Featured, from left: Hidalgo City Council Member Abram Ramírez, Council Member Linda Ayala, Mayor Sergio Coronado, and Mayor Pro Tem Gustavo “Gus” Sánchez were among city and state leaders present on Saturday, October 6, 2018 for the groundbreaking of Lepowitz Park at the Villa Garza Flores Subdivision. On Wednesday, November 14, 2018, the Hidalgo Mayor, his six colleagues on the Hidalgo City Council, and the Board of Directors of the Hidalgo Economic Development Corporation will host another ceremony, which will take place at the city-owned, $23 million State Farm Hidalgo Arena, to announce the first phase of a major commercial and industrial development, known as the The Hidalgo Infrastructure Project 2018, that will be built near the multi-event complex. The State Farm Hidalgo Arena is located at 2600 N. 10th Street (Hwy. 336).
Photograph By CHARLIE BARRIOS
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$54.6 million The Hidalgo Infrastructure Project 2018, to be located across $23 million State Farm Hidalgo Arena, set for groundbreaking ceremony at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, November 14, 2018
By DAVID A. DÍAZ
[email protected]
A projected $54.6 million economic development plan, known as The Hidalgo Infrastructure Project 2018, will be celebrated during a 10 a.m. groundbreaking in front of the State Farm Arena on Wednesday, November 14, 2018, Mayor Sergio Coronado has announced.
Local, regional and state leaders will be on hand for the public ceremony, where details will be announced about several upcoming major construction projects that will help create hundreds of jobs as part of The Hidalgo Infrastructure Project 2018.
The primary focus for The Hidalgo Infrastructure Project 2018 is for the promotion of industrial and commercial development.
“The Hidalgo Infrastructure Project 2018 is a combined effort led by the Hidalgo City Council, the Board of Directors of the Hidalgo Economic Development Corporation, their respective staffs, along with private investors who recognize and appreciate the bright economic future, outstanding educational resources, dedicated labor force, and wonderful quality of life that are among the many strengths of our growing city,” Coronado said.
Federal, county and city investments will pay for water, sewer, and road improvements, and the required professional consulting services, that are making possible the upcoming private investments for the Hidalgo Infrastructure Project 2018.
The U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration (EDA) awarded a $1.2 million Public Infrastructure grant and the Hidalgo Economic Development Corporation provided the required $300,000 local matching grant, totaling $1.5 million.
Hidalgo County is investing an additional $800,000 for the Hidalgo Infrastructure Project 2018.
The Hidalgo mayor also gave credit to U.S. Congressman Vicente González, Hidalgo County Precinct 2 Commissioner Eduardo “Eddie” Cantú, and Jorge Ayala, Regional Administrator, U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration.
The Hidalgo Infrastructure Project 2018 is part of 111 acres of a largely underdevelopment region of the community, owned by a private investment group named 111 Hidalgo LLC, which currently are mostly uncultivated grass lands.
Due to the lack of public infrastructure – which now will be provided through the local and federal funding – that site was unable to reach its potential, despite being zoned commercial and/or industrial – and which is near the $23 million State Farm Hidalgo Arena.
State Farm Hidalgo Arena is located at 2600 N. 10th St. (Hwy. 336) in Hidalgo. The $23 million multi-purpose complex features a 7,000-seat arena that will configure up to 5,500-seats for ice hockey, football and soccer and a center stage concert capacity of 7,000-seats.
Since it was first built in 2003, State Farm Hidalgo Arena has brought, and continues to bring, major concerts, sporting events, and other large gatherings to the city of Hidalgo.
“The State Farm Hidalgo Arena has generated millions of dollars in economic activity from our citizens and from the wonderful guests from both sides of the Texas-Mexico border who come to this outstanding special events center,” Coronado said. “As the arena celebrates its 15th anniversary in 2018, the time is also perfect for the upcoming and exciting economic growth that is about to take place near it.”
The plan for 30 acres of the 111 acres owned by 111 Hidalgo LLC is to create an industrial park with thirteen 30,000 square-foot cold storage warehouses, including a 168,000 square-foot cold storage facility, that will help protect fresh produce, including some of the multi-billion dollar imports that come yearly through the Valley from Mexico.
Also on the drawing board is a 20,000 square-foot dry food warehouse.
Both of those projects already have been approved for construction by the Planning and Zoning Commission of the City of Hidalgo.
The construction of the water and sewer system and a new road to serve the 111-acre mixed use complex will involve the following infrastructure:
• Water system: Approximately 6,790 linear feet of a proposed 12 inch water line complete with tie-in to an existing main, gate valve assembly, fire hydrants spaced every 500 feet and flush valves located along future Arena Drive
• Sewer system: The sewer system improvements consist of approximately 4,800 linear feet of 8-15 inch gravity PVC sewer main, Standard fiberglass manholes, and construction of a duplex lift station, and 3) Road Construction; and
• The road construction consist of a 36 foot wide roadway approximately .5 mile in length. The roadway structural section will include asphalt, aggregate flex base, and lime stabilizing geogrid.
Along with Mayor Sergio Coronado, the six other members of the Hidalgo City Council are Mayor Pro Tem Gustavo “Gus” Sánchez, Abram Ramírez, Rodolfo “Rudy” Franz, Linda Ayala, and Oziel Treviño. Julian González is Hidalgo City Manager.
The Board of Directors for the Hidalgo Economic Development Corporation is made up of Gilbert Pérez, Chair; Joe B. Treviño, Vice Chair; Sandra Prado, Treasurer; Ángel Beas, Secretary; and Mario Degollado, Member. Priciliano (J.R.) Treviño is Executive Director.
State Farm Hidalgo Arena is located at 2600 N. 10th St. (Hwy. 336) in Hidalgo. The $23 million multi-purpose complex features a 7,000-seat arena that will configure up to 5,500-seats for ice hockey, football and soccer and a center stage concert capacity of 7,000-seats.
The Hidalgo Economic Development Corporation is a municipal nonprofit corporation established by the City of Hidalgo, Texas. Its mission is to promote economic development in the city of Hidalgo through the creation of primary jobs. It is funded via one-half cent sales tax created in 1990. HEDC is a Type A Corporation founded under Chapter 501 and 504 of the Texas Local Government Code.
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For more information, please contact Hidalgo City Manager Julian González at (956) 843-2286 or Hidalgo Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Priciliano (J.R.) Treviño at (956) 467-3187.
