Texa Border Business
By Roberto Hugo González / Texas Border Business
McALLEN, Texas – Regional leaders gathered March 4 at the Student Services Building “U” at South Texas College for an Industrial Intelligence Briefing hosted by COSTEP, the Council for South Texas Economic Progress, where officials introduced a new data platform designed to better understand and promote the manufacturing strength of Rio South Texas and the North Tamaulipas region.
The briefing featured a presentation by Adam Gonzalez, President and CEO of COSTEP, who unveiled the organization’s new Industrial Data System — a centralized platform that compiles information on manufacturing companies, industrial sectors, and regional supply chains.
“Today we’re introducing a system that allows us to better understand and communicate the strength of our regional manufacturing base,” Gonzalez said. “This Industrial Data System brings together critical information about the companies operating in our region, the processes they perform, and the industries they serve.”
According to Gonzalez, the system will provide a clearer view of the region’s industrial ecosystem and help economic development organizations, policymakers, and business leaders make more informed decisions.
“Once it is available on the COSTEP website, stakeholders will be able to search the data by city, by multiple cities, and by manufacturing capabilities,” Gonzalez said. “Our goal is to make this information open, accessible, and useful so communities and industry leaders can better interpret the data and support future growth.”
“South Texas is one of the most strategically positioned regions in North America, and we are seeing that reality unfold every day,” said Ricardo Solis, Ph.D., President of South Texas College. “From Boca Chica to Laredo, our region is experiencing significant growth driven by international trade, advanced manufacturing, and economic development.”
Solis said the data presented during the briefing highlights both the region’s expansion and the workforce needs accompanying that growth.
“The data being presented today highlights not only the scale of that growth, but also the skills and workforce demand that come with it,” Solis said. “At South Texas College, our mission is to ensure our students and communities are prepared with the education and training needed to meet these opportunities.”
The Industrial Data System represents a major effort by COSTEP to strengthen economic intelligence across the Rio South Texas Region and the North Tamaulipas manufacturing corridor. The platform compiles data on manufacturing companies, productive sectors, and the geographic distribution of industry across the binational region.
During the presentation, Gonzalez explained that the system provides insights into key manufacturing activities by productive sector, industrial sector distribution by city, and manufacturing companies by industry classification.
Major sectors captured in the system include electrical and electronics manufacturing, metalworking and tooling, plastics and injection molding, packaging, medical devices, and other advanced manufacturing industries.
By mapping these sectors across cities in Rio South Texas and manufacturing hubs in North Tamaulipas, the platform illustrates the interconnected industrial ecosystem supporting cross-border supply chains and North American manufacturing.
COSTEP plans to upload the Industrial Data System to its website, making it accessible to regional stakeholders. The organization will also coordinate with local economic development corporations and trade zones to provide secure login credentials for expanded access to the platform.
COSTEP will work with local EDCs and municipal partners to ensure the system reflects the region’s full manufacturing footprint and to identify companies that may not yet be included.
The Industrial Data System will be updated at least once a year to track changes in industrial activity, new investments, and the results of regional business attraction efforts.
Beyond mapping the manufacturing landscape, COSTEP is preparing a comprehensive economic impact report on the region’s manufacturing sector. Gonzalez said the report, expected within the next 30 to 45 days, will analyze manufacturing’s economic contributions and provide regional comparisons.
COSTEP is also working with higher education institutions to better align workforce training with industry needs by gathering information on manufacturing-related courses and programs to identify workforce gaps.
That information will eventually be integrated into the Industrial Data System, linking manufacturing demand with education and workforce development resources across the region.
Regional leaders say the initiative highlights the growing importance of collaboration among economic development organizations, educational institutions, and industry as Rio South Texas continues to expand as a key manufacturing and logistics corridor along the U.S.-Mexico border.
By consolidating regional manufacturing intelligence into a single platform, COSTEP officials believe the Industrial Data System will help communities, businesses, and policymakers better understand the region’s industrial strengths and coordinate strategies that support long-term economic growth.
