Texas Border Business
By Roberto Hugo González / Texas Border Business
EDINBURG, Texas — Raudel Garza, executive director of the Edinburg Economic Development Corporation (EEDC), said workforce development remains one of the most important components of economic growth during remarks at the launch of the second year of the Bank On INT paid internship program on June 5, 2026.
Speaking at the memorandum of understanding signing ceremony at Edinburg City Council Chambers, Garza said companies exploring expansion or relocation often evaluate a region’s workforce strength before making investment decisions.
“One of the first things that people ask when they come into our region and start looking around, trying to figure out whether or not they should locate here is what kind of labor force do you have?” Garza said.
Garza described the Rio Grande Valley’s workforce as one of the region’s greatest assets, pointing to its size, youth, and strong work ethic. He said local talent plays a critical role in helping the region compete for economic opportunities.
“We understand that without our biggest capital asset, which is the people, we do not compete globally,” Garza said.
Garza said the Bank On INT program was developed through collaboration among EEDC, UTRGV, and regional banking institutions to provide students with direct exposure to career opportunities in the financial sector. He noted that internships help students understand what jobs are available in the community while giving employers a pathway to develop future talent.
Dr. Giorgio Gotti, dean of the UTRGV Robert C. Vackar College of Business & Entrepreneurship, said the program helps bridge the gap between classroom learning and professional experience. “For our finance and business students, internships are not just a way of building the resume, one more line, they are transformational experience because in the classroom they’re learning about finance, banking, risk, credit, ethics, but during an internship and program like Bank On INT, they see how those principles are applied to real institution, real bank, real decision, real responsibility, and real consequences for your decision,” Gotti said.
“This program just drives it home in terms of the need to keep our brain trust here,” Garza said.
He said the region faces the challenge of replacing experienced workers as older generations retire, underscoring the importance of preparing the next generation of professionals. Internships, he added, are an effective way to introduce students to local industries and encourage them to pursue careers in the Rio Grande Valley.
“How do they know what’s available? Well, internships like this are really what drives that,” Garza said.
Garza also emphasized the importance of support from community banking institutions participating in the program. He noted that the initiative is led by local banks committed to investing in local talent.
“When you think about regional banks, everybody participating is a local bank,” Garza said. “That is something that really is very important for us.”
The Bank On INT program is a partnership among the City of Edinburg, EEDC, the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, and regional financial institutions. The initiative provides paid internships for undergraduate students seeking experience in banking and financial services while helping employers strengthen the local workforce pipeline.
Garza concluded by thanking participating organizations, banking partners, and EEDC staff for their efforts in developing and expanding the program.
“We’re going to continue to support it,” Garza said.
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