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Strategic Partnership Seeks to Close the Digital Divide in Brownsville

Community-wide survey kicks off campaign to help identify connectivity needs

August 26, 2020 (Brownsville, TX) –The City of Brownsville, in partnership with seven strategic local stakeholders including the Port of Brownsville, Brownsville Public Utilities Board, Texas Southmost College, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Greater Brownsville Incentives Cooperation, Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation and the Brownsville Independent School District announces a new campaign to help bring faster internet and better internet access to online Brownsville citizens.

2020 Notice of Tax Rates in Brownsville Navigation District

This notice concerns the 2020 property tax rates for the Brownsville Navigation District. This notice provides information about two tax rates used in adopting the current tax year’s tax rate. The no-new-revenue tax rate would Impose the same amount of taxes as last year if you compare properties taxed in both years. In most cases, the voter-approval tax rate is the highest tax rate a taxing unit can adopt without holding an election. In each case, these rates are calculated by dividing the total amount of taxes by the current taxable value with adjustments as required by state law. The rates are given per $100 of property value.

2020 BND NOTICE OF TAX RATES

Construction Begins for South Port Connector Road

Brownsville, Texas – August 10, 2020 – Construction for the South Port Connector Road began today, August 10, 2020, a critical project aimed at improving urban traffic and access to the Port of Brownsville.

The $25.6 million project is made possible by a partnership of the Brownsville Navigation District (BND), Cameron County, the Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority (CCRMA), the Rio Grande Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization (RGVMPO) and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). The port connector is the first phase of CCRMA’s larger East Loop Corridor construction project.

“The Port of Brownsville’s steady growth in cargo movement and overall activity makes the south port connector road critical to the region’s future success in domestic and international trade,” said John Reed, BND Chairman. “The excellent partnership forged wit

Court Dismisses Lawsuit by City of Port Isabel Against Port of Brownsville Over LNG Leases

Brownsville, Texas – August 7, 2020 – On Aug. 5^th, a state district court dismissed a lawsuit against the Port of Brownsville by the City of Port Isabel related to land leases to three proposed LNG facilities at the port.

“The Port of Brownsville remains dedicated to creating a safe, secure and sustainable center for international trade that supports our growing communities and safeguards the local environment,” said Port of Brownsville Port Director and CEO Eduardo A. Campirano. “The court’s decision allows us to strengthen our focus on driving new job opportunities and significant economic progress for the Rio Grande Valley.”

The proposed projects by Annova LNG Brownsville, Rio Grande LNG LLC, and Texas LNG Brownsville LLC, represent a combined investment of more than $30 billion in Cameron County. Each of the projects successfully comple

Port Directory Feature: Trade with Mexico

The Port of Brownsville’s proximity to Mexico, Latin America’s second-largest economy, uniquely positions the port as the nation’s key transshipment gateway delivering goods and commodities to nearby multinational manufacturing centers on both sides of the border.

Ranking among the top U.S. steel ports, the Port of Brownsville moves more steel into Mexico than any other domestic competitor. In 2019, the port moved 3.2 million short tons of steel across the southern border.

Nearby Monterrey is a major industrial center in northern Mexico with a metropolitan population of nearly five million and home to dozens of commonly recognized international corporations. Monterrey is located 200 miles due west from the Port of Brownsville, where steel makers have come to rely upon the logistical efficiencies provided

Growing Forward: Establishing Financial Excellence

Editor’s Note: This article is featured in the new edition of the Port of Brownsville Directory.

With operating revenue records in five of the last six years, it’s now more likely and achievable for the Port of Brownsville to make significantly large infrastructure investments – even during trying fiscal decelerations.

Growing the port has never been more important. Doing it with thoughtful and strategic planning is a deliberate path forward set by the Brownsville Navigation District Commission to protect the interests of port tenants and users, constituents and port assets. To grow requires reliable and recurring revenue. It takes money and planning.

In FY 2019, the port set

Port of Brownsville Honors 32 High School Graduates with $1,000 Scholarships

Port Launches Scholarship Program to Help Deserving Students and Families Across the Greater Brownsville Area

BROWNSVILLE, Texas, May 28, 2020 – Thirty-two local high school graduating seniors will receive $1,000 scholarships from the Brownsville Navigation District in an inaugural Port of Brownsville program to help deserving students pursue their education and career dreams.

“On behalf of the entire Port of Brownsville organization, we are proud to support these local students and families at this time,” said John Reed, Chairman of the Brownsville Navigation District. “We are excited for the students as they continue their education and begin their careers, and in the future opportunities they are creating for themselves, their families and our communities.”

The 32 scholarship winners – selected for their acade

When the Bell Rings: Honoring U.S. Merchant Mariners

By John Reed/Brownsville Navigation District Chairman

This Memorial Day, as we rightfully honor the military men and women who gave their lives winning and protecting our freedoms, let us not forget an often-overlooked remembrance for the thousands of U.S. merchant mariners who also died serving our country in their own selfless ways.

