BROWNSVILLE, Texas - A new era of collaboration has begun in Cameron County.
And this time it includes all the communities - big and small.
They are now part of a multi-city agreement signed Thursday, April 30, that called for working together, side by side, not against each other.
The new deal covers the largest cities like Brownsville, to the smallest municipalities like the Towns of Indian Lake, Primera, Laguna Vista and Palm Valley.
Even the City of Starbase, which was created a year ago and which has a population of about 500 people, signed up to the regional benefit agreement.
All in all, the representatives of the 18 entities, including Cameron County, jumped on the bandwagon and will soon work together to further economic development in the region.
“I believe it is very important to include the smaller communities,” Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño Jr., said. “We have the responsibility to look after each and every city and town in our area.”
Brownsville Mayor John Cowen, Jr., said the success of the agreement will depend on the collaboration of everybody in this endeavor.
“We are stronger if we work as a region,” he said, “not against each other but side by side.”
Bea Lopez Juarez, board chair with the Workforce Solutions Cameron, said the agreement represents trust, partnership and a bold commitment in economic collaboration.
“When one community rises,” she said, “we all rise.”
Rafael Vela, the executive director with WSC, said the agreement is the result of months of hard work.
He then said this new initiative calls for three important questions.
“Why do we care? Who are our stakeholders?” Vela said. “And what is our current reality versus what we aspire to be?”
