MCALLEN, Texas - RioPlex is planning to visit Asia and Europe later this year in order to drum up business for the region.

The trade missions will likely take in the United Kingdom, Taiwan and Japan. There will also be a number of visits to Mexico and different parts of the United States. A signature event, much like the group did in Houston last year, will be held in Mexico, most likely in Mexico City.

Confirmation that the group was making such arrangements came from Mario Reyna, in an exclusive podcast with the RGG Business Journal, and top strategist Astrid Salazar, on a webinar with the Prosperity Task Force.

“One of our main goals, besides confirming projects, (after all) that's what we are here for, is to host international delegations for our region, so everyone knows who we are, what we do, and they understand how the dynamic of our region works, and also to be part of foreign trade missions abroad,” Salazar said.

“We're thinking about at least one in Asia, probably Taiwan or Japan, and then some other events in the US, and then one in in the UK.”

Salazar also told the task force: “For 2026 we're working on strategic visits, both in US and in Mexico to attract more business. These visits are going to be monthly, mainly in Texas, some other parts of the US, and then on the Mexican side, Monterrey and Mexico City are the biggest ones we're working on.”

Asked about RioPlex’s calendar for 2026, Reyna told the Business Journal:

“Basically, we will do a signature event, like the one we did in Houston (last year). And right now, more than likely, it might be Mexico City. After that, we do have plans of perhaps going to Taiwan, Japan and the United Kingdom. Why those particular countries? Because those countries have a lot of what we call foreign direct investment (coming) into this particular area, and so that's where they're coming from.”

Editor's Note: Attached is an audio recording of Astrid Salazar's remarks at a recent Prosperity Task Force webinar. She was introduced by Mario Reyna, coordinator of the Prosperity Task Force and executive director of RioPlex.

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Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez today begins a charm offensive as he seeks to bring the larger cities and economic development organizations in the Rio Grande Valley under the RioPlex umbrella.

Cortez plans to meet with all the EDCs, both individually and collectively. The first meeting takes place today with an unnamed city.

Asked what the feedback has been so far, Cortez said: “The response that we're getting from people we've contacted is very positive. The response that we've gotten from individual cities is they're still unsure.”

Smaller cities are coming on board, however. The cities of Mercedes, Alton, Alamo and Elsa have all joined or said they will join RioPlex.

Cortez’s argument is that if individual cities or EDCs go after new business on their own, they are not telling the full story. The full story is all the assets in the region, he says. And that region, RioPlex, comprises the Valley and northern Tamaulipas.

Cortez likens it to a customer visiting a mall. RioPlex is the mall and each city is a store within the mall. The city is not the mall.

In an in-depth interview with the RGG Business Journal, Cortez explained how RioPlex came about and what its goals are. He said to tell the full story he had to start with the Hidalgo County Prosperity Task Force.

Editor's Note: Go to the RGG Business Journal to read the full story.

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EDINBURG, Texas - The Valley Alliance of Mentors for Opportunities and Scholarships (VAMOS) is celebrating 30 years of service to first-generation, low-income students across the Rio Grande Valley.

In recognition of this year’s anniversary, VAMOS has a goal of raising $1 million in scholarship funds.

The organization’s largest fundraiser each year is a golf tournament. The 30th Annual VAMOS Golf Tournament takes place on Saturday, March 7, 2026 at Champion Lakes Golf Course in McAllen, Texas. Proceeds from the tournament will directly support four-year renewable scholarships, with awards of up to $20,000 over four academic years for students from Hidalgo, Cameron, and Starr counties.

The attached audio was recorded at a press conference VAMOS held at the Edinburg Conference Center at Renaissance. The event was held to announce the golf tournament. The speakers featured on the broadcast are: Karla Rodriguez, a curriculum coordinator at Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD, Sergio Sanchez, board trustee for VAMOS, Dr. Andrew Phillips, MD, who works in DHR's intensive care unit, and Brianna Maldonado, a VAMOS-UTRGV scholar.

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