HARLINGEN, Texas — Closing out a year marked by strategic infrastructure investments and steady job creation, the Harlingen Economic Development Corporation is eyeing significant growth for the coming fiscal year, backed by high-value international prospects and major commercial developments.
In an interview with the Rio Grande Guardian, Harlingen EDC Chief Executive Officer Orlando Campos detailed the city’s economic performance as it transitions into its new fiscal year on October 1. Over the past 12 months, the EDC closed eight signed projects projected to bring $35 million in capital investment and 844 new jobs to the city.
Among the year's primary infrastructure achievements is the industrial park at Roosevelt in Harlingen. Campos reported that the site’s detention pond is 98 percent complete, with crews actively constructing roadways, drainage systems, and utility connections. The EDC expects to wrap up infrastructure work at the park by the end of the next fiscal year.
A central driver for Harlingen's upcoming commercial development is "Project Organic," a public-private mixed-use project adjacent to the city's medical district. The project received a major boost after Cameron County agreed to extend its participation in the surrounding Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) from 2027 to 2035.
"This will definitely provide quite a bit of capital so that we can build out the public infrastructure portion of that development," Campos said.
With updated TIRZ finance plans pending approval from the TIRZ board, the Harlingen City Commission, and Cameron County, the EDC board is considering issuing bonds backed by future TIRZ revenue to finance public infrastructure upfront.
Key developments within Project Organic include:
••Entertainment & Retail: A private developer is eyeing a $5 million entertainment project, while private landowners report receiving several letters of intent from retail tenants.
Despite having a smaller population than neighboring Rio Grande Valley municipalities like Mission and Pharr, Harlingen consistently generates higher sales tax revenues—a dynamic Campos attributes to the city's position as a regional retail hub.
"We're quite a bit away from other larger communities, and so we're able to capture the purchasing power of not just our residents, but these smaller surrounding communities within Harlingen that don't have a lot of retail," Campos said, pointing to ongoing residential expansion on the city's west side as a driver for future commercial growth.
Medical and educational partnerships continue to reinforce the local economy. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) expanded its local footprint this past year by opening the state's only school of podiatry in Harlingen.
Concurrently, the Port of Harlingen is stepping up as a key industrial driver. While traditionally focused on aggregate materials and fuel distribution, the port is advancing plans to acquire land and expand rail access.
Beyond regional commerce, Harlingen is aggressively pursuing international investment. Following trade missions and targeted outreach across Mexico, the EDC is actively managing two high-priority prospects.
"One particular company is a $300-plus million investment... we're the only Valley city that they're looking at, but we're in competition with other cities in Central Texas," Campos noted, citing Harlingen's proximity to Mexico as a key advantage.
The city is also preparing for regional growth spillovers from SpaceX and the Port of Brownsville. Campos noted that a growing number of personnel working on LNG and aerospace initiatives choose to reside in Harlingen due to available housing and manageable commute times relative to major metropolitan areas.
At the city's Aerotropolis industrial site near Valley International Airport, one tenant has formally selected a site, while the EDC tracks 11 active prospects. If fully realized, these prospects represent $315 million in potential investment and over 4,000 proposed jobs. Additionally, proposed east-west transportation corridors for a second causeway to South Padre Island are expected to land near Harlingen, potentially unlocking new commercial properties and boosting airport tourism connections.
Looking ahead, Campos emphasized a collaborative approach focused on breaking down organizational silos across the region to foster long-term stability.
"We still have a lot of greenfield sites and room for additional growth in Harlingen, not just residential, but also for commercial and industrial," Campos said. "At the end of the day, it's all about Harlingen and making a better life for the residents of the community."
