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Session 2 – Brownsville Panel: Trey Mendez, Mayor of Brownsville, and Ron Garza, former Executive Director of the Rio Grande Valley Partnership.
Better Futures Institute
www.bfinstitute.org
This white paper presents key insights from the Brownsville Panel discussion with Trey Mendez, Mayor of Brownsville, and Ron Garza, former Executive Director of the Rio Grande Valley Partnership. The session explored challenges and opportunities in civic engagement and economic development for Brownsville and the Rio Grande Valley (RGV). The key themes identified include the need for regional collaboration, the balance between new development and re-development, and the value of data-driven policy in guiding public decisions.
Despite promising initiatives like Brownsville’s Broadband Initiative, SpaceX investment, and increased economic development funding, critical challenges remain. These include retaining local talent, establishing unified leadership, and overcoming geographic isolation. Supporting data and case studies from Brownsville and other regions provide a deeper understanding of these challenges and opportunities.
Key Recommendations:
The Civic Tech Scholars Program, in partnership with the Better Futures Institute, hosted a panel discussion featuring Trey Mendez and Ron Garza to address the challenges and opportunities surrounding civic engagement and economic development in Brownsville, Texas. The discussion was framed around critical themes such as regional collaboration, new vs. re-development, and data-driven policymaking.
As Brownsville grows and attracts investments from major companies like SpaceX, the city is presented with unique opportunities to foster economic development and retain local talent. However, critical challenges such as geographic isolation and the retention of young professionals persist. This white paper delves into the discussion’s key themes, supported by relevant data and examples, to present actionable recommendations for the future of Brownsville.
These white papers mark the first step in a collaborative research initiative aimed at gathering feedback from multiple stakeholders. The process began with formulating deeper questions based on key themes identified during discussions. Small groups compiled key insights, identified promising practices, and highlighted critical challenges.
The next phase involves developing a consultation plan to engage stakeholders and community members. This plan will include surveys, community meetings, and online platforms to gather feedback that will inform future policy recommendations and guide further research.
Regional collaboration is essential for Brownsville's future growth. Due to the rural nature of the Rio Grande Valley and the lack of a centralized urban core, creating cohesive and dense micro-districts is critical for fostering quality infrastructure and economic development. However, collaboration between these decentralized communities remains a challenge.
A study by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas (2018) found that the Rio Grande Valley’s fragmented nature, with a population spread across various smaller cities, significantly hampers the region's ability to build unified infrastructure and economic policies. Regional collaboration has the potential to improve the efficiency of public service delivery and create more competitive job markets.
Key Data:
Key Opportunity: Drawing lessons from San Antonio, which successfully implemented regional collaboration strategies, Brownsville can create dense micro-districts that promote infrastructure growth while preventing urban sprawl.
The balance between new development and re-development was another central theme of the discussion. Redeveloping abandoned and underutilized areas is crucial to preventing urban sprawl and creating population density, which, in turn, enhances infrastructure efficiency.
A Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies (2021) report highlights that urban sprawl can lead to a 30% increase in infrastructure maintenance costs due to the need for extended services over larger geographic areas. Redevelopment not only addresses infrastructure efficiency but also encourages sustainable economic growth by revitalizing older communities.
Key Data:
Key Opportunity: Brownsville can use re-development as a tool to enhance population density, improve infrastructure, and attract investment, as has been done in other growing cities like Austin and San Antonio.
Using data-driven policy to guide public decisions was emphasized as a promising practice. By relying on real-time data to inform economic development, workforce training, and infrastructure investment, Brownsville can ensure more effective and equitable outcomes.
Data-driven policies are increasingly adopted by cities to improve resource allocation and economic planning. For instance, New York City uses predictive analytics to identify neighborhoods in need of investment, which has led to a 10% increase in infrastructure efficiency (New York City Comptroller’s Office, 2020).
Key Data:
Key Opportunity: Brownsville can strengthen its use of data analytics in economic development and infrastructure planning to drive smarter investments, improve public services, and create more equitable policies.
Several promising practices already exist in Brownsville, demonstrating progress in areas like connectivity, education, and economic development:
Brownsville faces a significant challenge in retaining young talent. Many young professionals leave the region for larger cities like New York or Los Angeles, drawn by greater career opportunities. Retaining local talent is critical to Brownsville’s long-term growth and economic sustainability.
A study by the Brookings Institution (2020) found that small and mid-sized cities lose 20-30% of their college graduates to larger metropolitan areas due to limited job prospects. To reverse this trend, cities need to focus on creating appealing career pathways, especially in high-growth sectors like STEM.
Key Data:
The panel identified the need for unified leadership to spearhead regional collaboration and overcome the geographic isolation of Brownsville. Without a clear leadership structure and collaborative governance, it is difficult for the region to present a cohesive vision for its future.
A study by the Institute for Local Government (2021) found that cities with strong regional collaboration frameworks see 5-10% faster project execution in public infrastructure projects due to shared resources and coordinated efforts.
Key Data:
Brownsville’s geographic isolation, environmental challenges, and proximity to SpaceX operations present unique obstacles. With limited direct flights to major U.S. cities and an increasingly hot climate, Brownsville must address these challenges to remain competitive.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA, 2021) projects that temperatures in Texas will rise by 2-3°F over the next two decades, leading to increased strain on public health and infrastructure.
Key Data:
Brownsville should establish a regional council to drive unified leadership and collaboration across the Rio Grande Valley. This council can coordinate infrastructure projects, workforce development programs, and economic policies.
A comprehensive workforce development program, focused on STEM education and local career pathways, should be implemented. Offering mentorship, internships, and clear job opportunities in high-growth sectors will help retain young talent.
Brownsville should invest in data analytics tools to guide infrastructure development, workforce training, and public service investments. This will ensure that resources are directed where they are most needed.
Continue to leverage public-private partnerships, like the collaboration with SpaceX, to enhance educational opportunities and drive economic growth. Expanding these partnerships can attract further investment and strengthen the local workforce.
Brownsville is well-positioned to drive economic growth and civic engagement in the coming years. By focusing on regional collaboration, retaining local talent, and leveraging public-private partnerships, the city can overcome its geographic and environmental challenges. Drawing from the insights of the Brownsville Panel discussion, this white paper provides actionable recommendations to ensure the city’s continued success in fostering a vibrant and sustainable future.
Dr. Alberto Gomez is a San Antonio-based entrepreneur. He is the Co-founder, President and CEO of Better Futures Institute, and Co-founder of Irys Technologies, a data analytics and cybersecurity firm. He holds a Ph.D. in Communication and Creative Industries.
