Governor Greg Abbott met with business owners in Laredo to discuss the Texas economy and the role of small businesses. The roundtable brought together local entrepreneurs, officials, and representatives from various sectors.
“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, 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 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.”
Participants included 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, along with other local leaders.
Afterward, a press conference was held where Governor Abbott praised small business owners’ resilience across Southwest Texas. He noted that Texas serves as a model for national economic success due to limited regulations and continued investment in career and technical education for its workforce.
The Office of Texas Governor Greg Abbott has contributed significantly to job growth in Texas; under his leadership since 2014, employment levels have reached record highs (https://gov.texas.gov/). The office is based in Austin at the State Insurance Building (https://gov.texas.gov/) and provides services throughout Texas (https://gov.texas.gov/). In addition to focusing on job creation and economic opportunities, it prioritizes education improvement, individual liberties protection, parental empowerment in schools, and border security (https://gov.texas.gov/). In 2024, TIME recognized Greg Abbott among its 100 Most Influential People (https://gov.texas.gov/).
Additional photos from the event will be made available later.
