United Brownsville Coordinating Board Meeting 7/1/2014~Ralph Cowen Auditions United Brownsville or is it United Brownville/Harlingen/Matamoros?

Ralph Cowen, Port of Brownsville

As Ralph Cowen came through the glass doors of second floor conference room of the International Bancshares Corporation, the always hospitable IBC President Fred Rusteberg motioned to the buffet table.  Cowen complied, filling a recyclable plate with grub.

Cowen quickly joined in the conversation, which by now had gotten past City Commissioner Debbie Portillo's breathless reliving of the All-America City Award in pot-legal Denver.

United Brownsville Director Mike Gonzalez,
Explaining Bined to Ralph Cowen

By this time United Brownsville Director Mike Gonzalez had steered the conversation to the $8 billion there for the taking in the binational corridor.  A rep from Index Matamoros, a new member to the UB family, was sharing his insights on creating, rather than simply shipping products.  Index Matamoros represents 89 of 117 Matamoros maquilas.  I thought I heard Finance Director Pete Gonzalez whisper they'd paid their $25,000 entry fee to join the group.

Noon Hour Session of United Brownsville

Ralph raised his hand and was recognized:  "This is my first time with this group.  I'm not sure I'm going to be able to join as I have only so many bullets to shoot. I'm 
interested in this Bined thing.  What Brownsville needs is jobs, not minimum wage jobs, but good paying jobs."

Several members nodded in agreement with Ralph.  

Gonzalez went on to explain that United Brownsville didn't need to reinvent the wheel as U.S./Mexico partnerships already existed.  San Diego/Tijuana is one model.  

Index Matamoros Rep

Gonzalez showed a slide of the mayors of Harlingen, Matamoros and Brownsville signing an agreement or resolution to work together as a region in terms of economic development.