South Texas Area of Economic Development

South Texas is a cost-competitive region for international trade and mission critical operations.

From the headquarters of H-E-B in San Antonio to the launch site of SpaceX in Brownsville, companies rely on South Texas. The region’s geographic location has made it a particular force in trade, with the Port of Brownsville being the only deepwater port on the U.S.-Mexico border, Port Corpus Christi giving fast access to the Gulf of Mexico and the inland waterway system, and nine Foreign Trade Zones allowing goods to move without formal customs entry. South Texas’ advantages come at a high value, with the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) finding Harlingen and McAllen to be two of the most cost-competitive urban areas in the U.S. in 2019.