COSTEP Connects Aerospace Prospects with South Texas Manufacturing

COSTEP brings regional partners together to help companies establish and expand operations

Speaking with Pro Texas Industry at the business gathering at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Adam Gonzalez, CEO of COSTEP, said the meeting introduced visiting companies to Rio South Texas and the resources available across its seven-county region.

“The idea here was telling them how we could help their companies either establish here, relocate here, or expand here in the region,”Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez described COSTEP’s role as identifying interested companies and connecting them with local economic development organizations,universities, technical schools and other partners. Those relationships bring workforce preparation into the investment conversation from the beginning.

For Adam Gonzalez, CEO of COSTEP, bringing manufacturing and education together is an essential part of attracting industry to South Texas.He explained that COSTEP connects prospective employers with local economic development organizations and “the local university system, the higher ed system that’s here, the technical schools, and key stakeholders that can help establish operations here in the region.”

Aerospace was among the opportunities discussed during COSTEP’s visit to UTRGV, where Adam Gonzalez said companies from elsewhere in the United States were exploring potential expansion projects in the region.While he did not identify the businesses, he confirmed their focus: “I can tell you is that they’re in the aerospace industry.” By bringing education partners into those conversations early, South Texas can better connect its talent and training resources with industry’s needs, strengthening the region’s case for investment while creating pathways for residents to participate in its manufacturing growth.

The UTRGV meeting put that work into practice by bringing business prospects into contact with regional expertise. For Gonzalez, South Texas’ manufacturing opportunity depends on making those introductions productive: helping companies see the region’s capabilities, identify the right partners and move toward a workable expansion plan.

COSTEP is helping companies identify a path into South Texas—and building the relationships that can turn their interest into lasting opportunities for the region.