As the new year begins, we thank you for having supported the Laredo Development Foundation and our mission to promote Laredo and Webb County.  We are ardent advocates for the many business opportunities in our thriving, vibrant region!

In 2013, LDF’s goals were to attract business, generate employment and capital investment, promote Laredo and Webb County as a dynamic community for business, increase our funding through grants and private-sector membership.

In the past year, LDF assisted and saw the completion of the following projects:

• Successfully competed for 3 new businesses in logistics and retail sectors, creating 114 new jobs and adding $10.525 million in capital investment
• Successfully competed for and assisted in 2 expansions in the postal and cold storage sectors, creating 20 new jobs, retaining 75, and adding $25.3 million in capital investment
• Successfully secured formalized commitments for 2 new projects starting in 2014 in the distribution and retail sectors
• Coordinated 110 on-site prospect visits to Los Dos Laredos and provided a one-stop source for economic data and business information

As we move into the start of 2014, we are currently working with a number of strong prospects that will bring additional investments and create employment in Laredo. The opportunities for business attraction and expansion look very promising for 2014-2015.

Membership increased almost 30% to reach 95% of our goal.  We actively marketed our region at over 326 events to include meetings, conferences, and trade shows locally and throughout the country.  We continue to diligently partner with the State of Texas Office of the Governor, as well as local and regional network organizations to further the business interests of our city and county.

The Port of Laredo, Texas continues to be the most significant port of entry along the entire US/Mexico border, crossing more than double as much trade as the next largest land port, that of El Paso.  By the second quarter of 2013, the Laredo U.S. Customs District had moved from its no. 6 ranking in the nation to No. 3, advancing past the districts of Detroit, Houston and New Orleans, following only behind the sea ports of Los Angeles and New York.  Current economic trends such as “nearshoring” manufacturing (that of bringing manufacturing back to North America), the business-dominant Texas economy, the Eagle Ford Shale boom, and the privatization of oil and gas exploration in Northern Mexico will all significantly impact and propel our opportunities for business attraction.  Our challenge is to be ready with “dirt and concrete”, that is, available land and buildings, a trained workforce, and the ability to provide incentives amidst a highly aggressive and competitive economic environment.

Our first order for 2014 is to move forward with a full, comprehensive, and professional Economic Development Strategy.  Together with 8 newly elected board members that joined 8 incumbents on January 1st, 2014, we look forward to a new vision and a renewed spirit of leadership. We invite our membership to actively participate in committees such as the Legislative Advisory Committee, International Trade Committee, and Membership Committee as an extension of our private-sector resources.  Members will also have access to our Think Tank, an e-mail forum for discussion of current events, issues, and idea generation that will be ready in March 2014.  Opportunities for business networking and information will be the platforms for our quarterly Courtyard Chat mixers and General Membership luncheon meetings.

We ask that you consider partnering with the Laredo Development Foundation by filling out and submitting the enclosed Membership agreement. You are the support network critical for helping this organization thrive; your financial support will ensure that the private sector has a voice and a presence in the process of working with potential investors, businesses and industrial prospects. Your support also gives the private-sector an organized voice in legislative matters that serve to benefit our entire community.

Please join the Laredo Development Foundation today as we cannot, and will not, exist without your support!

May we all enjoy a healthy, happy, and prosperous year in 2014!

Olivia Varela
Executive Director
Laredo Development Foundation

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