OmniTRAX Inc., the Denver, Colo.-based company that manages the Brownsville & Rio Grande (BRG) International Railway at the Port of Brownsville, this month announced it is working with the Greater Brownsville Economic Development Corporation to make the railway part of OmniTRAX’s Rail-Ready Sites program, which makes connections between companies interested in maximizing supply-chain performance to sites served by rail, such as the Port of Brownsville.
GBEDC, formerly the Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation, and OmniTRAX are initially marketing three BRG sites totaling 50 acres. The short-line railway, which interchanges with BNSF, Kansas City Southern Mexico and Union Pacific, will focus on attracting advanced and heavy industries such as automotive assembly and parts manufacturing, aerospace component manufacturing, metals recycling, port-related industries and large-scale manufacturing as well as energy and logistics operations.
OmniTRAX, an affiliate of The Broe Group, is also in charge of marketing the port. The company touts itself as “North America’s largest and fastest growing private railroad and transportation management companies.”
OmniTRAX Director of Economic Development Federico Diaz Page said Brownsville is attractive to manufacturers and logistics concerns in part because of the port’s “comprehensive infrastructure network” but also because of business-friendly state and local governments.
“Working with (GBEDC), we’re confident we will attract fast-growing companies and bring new jobs and prosperity to the region,” he said.
GBEDC Executive Director and CEO Mario Lozoya said Brownsville provides a strategic location to companies, including access to Latin America via rail, highway and sea, plus operating costs 20 percent lower than other sites around the country.
“Combine that with our young and skilled workforce, which includes participants in our award-winning We Grow your Own training program, and the OmniTRAX Rail-Ready Sites program is sure to be a great success for Brownsville,” he said.
