GBIC emphasizes workforce innovation and regional competitiveness at Texas Tribune panel

Gilberto Salinas, CEO of the Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation (GBIC), participated in a recent Texas Tribune panel discussion in Brownsville, focused on preparing the next generation of workers in the Rio Grande Valley. The conversation explored how collaboration between education, training institutions, and industry leaders is essential to sustaining the region’s long-term economic growth.

For GBIC, developing a future-ready workforce goes hand in hand with building a globally competitive economy. As Brownsville continues to attract new investments in manufacturing, logistics, and advanced industries, workforce innovation remains one of its most strategic assets.

Building a globally connected economy

Brownsville stands at the crossroads of geography and opportunity. Its strategic position at the tip of Texas — with three international bridges into Mexico, deepwater Gulf access, and direct connection to Interstate 69E — allows companies to reach both continental and global markets with unmatched efficiency. This proximity to Latin America, the U.S. heartland, and international ports has made Brownsville a logistics powerhouse and a key player in the North American manufacturing corridor.

Complementing its connectivity is a robust infrastructure built to move. The 40,000-acre Port of Brownsville, Class I rail service, dual international airports, and Foreign Trade Zone No. 62 create an integrated logistics platform that supports high-volume operations and multimodal efficiency. Together, these assets provide companies with the speed and scale needed to compete globally.

Workforce and cost advantages that drive growth

Salinas emphasized that Brownsville’s success is also rooted in its adaptable and binational workforce. With over 183,000 workers in the metropolitan area and a bilingual labor pool extending across the U.S.-Mexico border, companies have access to skilled, cost-competitive talent. Strong partnerships with local colleges and training centers ensure a continuous pipeline of technicians, engineers, and specialized workers ready to meet industrial demand.

Moreover, Brownsville offers cost advantages without compromise. A cost of living 25 percent below the national average, competitively priced industrial real estate, and targeted local and state incentives create a climate where businesses can thrive and scale sustainably.

A region accelerating toward the future

From heavy industry to frontier technology, Brownsville is not just keeping pace with change — it is driving it. GBIC’s participation in the Texas Tribune panel reaffirmed its commitment to aligning talent development with business expansion, ensuring that the region’s momentum translates into long-term, inclusive growth.

In Brownsville, global access meets industrial strength, and the next generation of workers is already shaping what comes next.