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MISSION, Texas - In addition to looking for more retail and restaurant businesses to bring to the I-2 corridor in Mission, the city\\u2019s economic development team is also working to land industrial projects near Anzalduas International Bridge.

In an exclusive audio interview with the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service, Teclo Garcia said he would be heading a trade mission to Mexico later this year.\\xa0

Garcia is CEO of Mission Economic Development Corporation.\\xa0

\\u201cThere are Mexican investors that are looking for properties because they want to be near a bridge. Anytime you say (international) bridge, Steve, you know this, people flock to it,\\u201d Garcia said.\\xa0

\\u201cSo, yes, there is a lot of excitement. We are planning a trade mission later this year to central Mexico to play up the business park and and the bridge and to try to just raise our profile in certain industrial areas in Mexico.\\u201d

Developing Anzalduas International Bridge

Anzalduas International Bridge, in south Mission, is owned and operated by the City of McAllen in partnership with the cities of Mission and Hidalgo. It was opened in 2009 but cannot, as yet, carry fully loaded trucks both ways. With expansion at the bridge now underway, cargo should be moving north and south within the next two years.\\xa0

\\u201cOur partners in Pharr, our friends in Pharr, they do a great job in bringing over produce and electronics. But, honestly, there is plenty of business for everybody here. And for us to give business an alternate route to cross into the U.S., also will spur development on this side,\\u201d Garcia said.

\\u201cWe are super happy we can do that with McAllen and get that going. I would be remiss not to mention our friends at Killam (Development). The are developing large tracts of land around Anzalduas and they are very important to this particular project.\\u201d

Retail projects

On the retail side, Garcia believes the Mission Gateway project being developed by NewQuest Properties, will be the \\u201clynchpin\\u201d for more growth.\\xa0

\\u201cWe have two hotels coming in, by the Event Center, which we can't reveal the names of them yet but we will soon. And then we've got some other restaurants that we're also talking to. They\\u2019re very close (to making a decision). And, we\\u2019re dealing with about another half dozen companies that want to be located along the expressway here, and the business park.\\u201d

To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.