ED-Central
The Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) Economic Development Program provides technical assistance to communities across Texas seeking to advance their economic development initiatives. The program provides a wide range of assistance services, from projecting the economic impact of a new special events center or fairgrounds to devising a community economic development strategy, or supporting the creation of strategies to overcome the loss of a major employer. In this issue of ED-Central, we feature brief reports on four such projects in hopes of inspiring other communities to come forward with their technical assistance needs. Please contact us at info@ed-central.com if we can be of assistance.

In This Issue

Bastrop, TX - Convention/Civic Center Feasibility Study
With plans in mind for a new convention and civic center, Bastrop sought to quantify the potential economic impact of the proposed new facility.


Vernon, TX - Community and Economic Development Planning
With a rich ranching heritage, abundant assets and strong desire to create jobs while preserving their small-town quality of life, Vernon looked to TEEX Economic Development for support in developing their community and economic development plan.


Beeville, TX - Chase Field Industrial Complex Market Study and Plan
With a former naval air station and a new major employer, Bee Development Authority is poised for growth but needed to evaluate opportunities based on a sound review of both its facilities and opportunities in the aviation marketplace. TEEX Economic Development partnered with other resource with the Texas A&M System to provide an evaluation of opportunities at Chase Field and a plan for pursing them.


Tyler, TX - Job Recovery Strategy
When Tyler's Goodyear tire production plan announced plans to shut down tire production, the community faced a dramatic loss in high paying jobs. Together with TEEX Economic Development, Tyler EDC prepared a proposal to the Economic Development Administration to develop a job recovery strategy.

Bastrop, TX - Convention/Civic Center Feasibility Study

City leaders of Bastrop, TX are working hard to continue the growth and development of Bastrop and particularly their Historic Main Street District which is the heart of the historic town. They believe local demand for a new meeting facility, combined with the economic impact created by visitors using a new convention center, will greatly enhance the quality of life and economic fortunes of their downtown businesses.

The Bastrop Convention/Civic Center Feasibility Study & Economic Impact Analysis performed by TEEX is part of the community’s due diligence toward securing funding for construction of the new center. With this study, TEEX identified industry performance and utilization standards for similar facilities in similar Texas markets; created five year usage projections based on the local and regional demand for the facility; identified and detailed the elements of a robust and successful marketing plan for similar facilities in similar markets; and developed the expected economic impact the facility will have on the Bastrop economy. The report showed that Bastrop could expect an annual economic impact of four to eight million dollars, depending on how the facility is marketed and what percentage of events cater to out of town visitors..



Vernon, TX - Community and Economic Development Planning

A small town of about 11,000 located in North Central Texas, Vernon has a rich ranching heritage but like many rural Texas communities they are looking for ways to grow their economy. Home to such assets as the Waggoner Ranch, the largest single fenced ranch in the world, Vernon is eager to preserve their heritage while working to create more jobs for their citizens and a better workforce for their businesses.

The TEEX Community and Economic Development Planning project will help Vernon focus their ideas and desires into a tangible list of "Best Development Opportunities" for economic, community and tourism prosperity. This project will also serve to educate Vernon’s elected leadership about emerging trends and opportunities in economic and tourism development and rally the leadership around a united vision for enhancing prosperity in Vernon.



Beeville, TX - Chase Field Industrial Complex Market Study and Plan

The Bee Development Authority (BDA) recently received a $400,000 grant from the Texas Military Preparedness Commission that will help revitalize Chase Field Industrial Park and support 60 new jobs for Beeville and the surrounding area.

The grant application was submitted by BDA at the recommendation of the Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) as part of its ongoing Chase Field Industrial Complex Market Study and Plan. The study will identify potential business expansion and attraction opportunities for the former military facility which was decommissioned in 1991. When researching Chase Field development opportunities, TEEX identified the $5 million Texas Legislative appropriation to fund Defense Economic Adjustment Assistance grants for communities with closed or realigned military bases.

TEEX is currently working with BDA to conduct market study and devise a plan of action for expanding aviation-based industry at the facility. TEEX partnered with its sister agency, the Texas Engineering Experiment Station (TEES), to complete the project and provide the best possible plan and opportunities. Together, TEEX and TEES have helped to secure grant funding for Chase Field and identified prospect businesses that are now considering a move to the community.



Tyler, TX - Job Recovery Strategy

Between July 1, 2007 and February 2008, the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company plant in Tyler, TX shut down tire production and eliminated more than 1,100 high paying jobs. In an attempt to counteract the potentially devastating economic impact to Tyler and Smith County, Tyler Economic Development Council (Tyler EDC) have partnered with TEEX and the East Texas Council of Governments (ETCOG) to develop a Goodyear Plant Redevelopment and Job Recovery Strategy. The strategy seeks to identify best opportunities for redevelopment of the Goodyear facility and create strategies for replacing the 1,100 high-paying jobs that will be lost as a result of the plant closure.

As part of this project, TEEX will identify and assemble local and regional representatives from private industry, academia and government and engage the group in a strategy planning process aimed at documenting development alternatives and identifying potential collaborations. Through an assessment of the existing Goodyear facility and evaluation of emerging market opportunities within the region, as well as a survey of prospect companies, TEEX will identify opportunities for development and/or redevelopment of both facilities and workforce.