Governor Greg Abbott met with business owners from South Texas in Laredo to discuss the state’s economic outlook and the contribution of small businesses. The roundtable included representatives from local companies and organizations, as well as elected officials.
“Small businesses truly are the very heartbeat of the Texas economy,” said Governor Abbott. “Small businesses right here are an essential part of Port Laredo being the No. 1 port in the U.S. for international trade. To ensure that economic prosperity continues requires vigilance. More Texans have a job today and their wages are higher than ever before in the history of our state thanks to our business-friendly regulatory environment.”
Webb County Judge Tano Tijerina expressed appreciation for the governor’s visit, saying, “We are thankful Governor Abbott is coming to Webb County to sit down with business leaders and local elected officials to talk about jobs and the economy in our community. Work, opportunity, and growth are not partisan issues, they’re everyday concerns for South Texas families. We appreciate the Governor making South Texas a priority and being here to engage directly with our community.”
Representative Don McLaughlin also welcomed Abbott’s attention to regional needs: “I’m honored to welcome Governor Abbott to this roundtable and grateful for his willingness to bring statewide attention to the infrastructure, workforce, and economic development needs of this region. If we want to keep Texas strong, we have to keep Laredo growing — and that starts by recognizing the critical role it plays as a true economic powerhouse for our state.”
The discussion included participants such as Andrew Brittingham from Brittingham Construction and Development, Ramin Emami from RE Signature Homes, Rafael Gutierrez from FARO Wealth, Monica Martinez from Laredo Chamber of Commerce, Dennis Nixon from International Bank of Commerce, among others.
Afterwards, at a press conference alongside Judge Tijerina and Representative McLaughlin, Governor Abbott spoke about small business resilience across Southwest Texas. He pointed out that limited regulations have contributed to making Texas a model for national economic success. He also mentioned ongoing investments in workforce development through career and technical education.
Under Greg Abbott’s leadership since his election in 2014 (https://gov.texas.gov/), Texas has seen record job growth and employment levels (https://gov.texas.gov/). The governor’s office is based in Austin at the State Insurance Building (https://gov.texas.gov/) but provides services throughout Texas (https://gov.texas.gov/). The administration has prioritized job creation, expanding educational opportunities, protecting individual rights, supporting parental involvement in schools, and addressing border security (https://gov.texas.gov/). In 2024, TIME named Greg Abbott one of its 100 Most Influential People (https://gov.texas.gov/).
Additional photos from the event will be released when available.
