PRESS Staff Report
The Port of Brownsville held a ceremonial groundbreaking for its first tenant at the Port of Brownsville Business Park, Westa Inc. (WAI). The ceremony, held Thursday, April 18, marked a significant milestone in the development of the port’s 118-acre business park.
According to a press release distributed by the Port of Brownsville, WAI is a major player in the agricultural industry, and will invest $20 million to establish a state-of-the-art wheat flour mill and wheat storage silos at the Port of Brownsville. The company will develop more than 10 acres at the business park, located right at the turning basin of the Brownsville Ship Channel. Once operational, the facility will employ 120 people.
Brownsville Navigation District Chairman, Esteban Guerra said, “We are excited to welcome WAI to the Port of Brownsville Business Park and look forward to more announcements as we continue to attract diverse industries to our region,” and he continues, “As the port’s business portfolio expands, these increased private investments indicate the port’s substantial role in fueling economic development and fostering innovation for the Rio Grande Valley.”
This regional collaboration brought together key stakeholders that made the new agreement possible including representatives from the Port of Brownsville, WAI, and the Council for South Texas Economic Progress (COSTEP). COSTEP played a key role in bringing WAI and the port together for this important project.
“The Port of Brownsville is the vital economic engine of the Rio Grande Valley, bringing more than 10,000 good-paying jobs to our area”, said Interim Port Director and CEO William Dietrich. “This project exemplifies how regional collaboration works to benefit our communities. As the port of the region, we are grateful to join forces with organizations like COSTEP, who share our same vision for transforming the economic landscape of the Rio Grande Valley.”
President of WAI, Zaur Kafkas said, “The Port of Brownsville’s strategic location, world-class facilities, and commitment to reliable service make it the ideal partner for our expansion plans,” and said, “We look forward to building a successful future together.”
The Port of Brownsville Business Park, still under construction, offers prime industrial real estate opportunities for businesses looking to capitalize on the port’s strategic location and logistical infrastructure. With direct access to major transportation networks and proximity to international markets, the business park is poised to become a premier destination for companies seeking to expand their operations and enhance their global competitiveness.
The port is reviewing other prospective tenants for the business park, scheduled for completion by late Summer 2024. For more information about the Port of Brownsville Business Park or to inquire about leasing opportunities, please visit www.portofbrownsville.com/business-park
About the Port of Brownsville
The Port of Brownsville is the only deep-water seaport directly on the U.S.-Mexico border and encompasses 40,000 acres – the largest land-owning public port authority in the country. The port transships more steel into Mexico than any other U.S. port. As the major multimodal transportation hub serving the Rio Grande Valley and northern Mexico, the Port of Brownsville supports investment opportunities and jobs.
Activity at the port is responsible for adding more than $2 billion to the regional economy, $3 billion to the Texas economy, and the creation of more than 51,000 jobs statewide. For more information, visit www.portofbrownsville.com
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