Select Page

Edinburg retail economy in December 2016 performed better than average of all cities statewide; Mayor García, Mayor Darling to share latest economic news in Edinburg on Thursday, March 2

Edinburg retail economy in December 2016 performed better than average of all cities statewide; Mayor García, Mayor Darling to share latest economic news in Edinburg on Thursday, March 2 - Titans of the Texas Legislature

Featured: The Center for Border Economic Studies (CBEST) of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley on Friday, January 27, 2017, hosted its Economic Forecast Luncheon at the McAllen Public Library Conference Center. Visitors heard about the research and predicted outcomes of economic development in the area from speakers that included Francisco García Cabeza de Vaca, Governor of Tamaulipas, Mexico; Dr. Salvador Contreras, Director of CBEST; Dr. Dennis Jansen, Professor of Economics, Texas A&M University; María D. Juárez-Serna, Director of the UTRGV Small Business Development Center; and Dr. Keith R. Phillips, Assistant Vice President and Senior Economist, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, San Antonio Branch. Contreras addressed current and future regional economic activity, including the new, large retailers building in the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission area that place the MSA among some of the top metros in Texas, including San Antonio and Austin. The luncheon concluded with Gov. García Cabeza de Vaca, who told the crowd, “We can grow juntos (together) more than we can as two,” and encouraged our country to “build bridges, not walls.”

Photograph By SILVER SALAS

While the combined average of cities statewide in December 2016 showed a 0.9 percent decrease,  Edinburg recorded a 1.33 percent increase in its retail economy, according to the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. For the month of December 2016, Edinburg’s retail economy – as measured by local sales taxes generated from purchases of eligible goods and services – had the third-best showing among the Valley’s largest cities. That figure is based on sales made in December 2016 by businesses that report tax monthly; October, November and December sales by quarterly filers; and 2016 sales by businesses that report tax annually. The local sales tax is used in Edinburg to help pay for many city services, while the Edinburg Economic Development Corporation uses its one-half cent local sales tax to help generate economic development in the city. For December 2016, Edinburg’s retail economy generated $2,248,780.54 in local sales taxes, compared with $2,219,178.85 during the same period in 2015, representing the improvement of 1.33 percent, also according to the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.

••••••
(more…)

Edinburg led major Valley economies with 4.57 percent growth rate from January through October 2016

Edinburg led major Valley economies with 4.57 percent growth rate from January through October 2016 - Titans of the Texas Legislature

Featured, from left: Councilmember David Torres and Councilmember Richard Molina on Monday, December 12, 2016, at Edinburg City Hall prior to a joint work session between the Edinburg City Council and the Hidalgo County Commissioners Court, to sign a Memorandum of Understanding relating to the city’s participation and financial contributions to a planned $150 million Hidalgo County Courthouse to be built downtown.

Photograph By MARK MONTEMAYOR

Edinburg led major Valley economies with 4.57 percent growth rate from January through October 2016, compared with the same period last year, while statewide, all cities combined showed only a one percent increase, according to the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. For the month of October 2016, Edinburg’s retail economy – as measured by local sales taxes generated from purchases of eligible goods and services – had the third-best showing among the Valley’s largest cities, coming in with a 4.86 percent improvement over the month of October 2015. Those figures are based on sales made in October 2016 by businesses that report tax monthly. During the first 10 months of 2016, Edinburg’s retail economy produced $21,171,250.82 in local sales taxes, compared with $20,245,270.46 for January through October 2015, representing an improvement of 4.57 percent. For October 2016, Edinburg’s retail economy generated $1,644,571.30 in local sales taxes, compared with $1,568,278.46 during the same period in 2015, representing the improvement of 4.86 percent, also according to the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. The local sales tax is used in Edinburg to help pay for many city services, while the Edinburg EDC uses its one-half cent local sales tax to help generate economic development in the city. The Edinburg EDC, of which Agustín García, Jr. is Executive Director, is the jobs-creation arm of the Edinburg Mayor and Edinburg City Council. The Edinburg EDC Board of Directors is comprised of Mayor Richard García as President, Harvey Rodríguez, Jr. as Vice President, Elías Longoria, Jr. as Secretary/Treasurer, and Richard Rupert, and Dr. Peter Dabrowski as Members.

