Brownsville, Matamoros groups to promote economy

First it was Imagine Brownsville.

Now it’s Imagina Matamoros.

Both groups will sign a proclamation today affirming their intent to establish a binational economic development zone — Bi-NED — aimed at furthering business initiatives and enhancing border security, according to a press statement from Brian Godinez, spokesman for the United Brownsville Coordinating Board.

The event starts at 10 a.m. at the Brownsville Museum of Fine Art, 660 E. Ringgold St.

The local group is composed of representatives from the private sector and the city of Brownsville, Brownsville Public Utilities Board, Brownsville Navigation District, Brownsville Independent School District, University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College, Brownsville Community Improvement Corp. and Greater Brownsville Incentive Corp.

Its aim is to prioritize and implement strategies identified in the city’s near $900,000 comprehensive plan called Imagine Brownsville.

The event will feature a keynote address from United Brownsville Board President Fred W. Rusteberg, of the International Bank of Commerce, and Sergio Arguelles from Imagina Matamoros. Arguelles is a businessman and industrialist with extensive holdings in Mexico and the Rio Grande Valley.

Matamoros Mayor Alfonso Sanchez and architect Roberto Mattus will also attend representing Imagina Matamoros, according to a press release from United Brownsville’s lobbying group Patton Boggs LLP.

According to Godinez, during the past several months, Brownsville and Matamoros leaders formed the plan to dedicate energies and resources to the implementation of the Bi-NED concept.

eperez-trevino@brownsvilleherald.com