Border and efficiently how to manage it and important for communities and the United States and mexico and our economies as a whole. I dont think thats enough. Not enough for Mexican Border communities to really have the vibrant communities that we want and quality of life the people in the border region aspire to. We need do more than move wigets back and forth across the border. It requires strategies that leverage unique positions for communities across the border as a way to attract Companies Across the region. There is a unique value there and competitive of the United States and mexico side by side that makes working and producing in the border region particularly attractive and interesting. If we look back in time and see the Border Industrialization Program of the 1960s, it was the beginning of free trade between our two countries, focused on the border region, Mexican Border communities in particular. It was effective in attracting a certain amount of investment to the mexican side of the border, called the twin plant model, the idea of the program. Meaning there would be planted on the mexican side of the border and plant on the u. S. Side of the border. The mexican side of the border, it appeared but didnt have it. That was a necessary condition for Economic Development but wasnt sufficient to get those investments on the u. S. Side of the border. We needed people like these guys here to go out and make the case to companies that this is the right place to be doing the business. We have a set of factors that makes it attractive to those companies in the region. Thats something i want to talk to the panelists about today. I think there is a ton of space to what else is needed we can think about. Workforce development is more key than ever. Having the qualified welltrained wildfires to operate more sophisticated machines and equipment than ever is one of the Things Companies are looking for. Quality of life like john wagner was just talking about is what Everybody Needs in the local community to attract talent and fill those positions so Companies Want do business there. Access to amenity and business structure. The list goes on and we want to get prioritization to what the key elements are for those who live and work along the border. Im happy to have three great panelists with me today. I will do a very brief introduction of each of them. You have their bios. From Texas International university in laredo, texas. He has held a number of positions. Worked as a Customs Bureau for a long time, so a lot of different experiences as we draw the conversation. To his left is john borel low, the ceo of the Border Plex Alliance unique in representing. He can tell us more about it, three different stakes, texas, new mexico, and chu walla and the tristate across the Mexican Border and also previously Development Cabinet secretary of new mexico and has a lot of fascinating experience from his time there we can draw on here as well. Finally last but certainly not least is martio la soya. Im flipping through and missing my spot, with the greater brownsville incentive corporation. Executive director and ceo of the greater brownsville incentive corporation. He also sits on the board of directors for the spanish caucus stud. Manx so much for joini thanks so much for joining us. I have done a bunch of economic work in the border region but recently wrote a chapter for a book about to be published through the university of arizona prep and actually interviewed 2 of 3 of these gentleman as part of that process. I had a chance to talk to frederickco and john about this detail and will probably try to draw out points we talked about previously and had a chance to work with other stakeholders in the greater brownsville area on a Development Project the last several years, eda, the department of commerce, eda helped fund. It will be a good chance to dig deep on these issues. As were Getting Started i want to give you a couple minutes to comment about your thoughts of the Economic Development in your particular area of the border and whaipts like to do economic work in the cross border setting and cross border. Marty, i know you have a couple slides of the brownsville region. Maybe we can get that done and then jump into the more conversational piece of this program as well. Good afternoon, everybody. I thought i would show a small set of slides. Brownsville is at the southern tip of texas, down at the border. You can see how far it is. A lot of people think it is south texas but have a far drive to go south. This is relevant to not just brownsville but a lot of communities in the region. It is the Largest Community in the brownsville valley. 31 below the poverty level. I have another chart that shows what does it look compared to our neighbors. Look at 2013 census, 13,000 per capita, literally the poorest in the country. The medium income, 64 make it out of high school and 13 dont make it to ninth grade. This is the challenges we have in the border region. I started using this commuter and you heard the testimony about broadband. 