Power, water and the fight for a 765kV line47:51 Mexican national shoppers and cross-border retail51:45 McAllen's new film-friendly designation53:18 Team Texas and a trip to London54:53 FIFA World Cup and holiday parade wins1:01:03 Cross Flip: an InnovationTX success story1:02:38 The magic wand question: what's next for McAllenSubscribe to the Rio Grande Valley Business Journal for more on the RGV border economy. @RGVBusinessJournal#McAllen #RioGrandeValley #EconomicDevelopment #SmallBusiness #Valeo #SouthTexas #BorderEconomy

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  Episode #42

  Can AI Take Your Job? Inside TSTC's Plan to Fill Thousands of RGV Industrial Jobs with TSTC Provost Gina Cano-Monreal

  Aug 21, 202624 minS1

  Naxiely Lopez-Puente sits down with Dr. Gina Cano-Monreal, provost of Texas State Technical College's Harlingen campus, to talk about how TSTC is retooling its programs to meet the Valley's fast-growing industrial workforce needs.Dr. Cano-Monreal explains why TSTC is phasing out mechatronics in favor of a new Advanced Manufacturing program, how the college builds "triad partnerships" between industry, school districts and higher ed, and what employers like NextDecade, Bechtel, Kiewit, SpaceX and Valeo are telling TSTC they'll need as major projects like Rio Grande LNG ramp up. She also weighs in on whether AI poses a threat to skilled-trade careers.CHAPTERS0:00 Cold open: are these careers AI-proof?0:32 Welcome, Dr. Gina Cano-Monreal1:03 What makes TSTC different3:07 TSTC's mission: higher-paying jobs for Texans4:05 18 years watching workforce needs evolve6:16 Programs TSTC has phased out9:06 Mechatronics vs. Advanced Manufacturing, explained10:39 Building the pipeline from high school to career14:25 Why early exposure to career paths matters15:06 Valeo, Toyota and the McAllen job pipeline16:19 Employer partners: NextDecade, Bechtel, Kiewit, SpaceX19:08 Electrical Lineworker family day20:34 Can AI replace these careers?22:11 How to enroll at TSTC Harlingen23:26 Closing thoughtsLearn more or register at TSTC.edu.#RioGrandeValley #Workforce #TSTC #AdvancedManufacturing #RGVBusiness #SouthTexas #WorkforceDevelopment

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