CommunityLink.com
What’s Inside
1 800-455-5600
production production manager director of publication design managing editor copywriting proofreader director of photography photography lead design web site creation & support director of media purchasing
MATT PRICE AMANDA WHITE LAURA WILCOXEN JAY NEHRKORN CHRISTINA REESE KACEY WOLTERS KIRSTEN LUCE AMANDA WHITE JOSH CHANDLER DIANA VAUGHN
Cost Competitive & Convenient
4
the Mission Community
6
Index of Advertisers
8
business development director of business development director of outside sales regional director of publications marketing specialist business development manager marketing consultant customer service director customer service representative
GEORGE PRUDHOMME DEBBIE MOSS SEAN CORRIGAN SHAWNA WILLIAMS BONNIE EBERS JAMES ROGER DALE KATHY RISLEY KACI ROBINSON
advertising ad research ad traffic ad design
MARY KOPSHEVER AMY SCHWARTZKOPF CAROL SMITH JOSH MUELLER
administrative support administrative support account support human resources assistant mailroom technician
KATHY HAGENE CAROL SMITH TERRI AHNER TRICIA CANNEDY TERESA CRAIG MELINDA BOWLIN
information technology publishing systems specialist
CHRISTOPHER MILLER
executive leadership chairman and founder chief financial officer
CRAIG WILLIAMS RHONDA HARSY
ABOUT This book is published by CommunityLink and distributed through the Greater Mission Chamber of Commerce. For advertising information or questions or comments about this book, contact CommunityLink at 800-455-5600 or by e-mail at info@CommunityLink.com. FOR INFORMATION Greater Mission Chamber of Commerce, 220 East Ninth Street, Mission, TX 78572, Telephone 956-585-2727, Fax 956-585-3044, www.missionchamber.com
© 2010 Craig Williams Creative, Inc., 4742 Holts Prairie Road, Post Office Box 306, Pinckneyville, IL 62274-0306, 618-357-8653. All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the publisher.
CommunityLink wishes to specially thank the Mission Economic Development Authority for providing extensive information and assistance in producing this book.
2 Greater Mission Chamber of Commerce
Welcome to Mission, Texas!
O
ver the past decade, Mission, Texas, and the surrounding communities have comprised one of the nation’s fastest-growing metropolitan statistical areas. With a lively business environment and a cost of living nearly 13 percent below the national level, Mission has enjoyed population growth of nearly 40 percent since the year 2000 and is now home to over 65,000 people. International trade opportunities, quality schools, excellent health care, and the beauty of the Rio Grande Valley combine to make Mission a great place to live and do business. Sources: ACCRA Cost of Living Index 3Q2009; Sperling’s BestPlaces; MEDA
Business & Industry
Cost Competitive & Convenient C
entrally located in one of the nation’s largest trading blocks, Mission, Texas, offers businesses access to new markets and a globally competitive cost structure. Since the implementation of NAFTA in 1994, Mission has experienced a dramatic increase in business and border relations. Nearly 100 Fortune 500 company operations have since recognized the Mission area as the best location for their regional and corporate support facilities.
International Synergy Mission’s close proximity to four major international crossings at the U.S.–Mexico border has led to huge opportunities in the trade and logistics industries. Across the border and just minutes away, the Mexican city of Reynosa is home to many maquiladoras, Mexican manufacturing or export assembly plants that operate under preferential tariff programs established by the U.S. and Mexican governments. Mission has become a perfect base of operations for businesses that partner with maquiladoras in manufacturing processes such as assembly, packaging, sorting, and repair work.
Anzalduas International Bridge In December 2009, years of extensive planning and infrastructure development on both sides of the border came to fruition with the opening of the Anzalduas International Bridge. This new international crossing, which links Mission directly to Reynosa’s premier industrial parks, is designed to be the most efficient distribution route crossing the border and will enhance the connection between the future I-69 corridor and Mexico’s largest industrial city, Monterrey. Anzalduas International Bridge joins the Hidalgo-Reynosa International Bridge, the Pharr Reynosa International Bridge, and the Nuevo Progreso Bridge as the international ports of entry in Hidalgo County. 4 Greater Mission Chamber of Commerce
Business Parks Mission’s business parks offer available lots with outstanding infrastructure for research facilities, manufacturing, logistics, service companies, and administrative/professional offices. Convenient access to expressways, rail services, McAllen Miller International Airport, major border crossings, and foreign trade zones is just one reason both local and global companies are choosing to locate at Mission’s business parks.
Mission Expressway Business Park
www.missioneda.org Owned and managed by the Mission Economic Development Authority, the 158-acre Mission Expressway Business Park offers negotiable lot sizes with amenities such as concrete/ asphalt streets and a regional detention pond. Modern, underground utility services include 8-inch or larger water and sewer lines, single and three-phase electrical systems from 120/240 to 138,000 volts, natural gas, and high speed T-1 and T-3 fiber-optic Internet connectivity. Visit www.missioneda.org or call the MEDA at 1-800-707-1155 for more information.
