The Economic Development Corporation of Weslaco was formed in 1990 under Section 4A of the Texas Development Corporation Act. Section 4A allows for the imposition of a local sales and use tax dedicated to economic development. In Weslaco, the voters authorized a one-half cent sales tax for this purpose.
The primary purpose of the Section 4A sales tax for economic development is to create new jobs and investment for the community. In June 2003 Texas Economic Development Act of 1979 was revised to provide that the use of the economic development sales tax was to focus on projects that create or retain “primary jobs”. A primary job is available at a company for which the majority of the products or services of that company are ultimately exported to regional, statewide, national or international markets, infusing new dollars into the local economy, and is included in one of the following sectors of the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). See NAICS Codes
Available expenditures can be made in the following areas:
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Land, buildings, equipment, facilities, improvements and expenditures related to:
- Manufacturing, industrial, research and development, recycling, small warehouse and corporate
- headquarters facilities
- Distribution centers
- Job training for primary jobs and commercial/retail
- Business airport facilities
- Job training and infrastructure assistance to retail or commercial projects.
For retail development, funds can be expended for infrastructure assistance in the form of streets and roads, rail spurs, gas and electric utilities, drainage and related improvements, telecommunications and Internet improvements.
A seven-member Board of Directors appointed by the Weslaco City Commission governs the Economic Development Corporation of Weslaco.
Hernan Gonzalez, Executive Director; Mike Givilancz, Jr; Tom Crouch; Ricardo Quintanilla, President; Johnny Bautista, Secretary-Treasurer; Joe Olivarez, Vice President.
Ricardo Quintanilla, District 3 Appointment, President 2009-2010
Joe Olivarez, Mayor Appointment, Vice President 2009-2010
Johnny Bautista, District 4 Appointment, Secretary-Treasurer 2009-2010
Mike Givilancz, Jr., District 1 Appointment
To Be Appointed, District 2 Appointment
To Be Appointed, District 5 Appointment
Tom Crouch, District 6 Appointment
The staff of the Economic Development Corporation of Weslaco is:
Hernan Gonzalez, Executive Director
Miroslava Valdez, Accountant
Marj Greene, Administrative Assistant
Janie Torres, Receptionist
