The Port of Laredo, Texas -Your partner for business opportunities- Known locally as “Los Laredos”, Laredo and Nuevo Laredo are actually one city divided only by the Rio Grande. Originally settled by the Spaniards in 1755, Laredo/Nuevo Laredo became the first "official" Port of Entry on the U.S./Mexico's border in 1851. Now, the Laredo Customs District handles more trade than the ports of Southern California, Arizona, New Mexico and West Texas combined. The Port of Laredo is the Number One Inland Port on the U.S.-Mexico border, generating more than $214 Billion in trade, ranked the Number Three Customs District in the U.S. by value of shipment--- generating over $303 billion in international trade. In addition, the Port of Laredo is the nation's Number One land border gateway by value of imports and exports, ranking first in the nation in 2017, transported across the border by highways, railroads and pipelines. As the Port of Laredo gains momentum in the global economy, the LEDC continues to foster the economic and industrial development of our community. The LEDC plays a vital role in keeping our local economy strong and vibrant and takes a leading role in promoting the Port of Laredo as the international logistics hub to the Americas. At the center of the primary trade route connecting Canada, the United States and Mexico, and the gateway to Mexico's burgeoning industrial complex, Laredo and Nuevo Laredo offer markets, business opportunities and profit potential which business and industry simply cannot find anywhere else. Laredo is the only U.S./Mexico border city strategically positioned at the convergence of all land transportation systems. Mexico's principal highway and railroad leading from Central America through Mexico City, Saltillo and Monterrey, the industrial heart of Mexico, converge at Laredo to meet two major U.S. rail lines, Inter-state Highway 35 and other roads which fan outwards to the urban centers and seaports of Texas, and beyond to Northern States and Canadian Provinces including Illinois, Michigan, New York and Ontario. For the last several years, Mexico's economic reforms, increased U.S./Mexico trade and cross border production sharing combined to spur Laredo's growth as never before. As the fastest growing city east of the Rocky Mountains, and the most competitive NAFTA crossing, Laredo's bright economic future is vibrant. Laredo is the place to be! FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Laredo Economic Development Corporation P.O. Box 2682 (616 Leal St.) Laredo, Texas 78044-2682 Phone: (956)722-0563 Fax (956)722-6247 1-800-820-0564 E-mail: [email protected] Web Site Address: www.laredoedc.org Copyright ©2018 Laredo Economic Development Corporation TABLETABLE OFOF CONTENTSCONTENTS Laredo, Texas Demographics I. Laredo Economic Development Corporation II. Summary of Potential City of Laredo/Webb County Incentives III. Industrial Sites IV. Economic Activity (2012-2018) V. Vehicles Crossing thru the Port of Laredo Location / Population VI. Weather Overview VII. Municipal Government / Federal and State Government VIII. Current Tax Rates IX. Permit Information X. Utilities XI. Transportation XII. Education XIII. Workforce / Community and Recreation Facilities XIV. Commercial Facilities & Service Business / Trade Organizations XV. Places of Interest XVI. Major Employers XVII. Industrial Parks Contacts XVIII. Industrial Parks Map XIX. Laredo Regional Highway System Map / Port of Laredo Primary Trade Routes Map XX. Main Roads of Nuevo Laredo Map XXI. Internet Web Sites The Laredo Economic Development Corporation, formed in November 1966 as Laredo Development Foundation, is a private non-profit corporation dedicated to the economic and industrial development of the Laredo economy. Nationally certified and recognized by the American Economic Development Council, the prime focus of the LEDC is industrial attraction, workforce development, assistance to small business start-ups, as well as expansion and retention of existing industry. MissionMission StatementStatement THE MISSION OF THE LAREDO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION IS TO PROMOTE AND FOSTER THE ECONOMIC AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE LAREDO REGION. LEDC activities are structured under four divisions, three operating and one internal: Industrial Attraction Division Business Development Division Administration Division International Business Assistance Center—MileOne The Industrial Attraction Division is responsible for maintaining economic data for prospects, selecting target industries, encouraging new industries to locate in Laredo/Nuevo Laredo and helping new companies with the site-selection process and start-up operations. The Business Development Division is responsible for preparing economic studies and forecasts, campaigning for needed educational resources and infrastructure projects and for assisting the border trade advocates and promoting border initiatives. The Administration Division is responsible