Brownsville Mayor John Cowen Jr. delivered his second annual State of the City address, highlighting infrastructure projects, economic investments and community developments that he said will fuel the city’s growth.
Before local leaders, residents and dignitaries, Cowen addressed issues such as housing, public safety, broadband, parks, downtown revitalization and economic development.
Brownsville was recently named one of the top five cities with the highest in-migration in the United States and leads the nation in metro area investment, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, which reported 4.2 percent job growth in the third quarter of 2024.
The mayor mentioned that sectors such as aerospace, technology, logistics and advanced manufacturing are making significant investments in Brownsville. He also highlighted projects such as the Brownsville Tech Industrial Park, with an investment of $11 million, and a $1.2 million grant for the development of startup accelerators, in collaboration with GBIC and BCIC.
One of the most prominent projects is the Brownsville Public Safety Complex, a $70 million facility that will house police, fire, emergency medical services, emergency management and cybersecurity. In addition, the $300 million capital improvement plan calls for street reconstructions, drainage and transportation improvements, including solar-powered bus stops.
On the technology front, Cowen highlighted Brownsville’s move toward digital connectivity through the deployment of OMNI/LIT Fiber-BTX and private 5G infrastructure for public safety monitoring.
The mayor also discussed residential developments such as the Madeira project, which will include 1,000 single-family homes, 1,000 multi-family units, retail and 10 miles of trails. The Estrella community will spread over an area of 1,100 acres, with more than 3,400 homes and 30 miles of sidewalks and trails. In the last year, 46 new subdivisions were recorded and more than $339 million in building permits were issued.
Brownsville’s downtown revitalization includes more than $42 million to restore historic properties such as the El Jardin Hotel and the Samano Building. In addition, the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) has invested more than $84 million in new performing arts and design campuses.
Cowen concluded his speech by reiterating a commitment to work collaboratively with the City Commission, business partners and residents under the “One City” philosophy to build a more prosperous and united Brownsville.