•••••• (more…)

Edinburg continues to lead major Valley economies with 4.54 percent growth rate from January through September 2016, compared with same period in 2015, reports Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts

20161115a1

Featured: University of Texas Rio Grande Valley students Selene Salinas and Jorge Calderón present their research on the effect of economic variables in voting behaviors, during the Border Economic Development and Entrepreneurship Symposium (BEDES) on Wednesday, November 9, 2016, at the Embassy Suites McAllen Convention Center. The symposium was organized by the UTRGV Robert C. Vackar College of Business and Entrepreneurship, the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas and the McAllen Chamber of Commerce. The Edinburg Mayor, Edinburg City Council, and Edinburg Economic Development Corporation lobby the Texas Legislature and the UT System Board of Regents for advances at UTRGV and the UTRGV School of Medicine in Edinburg.

Photograph By PAUL CHOY

Edinburg continues to lead major Valley economies with 4.54 percent growth rate from January through September 2016, compared with the same period last year, while statewide, all cities combined showed only a 0.9 percent increase, according to the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. For the month of September 2016, Edinburg’s retail economy – as measured by local sales taxes generated from purchases of eligible goods and services – had the second-best showing among the Valley’s largest cities, coming in with a 3.70 percent improvement over the month of September 2015. Those figures are based on sales made in September 2016 by businesses that report tax monthly, and sales made in July, August and September by quarterly filers. The local sales tax data is among the latest economic barometers featured in a detailed summary provided by the state comptroller’s office, which released retail sales figures on Wednesday, November 9, 2016. During the first nine months of 2016, Edinburg’s retail economy produced $19,526,679.52 in local sales taxes, compared with $18,676,992.00 for January through September 2015, representing an improvement of 4.54 percent. For September 2016, Edinburg’s retail economy generated $1,933,808.59 in local sales taxes, compared with $1,864,640.98 during the same period in 2015, representing the improvement of 3.70 percent, also according to the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.

•••••• (more…)

Edinburg’s retail economy leading major Valley cities in rate of growth during first eight months of 2016

20161014

Featured: Letty Reyes, Director of Business Development and Public Affairs, Edinburg Economic Development Corporation; and Juan Guerra, City Manager, City of Pharr. Both area leaders on Friday, October 7, 2016 participated in a panel discussion about entrepreneurial innovation during the Fourth Annual Binational Innovation Conference (INNO 2016), which was hosted by South Texas College (STC) in McAllen. The Edinburg EDC was a sponsor of the event. INNO 2016 was held at the STC Technology Campus located at 3700 W. Military Highway in McAllen. Also on the panel, but not shown in this image, were: Keith Patridge, President/CEO, McAllen Economic Development Corporation; Francisco “Frank” Almaraz, CEO, Workforce Solutions, Lower Rio Grande Valley; and Bobby Villarreal, County Executive Director, Hidalgo County.

