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The Port of Brownsville on Thursday held a ceremonial groundbreaking for a 118-acre business park, the port’s latest economic development project.
A spokesman said the new business park is aimed at leveraging the port’s “logistical advantages” to give manufacturing and industry clusters a base of operations that combines access to multi-modal transportation and substantial storage capacity, which should help companies “collaborate, innovate and flourish.”
In his remarks, Brownsville Navigation District Chairman Esteban Guerra called the business park “a critical component in our mission to attract new industries and businesses to the area, creating jobs and driving economic growth.”
“On behalf of our Brownsville Navigation District Board of Commissioners, we are proud to lead this endeavor to provide modern infrastructure, access to transportation and logistics, and a prime location for companies looking to establish a presence along the U.S.-Mexico border,” he said.
Guerra said the multi-million-dollar project is fully funded by port revenues and that no taxpayer dollars will be used to development it. He said the project not be possible without the “vision and support” of the BND board, acknowledging Vice Chairman Ralph Cowen, Secretary John Wood, Commissioner Sergio Tito Lopez and Commissioner John Reed, who serves as the board’s Economic Development Committee chairman.
Guerra also thanked Port Director and CEO Eduardo Campirano and the entire port staff for planning Thursday’s event and “bringing our vision to reality.”
“Your contributions are what propel this port forward, and for that we thank you,” he said.
Guerra said the port’s mission is to create and support high-paying jobs and that the economic impact of the new business park “cannot be overstated.”
“It is a catalyst for job creation, stimulating employment opportunities across sectors (and) generating direct and indirect jobs, but most important it will enhance the existing business hub at the port,” he said.
Guerra predicted the business park will encourage “sustainable growth” at industries already located at the port and also attract new businesses partners.
They moved 15.2 million tons of cargo in 2022, breaking its previous record, and rose from 66th to 55th place in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers ranking of the nation’s top 150 maritime ports.
Steel, wind energy components and liquid bulk commodities account for most of the cargo handled at the port, which is situated at the crossroads of major shipping lanes connecting Mexico and the United States. Brownsville’s port trans-ships more steel into Mexico than any other U.S. port and is the only deep-water seaport located directly on the U.S.-Mexico border.
Steel slab continues to be the port’s top commodity in terms of cargo volume, accounting for most of the 15.2 million tons of cargo the port handled in 2022, surpassing its previous record of 13.8 million tons in 2021.
