When it comes to business and business opportunities, the city of Brownsville in Texas is a mass of conflicting information. While the city has enough potential to house literally any type of business or industry successfully, from factories which process thermal insulation materials to major shipping companies, the population itself is amongst the most impoverished in the entire United States of America. In this article, we are going to take a look at the great potential that Brownsville has as a business center.

First, let's take a look at some of the unfortunate facts about the city of Brownsville. Chief among these, as we have already mentioned, is the standard of living experienced by many in the city. A full 36% of the population of Brownsville lived below the poverty line according to the 2000 American census. Further, only just over half of residents in the city have obtained a high school degree. A front license plate bracket may frame Texas plates, but you will find that a quarter of the population of Brownsville were born in another country, most of them in Mexico.

The reason for Brownsville's relative poverty may also be the means of its salvation, from a business perspective. The city sits right on the border between the United States and Mexico, making it an ideal location for companies interested in taking advantage of the huge Mexican market and the North American Free Trade agreement. One can't really argue that a dedicated industrialist could not easily operate a healthy plant in or near the city; transportation is quick and easy, with labor costs for operating everything from a process calibrator to heavy machinery much lower than that found elsewhere.

Road shipments aren't the only means of transportation across the border, either. The Port of Brownsville is the most important business and industrial region of the city. There are over 220 companies doing business currently at the Port, which include those servicing the oil industry, storage, and agriculture. In one lot you will find a business septic truck parked, in the next an offshore drilling rig will lie dismantled.

Brownsville also offers a couple of different opportunities for those who want to pursue local upper education. There are two university level campuses in the city, one for Texas University and the other for Texas Southmost College.

Finally, a lot of the potential in Brownsville lies in its environmental advantages. Although it is not as well known as various Florida cities, Brownsville is in fact every bit as tropical in temperature and makeup as Fort Lauderdale and even Miami. Forget the spa package Massachusetts plan; why not set up shop in an overlooked market such as Brownsville instead?

In short, while Brownsville has a lot going as far as location and climate (as well as a large population) the business world has yet to take full advantage of what the city has to offer. Any city this size has its share of businesses which cater to the general public, but Brownsville has enough advantages to attract a lot more.