60 of households in brownsville not connected. When youre talking about the Technology Age and 60 of the teachers ask for them to use the internet for home work leaves them behind. Thats the comparison. You can see brownsville and laredo, the three poorest oneses on your border. Texas comparison, 15 . In terms of problem solving we need to hit it with different prongs and angles. Education and wildfires development is our top item, based on the condition i just showed you, disconnected condition, poor condition. We feel wildfirorkforce develops key especially when we look at the lead time to prepare for jobs for tomorrow, starts 46 years and we need to start them in middle school and get them going. We recently launched an initiative called we grow our own and recently awarded the Texas Workforce award for texas. Were very proud of the work were doing and want to challenge it as we go. The senate bill 22 was passed two sessions ago, it allows High School Students to graduate with a two year technical degree. A lot of you may have children or you yourselves gone through a dual credit in high school but be its academia credit. We went to austin and said we need technology to get our students in high school so while in high school they have a technical degree and high school diploma. There are about 15 schools in this space in dallas and two more south of dallas in brownsville, texas. Were working on creating a manufacturing innovations hub, a concept. Based on whats happening with spacex, ship building, lnds talking about coming into the region. We need to be ready with research and development and do it with a university that will make it a regional concept. Texas manufacturing and assistance center, if youre not familiar with that, funded through the department of commerce nest, given to congress and for manufacturing assistance. We want to add its scope of work to include Technical Development as well. And we work hard with the consult of others to help us Work Together, as chris mentioned, to try to sell that system more aggressively. Recently in san antonio, in terms of what are we doing in key innovative ways to incentivize companies, were not Incentivizing Companies unless theyre providing high pay jobs at a high level of pay. We recently closed six deals average was 15. 40 an hour, a lot in the brownsville area, creates a 42 million payroll. Those are different ways we look at Incentivizing Companies to come in. The target and everything were doing is to try to meet these targets and share this across the valley and by national perspective. Thats what i have. I thought i would put that together to understand whats the condition in the border region. Thank you. Obviously, the border is very diverse, lots of different conditions in different parts. If we talked about this in the san diego context, it would be different than brownsville context. Each has different set of challenges and assets they bring to the table as well. John, do you want to talk about how it is the border plex works and whatever you want to get us kicked off with . Thanks, chris. Many many thanks you being here and hosting this and eta and all my friends and allies in the audience. Thank you, we have a lot of issues to deal with and address. The Border Plex Alliance is unique, to my knowledge the only funded organization in two states and countries. You see in new mexico, my home county. Its a region comprised of 2. 5 million residents. You put it in the middle of the United States and it would rank in the top 20 in the United States. Its geographically located as far south of brownsville is, as far west in texas you can go. Strategically we like to consider ourselves the gateway of trade for the americas. Onefifth of the trade transacted through the United States and mexico occurs through our six ports of entry and region. Whats interesting with all the concern about what is going on with mexico and others, make no mistake, mexico is a strike ally. Despite this our foundation which has three functions, number one, serve as the Development Organization and second, we act as the policy organization for the region and third, we are developing a strike plan to primarily focus on work force and policy for the sectors to recruit. Despite that were seeing record levels of interest from companies, vetted progress in our region. We are moving up very quickly, especially in the manufacturing sector. We in our region are now the fourth largest manufacturing hub in north america. In the last year and 18 month we surpassed detroit. For the jobs created in our region. Our region should be a model how to create Economic Opportunity and secure the border and condu conduct bilateral relationships in an effective way. El paso has record low unemployment levels. We are at 3. 6 prenafta, it was always hovering around the 1412 rang. Our sister city, below 3 unemployment. That is leading to wage gains in a positive note. Very measured positive way. Were very very happy with the development thats occurring along the border. Were hopeful as we deal with not only workforce issues and natural policy issues in washington, we can finally reach a level of certainty mentioned, a theme i heard from many panels today, chris, uncertainty is important for Economic Opportunity. I use the mantra of saying uncertainty is the enemy of jobs, Economic Growth and investment. To maximize that potential we all need to be working on the macro level but those on this panel need to be working very much on the local level to prepare ourselves for the jobs of the future for a work force trained and trainable pneumonia that this number one issue, do you have a trained or trainable workforce. Not only does el paso and the borderplex region have that, most of the communities along the southern border offer that for Economic Development. For Companies Looking to expand and relocate and keep our competitive advantage in the region, i always emphasize we have the trained and trainable workforce and hope we get into discussions about the artificial limitors and artificial ceilings that exist and why we still have room to grow in our respective communities along the border. Thank you for inviting me. Its an honor. Thank you. Frederico. Thank you, chris. Thank you all for being here, for this opportunity. A correction, i worked with the custom brokers as advisor in that capacity. I am not a custom broker and when ive seen what some go through because of the mexican laws, miniscule error they lose their livelihood or liberty, i would never want to be a customs broker. I worked with them for 16 years and in mexico city, and the last time i was there and in charge of training custom brokers and personnel, i not only live at the border, i have a very strange story, i will do it really short. I will mention it like this. I was a mexican born in canada and now is working in the United States. Up to a year ago, i had a son working in canada, a daughter working in the United States and a daughter working in mexico. So, i go back and forth everyday, so i know about the century lines and all of that. Anyway, just a couple of slides so we can get into the conversation. As you all well know you need to use the microphone. Okay. Were webcasting. As you all well know, the importance of our border, ports of entry, this is just what t represents for world trade. 