COSTEP continues its investment in the Texas Economic Development Corporation

MISSION, Texas – Leaders with the Council for South Texas Economic Progress presented a $100,000 check to the Texas Economic Development Corporation.

The check was handed over to Aaron S. Demerson, president and CEO of TEDC at a ceremony at the Center for Education & Economic Development in Mission on Jan. 7, 2025.

The COSTEP leaders to present the check were Adam Gonzalez, CEO of the group, along with fellow board members Jim Darling and Keith Patridge.

In an exclusive interview with the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service, Gonzalez explained why TEDC deserves financial support, Gonzalez said: “It’s about our continued support for the Texas Economic Development Corporation, which is the right arm of the Office of the Governor’s economic development program. We’ve been supporting them now for three years. This should be the third year that we’re supporting that effort, in an effort to showcase our region throughout the world as a destination for manufacturing and operations for new businesses from abroad.”

Asked how important is TEDC is to COSTEP, Gonzalez said: “It is very important. I think we need to work together to try to bring new industry, new opportunities to Texas. But more so from our perspective is promoting our seven-county region to try to capture some of those businesses that are trying to near-shore to the United States.”

On behalf of COSTEP, Gonzalez went on a trade mission to India last February as part of a delegation put together by TEDC.

“We had a trade mission to India, which has been very successful so far. We’re still working some of those leads. We’re working with other organizations from India as well in promoting the region and trying to capture new businesses.”

Gonzalez said COSTEP plans to attend two more trade missions abroad this year with TEDC. He said he was not able to announce yet which countries he would be visiting.

 “At this point, they’re still undecided. They (TEDC) have not provided us an agenda yet but there will be two visits. They haven’t settled on the destinations yet.”

Asked if it was fair to say he would be globe-trotting, Gonzalez said: “Definitely. It’ll be out of the country. It could be Europe. It could be Asia again. It could be India. It could be other other countries that are looking at exploring the United States, specifically Texas, and hopefully Rio South Texas region.”

Gonzalez said thinking globally is nothing new for COSTEP.

“We have been focused worldwide since 2020, when we began our program. As you will know, the pandemic hit that year. But right before the pandemic, we did make a trip to Europe, to Germany, and there was some success there in that initial initial visit. But we feel that there’s a lot more traction now we’ve created awareness about our region.”

Gonzalez said when he talks about Rio South Texas as a region he is including Laredo with the Rio Grande Valley. “All together encompass seven counties and south of the river we work with and promote the dynamic that exists there with ten municipos in Tamaulipas.”

COSTEP’s plans for 2025

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Asked what COSTEP’s main hopes for 2025 are, Gonzalez said:

“Our main hope is to continue to attract businesses, new industry, new manufacturing, to the region. We know they are better well-paid jobs (to go after). A lot of the manufacturing now is very high-tech, so we need to get our workforce development in order as well to be able to attract those companies.”

Gonzalez continued: “We’re going to continue with our program of bringing people into the region, to showcase the region, and trying to attract them. We’re planning our three Fam (familiarization) Tours. We have three Fam Tours throughout the year. We’re starting that planning as of now. We also will be attending various site selector conferences this year, and also, the Select USA conferences are at top of our list as well.”

Texas Economic Development Corporation perspective

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The Guardian also interviewed Demerson, the TEDC CEO, at the check presentation event.

“I am excited to be back in the Valley. It is always a delight to be here. I always go back home about five pounds heavier, but we’re here today for a special occasion, to be with our good friends from COSTEP, a major partner with us and to make an investment in the State of Texas, so that there will be a benefit here in the region,” Demerson said.

“COSTEP is going to present us potentially with a check and a commitment that they’ve made to us, a commitment that we’ve made to them, to make sure that we’re marketing our great State. And then they (COSTEP) have an opportunity to market the region here in the Valley.”

Demerson said he agreed with Gonzalez about the feedback received from last year’s trade mission to India.

“The feedback has been tremendous. We were delighted to have Adam with us on that trip and I am looking forward to having Adam on even more trips as we develop our international calendar going forward.”

Demerson continued: “It means a lot, not only the state, the state has a good business climate, an excellent business climate, and we do quite well, but the rubber meets the road at the local level, and so it’s important for us to have our local level partners with us on those strips, so that as we’re talking about Texas, they have an opportunity to talk about their respective communities.”

Asked what TEDC is all about, Demerson said: “The Texas Economic Development Corporation is an organization that’s been around for quite some time, we have a ten-member board of directors. The governor appoints those board members, and so our mission is really to assist with the marketing efforts of Texas, both domestically and internationally, to make sure that we’re in a position to showcase the best that Texas has to offer. When we’re talking about Texas, it’s not automatic that companies will be here in our state. They can go to California, New York, these other states. And so, we want to make sure that they know what we’re doing here in Texas, so that they not only come here, but they stay here as well.”

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