From Rockets to AI Ships: The RGV’s Industrial Evolution

Mike Willis, executive director of the South Texas Manufacturers Association, said the organization holds approximately seven membership meetings each year, divided between Cameron and Hidalgo counties. The gatherings provide manufacturing managers with information relevant to their businesses. This meeting focused on Cameron County’s transportation plans and the infrastructure needed to support industrial growth.

“It’s to share useful information to provide value to the manufacturing managers about things of interest,” Willis said.

Mike Willis, a Valley native, discussed the growth coming to the region; he described how projects in aerospace, liquefied natural gas, and advanced shipbuilding are creating opportunities for the Rio Grande Valley while placing greater demands on its workforce and infrastructure. He pointed to SpaceX, LNG facilities around the Port of Brownsville, and Saronic Technologies’ planned shipyard as examples of that growth.

New Industrial Projects Bring Jobs to Brownsville    

He elaborated on Saronic Technologies’ planned Port Alpha shipyard at the Port of Brownsville; it represents a $3.2 billion investment expected to create more than 10,000 direct jobs, according to the Port of Brownsville. The facility will support the production of autonomous vessels capable of operating without crews aboard for defense and maritime applications. Mike Willis said the work could create opportunities for software engineers, manufacturing workers, and designers. He also suggested potential commercial uses, such as transporting supplies to offshore oil rigs, although he presented that as a possibility rather than an announced company project.

Willis also highlighted the planned America First Refining facility at the Port of Brownsville as another source of industrial growth. The port describes the project as the first new U.S. Gulf Coast oil refinery in nearly 50 years. Designed to process domestic shale oil into fuels, the facility is expected to create 500 direct full-time jobs, with projected annual salaries ranging from $80,000 to $100,000, according to the company’s estimates released by the port. Thousands of additional indirect jobs are anticipated in construction, logistics, and long-term operational support.

He pointed to the construction workforce supporting Rio Grande LNG as an example of the immediate employment demand associated with large industrial projects. Once construction ends, he explained, the facility will continue to require workers to operate the plant, although that permanent workforce will be smaller.

Growth Beyond Maquiladora Manufacturing

The projects represent a shift in the region’s industrial mix. While many association members supply maquiladora operations in Mexico, Willis said much of the investment around the port is being driven by other advantages.

“So there's a lot going on in the valley, especially around the Port of Brownsville. And most of that doesn't have a lot to do with the Maquila industry,” said Willis.

Access to the port and regional energy infrastructure, he explained, is helping attract industries whose operations extend beyond the Valley’s established cross-border manufacturing relationships. 

“Those particular operations have more to do with our geography and the fact that we have natural gas available from Eagle, Shell, and Permian. So, we're taking advantage of the ports, location, and services,” said Mike Willis.

Transportation to Support Industrial Expansion

Willis said the association follows the work of bridge administrators and transportation planners because more efficient border crossings benefit manufacturers, the maquiladora industry, and produce businesses. He also emphasized the need for highway improvements to accommodate commercial traffic and support the region’s industrial growth.

Growing industrial operations generate additional movement of workers, equipment, supplies, and finished products. Businesses will depend on transportation routes that can accommodate that activity while maintaining reliable connections to international crossings and other markets.

For the South Texas Manufacturers Association, keeping members informed about those improvements is part of helping companies prepare for the region’s next stage of growth.

Preparing the Workforce

Coordination among manufacturers, transportation officials, and educational institutions will help determine how effectively local businesses and workers can participate. As employers introduce new technologies and production processes, those connections provide opportunities to discuss the skills companies need and the types of careers emerging in the region. Willis said the association already works with schools and educational institutions, and education remains a recurring subject at its membership meetings.

The challenge extends beyond filling positions at individual facilities. A larger industrial base will require a broader pool of workers capable of supporting manufacturing, technical operations, and related services.

For existing businesses, understanding those changes can help guide hiring and workforce planning as additional employers enter the market.