Business View Magazine | July 2019

347 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE JULY 2019 BROWNSV I LLE , TEXAS quadrupled its wealth in the past 15 years. Brownsville embraces its past and annually hosts thousands of tourists who take in the history, while enjoying the climate and proximity to Mexico, as well. Pointing out some of the city’s best assets, Michael Lopez, Assistant City Manager of Brownsville reports, “We have one of the largest multi-sports complexes here in the lower Rio Grande Valley in south Texas. We’re huge on active transportation and tourism. The whole Rio Grande Valley had a 428-mile network of cycling, pedestrian, and paddling. And just in the city of Brownsville, we have 96 miles that will link you to beaches along resacas and waterways. The resacas are a big component of Brownsville for their beauty and function. They’re great for walking, paddling, you can have a resaca in your backyard, even when you have a city feel. It’s like a small river inside of a city.” City Manager, Noel Bernal, adds, “They’re natural water features that extend off the Rio Grande River. The land is scarred by these resacas that were created in the past whenever major flood waters would overrun the river. Resacas are used for recreation, as well as flood control – they do provide some capacity for drainage, and also a water supply.” In addition, Brownsville is home to a Wildlife Preserve in the National Historic Park and is a member of the World Birding Center. The city is known as a great birdwatching community, drawing visitors from all over North America and beyond. The cultural aspect is another unique attribute. With its proximity to the border, Brownsville has an excellent connection with its sister city of Matamoros in Mexico. To celebrate the bi-national friendship that’s been going on for about 82 years, Brownsville hosts Charro Days, featuring elegant costume balls, parades, and a multi-day festival that highlights the unity of the two communities. For businesses, the Port of Brownsville is a significant bonus. Lopez notes, “The Port is one of our partners. It’s the southernmost deep water seaport, and runs about 17 miles along our