30. 8 of all trade of the United States with the world crosses through laredo. 33. 9 through the customs district of laredo, the second largest in the country behind los angeles. 10. 7 , el paso. 30. 7 , houston, galveston, 10. 1 in dallas, fort worth. Chris will have them and if anybody wants them, we will send them to you. All these we already know. This is interesting. The share of trade between mexico and the United States since 2012 to 2018 has been growing constantly. The share that we have this last year, was 36. 9 through the city of laredo. I dont know if the mayor is still here. Another 14. 9 through the rest of the ports that are elrio, eagle pass and all the way to brownsville. That gives us 52 of trade in our district. This is trade through el paso. 19. 7 is strayed through other parts of entry through california and new mexico and 19. 5 , the rest of the sports of the United States. This is u. S. Mexico trade, 1. 17 million a minute, through all of these. Maybe this is interesting for some. Crime rates at our sports of entry. The United States, this is fbi information. Texas, laredo, 322, el paso, 379 and el paso, 367. At our border communities, we have the lowest crime rates in many parts. Dont get me talking about other cities like the one were at right now. This is information just for you. If you want information, go to our websites. We have the four border states and the ports of entry. This is the information for the states and we have imports and exports for each city. This information is here and you can download it these are your commodities that cross through your ports of entry. Those are the slides. Why dont i keep going with you for a second. When we talked about the process of that book chapter i was mentioning, you talked to me about how it was the city came together basically to build the world trade bridge. Laredo is, as you mentioned, the major really, the number one hub of u. S. Mexico trade. How is it the city developed that skillset . Obviously, someone like you were teaching brokers and customs agents how to do their job. It can be world class. How is it the city works to build a world trade bridge and develop that skillset in such a specialization facilitating trade . It has to do a lot with its origin and because of its organization before nafta, it was a very important crossing point for trade. Nafta just blew up everything exponentially. We also have customs and trade Logistics Community very very proactive. Back in the 80s, before, a lot of things we take for granted and technology, mexican custom brokers who just returned after studying at mit, a couple of them, started on ways to use viewers of facilitating transmission. Were talking about floppy disks. Then, they went with the mexican customs. They developed this system where everything was starting to go through computers. Even though they at the beginning, it was once a week, they took the disc to the bridge and downloaded everything, then, it was everyday and eventually they got to develop it as a Pilot Project for all of mexico. That, with the fact that a quarter of all mexicans [speaking nonenglish] and another quarter of those who have theirs and the rest of the ports of entry of mexico also have offices there. Thats something we can talk about later, the Economic Impact of that. The thing is because of these individuals who live and parents and grandparents live because of trade they went full ahead on doing this. The thing that really changed everything, they got together after a mayor, who was twice mayor the beginning of the 90s and end of the 90s. The city was long lines of trailers that went through the middle of the city, in front of schools, there were so many accidents. I used to go to a school and had to cross this was in the 60s, right . Anyway, it was awful then. Back in late 80s, 90s, it was incredible. They came together with the custom brokers and transportation guys and they put their money where their mouth was and they started financing the construction of the bridge because the Mexican Federal government didnt do it. They do keep the revenue of the tolls, not as in this case of laredo, the laredo texas budget depends on a lot of that. There was political will and Economic Vision they had to do something to get that traffic out of the city and make it faster. Thanks. One lesson there is clearly the coming together with private sector and Public Sector to get things done and even when the federal government isnt working so well. Across the border again and again, local things to get things done and move International Trade and help out the federal government facilitating those challenges and trade, an important lesson. Jon, three different states you represent. The things we hear, sometimes a local community on the u. S. Side of the border is competing with another local community on the u. S. Side of the border for investments, for traffic, across bridges, things like that. How is it an organization like yours is able to overcome some of those challenges . You represent three different groups of people that have elected officials with different sets of constituencies yet you are somehow able