In 1933, by a joint Resolution of Congress and by Proclamation of the President of the United States, May 22 was set aside as National Maritime Day to honor the sacrifices of U.S. merchant mariners during wartime and in peace. Since the founding of our country, thousands of men and women aboard American-flagged merchant ships have supplied the needs of our troops around the world, often becoming a tragic casualty of war themselves. During World War I and II, more than 8,600 merchant mariners perished – the highest rate of c

Port of Brownsville Excels Amid Challenging World Markets

Prudent Stewardship Allows Brownsville to Weather Economic Uncertainty While Remaining Competitive for Continued Job Creation and Development

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – May 15, 2020 – The Port of Brownsville ranks third among U.S. ports for “strong financial resilience” surveyed in a new report issued by Moody’s Investor Services, underscoring the ongoing value of the port’s prudent financial stewardship in light of economic impacts from the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic.

Moody’s analysis evaluated American ports on a range of key factors surrounding financial responsibility like the ability to handle the impact of a significant decline in cargo volume, financial liquidity

Crowds gather to kick off the celebration of the opening of the Port of Brownsville on May 16, 1936. When the two-day festivities came to a close the port that works was officially open for business.

On May 16, 2020, the Port of Brownsville observes its 84^th anniversary.

Opened in 1936 to the excitement of thousands of local residents, the Port of Brownsville signified a new hope for economic prosperity in the Rio Grande Valley region.

Thanks in part to the vision and commitment of Louis Cobolini, an Italian immigrant who set his sights on the

Port of Brownsville’s Foreign Trade Zone Drives Record-Setting $9 Billion of Combined Import and Export Value

FTZ No. 62 continues to power economic progress in the Rio Grande Valley and bring value to the Port of Brownsville

BROWNSVILLE, Texas (May 5, 2020) — Foreign Trade Zone No. 62 at the Port of Brownsville reported a record-setting $8.9 billion in the combined value of exports and imports for 2019.
The total value of export shipments through FTZ No. 62 reached $4.3 billion in 2019, an increase from $3.8 billion the year before. In turn, the FTZ received $4.6 billion in imports. These numbers, the highest in the zone’s history, saw products in the petroleum industry and shipbuilding equipment bring the most value, supported by the steady transport of steel, aluminum and wind energy products.

With domestic exports and foreign imports valued in the billions, FTZ No. 62 continues to be a positive economic driver for communities throughout the R

Commemorating the Fifth Annual Western Hemisphere Ports Day

BY JOHN REED, CHAIRMAN, BROWNSVILLE NAVIGATION DISTRICT

April 5^th marks the fifth annual Western Hemisphere Ports Day, which recognizes the port industry’s key role in creating logistics and manufacturing jobs and propelling the economy in nations they serve across the Americas. Usually, this date marks celebrations across a number of coastlines showcasing all the great work people in our industry are doing, but we are well aware these are not normal times. Rather than stopping to celebrate, the Port of Brownsville is working hard to maintain safe and responsible essential operations. This work supports local, regional and national priorities while ensuring we continue to be an economic engine for the Rio Grande Valley (RGV), helping provide essential goods and services to power our local economy.

While the current crisis is unprecedented, ch

COVID-19 Update – Port of Brownsville Remains in Service

Dear Colleagues and Business Partners,

In recent weeks, governments at the local, state and federal level have taken specific actions to curb and limit the spread of COVID-19. As of today, more than 100 million Americans have been ordered to stay home to protect public health. At the same time, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) issued guidance on Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers during the COVID-19 pandemic – which specifies trade, transport and logistics as essential industries.

The Port of Brownsville, and especially the Brownsville Navigation District, accepts its responsibility and recognizes the importance of our port remaining operational to support national, regional and local priorities during this difficult time.

The safety and well-being of our people is our top priority. Given the evolving

Brownsville Navigation District Defers Elections to Safeguard Community Against Coronavirus

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – March 27, 2020 – In a special telephonic public meeting today, the Brownsville Navigation District (BND) unanimously approved the deferral of the previously scheduled May 2^nd commission elections until November 3^rd – coinciding with other local, state and federal elections – as a further step to safeguard the community from the potential spread of the coronavirus. The deferral will safeguard poll volunteers and the voting public, and is pursuant to a proclamation of the Governor of Texas and a related advisory issued by the Texas Secretary of State.

Today’s meeting was recorded and audio from the meeting will be available starting tomorrow at Read More

Brownsville Navigation District Considers Postponing May 2nd Election to Safeguard Community Against Coronavirus

Special Telephonic Meeting Scheduled for 12 p.m. Friday, March 27

BROWNSVILLE, Texas — Tuesday, March 24, 2020 —The Brownsville Navigation District (BND) will consider postponing the scheduled May 2nd commission elections until November as a further step to safeguard the community from the potential spread of the coronavirus and pursuant to a proclamation of the Governor of Texas and a related advisory issued by the Texas Secretary of State.

If approved by the BND, the commission elections will be conducted on Tuesday, November 3 with other local, state and federal elections.

The postponement will be considered at a special meeting of the BND on Friday, March 27 at 12 p.m. Given the recommended restrictions on public gatherings, the meeting will be conducted by telephone conference call that is open to the public. Anyone wishing to participate in th