Texas Border Business
Laredo, TX – Empacadora GAB will build an $11.4 million produce distribution facility, retain 13 jobs, add 5 new full-time permanent positions, and keep its U.S. headquarters in Laredo after City Council approved entering into a proposed economic incentives agreement. Empacadora GAB handles numerous imported fruits and vegetables from Mexico and distributes them throughout Texas and the country. The City will enter into a Texas Chapter 380 economic incentives performance agreement with GAB that will reduce the firm’s ad-valorem taxes over a 5-year period.
The produce firm, which has been in Laredo for 3 decades, will move from its 18,000 square-foot facility on Interstate 35 to a brand new 45,000 square-foot building on a 7-acre North Mines Road tract. The retention and expansion effort comes as produce imports grow exponentially in Port Laredo. Last year, Port Laredo handled $4.2 billion in produce imports, which ranks it as the second best in the United States. In the last 18 months, the City of Laredo has announced six new produce/cold storage economic development projects worth an estimated $120 million, creating 400+ full-time permanent jobs.
“We are very pleased to be working with Empacadora GAB and its quality leadership team, and we are glad it made a decision to stay in Laredo and make large investment in our community,” stated City Manager, Robert A. Eads. “Laredo continues to lure millions in produce and cold storage investment as the industry recognizes Port Laredo’s strategic and geographic importance. More is on the way.”
Teclo J. Garcia, City of Laredo Economic Development Director, also added, “for many years, we have entered into incentive performance agreements with organizations outside our city. For the first time ever, we are honored to mention that we have entered an incentive performance agreement with a local distribution facility. I am proud of our local economy and how we continue to prosper and enhance relationships with economic drivers such as Empacadora GAB.”
