McALLEN — City and county leaders in the Rio Grande Valley have for years frequently stressed the importance of attracting high-skill, high-paying jobs to the region.
Their efforts to attract new industry have been rooted in the desire to raise the Valley out of the poverty that it has struggled with for decades. The region, more than 90% Hispanic, remains one of the most impoverished areas in Texas, with 23.3% of families living below the poverty line.
This week those efforts paid off as officials celebrated that Valeo, an automotive supplier headquartered in France, has chosen McAllen for their new advanced manufacturing facility which is set to open in 2027. The company selected the city for their newest plant, a $225 million, 215,000 square-foot site that will focus on advanced technology. It is the largest single industrial investment in Hidalgo County history, according to city officials.