to get everyone to see the value of cooperation over competition . How does that develop and how do you talk to people so they see that value of cooperation . Thats a great question, chris. Its certainly a very relevant germane question. Ive had the unique opportunity to see it not only serving as public sefbt in new mexico, cabinet secretary there is some competition always trying to create jobs. Thats what the taxpayers of new mexico expected me to do, and the governor. At the same token, we know the region we inhabit all rely on one another. The bottom line is we indeed are a biculture community that shares the same border and same culture and, yes, we share the same economy. That last point is absolutely critical overcoming some objections that maybe some more parochial political leaders might have about the region. To take a step back, when i did serve as cabinet secretary in new mexico, in 2011, it was interesting to say that the state of New Hampshire did more trade with mexico than new mexico did. As stunning as that might sound. We had to engage in a regional, certainly, when we were talking about workforce, when we were trying to draw businesses to the area, to the new mexico side of the border, we simply had to say and share resources because we do have universities almost about 40 miles apart, university of texas el paso and new mexico state. We had to tell employers that it was okay to hire graduates from u tech for example and viceversa, now that im in this job, we brag about the wonderful universities we have in the region. Combined we have more University Students in the region than any big 10 community in the United States has combined. Were graduating more engineers in our region than any big 10 community, which has a huge universities, in the United States. These are the types of things that we all brag about, we like to talk about. The message has gotten out to political leaders and the Business Community gets it. Im happy to say were working on a strike fan right now that will focus on Workforce Development primarily pulling the resources together. The last thing i want to say about the issue is the workforce issue is very very critical. So is local infrastructure. David, who works from el paso, works at the free trade zone, is in the audience, is emblematic how we have to cooperate when it comes to things like transportation. Every state has to Work Together for example the transportation infrastructure in our region or things will come grinding to a halt. For that, over 2 billion of investment on just the u. S. Side on whats occurring in new mexico and texas, keeping ahead of growth, making sure we have this competitive trade and same, securing the border. Theyre not mutually exclusive. All these things have worked to overcome the objections. Im happy to say were working very well together, especially the private certificate and government sector private sector this not a zero sum game. A job created there should be a job created in the u. S. Thats the way we ought to approach it. Thank you. Mario, when we did this study, it was by what trade was moving through the region and where there are opportunities to attract suppliers, Different Industries that might fit in the industry moving through the greater brownsville area. Can you talk us through the conversations you talk to, to potential investors . What are the things theyre asking you and as youre pointing out to them that resonate the most as youre trying to land them in those industries . Its very complicated. Different communities across the border deal with it differently. I think years ago, in the times of the heavy macular involvement or movement, today, we didnt have a true assessment inventory of whats the percent of types of industries there . Are they tech . Automotive, and those working and sharing data, us and Economic Development can better assess what kind of incentives package can we put together to entice a company, say, an automotive company, to say we can get you the districts costs because we have this of tier 1s or tier 2s within a 50 mile radius and we can discuss the profitability window so the companies and bring them in, right. Before, its pie in the sky as we share data across the border and towns. I can tell you about coming around and hopefully gets ratified soon, theres a lot of investment from Different Countries and different regions. We see a rot of that hesitation today. The rules will be an issue and hopefully works in our behalf for the betterment of the region. The tariffs and they come see us, hows that going to work . We have a port, we have another city and brownsville, usa that can probably mitigate a lot of tax and tariffs through opportunity zones and the like. Ill tell you recently, in the last two months, the gentleman brought it up earlier, the first question they ask is security. Some people around the world and other parts of the country think its a war zone in the boarder but its not. Brownsville is the number 2 safest country in lar redo and paso, depending what size you look at, potentially very safe. Thats not something we had to have before and do today. The workforce is very important. I did a lot of work at toyota and my charge at toyota was, help us find a probability window sooner based on Workforce Development strategies, right . The thinking is if you have a strong work force that is hightech, can build a quality product and if youre cfo your cfo and manufacturers target so much per day, they should be able to make profit this much a year. I can make my testament back in 10 years. But because of not a thousand trucks a day and only 700, im out of probability now. Those are conversations we can have intellectually with data with companies coming in saying we know what to do. We have human capital, come sit down with us. Were open for business and the border is. In my