MCALLEN, Texas - Elizabeth Suarez, president of McAllen Economic Development Corporation, gave her president’s report to the EDC’s stakeholders group at the offices of McAllen Chamber of Commerce.
She started by announcing that McAllen Economic Pulse 2026 has hit the newsstands. The 90-page magazine is titled “Next Is Now - Inside the Momentum Driving McAllen’s Economic Surge.”
“I hope this document or this magazine is something that is helpful. It is meant to be a ready-to-go pitch document. It highlights the best of our community, both small business and industry, stories that are important to who we are,” Suarez said. “In addition to that, it has all the data sensitive to our region, we really hope that this is instrumental in your daily business.”
The cover photo of the booklet shows a plane on the tarmac at McAllen International Airport. “We're highlighting the airport in this magazine. Lots of exciting news there,” Suarez said.
Suarez gave a shout-out to customs broker Jorge Torres for a chapter he wrote for the magazine. The chapter is titled “Interlink: Connecting McAllen to Global Trade.” Torres was at the stakeholders group meeting. “I want to thank Jorge Torres for all of your expertise and for sharing that with us,” Suarez said.
Moving on from the magazine, Suarez says she will have some exciting news to share on the economic development front over the next six months.
“We've got some exciting news to be sharing in the next six months. Please make sure to follow our social media accounts and to keep your eyes open. There's not much detail that I can go into, but we've got two real important announcements that will be coming out in the next six months,” Suarez said.
On April 10, the McAllen Chamber will host a “Legendary McAllen Women” event, Suarez said.
“That's a big deal for us. We highlight eight women who have made a huge difference and who are extraordinary leaders in our community,” Suarez said. “We have a wonderful lineup, including Debbie Crane and Morgan LaMantia, among other great leaders. So please, I hope that you can join us for that event.”
Suarez also announced that McAllen has received our five-star accreditation from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “We're really excited about that. That's a big deal. Only about two percent of chambers in the country have that five-star accreditation. So, look out for that news. It's incoming. It'll be an announcement from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. They may very well come down to pay us a visit.”
Suarez said the Convention & Visitors Bureau has also been very active. “They've landed some really big sports conferences, as well as some bigger organizational conferences coming into town. So we're excited about all of that news.”
Suarez concluded her report by saying the city’s monthly economic pulse data is on the McAllen Chamber’s website.
As president and CEO of McAllen Chamber of Commerce and McAllen Economic Development Corporation, Elizabeth Suarez gives a Welcome Message in the new McAllen Economic Pulse 2026 magazine. She writes:
McAllen is a city built on hard work, opportunity and forward momentum. Our economy continues to move in the right direction because we understand our strengths and invest in them with intention.
Over the past year, McAllen has seen continued activity across key industries and strong engagement from small and locally owned businesses. Our workforce, strategic location and pro-business environment remain clear advantages. Just as important, McAllen continues to offer a quality of life that makes it an attractive place to live, work and raise a family.
What makes McAllen stand out is alignment. Business, government and community leaders are focused on shared goals and long-term success. Growth here is thoughtful and strategic, supported by infrastructure partnerships and planning that positions our city for what's next.
This year's Economic Pulse highlights the people, companies and industries driving McAllen forward. It also underscores why MacAllan continues to attract new investment and opportunity. As you move through this publication, you will see a city that is building momentum and preparing for a strong year ahead.
Looking forward, 2026 will be an important year for McAllen. New investment, major events and continued growth across our economy will further strengthen opportunity and reinforce mcallen's position as a leading city in South Texas.
Whether you're investing, expanding or choosing McAllen as home, we're proud to support your success and confident in the future we are building together.
¡Tu futuro empieza aquí en McAllen!
Your future starts here in McAllen.