Sharyland Business Park
www.sharyland.com The Class A Sharyland Business Park encompasses 1,200 acres directly adjacent to the new Anzalduas International Crossing. The park is fully landscaped and impeccably maintained and offers world-class utility service, including redundant, ultra-reliable electrical service. The park now houses facilities of some of the world’s most recognizable companies, including Panasonic, Emerson, Black & Decker, Motorola, and many others.
Labor One of the biggest reasons for Mission’s success is its willing and able workforce. The McAllen-Edinburg-Mission MSA has a civilian labor force of nearly 300,000 workers and a number of outstanding job-training resources. Competitive average wages in the region, as well as state workers compensation reforms, have also resulted in significant savings for employers.
Employment by Industry McAllen-Edinburg-Mission MSA January 2010 Government..........................................................................................................55,500 Education and health services...................................................................55,000 Trade, transportation, and utilities...........................................................44,800 Leisure and hospitality....................................................................................18,800 Professional and business services..........................................................13,300 Mining, logging, and construction.................................................................8,500 Financial activities..................................................................................................7,800 Manufacturing..........................................................................................................6,200 Other services........................................................................................................5,600 Information...............................................................................................................2,100 Total nonagricultural......................................................................................217,600 Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics; Texas Workforce Commission; MEDA
Business Resources Greater Mission Chamber of Commerce 202 W. Tom Landry :: Mission TX 78572 956-585-2727 :: www.missionchamber.com
City of Mission
1201 E. 8th Street :: Mission TX 78572 956-580-8650 :: www.missiontexas.us
Mission Economic Development Authority
901 Business Park Drive, Suite 200 :: Mission TX 78572 956-585-0040 :: 800-707-1155 :: www.missioneda.org
Mission Economic Development Corporation 6988 Lebanon Road, Suite 103 :: Frisco TX 75034 214-256-3121 :: www.missionedc.com
www.missionchamber.com 5
Education
The Mission Community Tech Prep of the Rio Grande Valley http://techpreprgv.com/
Tech Prep is a school-to-career partnership between education and business that prepares young people for today’s skilled workforce. Tech Prep allows students to earn free college credit while still in high school. A rigorous technical and academic curriculum includes four years of high school and two years of college, all leading to the Tech Prep Associate Degree. Students are prepared to head straight to work or on to pursue a bachelor’s degree.
South Texas College
www.southtexascollege.edu
Mission Consolidated Independent School District www.mcisd.net
Health care
Mission CISD encompasses roughly 41 square miles and serves over 15,500 students in Mission and neighboring Alton and Palmhurst. The district consists of one 5A high school, one 4A high school, four junior high schools for grades six through eight, 14 elementary schools for grades Pre-K through five, a Newcomers Academy for recent immigrants in grades two through five, and an alternative campus. The district has a “Recognized” rating from the Texas Education Agency, and nine of its elementary schools are rated “Exemplary.” Students have the opportunity to enroll in a challenging and rigorous curriculum through the Advanced Placement (AP) Program, and qualifying high school students can begin earning college credit through concurrent enrollment courses with The University of Texas-Pan American or dual-enrollment courses with South Texas College. A $59 million bond issue passed in 2008 continues to bring campus improvements to each of the district’s schools.
Mission Regional Medical Center http://missionrmc.org
Better Care. Better Results. Consistently ranked in the top 5 percent of hospitals in the nation and Five-Star-Rated by HealthGrades, Inc., Mission Regional Medical Center’s newly expanded, state-of-the-art acute-care facility provides a comprehensive range of inpatient and outpatient care, a full-service emergency department offering “Fast Track” Urgent Care, a dedicated inpatient rehabilitation unit, an intensive care unit, wound care, cutting-edge imaging technology for accurate diagnosis and treatment, a children’s health unit dedicated to getting kids back to being kids, a complete continuum of medical care, and a caring and compassionate staff to serve all your health care needs. In addition to its main location, Mission Regional Medical Center also offers pre-natal care at two maternity clinics in Alton and Sullivan City. Mission Regional Medical Center is located off Expressway 83 on South Bryan Road, one mile west of Cimarron Country Club and Sharyland Plantation, adjacent to Expressway Business Park.
6 Greater Mission Chamber of Commerce
Founded in 1993, South Texas College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. More than 27,000 students attend STC, and more than 1,800 faculty and staff members serve STC’s five campuses. The college offers more than 100 degree and certificate program options, including associate degrees in a variety of art, science, technology, allied health, and advanced manufacturing fields of study, as well as eight online associate degree choices. For students who wish to continue their education beyond an associate degree, STC has more than 60 articulation agreements in place with colleges across the country. STC also offers Bachelor of Applied Technology (BAT) degrees in Technology Management or Computer and Information Technologies.
University of Texas-Pan American www.utpa.edu
The University of Texas-Pan American was founded in 1927 and currently has a total enrollment of over 18,000 students. UTPA provides an affordable education and global opportunities with a choice of 57 bachelor’s, 57 master’s, three doctoral, and two cooperative doctoral programs within six colleges. The university was ranked 32nd in Forbes’ top 100 list of “America’s Best Public Colleges” in 2009.