opinion, it benefits the region and a lot of produce coming through and not in that border region. Its important for us to work regionally together to understand those numbers better and help reflect this investment in our communities. Frederico, that was something you talked, what laredo did, and what did they do to attract the trade in the community and the community lives on that trade but maybe missed the other side of the equation and what it is you see that was missing that didnt have laredo developing the same way as other communities on the border. I mentioned there were 860 customs brokers and 200 of their license at headquarters and another 200 operate and then you have 450 mexican customs brokers all are under the u. S. Site from broensville through san diego. That means those 400 plus just in laredo. In all of the Mexican Border, 60 of customs brokers have their h on the border cities, all the way. Could that be considered a Foreign Direct Investment from mexicans and the United States . Theyre creating jobs, paying taxes, building warehouses, and they have from customs brokers businesses to transportations to boutiques and restaurants. Theyve diversified. What could have been done with respect to manufacturing, a lot. The thing is that i i mentioned it before, and im thinking some people dont like it, we take for granted trade is always going to cross through laredo and never thought of a second economic city. 90 plus percent is work force services. Thats an event we missed. in 98, we were trying to attract businesses to invest, and most of them went to renos or el paso or tijuana. Everyone was fine with that because trade was still number one. That was prenafta. We could have done a lot. I still think that enormous volume of trade or commodities go back and forth publish maybe added value on either laredo or another city but that is maybe. Thats one of the things we hear all the time, how it is how can communities add more value in the supply chains theyre a part of . Related to that, the community along the border. Jon, maybe you can come in on this a bit and frame how you do that working and investing along the border. I think you talked about investors coming in that required a bilingual workforce for example but moving back to creation where you have some joint level manufacturing happening on both sides of the boarder, spillingover effects from manufacturing. Tell us how you approach that special acquisition of a border community. There are countless advantages to being along the southern border with mexico. I think all our communities and especially our region, we have one of the youngest demographics on both sides of the border. We have that trained, trainable, young dynamic workforce. We have strike investors for young investors. 15 years ago in my prior job and prior life, china, make no mistake, china is a trade foe. They are going through a very difficult time right now, in terms of their workforce and how, really, in my humble opinion, theyre bombing less and less competitive reshoring jobs, you look at fdi, especially from asia, i think our communities and borderplex region has a compelling story to tell when it comes to reshoring these jobs from asia. Make no mistake, that trend will continue. Why . In china, you have you have very expensive utility cost there. You have a very unpredictable political system, and finally, you see a situation where transportation costs are rising. But most of all, the quality of the chinese products do not compare to the quality of the products being made in north america both in mexico and the United States. And for those reasons i think youre going to see that trend continue. And weve got a wonderful story to tell because we should be the place of choice for the reshoring of these jobs and make no mistake, hundreds of thousands of these jobs are coming and coming soon. Tariffs or no tariffs against the chinese. And we need in our region to be able to tell that story and make sure that we are in the forefront of telling that story not only in the border plex region but in our sister communities up and down the border. Were happy to do that. Last thing ill say about it is that in order to stay competitive, weve got to make that were staying ahead of infrastructure, once again. You heard that a lot today, too, as a theme. If the federal government isnt going to take the lead, the states and the local communities need to. Just like, again, the state of texas is doing and local leaders in el paso to make sure our road system, everything from roads and water, and by the way, i got to compliment our water authority, the Public Service board. What they have done in el paso is incredible by providing and making sure there is a sustainable and very, very viable amount of water with conservation to last for several more decades, and what theyre doing there is incredible because there is that perception, too, at least in el paso that we dont have enough water. Yes, we do. So we can tell all that story and do it in a forceful, compelling way. Then, you know what, we win these projects more often than not. Were defeating places like phoenix and other spots, other communities. I love beating phoenix. I love beating i love beating communities might be salt lake city. You know, so be it. Its friendly competition, right . But, you know, it always comes down to the same communities vying for these fdi projects, it seems, at least its been in my experience. And so weve had some very, very good fortune in being very competitive. Last thing ill say is proof in the pudding. Were finalists in our region for very, very large and significant projects because weve an able to proffer all f these advantages and competing with cities more inland in the United States. And so very, very, happy to report. We may not win all of them, but god willing, weve won maybe all