Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas Invests in $80 Million Industrial Park in Monclova, Coahuila, Mexico
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2024
The Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas announced on Wednesday, May 29, 2024 that the Eagle Pass, Texas-based tribe was investing in an $80 million industrial park in partnership with Grupo Industrial de Monclova, S. A. (GIMSA) in the City of Monclova, Coahuila, Mexico, featuring an automotive parts manufacturing plant and a modern automotive industrial park that will employ up to 5,000 people in the central region of the State of Coahuila, who has hit hard times due to mismanagement of its former Altos Hornos de Mexico (AHMSA) steel production plants.
The State of Coahuila, Mexico Governor Manolo Jimenez Salinas attended the signing ceremony and press conference together with Gerardo Benavides Pape of GIMSA and the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas Tribal Council held on May 29, 2024 at the Lucky Eagle Casino and Hotel Resort in Eagle Pass, Texas.
Initially, the Kickapoo Tribe was seeking to invest in the financially distressed steel production company of AHMSA, but the Kickapoo Tribe with the assistance of newly-elected State of Coahuila Governor Manolo Jimenez Salinas partnered with Grupo GIMSA to develop this new automotive industrial park and inaugurate the park with a new automotive parts manufacturing company to bring new jobs to the once steel capitol of Mexico, Monclova, Coahuila.
The State of Coahuila and the Union of Business Association of Monclova, Coahuila are retooling the large workforce of this industrial community from its once proud steel manufacturing into a high-tech automotive manufacturing industry to revive the sagging economy of the City of Monclova. The goal is to attract satellite automotive manufacturing companies to Monclova, Coahuila which is strategically located close to the United States-Mexico border with Eagle Pass, Texas.
Also present at the investment signing ceremony was Eagle Pass, Texas Mayor Rolando Salinas, Jr. and City Manager Homero Balderas.
The Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas is unique in that its tribal members enjoy dual citizenship in the United States and Mexico, including its tribal religious ceremonial reservation in Nacimiento, Coahuila and its U.S.-based reservation in Eagle Pass, Texas, which has the only legal casino in the State of Texas.
Previously, the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas has invested in other businesses in the State of Coahuila, including a radio station, and recently purchased the stadium naming rights of the Monclova Acereros Triple AAA Mexican Baseball League team.
Governor Manolo Jimenez Salinas commended the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas for their significant investment in the State of Coahuila and their trust in the industrious people of Monclova, Coahuila for making this joint partnership a success in the transformation of the economy of the City of Monclova as well as the State of Coahuila.
Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas Tribal Council Chairman Estavio Elizondo, Sr. stated the tribe looks forward to working with Grupo GIMSA and the State of Coahuila in making this investment beneficial for all parties and bring in a new industry and employment to the people of Monclova, Coahuila.
