
Harlingen has a total of 3 Industrial Parks: Harlingen, Harlingen Aerotropolis, and The Park Roosevelt, which include the following industries: Aerospace, Manufacturing & Assembly, Health & Life, Logistics, Business Support Services.
Industrial parks in Harlingen, play a significant role in the region’s economic growth and development. Harlingen has diversified its employment market, adding the health care, telecommunications industries, and manufacturing. Dozens of Tier I, II, and III manufacturers and suppliers take advantage of Harlingen’s central location in the Rio Grande Valley, close proximity to Northern Mexico, and access to major highways and intermodal, air, and water transportation outlets.
In addition, the medical sector is poised for significant growth, with three of the top 10 employers. Telecommunications is also a growing industry in Harlingen, with companies like Dish Network, Qualfon, Spectrum, and Advanced Call Center Technologies.
Road connectivity plays a crucial role in Harlingen, Texas. The city is part of the Outer Loop project, a major initiative by the Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority. This project will improve connectivity between Hidalgo and Cameron Counties, linking I-69C in the City of Edinburg to I-69E north of Harlingen. The project will provide a new east-west travel route, enhancing connectivity in rural and underdeveloped areas in northeastern Cameron County.
This project is integral to regional transportation planning, offering a new hurricane evacuation route providing safe passage.
The international bridges in Harlingen, play a crucial role in facilitating trade and commerce, contributing to the city’s economic development. Harlingen´s area has twelve international border crossings that allow international trade and commerce to flourish. These bridges serve as vital links for the transportation of goods and people between the United States and Mexico.
These crossings are vital to the economies of Texas and Mexico and have contributed to Mexico’s status as Texas’ #1 trading partner.
Air connectivity is crucial to Harlingen’s infrastructure, contributing significantly to its economic development and growth. The city is home to the Valley International Airport (VIA), in the Rio Grande Valley. Nearly 700,000 passengers and visitors walk through the VIA terminal annually.
The VIA provides nonstop service to several major cities, including Austin, Houston, and Dallas through Southwest Airlines. United Express offers nonstop service to Houston, and American Airlines provides nonstop service to Dallas. Delta Air Lines and Sun Country Airlines also offer seasonal nonstop service between Harlingen and Minneapolis/St. Paul.
In addition to domestic connectivity, Harlingen also enjoys international air connectivity.
In addition, air connectivity facilitates efficient transportation of passengers and goods, and enhances the city’s position as a strategic hub for trade and commerce.
Harlingen is home to the Port of Harlingen, which provides a strategic advantage for trade and commerce.
The Port of Harlingen is an important hub for the transportation of goods, with direct access to the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. This waterway is a major inland route for moving goods along the Gulf Coast, from Brownsville, Texas, to St. Marks, Florida. The port’s facilities include a turning basin and cargo docks, making it well-equipped to handle a variety of cargo.
In addition, the Port of Harlingen is connected to the Union Pacific Railroad, providing rail infrastructure for efficient transportation of goods. This intermodal connectivity enhances Harlingen’s position as a strategic hub for trade and commerce.
Railway connectivity in Harlingen, Texas, plays a crucial role in its economic development and growth. The Union Pacific Railroad has a local terminal and switching yard in Harlingen, providing an important rail infrastructure1. The Harlingen Industrial Parks and the Port of Harlingen have direct rail access, facilitating the transportation of goods and services.
The Rio Valley Switching Company, also known as the “Valley Railroad,” interchanges with the Union Pacific Railroad in Harlingen and extends west 55 miles to Mission, Edinburg, and to the McAllen Foreign Trade Zone. This connectivity enhances Harlingen’s position as a strategic hub for trade and commerce.
Therefore, railway connectivity in Harlingen, is a vital component of its infrastructure, contributing to its economic prosperity and facilitating continuous trade and commerce.