Townsend named MEDA President/CEO

Pat Townsend named MEDA President/CEO

MISSION – The Mission Economic Development Authority, Inc., Board of Directors recently named Pat Townsend Jr., to the position of MEDA President/CEO, at a regular board of directors meeting held in May. Chairman Charles Zey said, “We are very pleased to have named Townsend to the position of President/CEO. He has been doing a wonderful job since March when he was named interim.” While serving as interim, Townsend faced the task of making decisions that will have an impact for years to come while not knowing how long he would hold the position. “It was difficult as interim, to presume that you can set a vision for a board or an organization,” Townsend said. His primary duty was to fulfill the role until the board made the decision on a full time President/CEO. Townsend, a former Mission Mayor and City Manager, said he stepped down from the City Manager position to seek other opportunities and challenges. “It’s a much different job,” he said. “Working here at MEDA, I don’t get phone calls in the middle of the night because a water line is broken or someone complaining about the police not patrolling their neighborhood. I don’t have to supervise more than 400 employees. I sleep at night without thinking about those kinds of things.” However, after two months on the job, the former city manager seems to be fitting right into the pace of his new position. “Things have been very active in Mission,” Townsend explained. “We just keep growing and that’s good. In the industrial park area, MEDA is involved in sales and direct attraction of park tenants. People keep calling, and we work with them. “ Most recently, Mission created a stir when Texas Governor Rick Perry joined Mission Mayor Norberto “Beto” Salinas in announcing the location of T-Mobile into the Mission area. The call center will open a 75,000 square-foot operation in June. By the end of 2003, the company expects to have 600 employees working out of the Mission facility. “I have to give credit to the City of Mission for partnering with the City of McAllen and the McAllen Economic Development Corporation in this endeavor,” Townsend added. “The direct incentives granted to T-Mobile are being paid by both communities, including cash incentives for job training and finish out of the building.” The T-Mobile center will handle incoming customer service calls for current T-Mobile customers. Starting with a shell building T-Mobile added special flooring for wiring for cubicles to allow flexibility to add and move work stations as needed for the call center. Other improvements included lighting and air condition systems. T-Mobile will also invest $12 million in work stations and specific equipment for call center purposes. Townsend also pointed out the near completion of an expansion for VF Intimates, a specialty clothing company, a 126,000 square-foot distribution center, leading to an additional 300 jobs over the next five years. VF Intimates already has one 140,000 building in the Mission Industrial Park. According to Townsend, Rio Grande Snack Co. has not made an official announcement but has started work on expansion of an approximately 40,000 square-foot building addition for processing space. The company plans to invest approximately $22 million in construction and new processing equipment. This will result in at least 50 jobs. While relocations and expansions seem to dominate Townsend’s agenda, other projects are still in development. “We continue to work on securing a tenant for the Converse building,” he said. In addition, he said, “The City was directly responsible for the sale of 6.6 acres where the old Fontana Hotel was located. The Fontana had a long history, and unfortunately, it sank into disrepair and had to be torn down. But I think it will become a vibrant commercial location for Mission.” The hotel was taken over by area taxing entities after back taxes were not paid. After years of neglect, the building was demolished by the city. However, the property was put up for bids. Surprisingly, the $550,000 minimum was exceeded, bringing in over $800,000 and landing back on the active tax rolls. According to Townsend, another potential redevelopment of a long vacant property, the former M Rivas Food Store, may soon come to fruition. The property, located at the prime commercial location of Expressway 83 and Conway Avenue, was recently sold. Townsend expects the new owners to soon announce plans for either a remodeling or new construction. “Mission is growing at a tremendous pace,” Townsend noted. “MEDA will continue working with companies and other entities to locate and expand here.” For information on available industrial and/or commercial property in the Mission Expressway Business Park, contact Townsend at (956) 585-0040.

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