Two Rio Grande Valley workforce boards, Workforce Solutions Lower Rio Grande Valley and Workforce Solutions Cameron, co-hosted the State of the Regional Workforce Conference on October 23, 2026, at Margaritaville on South Padre Island. The event was subtitled "Leading the Workforce Ecosystem, Building a Stronger Rio Grande Valley."
One session, titled "Regional Economic Development Spotlight: Growth, Investment, and Opportunity," featured Gilberto Salinas, president and CEO of Greater Brownsville Economic Development Corporation, and Elizabeth Suarez, president and CEO of McAllen Economic Development Corporation. The session gave a regional look at the Economic Development Act and activities shaping Brownsville and McAllen.
Each leader gave updates on new and expanding companies, major investments and projects, and emerging industries. The discussion also covered what this growth means for jobs, talent needs and the future workforce in the Rio Grande Valley. Suarez presented second.