Governor Greg Abbott met with business owners in Laredo to discuss the Texas economy and the impact of small businesses on the state’s growth. The roundtable included local leaders and representatives from companies such as Brittingham Construction and Development, RE Signature Homes, FARO Wealth, the Laredo Chamber of Commerce, and International Bank of 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 the Governor’s visit, stating: “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.”
The meeting was followed by a press conference where Governor Abbott praised small business owners’ resilience across Southwest Texas. He emphasized that Texas serves as a model for national economic success due to its limited regulations and continued investment in workforce development through career and technical education.
Governor Abbott has led the Office of Texas Governor since his election in 2014. Under his leadership, Texas has seen significant job growth and record employment levels (source). The office is based in Austin at the State Insurance Building (source) and provides services throughout Texas (source). In addition to focusing on job creation, economic opportunities, education improvement, protection of individual liberties, parental empowerment in schooling, and border security (source), Greg Abbott was recognized among TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in 2024 (source).
Additional photos from the roundtable event will be made available later.
