Pharr EDC wins a TEDC Workforce Excellence Award

PHARR, Texas – The Texas Economic Development Council has announced the recipients of its 2025 Workforce Excellence Awards and for communities ranging in population between 40,001 and 100,000 the winner was Pharr Economic Development Corporation.

TEDC is the largest state economic development association in the nation. It was formed in 1961 and provides information, education and legislative services to its members to foster the expansion of existing businesses, the location of new firms and the development of strategies that promote a positive business climate in Texas. 

The recipients of the 2025 Workforce Excellence Awards were recognized at the TEDC’s 2025 Mid-Year Conference on June 19, 2025, in Rockwall, Texas.

Carlton Schwab, president and CEO of the TEDC, said the Workforce Excellence Award program recognizes exceptional contributions by a Texas community or region that has implemented successful workforce initiatives. 

He said members of the TEDC’s Workforce Development Committee reviewed and scored the applications from the nominees based on five criteria: innovativeness, transferability, community commitment and leverage, measured objectives, and secondary benefits.

“Our TEDC’s Workforce Excellence Award is one of the ways in which our organization honors the outstanding work done by our communities and regions, their leaders, and their economic development professionals in the area of workforce development,” Schwab said. 

Victor Perez, president and CEO of Pharr EDC, said his group won its award for working in partnership with Rio Grande Valley College and the Lower Rio Grande Valley Workforce Development Board, Pharr EDC to launch a high-impact workforce initiative under the High Demand Job Training (HDJT) Program to address critical healthcare workforce shortages.

Perez said the project leveraged local economic development funds and matched them with funds from the Texas Workforce Commission to train approximately 50 eligible students in Vocational Nursing, Pharmacy Technician, and Medical Assistant programs.

Perez said the project goals were to expand access to high-demand training for underserved populations, support local healthcare employers by strengthening the talent pipeline, and build long-term training capacity through upgraded infrastructure and instructor readiness.

“This recognition would not have been possible without our dedicated partners. Together, we are building a stronger workforce and creating meaningful opportunities for our community,” Perez said. “We’re proud to be part of this transformative effort.”

Perez, Pharr along with Ricardo Medina, a Pharr City Commissioner and Pharr EDC board member, accepted the award at the TEDC Mid-Year Conference.

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