Photograph By LAURA VELA

Edinburg’s retail economy from January through August 2016 has improved more than 4.6 percent, which is the best showing of all major Rio Grande Valley cities, and better than the statewide average of a 1.1 percent increase of all cities in the state, according to the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. For the month of August 2016, Edinburg’s retail economy – as measured by local sales taxes generated from purchases of eligible goods and services – also remained healthy, showing an almost two percent improvement over the month of August 2015. Those figures are based on sales made in August 2016 by businesses that report tax monthly, according to the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. The local sales tax data is among the latest economic barometers featured in a detailed summary provided by the state comptroller’s office, which released retail sales figures on Wednesday, October 12, 2016. During the first eight months of 2016, Edinburg’s retail economy produced $17,592,870.93 in local sales taxes, compared with $16,812,351.02 for January through August 2015, representing an improvement of 4.64 percent. For August 2016, Edinburg’s retail economy generated $1,702,561.82 in local sales taxes, compared with $1,671,788.87 during the same period in 2015, representing the improvement of 1.84 percent, also according to the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. The sales tax, formally known as the State Sales and Use Tax, is imposed on all retail sales, leases and rentals of most goods, as well as taxable services. Texas cities, counties, transit authorities and special purpose districts have the option of imposing an additional local sales tax for a combined total of state and local taxes of 8 1/4% (.0825). The local sales tax is used in Edinburg to help pay for many city services, while the Edinburg EDC uses its one-half cent local sales tax to help generate economic development in the city. The amount of local sales taxes collected also helps reflect the strength of an economy, along with construction activities, per capita income, education, historical performances, and related trends. The Edinburg EDC, of which Agustín García, Jr. is Executive Director, is the jobs-creation arm of the Edinburg Mayor and Edinburg City Council. The Edinburg EDC Board of Directors is comprised of Mayor Richard García as President, Elías Longoria, Jr., Harvey Rodríguez, Jr., Richard Rupert, and Dr. Peter Dabrowski.

•••••• (more…)

Edinburg’s retail economy in July 2016 showed more than a 3.4 percent improvement over July 2015, and almost 5 percent growth year-to-date

francisco-barrientes-midde-school-namesake-celebration

Board members, students, teachers, and staff with the Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District, along with other community leaders, including Mayor Pro Tem Richard Molina, recognized Sgt. Francisco Barrientes on Wednesday, September 7, 2016, during a public celebration of the 10th anniversary of naming Barrientes Middle School in his honor. Featured, from left: ECISD Superintendent Dr. René Gutiérrez; ECISD School Board Member Carmen González; Alex Ríos, District Director for State Rep. Terry Canales, D-Edinburg; Sgt. Francisco Barrientes; Edinburg Mayor Pro Tem Richard Molina; Robert López, Principal, Barrientes Middle School; Eva T. Torres, ECISD Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum & Instruction; and ECISD School Board Member Ellie M. Torres, the immediate past Secretary/Treasurer of the Board of Directors for the Edinburg Economic Development Corporation. The Edinburg EDC is the jobs-creation arm of the Edinburg Mayor and Edinburg City Council. Mayor Pro Tem Molina is one of two veterans who serve on City Council. Mayor Richard H. García is also a U.S. Army veteran.

Photograph By MARK MONTEMAYOR

Edinburg’s retail economy during July 2016 showed a more than 3.4 percent improvement over July 2015, which was the second-best showing among all major Valley cities – and much better than the statewide average for all cities in Texas, which was down 1.6 percent from the same month last year, the Edinburg Economic Development Corporation has announced. For the first seven months of 2016, Edinburg’s retail economy – as measured by local sales taxes generated from purchases of eligible goods and services – also remained healthy, showing an almost five percent improvement over January through July 2015. During the first seven months of 2016, Edinburg’s retail economy produced $15,890,309.11 in local sales taxes, compared with $15,140,562.15 for January through July 2016, representing an improvement of 4.95 percent.For July 2016, Edinburg’s retail economy generated $1,601,962.79 in local sales taxes, compared with $1,549,113.91 during the same period in 2015, representing the improvement of 3.41 percent, also according to the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. The local sales tax is used in Edinburg to help pay for many city services, while the Edinburg EDC uses its one-half cent local sales tax to help generate economic development in the city. The Edinburg EDC Board of Directors is comprised of Mayor Richard García as President, Elías Longoria, Jr., Harvey Rodríguez, Jr., Richard Rupert, and Dr. Peter Dabrowski.

•••••• (more…)

Titans of the Texas Legislature