Harlingen Bets Big on Aerospace: Valley Aerospace Center Pushes for a Larger Role in Cross-Border Manufacturing

Harlingen is stepping forward as a serious contender in the aerospace and advanced manufacturing landscape along the Texas–Mexico border. During the conference, David Lotterer, Senior Vice President at Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL,) outlined how the Valley Aerospace Center and Aeroplex are being elevated as strategic industrial assets for companies looking to integrate U.S. and Mexican supply chains.

Representing the real estate and development interests at Valley International Airport (HRL), Lotterer emphasized that the region is intentionally positioning itself to capture investment from manufacturers seeking cross-border flexibility, multimodal logistics, and room for long-term expansion.

 “Our focus is on aviation-ready assets that give companies a strategic foothold in the Rio Grande Valley.” he said.

Targeting U.S.–Mexico Manufacturers

Lotterer highlighted that Harlingen’s presence at the event was driven by the need to directly engage with companies operating on both sides of the border. The region is marketing itself as a competitive site for final assembly, MRO activities, and aviation component manufacturing, especially for firms sourcing from maquiladoras in Matamoros, Reynosa, and throughout Tamaulipas.

“We’re here to market the Aerospace Center and the Aeroplex,” he explained.

“This is an ideal location for final aircraft assembly or aviation products, especially for companies relying on cross-border suppliers.”

This reflects a broader trend as Texas border cities increasingly compete to attract aerospace investment tied to the nearshoring wave and binational supply chain integration.

A Tri-Modal Logistics Advantage

Harlingen’s logistics footprint is one of its most significant differentiators. The city benefits from the rare combination of:

• Valley International Airport

• Port of Harlingen

• Proximity to nearby border crossings

Together, these assets create a high-connectivity environment that supports time-sensitive and globally sourced aerospace production.

“Between the port, the airport, and the border, we really have all modes of transportation covered,” Lotterer said.

“A company can source components from anywhere in the world and move them efficiently.”

This multimodal setup mirrors successful aerospace and advanced manufacturing clusters in binational areas and provides the added advantage of lower congestion and significant land still available for development.

450 Acres Ready and a Workforce Pipeline in Place

Workforce and scalability are central to Harlingen’s pitch. Lotterer noted that the region offers strong training resources—supported by TSTC, UTRGV, and local ISD technical programs—that allow companies to shape workforce pipelines aligned with aviation and STEM skillsets.

“There are great training resources to upskill labor specific to an employer’s needs,” he said.

But the biggest asset is the land. The Valley Aerospace Center includes 450 acres ready for industrial development, an increasingly rare offering among Texas border cities where available airport-adjacent property is limited.

“We’ve got 450 acres ready for development,” Lotterer added.

“We want that land to become a critical long-term asset for the community.”

A Region Following the Path of Progress

Lotterer highlighted Harlingen’s potential with the broader momentum seen across the Rio Grande Valley and northern Tamaulipas. The region benefits from a 1.3+ million workforce across the binational corridor and easy access to manufacturing-heavy cities like Reynosa, Matamoros, and Rio Bravo. The conference, he added, has already delivered strong engagement and fresh leads for companies exploring the Valley as part of their aerospace or cross-border expansion strategy.