MAT-DynaCal Merger

I am pleased to announce DynaCal’s merger with Measurement Assurance Technology (MAT). MAT, headquartered in Carrollton (Dallas), Texas and has over 15 years experience in the Calibration, Repair and Sales of Test and Measurement Equipment business. In addition, MAT offers buying, selling, consignment programs, rental/leasing & financing of high-end test & measurement equipment to their customers world wide. MAT also offers support for a wide variety of manufacturers and models, covering a broad range of T&M equipment. This synergy provides a unique niche to the market - A2LA accredited calibration services support and T&M equipment acquisition and disposition. This total support package gives “one vendor-one support” a new meaning!

The company announced Friday, April 4, 2008, that it had made the merger with DynaCal, LLC, an A2LA Accredited calibration and service company, based in McAllen, TX and Reynosa, MX, to capitalize on its continued growth, seeing great opportunities with the Rio Grande Valley, providing MAT’s exclusive “One Stop, One Source, Your Solution ” philosophy to the growing number of Maquilas in the region. “With the increasing demand for on-time delivery of new product lines or changes to test setups, this merger has allowed for our customers to have worry-free retooling, virtually overnight”, states Cary Albert, the President of Measurement Assurance Technology. Mr. Albert re-iterated, “The resulting collaboration will include solutions for full service calibration support, asset management support, and acquisition and disposition of T&M equipment. We are the only place in the region whereby you can purchase re-furbished Test Equipment, with a Warranty, Sell your under-utilized equipment, Rent or Lease short-term needs, and Finance those needs with attractive terms, and; have a Full-Service A2LA Accredited Laboratory….all under one roof. We are extremely unique”. The combined company will operate under the name Measurement Assurance Technology and will be headquartered in Carrollton, Texas, with branches in McAllen, Texas and Reynosa, Mexico, and plans to expanding to Monterrey and Guadalajara.

Company Contact info: 2109 Luna Road : Suite 240 : Carrollton, TX 75006Phone: 972.241.2165 : Fax: 972.241.2167 : http://www.mattestusa.com/

McAllen's Economy Features Several Highlights

McAllen Continues to Rank Nationally

McAllen, TX is continuing to show strong activity at the economic level. McAllen’s business cycle index, a gauge of the region’s current economic conditions, rose 5.7% and employment increased 5.3% according to the latest statistics released by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. The increase is due to manufacturing, government and services in leisure and hospitality, and education and health. Another successful year-to-date is confirmed by the McAllen Economic Development Corporation with 6 companies committed, creating 1,105 jobs in our region. Through the Business Retention and Expansion Program, 230 new jobs were created bringing the total job creation count to 1,335.

Keith Patridge, President and CEO of McAllen Economic Development Corporation, comments, “We continue to have a strong economic activity level in our region which is evident in not only the committed companies, but also because around 50 companies have visited our region since the start of the year. McAllen continues to grow economically due to our low cost of living, career opportunities, and our strategic North American Location.”

Other economic indicators in McAllen are also not following the national trends. The housing market in McAllen recorded 184 homes purchased (Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas), and is the best on record for home sales in January. McAllen also ranked 97 out of 100 of the largest metropolitan areas in terms of foreclosures per total number of household (RealtyTrac). Another factor contributing to the economic activity level is McAllen’s low cost of living, ranked as the 5th lowest in the Nation in the latest ACCRA’s Cost of Living Index.

Patridge agrees, “With national rankings such as Forbes Magazine ranking McAllen as one of the Nation’s Best Cities for Jobs as a result of ranking 2nd in the Nation for Income Growth and 1st for Job Growth, we are looking for our region to continue to see steady long-term growth.”

Third International Bridge Will Help Economy

Bridge Will Bring New Business and More Jobs to Our Region

The Anzalduas International Bridge is set to open June 2009. This will be the third international bridge in the McAllen MSA to connect the United States with Mexico. This bridge will have two southbound and northbound lanes and a pedestrian crossing and will stretch 2.7 miles across the Rio Grande River. It will connect at a loop road to the Texas Farm-to-Market Roads 494 and 1016 near Granjeno and connect the South McAllen and Mission International trade areas to the west end of Reynosa where many maquiladoras and other cross-border businesses are located.

The Presidential permit for the bridge states that trucks can cross when northbound commercial trucks on the existing commercial crossing reach 15,000 weekly or the year 2015, whichever comes first. Support from cities, counties, Regional Mobility Authority (RMA), Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and economic development corporations is being solicited for the Free and Secure Trade (FAST) program to be operational at the bridge before the required weekly commercial truck crossing on the existing crossing occurs. The FAST program allows U.S. – Mexico partnering importers expedited release for qualifying commercial shipments, and if it is implemented then only trucks that are members of FAST will be allowed to use the bridge until the previous mentioned provisions are met. With the completion of the bridge, hundreds of jobs will be created and the bridge will help facilitate just-in-time delivery, allowing companies to keep inventory costs down, progress trade and it will be the most efficient way for business traffic from northern Mexico to reach the United States.

Keith Patridge, President and CEO of McAllen Economic Development Corporation, comments, “The March report states that the bridge is 34% complete, which is right on schedule.” Patridge continues, “We look forward to the completion of the bridge and once it is operational, it promises to offer a number of competitive advantages to companies looking to ship parts or finished goods internationally, with greater speed to market and a more efficient shipping route.”