of them. Time for a couple questions before we finish up here. Does anyone have any they want to throw out there . Let me give you a microphone, please. Identify yourself and ask your question. Thats okay. Wait for the microphone. Okay. You preempted me on the water. I didnt know if there were any specific things you wanted to mention about how this works. I mean, you know you have enough water and theyre doing something innovative, i assume. Yeah. The water in the tristate area is very, very its interesting. Its a little bit complex, legally. As a recovering lawyer, i wont try to explain it. Its made complex by interstate water compact. And ill leave it there. We have to, first of all, comply with not only the International Compacts that we have with mexico, but weve got also to comply with interstate water compacts. That being said, what the psb, Public Service board, has done, is not only buy additional water rights but they emphasize two things. Number one, its the waters largest inland desalinization plant they have. We have an element countless amount of brackish water in the area and in the region. So one end is technology and foresight and making sure we have enough water rights in the regi region. The second is a very aggressive Water Conservation effort throughout all three states, really. And so the combination of which has been a very powerful story to tell, and luckily were in a situation that were in right now because of that. Thank you. You want to jump in . Can i add to that . That point. Its not just about acquiring water. Its how can communities smartly use the water . Especially from an Economic Development perspective. T ill tell you, when i was at toyota we used 1. 3 million gallons of water a day. A company is not going to come into your region if they dont have water for their manufacturing process and oftentimes its large amounts. How municipalities use their water not only for their population but also they reuse water, whatever, so they can accommodate the needs of industry for Economic Development. Great. Thank you. Got another question here. Maybe we can actually, if you guys dont mind, collect a couple of questions. This will be the find round of answers here. Sure. Go ahead. Hi. I was wondering, youve been talking about investment and also the strategic plan. Im wondering if there is anything there about entrepreneurship and small and medium scale local businesses and if theres any, again, program, or idea on maybe having them from both of the sides Work Together as small and medium services, i mean, businesses, or entrepreneurship programs, projects. Things like that. Thank you. Great. Thanks. Mario brought up the point about the conception that were dangerous on the border. Five or six senators, 10 or 15 congressmen this week say its a crisis on the border. They paint this broad brush across that. I know when they call we explain it, how many people dont call and make their decision based on the news . What can we do to counter that . Great. Lets finish it off. Jerry, did you want to jump in with one last question . I wanted to ask about actually all three of you all how looking understanding the challenges that we have of our youth, other border communities, we have the asset of a bicultural environment. How far back do you identify back, tap into the young men and boys and girls, at what level should we be working on to prepare them for what 25 years from now, usmca, may look like . Actually did that study in san antonio, coincidentally. Set it up for you, buddy. Ill give you 5 bucks later, gary. Ill use the football analogy. If you have a professional quarterback and you look at the recruiting for professional quarterbacks, they probably recruited out of a lot of tier 1 schools, maybe some tier 2 schools. Those schools recruited a lot of smaller schools and then they also recruit then those schools recruit a lot of high schools and those high schools kind of prepare their other smaller teams, right . So all that to get one quarterback. Right . We did the math on what does it take to get one technician to fix robots . 200,000 middle school touches of people to get one technician when you start doing the math, right . So we took it down to middle school. If we think that from an Economic Development perspective, capitalizing on human capital, you need to start investing through some sort of legislation in your communities to create programs at the middle school to prepare them for technology in high school, to get them into the job career phase right after high school, because typically in hightech environments, about 5 to 10 require a fouryear degree. Make no mistake about it. If everybody wants to get a fouryear degree, thats fine, but theyre not going to get hired by industries. Typically an 80 20 rule. 80 require certification or a high school diploma. 20 require a twoyear degree or fouryear degree. We think middle school, to answer your question, is a sweet spot. Great. Lightning ground. Let me try to answer all three questions. Innovation, number one, fortunately we have incubators and tech hubs that are were working hard to develop a seamless pipeline. Especially in technology and really giving entrepreneurs in the hightech space every tool they can have. El paso is becoming a really, really hip place for young hispanics. The Downtown Revitalization is attracting people. Places to go eat, have a good time and concerts and all that. Were starting to attract this young entrepreneurial talent especially in the hightech sector. One example, we got a Silicon Valley company to move to el paso. They only expected to hire 40. Theyre going to move their denver operation to el paso because theyve had success. And the retention rates have been off the charts. Were going to keep pushing that advantage. Second, crime. Yes, thats exactly right. Thats the artificial limiter