Pharr EDC earns international recognition for advancing cross-border investment through Global Business Hub

Helping international companies and investors find the resources, connections, and guidance they need to establish operations in the United States is one of the goals of the Pharr Global Business Hub, an initiative that earned the Pharr Economic Development Corporation (Pharr EDC) international recognition from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC).

Pharr EDC was recognized in the Regional or Cross-Border Partnership category as part of the 2026 IEDC Excellence Awards, for the collaborative model developed through the Pharr Global Business Hub to expand international business opportunities and strengthen economic ties between South Texas and Mexico.

Developed in partnership with The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV), the Hub brings together business advisory services, international and local entrepreneurship programs, small business development, incubation, and connections with community partners. Its purpose is to support both international companies seeking to enter the U.S. market and local entrepreneurs looking to grow.

For Victor Perez, President and CEO of Pharr EDC, the recognition validates work that began approximately three years ago and was driven, in large part, by conversations with Mexican business owners interested in learning more about the opportunities available in Pharr.

“This is something big for us because many other organizations apply, and this is a very good project that is going to have an impact,” Perez said.

A gateway for Mexican companies

The Global Business Hub was created to address a specific need: helping business owners interested in investing in the United States who may not be familiar with the market, processes, or institutions they need to contact.

Perez explained that several Mexican business owners approached Pharr EDC to ask what the city had to offer and how they could establish an operation in the United States.

Those conversations led to the creation of a space that brings together resources and information to help simplify that process.

“It was created with the idea of providing not only information, but all the necessary connections so that anyone who wants to invest can come and use that space,” Perez explained.

The Hub operates as a gateway for international companies and investors. Instead of having to identify educational institutions, business organizations, advisors, service providers, and support programs individually, entrepreneurs can approach the Hub and be connected with the resources they need.

The initiative also offers soft-landing programs, business advisory services, training, small business development, and access to entrepreneurship and workforce development resources.

A partnership that brings resources together

Pharr EDC works with UTRGV, whose participation brings entrepreneurship, training, and business development programs to the initiative. The Hub is also one of the university's Innovation Hubs in the Rio Grande Valley.

Through this network, entrepreneurs can access information and connections related to financing, commercial and industrial properties, warehouses, architects, engineers, legal matters, and other services needed to develop an operation.

The goal is not only to provide information, but to give business owners access to a network that can help them make more informed decisions before committing resources to a project.

This collaborative approach was a central element of the IEDC recognition, highlighting the initiative's ability to bring together regional and international partners around business attraction, workforce development, international trade, and cross-border investment.

Growing interest from Mexican investors

According to Perez, the Hub's impact is already reflected in the growing number of business owners seeking information about investment opportunities.

The Pharr EDC President and CEO said the organization recently participated in a business mission during which 35 investors visited the city and the Hub, interested in exploring opportunities to invest in the United States.

Business owners from states including Michoacán, Nuevo León, and Zacatecas participated in the visit and learned about different aspects of establishing a business in the United States.

The delegation also included representatives from financial institutions, attorneys, and organizations supporting small businesses, providing participants with a more comprehensive understanding of the process.

“When we bring this type of investor here who is interested in investing with us, we know that we are doing the job well,” Perez said.

Beyond Pharr

Although the Hub is located in Pharr, its reach is intended to benefit the entire Rio South Texas region.

For Perez, this regional dimension is particularly important because the interest is not limited to Mexico.

The Hub has begun receiving visitors from different parts of the United States and other countries who are interested in learning more about the opportunities available in Pharr and throughout the Rio South Texas region.

“You don't have to go to San Antonio anymore. You can call us or come here and learn a little more about Pharr, what support can help you, and what resources are available,” he explained.

Pharr's location, its connection to Mexico, and its international trade infrastructure contribute to the Hub's role as a link between the two markets.

Growth brings new challenges

The increased interest has also prompted Pharr EDC to strengthen the level of support provided at the Hub.

Perez explained that a member of the organization is currently stationed at the Hub to handle calls and requests from business owners seeking information.

He also said Pharr EDC is considering expanding the available space to accommodate more programs, events, entrepreneurs, and investors.

“When we have these events, we realize that we are going to need more space, a little more room, to hold more programs and events and invite even more people,” Perez said.

A model recognized for cross-border collaboration

The IEDC recognition places Pharr EDC on the international economic development stage while also highlighting a shift in the way the organization approaches business attraction.

Rather than simply promoting the city's advantages, the model seeks to support entrepreneurs during the early stages of entering the U.S. market, connecting them with institutions, programs, and specialized resources.

Since its opening in 2024, the Pharr Global Business Hub has been designed as a one-stop business development center with a particular focus on international business.

The IEDC recognition now validates that collaborative model and reinforces Pharr EDC's strategy of using the Hub as a tool to attract investment, strengthen international trade, and generate economic opportunities that extend beyond the city's borders.