With Laughlin Air Force Base and its close proximity to Acuña, Mexico, Del Rio is a hub of economic activity in south Texas.

Laughlin Air Force Base

As the home of the 47th Flying Training Wing, Laughlin Air Force Base trains some of the best pilots in the world. With 165 buildings and three runways covering 4,500 acres of land, Laughlin is Del Rio’s premier employer. In fact, Laughlin directly employs more than 2,600 individuals and provides employment to about 1,400 other individuals indirectly. Cumulatively, these employees draw an annual payroll of about $96 million. Given Laughlin’s close proximity to Del Rio, Laughlin conveys an impressive economic impact to Del Rio and other nearby municipalities of approximately $217 million. 

Plaza Del Sol Mall

The Plaza Del Sol Mall boasts more than 50 stores including such well-known retailers as JCPenney’s, Bath & Body Works, and Rue21, to name a few. In addition to these retailers, Plaza Del Sol features the Cinemark Movies 8 movie theater and convenient dining establishments like Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill and Bar and International House of Pancakes. Plaza Del Sol suits any consumer’s needs with more than 1,200 parking spaces and a wide variety of retailers ranging from Hibbet’s Sporting Goods and Zales to Foot Locker and Claire’s.       

Maquiladoras' Impact on Del Rio

One of Del Rio’s prime economic strengths is its close location to Ciudad Acuña, Mexico, which is just six miles away. As businesses strive to remain competitive in the global economy, many of them see Mexico as a prime location for manufacturing because of its proximity to the continental United States and its less expensive market for labor. These businesses have established manufacturing plants throughout Mexico called maquiladoras, and they are especially located along the Mexican border with the United States.

Many businesses have chosen to establish maquiladoras in Acuña because of its market of available labor, its relatively stable local economy and its proximity to Del Rio, Texas. These maquiladoras in Acuña benefit Del Rio because businesses with maquiladoras in Acuña often use Del Rio as a site from which to supervise their maquiladora’s production. As more businesses shift their manufacturing to Acuña to become increasingly competitive in the global economy, Del Rio is likely to see a corresponding increase in the number of businesses that establish supervisory sites in Del Rio.