for contracts, adhering to strict financial procedures, annual audits, preparing financial statements, board minutes and staff reports as well as performing special tasks assigned by the Board. Also responsible for staff training and maintaining membership in the International Economic Development Council and the Texas Economic Development Council as well as others. The MileOne - International Business Assistance Center (IBAC) will (1) promote entrepreneurship and international trade for the Laredo and Webb County South Texas region, (2) encourage FDI by facilitating the process of establishing a business in the U.S., and (3) assist U.S. companies who want to expand their business services into Mexico. As a support center, the IBAC will assist and guide companies through the process of establishing or expanding their business in a foreign country. IndustrialIndustrial SitesSites FOREIGN TRADE ZONES Laredo is the 7th largest FTZ in the US based on the value of Exports. There are 11 FTZ sites in Laredo as follows: SITE 1 Laredo International Airport (500 acres) SITE 2 Tex-Mex Railroad (20 acres) SITE 3 Killam Industrial Park (500 acres) SITE 4 Laredo NorthWest Colombia-Solidarity Bridge (1,500 acres) SITE 5 La Barranca Ranch Development (50 acres) SITE 6 Unitec Industrial Park (682 acres) SITE 7 Embarcadero Industrial Park (831 acres) SITE 8 Uni-Trade Forwarding @ RMR Industrial Park (2 acres) SITE 9 Kuehne+Nagel @ RMR Industrial Park (1.158 acres) SITE 10 PG Distribution (1 acre) SITE 11 Sony Electronics (3.463 acres) TOTAL 4,089 Acres On August 29, 2012, the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Foreign Trade Zone Board approved the reorganization of the City of Laredo, Foreign-Trade Zone 94 service area to include all of 3,376 square miles of Webb County, under the Alternative Site Framework (ASF). Laredo's FTZ has now expanded from the original 9 sites and 4 Temporary Boundary Modifications to include all of Webb County, Texas. INDUSTRIAL PARKS & BUILDING AVAILABILTY There are currently over 27 active industrial parks in Laredo with a range of prices and variety of industrial sites. The Port of Laredo has 38 + million square feet of logistical space. In addition, Laredo offers built-to-suit properties at the 33 primary and 6 new industrial parks. For more information, please see the buildings available list on our website at www.laredoedc..org/site selection Industrial Parks Map EconomicEconomic ActivityActivity 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Total Work Force MSA 110,776 111,814 112,013 113,533 114,487 111,688 (not adjusted) Employed (not adj.) 104,043 106,126 106,797 107,977 109,597 107,526 Unemployment Rate 6.1% 5.1% 4.5% 4.9% 4.7% 3.8% Est. Total Wages $3.1 Billion $3.2 Billion $3.4 Billion $3.4 Billion $3.5 Billion $1.8 Billion * Total Building Permits $415.1 Mill. $409.4 Mill. $409.7 Mill. $515.7 Mill. $446.2 Mill. $390.2 Mill. Sales Tax Rebates (1%) $39.9 Million $40.2 Million $40.7 Million $38.8 Million $39.9 Million $42.8 Million Multi-family Housing $28.5 Million $80.1 Million $24.4 Million $10.7 Million $33.5 Million $17.2 Million Airline Passengers 205,253 205,424 202,961 187,791 167,084 170,752 U.S./Mexico Trade Exports (to Mexico) $226.1 Billion $240.3 Billion $235.7 Billion $231 Billion $243 Billion $265 Billion Imports (from Mexico) $280.4 Billion $294.1 Billion $296.4 Billion $294.1 Billion $314 Billion $346 Billion Total $506.5 Billion $534.4 Billion $532.1 Billion $525.1 Billion $557 Billion $611 Billion Cross-Border Truck Shipment South (to Mexico) 1,822,243 1,906,886 1,982,097 2,073,060 2,156,793 2,272,551 North (from Mexico) 1,846,282 1,947,846 2,015,773 2,083,964 2,537,573 2,318.035 Total 3,668,525 3,854,732 3,997,870 4,157,024 4,694,366 4,590,586 Cross-Border Rail (loaded only) North (from Mexico) 1,370,634 1,481,478 245,508 253,419 239,138 258,554 * Total Wages numbers are based on the 1st and 2nd Quarter of 2018 Source: Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts Texas Workforce Commission U.S. Department of Transportation Bureau of Transportation Statistics United Census Bureau Laredo International Airport. City of Laredo Building Department City of Laredo International Bridge System PortPort ofof LaredoLaredo VEHICLES CROSSING THE BORDER AT LAREDO, TEXAS IN CALENDAR YEAR 2018: NORTHBOUND SOUTHBOUND TOTAL Into U.S. Into MEXICO CROSSBORDER Total Trucks 2,318,035 2,272,551 4,590,586 Vehicles & Buses 5,974,641 6,468,385 10,321,723 (Commercial & Non-Commercial) TOTAL VEHICLES 2018 TOTAL NORTHBOUND SOUTHBOUND CROSSBORDER 8,292,676 8,740,936 17,033,612 Source: Laredo International Bridge System and U.S. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics Location The Port of Laredo, Texas is located on U.S. Interstate 35 and Mexico's Pan American Highway; 150 miles west of the deep water port of Corpus Christi; 150 miles north of highly industrialized Monterrey, Mexico; 150 miles south of San Antonio, Texas; and just across the Rio Grande River from Nuevo Laredo, Mexico.