Brownsville is experiencing a historic economic shift — and for the first time in modern history, more people are moving into the city than leaving.
In this episode of the Rio Grande Valley Business Journal podcast, Gilberto Salinas, president and CEO of the Greater Brownsville EDC, breaks down what’s driving that transformation. From SpaceX’s Starbase operation to major LNG projects near the Port of Brownsville, Salinas explains how long-term economic development efforts are reversing decades of brain drain and reshaping the regional economy.
Topics discussed include:
• Why Brownsville now ranks among the fastest-growing cities in the U.S.
• How SpaceX has triggered a wave of suppliers and global manufacturers
• The job and housing impacts of LNG and energy investment
• Workforce, infrastructure, and housing challenges tied to rapid growth
• Renewed cross-border collaboration with Matamoros, Mexico
• What Brownsville could look like over the next 5–10 years
This conversation offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at how major industrial projects translate into real jobs, rising incomes, and long-term opportunity for South Texas.
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