Mercedes is located in the center of the Rio Grande Valley and is 4 miles from the Progreso International Bridge. This proximity to an international port of entry in conjunction with air, rail, and freight services places Mercedes in a strategic crossroads of international trade and commerce. This unique location enhances Mercedes’ appeal to manufacturing industries, suppliers, tourists, retail centers, and many more industries.
Mercedes is positioned along the I-2 (U.S. Expressway 83), a six-lane divided highway that runs East to West through the Rio Grande Valley. The I-2 runs between I-69C (US Highway 281) and I-69E (US Highway 77), providing easy access to the rest of the United States. The I-69 creates an additional route from Mexico to Canada, significantly improving national and international trade.
Mercedes is in a distinctive location that offers direct access to 9 international bridges. The proximity to these bridges is extremely beneficial to businesses involved with the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). These international bridges range in distance from 4 to 39 miles and are the Progreso, Veterans, B&M, Gateway, Anzalduas,Los Indios, Pharr/Reynosa, McAllen/Hidalgo, and Donna International Bridges. Of these the Pharr/Reynosa and Los Indios International Bridges were built with the intent of allowing more free flowing commercial traffic.
Railroad services are provided by Rio Valley Switching Company. Rio Valley Switching Company services the entire Rio Grande Valley and is partnered with Union Pacific Railroad to maintain daily freight services. It provides freight services necessary to transport equipment and merchandise throughout the United States.
There are 3 international airports geared towards passenger and cargo aviation serving the greater Mercedes area. These airports provide access to most major airports in the United States via United Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, Sun Country Airlines and Allegiant Airlines. Cargo services are available through, UPS, FedEx, DHL, United Cargo and Southwest Cargo.
The nearest seaport to Mercedes is the Port of Brownsville, which is 38 miles away providing a 42 foot deep channel. At the Port of Brownsville, the land transportation of Mexico is linked with the Inland Waterway System of the United States thereby providing an efficient form of transportation to facilitate the international movement of goods between Mexico and the United States.
The greater Mercedes area has bus lines serving local, national, and international bus travel needs. Greyhound bus lines and Valley Transit Company have daily destinations throughout the Rio Grande Valley, Texas, United States, and International destinations in Mexico. Autobuses Adame provides daily bus service throughout central Texas, eastern United States, and Mexico. Tornado bus line provides daily bus services to central Texas, the eastern United States, and Mexico. Rio Metro bus lines provide daily local transportation for intercity and Rio Grande Valley areas. International bus service is provided via McAllen Central Station.
Texas offers favorable tax rates as it was ranked second in the nation to have the lowest per capita state tax. Texas does not levy corporate income taxes and is one of the few states in the United States that follows this practice. This pro-business philosophy is shared by the City of Mercedes and the Development Corporation of Mercedes who are ready to assist businesses wishing to locate in the area.
| Property Tax Rate per $100 Valuation | |
|---|---|
| City of Mercedes | 0.8700 |
| Hidlago County | 0.5900 |
| Mercedes ISD | 1.6000 |
| South Texas ISD | 0.0392 |
| Drainage District #1 | 0.0435 |
| South Texas College | 0.1589 |
| State Taxes | |
|---|---|
| State Franchise | 4.25% |
| State Corporate Income | 0.00% |
| Personal Income | 0.00% |
| Corporate Income | 0.00% |
| Ad Valorem | 0.00% |
| Service | Description | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Water | Source: Rio Grande River and Reserve WellMaximum daily capacity: 3.5 MGD Maximum daily use: 2.8 MGD Size of mains: 10 – 12 inch mains Pressure of mains: 55-60 psig |
City of Mercedes Public Works (956) 565-6147 |
| Sewer | Type of treatment plant: Oxidation Ditch Maximum capacity: 2.3 MGD Present load: 1.1 MGD Size of mains: 10 – 24 inch mains |
City of Mercedes Public Works (956) 565-6147 |
| Electrical | Single and 3 Phase from 120/240 to 130,000 volts | www.powertochoose.com |
| Telecommunications | Local Dial Service ISDN & High Speed Internet (DSL) Direct Long Distance Dialing Digital Service Availability Fiber Optics |
AT&T (877) 438-0041 Time Warner Cable (855) 591-3880 |
| Natural Gas | Transmission line service area: 12 inches @ 500psi Average BTU per cubic foot: 1,000 BTU/CF Distribution in pressure: 45psi |
Southern Union Gas (800) 700-2089 |
| Solid Waste Disposal | Provided by a private contractor once a week | Waste Management (956) 383-0519 |
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