to optimizing job growth and economic potential in our region. I probably speak for everybody here. You have to get past the misperception about our region being a dangerous and violent and lawless frontier. Its perpetuated both in pop culture and now in politics. Unfortunately, thats an additional thing we have to overcome in order to optimize job growth in the area. Once we can show the data, el paso, second safest city over 500,000 in the United States. That chart, second safest over 500,000. Number one by a fraction of a point, san diego. Not really theyre not really on the border close, but its a sister city on the border. Finally workforce, yes, we need to continue to emphasize the Workforce Development. Not only in the innovation and tech sector but lets not forget about the basic sector that has sustained our area at least in many parts of the border. Thats the warehousing, transportation, logistics, and manufacturing sector. Because those sectors are continuing to grow. They will continue to grow at least in our region. We need to make sure that we have tradespeople, that we have electricians and other folks like that. Highpaying jobs. Truck drivers. Welders. So we cant forget about that as far as our Workforce Development needs. I would also quick first of all, strategic plan, you mentioned, i think thats something that has to be done not only in laredo. We worked on a longterm vision plan to 2040, like, 8 or 9 years ago, and then in 2015, we did an update. Laredo did a comprehensive plan and now both plans consider a longterm vision. The developing infrastructure, developing work force. So that is something that we should probably also and all along the border do, collaborating and not so much competing with one another. The thing about the perception you already mentioned, we need to provide hard, cold, facts to those who are who need them. Its going to be practically impossible to fight media, pop culture and politicians who have an agenda, but we need to have that information out there first and forefront. And finally regarding the workforce, we need to prepare, i think, our students to adapt, to be flexible, to be lifelong learners. And that is something that we should also probably do because things are changing so fast that if we dont prepare students to be have the availability and the vision to work, theyre not going to do it. And finally, for the future, id like to give a shoutout to jerry and ibc and everyone. We need that type of engagement and a commitment to the north American Free trade agreement, or usmca, or the development of the border. And theyve done it i want to second that. My friend, jerry, i see jerry on the road trips and his friend, eddie. Thank you for all you do. Its great. I hope youve enjoyed this panel, and all the panels throughout the day as much as i have. Its been a fantastic day. And i really appreciate the contributions youve all made to the conversation. And our understanding of the border regions. Its obviously something we need to get out there a little bit more in washington. But were going to keep doing the work from here from the Wilson Center and were going to keep engaging you in that work. Its an important thing for us. And i want to thank our sponsors one more time. For helping make the day possible. Then just hand things over to britton it close it out for the day thanks. On behalf of the Border Trade Alliance we want to say thank you again to duncan. Here at the wilson institute. Its a pleasure to partner with you all for our sixth annual conference. Also want to thank the bta Board Members for all of their support and their leadership. A very productive program, obviously, today, thanks to all of you. And as you already just mentioned, our sponsors, ibc, ill third to say how great your leadership is and how much we appreciate Constellation Brands for helping to make our reception last night and to angela at the Wilson Center for your help at the reception last night. Then also to ct strategies. Were at a critical juncture. Weve been talking about it all day. Obviously all seeking the modernization of our trilateral trade agreement. We will remain focused, we will remain engaged and hopefully get this agreement done this year. So just yesterday the bta board, we were on capitol hill. We were sharing this message, sharing much of the message that weve talked about today. So we feel like we are gaining traction and we will get there. The bta members and i do look forward to continuing to build on the success of nafta for the past 25 years, not anything negative. And ratifying the usmca. So, thank you for your leadership, thanks for your support. Lets continue to fight the good fight and win together. Tonight, American History tv focuses on the vietnam war, starting with a look at u. S. Soldier morale from 1971 to 1973. Other programs include a discussion on building an allvolunteer force after vietnam and a historical look at u. S. Army policy changes after the war. Watch American History tv tonight at 8 00 p. M. Eastern on cspan3. Tonight on the communicators, ohio representative bob latta, the Ranking Member on the house energy and commerce subcommittee on communications and technology, talks about recent actions taken by the Government Regarding the tech industry. When you think of the almost 50 billion robocalls that are made every year into this country, its going to hopefully provide relief for the american citizens out there. Its important because a lot of people say when im out in the district, its one of the top issues that people contact me about, and its also the top issue that the fcc and the ftc receive every year is about r borrobocalls. Watch the communicators tonight at 8 00 eastern on cspan2. If you want more information on members of congress, order cspans congressional directory. Its Available Online at cspanstore. Org