Governor Greg Abbott met with South Texas business owners in Laredo to discuss the state’s economic outlook and the role of small businesses. The roundtable included participants from various sectors, such as construction, real estate, finance, and local commerce.
“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 Governor Abbott’s visit: “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 presence at the event: “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.”
Attendees included Andrew Brittingham of Brittingham Construction and Development, Ramin Emami of RE Signature Homes, Rafael Gutierrez from FARO Wealth, Monica Martinez from Laredo Chamber of Commerce, Dennis Nixon from International Bank of Commerce, along with other local officials.
Afterward, Governor Abbott held a press conference alongside Judge Tijerina and Representative McLaughlin where he emphasized small business resilience across Southwest Texas. He described Texas as a model for national economic achievement due in part to limited regulations and continued investment in workforce education.
The Office of Texas Governor Greg Abbott has contributed significantly toward job growth in Texas leading up to record employment levels (https://gov.texas.gov/). Since taking office after his election in 2014 (https://gov.texas.gov/), Greg Abbott has led efforts focused on job creation, expanding economic opportunities, enhancing education systems—including career training—and protecting individual liberties (https://gov.texas.gov/). The governor’s office operates statewide out of its primary location at Austin’s State Insurance Building (https://gov.texas.gov/) while maintaining authority across all regions.
Governor Abbott was named among TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in 2024 (https://gov.texas.gov/).
Additional photos from both events will be provided when available.
