Texas Border Business
By Roberto Hugo González / Texas Border Business
PHARR, Texas — The Pharr Economic Development Corporation (Pharr EDC), in partnership with the UTRGV Entrepreneurship and Commercialization Center (ECC) and Bob Lozano of Restro Tech, launched its new Trade & Tech initiative during a Tech & Trade Session held June 22, 2026, at the Pharr Global Business Hub.
The event brought together business owners, entrepreneurs, restaurateurs, logistics professionals, and community leaders to discuss the role of artificial intelligence, automation, and emerging technologies in the restaurant industry. The program featured opening remarks by Leticia Adame, Economic & Workforce Director for Pharr EDC; Victor Perez, President and CEO of Pharr Economic Development Corporation; and Armando Villarreal, Economic Development Training Specialist with UTRGV ECC.
According to Pharr EDC, the Trade & Tech initiative was created to help businesses understand how technology is affecting industries and how innovative tools can support business operations and growth. In his remarks, Perez said, “The Tech & Trade Session was created with a simple but important vision: to bring a modern mindset to economic development.”
He added that “today’s economy is evolving faster than ever, and communities that want to remain competitive must embrace innovation, technology, and global connectivity.” Perez said Pharr EDC views technology and trade as important economic development tools alongside infrastructure, workforce development, and business recruitment.
“We believe that technology and trade are just as important as traditional economic development tools,” he stated. “While infrastructure, workforce development, and business recruitment remain critical, the future of economic growth will also be driven by emerging technologies, digital transformation, automation, and artificial intelligence, among others.”
Addressing the city’s role in international commerce, Perez said, “As one of the nation’s leading gateways for international trade, Pharr is uniquely positioned at the intersection of technology and commerce.” He added that the Tech & Trade series is intended to create conversations that help businesses, entrepreneurs, and community leaders understand economic opportunities and challenges associated with emerging technologies.
The agenda included sponsor remarks by Mike Blum of NAI STX and a roundtable discussion, presented by Bob Lozano of F&P Group and Restro Tech, and moderated by Drew Lentz. The session examined the use of artificial intelligence, predictive analytics, automation, customer engagement tools, and smart operations in the restaurant sector.
Event materials stated that participants would explore practical applications of AI, current industry trends, and future technology considerations for restaurant operators. The discussion also included the growth story of Dairy Queen in Pharr and the role that technology and operational practices have played in its development.
According to the Pharr EDC, the Trade & Tech initiative is a collaborative effort to raise awareness of emerging technologies across industries, including trade, logistics, manufacturing, retail, food service, and professional services. The initiative will provide educational programming, networking opportunities, and discussions led by industry professionals.
The event concluded with a question-and-answer session followed by networking among attendees at the Pharr Global Business Hub, located at 301 South Cage Boulevard in Pharr.
