Texas Border Business
By Roberto Hugo González
Edinburg, TX — The Edinburg Economic Development Corporation (EEDC) offered a first look at its future headquarters, set to occupy the ground floor of the Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council’s (LRGVDC) transit building at 617 W. University Drive.
Renderings unveiled at the event highlighted the joint effort between EEDC and LRGVDC to develop and construct the Edinburg Transit Terminal, a multimillion-dollar project funded primarily through the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). LRGVDC serves as the designated recipient of those federal funds, which made possible the inclusion of 4,133 square feet of unfinished space now slated for EEDC offices.
The gathering began with a prayer from EDC Board Treasurer Sandra Alaniz, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Mayor Pro Tem Jason De Leon. Speaking on behalf of Mayor Ramiro Garza, Jr., De Leon described the announcement as more than a relocation. “This new office will be more than just a building. It represents progress, opportunity, and continued commitment to the economic growth and prosperity in our city,” he said.
EDC Board Vice President Richard Gonzales underlined the need for expanded facilities. “We’ve been working on this for a bit, and trust me, we are super excited because we need the space,” Gonzales said. The design features modern offices and classrooms for seminars and workforce training, as well as immediate access to City Hall and regional partners.
Manuel Cruz, Executive Director of LRGVDC, praised the collaboration that brought the project forward. “The Edinburg multimodal terminal was built through a strong city-EDC partnership with 80% of funding from the Federal Transit Administration and a local contribution as a match,” Cruz said. He called the location “strategically situated within walking distance of UTRGV, the Hidalgo County Courthouse, and Edinburg City Hall.”
Construction updates came from project coordinator Alexis Araiza of Araiza Construction, who reported that the foundation and wall structures are complete. Upcoming work includes the installation of electrical, mechanical, and plumbing systems that will transform the space into a fully functional headquarters. “The next major steps will really bring the designs to life,” Araiza said.
For EEDC Executive Director Raudel Garza, the new offices mark the organization’s growth since its restructuring three years ago, when he worked as the agency’s first employee in a 200-square-foot room at City Hall. “We’re a few hundred feet from City Hall, right next to the university, across from the Chamber of Commerce, and in the middle of what we’re calling Midtown Development,” Garza said. “We don’t work in silos. We’re a team. That’s what this space reflects.”
The new headquarters, officials said, will anchor the EEDC at the heart of Edinburg’s civic and educational corridor. “There’s a vision for what this area is going to be,” Garza added. “In the future, there’s going to be a lot more student life here, and we’re excited to be at the center of it.”
