Weslaco businesses achieve historic $1 billion in sales this year

WESLACO, Texas (ValleyCentral) — For the first time in Weslaco's 105-year history, businesses within the city limits have generated over $1 billion in taxable sales.

"The size of the city is just under 45,000 [people], and for a city our size to have generated that much sales tax, it's great," said Steven Valdez, executive director of the Economic Development Corporation of Weslaco (EDCW).

The statistics come from the Texas State Comptroller's Office yearly report. According to the report, businesses within the city limits of Weslaco generated $1,008,810,769 in taxable sales for the 2023-24 Fiscal Year.

The EDCW said residents shopping locally played a major role in the city reaching this milestone. Valdez also credited the high sales number to the number of people from neighboring cities who shop in Weslaco.

“We’re centrally located, we have access to a lot more of the population outside of Weslaco that choose to come here and we’re offering them options – entertainment options, dining options, shopping options, and we’re offering more options to come and choose Weslaco to shop," Valdez said.

Weslaco is the Rio Grande Valley's seventh-largest city and Valdez said its location in the mid-valley draws more businesses to set up shop in the area, adding that Weslaco has seen a steady increase in business growth over the last several years.

ValleyCentral spoke to the owners of Boot Shop Western Wear, one of Weslaco's newest businesses, located off North International Blvd.

Isabella Valerio, the store manager, said the business celebrated its grand opening just before Black Friday.

"We're new to the area, but also this plaza is family-owned as well, so we're a family business all around," said Valerio.

The Valerio family has welcomed many local customers since their opening, and they're excited about the opportunities the growing city will provide.

Valdez said the taxes generated from Weslaco businesses will go back to the city and be used to improve infrastructure and increase development.

"If we're a billion dollar city today that means that we're just going to continue to grow, we're going to continue to attract companies to Weslaco, we're going to continue to offer those resources to our community," Valdez said. "As the tax dollars come in, our city leaders will continue to put that money back to infrastructure and the right development, so it's only going to get better from here.