By Richard Cortez
Well, good afternoon, everyone. It's really a pleasure to be here to celebrate the opening of this outstanding new produce facility.
This project represents what is possible when innovation, private investment and regional collaboration come together with a shared vision. It is not just a new building, it is a statement about who we are as a region and where we're headed.
I want to congratulate Joaquin and his wife Lucy on the opening of another impressive property that will strengthen our economy. It will create new opportunities across what we now call RioPlex. Their continued investment in our community really sends a very strong message about their confidence in this region.
You know, some time back when Joaquin and I and others were discussing the idea, the idea of this RioPlex region as a way to market and promote our region, this is exactly the sort of investment we envisioned..
We knew that when local business leaders, city and county governments, and economic development organizations work together, companies from across the globe would see our potential and want to invest in us.
I commend Robinson Fresh for recognizing our potential and making their decision to operate out of this state-of-the-art facility in our community. They saw that we offer a complete package: reliable power, dependable water resources, and a skilled workforce. We have some rail, highway, air connections and a quality of life that really helps all of us to attract and retain employees.
Well, this area delivers all of those fundamentals because of all of us working together. When we move forward as a region we attract better jobs, strengthen our infrastructure and diversify our industries. This facility is a clear example that this strategy is working and is in action.
RioPlex is how we market our strengths, demonstrate unity and compete in our community. They saw that we offer larger metropolitan areas and ensure that those opportunities that we have and deserve come here.
This new facility strengthens cross border trade, enhances our position in the global supply chain and gives local salaries a meaningful boost. That is the mission of RioPlex, and today we see the results of that mission.
So congratulations, CIL Capital, the City of Pharr and the Pharr Economic Development Corporation and all of their partnerships and leadership in making this project a reality.
I wish you continued success, and I look forward to seeing the impact that this facility will have in our region. Thank you, everyone.
Editor’s Note: The above commentary was provided by Hidalgo County judge Richard Cortez at a ribbon cutting ceremony hosted by CIL Capital in South Pharr on Feb. 19.
![Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez and Lucy Spamer [Photo Credit: City of Pharr]](https://gamma.creativecirclecdn.com/riogrande/original/20260220-093828-961-637715489_1365022575662095_4517342993022547433_n.jpg)