Hospital Features • 297 licensed bed facility • 1,000 employees • Advanced imaging technology • Excellence in Total Knee Replacement* • Excellence Award in Pulmonary Care* • Excellence Award in Maternity Services* • Neo-natal intensive care unit
• Pediatric unit • Infant-pediatric intensive care transport unit • Outpatient diagnostic testing • Ambulatory surgery center • Seniors program • MRMC Foundation • Volunteer services • Breast care center and osteoporosis testing
Accredited By • The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations • The College of American Pathologists • The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities * HealthGrades, Inc., 2007 Hospital Quality in America Study; HealthGrades, Inc., 2009 Hospital Quality In America Study
Recreation
maintain and protect acres of threatened Rio Grande Valley plant species.
The Texas Butterfly Festival
www.texasbutterfly.com Each year during the third weekend of October, this event in Mission celebrates the hundreds of species of migratory butterflies that pass through the Rio Grande Valley. The festival includes guided field trips, seminars, a nature expo, children’s activities, and more.
Golfing Heaven
Mission is the perfect place to stage a South Texas vacation. Located in the semi-tropical climate of the beautiful Rio Grande River Valley, it’s just over an hour from the resorts and saltwater fishing of South Padre Island and only minutes away from the cultural markets, restaurants, and music of Mexico. In and around Mission itself, visitors can enjoy comfortable accommodations and excellent cuisine as they explore the area’s historic, natural, and recreational attractions.
Flora & Fauna World Birding Center
www.worldbirdingcenter.org Amazing Bentsen Rio Grande Valley State Park is home to the headquarters of the World Birding Center, which has nine unique birding sites throughout the Rio Grande Valley. The center promotes habitat and wildlife conservation while providing educational and viewing opportunities for both novice and advanced bird watchers.
The friendly climate and natural beauty of South Texas make Mission a year-round destination for golf enthusiasts. Golfers at every skill level will enjoy the city’s four premier championship courses.
Cimarron Country Club Golf Course 956-580-7408 :: www.clubcorp.com
Martin Valley Ranches Golf Course 956-585-6330 :: www.martinvalley.com
Meadow Creek in the Valley 956-581-6262
Shary Municipal Golf Course
956-580-8770 www.missiontexas.us/Departments/Golf
Rich History La Lomita Chapel Built in the 1800s, this restored chapel represents the first permanent settlement in modernday Mission and is the inspiration for the town’s name. The La Lomita mission once served as the headquarters and an important rendezvous point of the Oblates priests, who served Catholic churches up and down the Rio Grande Valley.
Anzalduas County Park and Dam Anzalduas County Park is not only a great place for picnicking and boating, but it is also provides an excellent place for birding and butterfly watching. Bird species to watch for include the grey hawk, tropical parula, and clay-colored robin, while butterfly enthusiasts can commonly view Mexican blue wings, malachites, zebra longwings, and many others.
Mission Historical Museum
NABA International Butterfly Park
Our Lady of Guadalupe Church
http://nationalbutterflycenter.org Operated by the North American Butterfly Association, the 85-acre International Butterfly Park provides outdoor gardens of native nectar plants and specific caterpillar host plants, creating natural habitat that attracts large numbers of wild butterflies and helps to conserve rare butterflies native to the Valley. The park is also involved in a re-vegetation project that will
National Butterfly Center at NABA Butterfly Park
Dedicated to Education, Conservation and Scientific Research of Wild Butterflies 3400 S. Butterfly Park Dr. Mission, TX 78573 Tel: (956) 583-9009 Fax: (956) 583-0081 Email: ritch@naba.org Visit us on the web @ www.naba.org/nababp
http://southtexastourism.com Housed in the 1939 John Shary Building, which is a Texas Historical Landmark, the museum serves as a heritage center for Mission and the surrounding areas. Images and artifacts within the exhibits show the progression of the town and showcase its many characters from the pioneering days to the present. http://southtexastourism.com Manned by the priests of the Oblate of Mary Immaculate Order, this historic church was established in 1899 and then rebuilt in the mid1920s after being destroyed by fire. The original statue of the Blessed Virgin was rescued from the fire and remains in front of the church to this day.
www.missionchamber.com 7
IndEX oF AdVErtISErS
e Park Bentsen Stat
The Car Spa ................................................................................................................................7 Criterion Health Care Inc....................................................................................................5 Edward Jones ..............................................................................................................................5 Express Employment Professionals ................................................................................7 Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites .........................................Inside Back Cover Indian Ridge Bed & Breakfast ............................................................................................8 Jason’s Deli....................................................................................................................................7 La Quinta Inns & Suites ........................................................................................................3 Mission Consolidated Independent School District................................................ Outside Back Cover Mission Economic Development Authority ..............................................................8 Mission Plaza Pharmacy ........................................................................................................2 Mission Regional Medical Center ....................................................................................1 National Butterfly Center at NABA Butterfly Park ..............................................7
our Lady of Guadalu pe
the university of texas-P an American
nuevo Progreso Bridge
8 Greater Mission Chamber of Commerce