2006 Year in Review

Civic Center Expansion Tops Year’s Achievements

Eight years in the making, when ground was finally broken on the New Braunfels Civic Center expansion and improvements project, Kongresshalle was born.  The $12 million project will give the New Braunfels community its first multi-use facility for community and visitor events. 

Mayor Boyer led a City Council-appointed Building Committee during the first half of the year and Boyer teamed with Chamber staff to raise private funds from local businesses and organizations for a limited number of naming rights sponsorships.  The C&VB donated $200,000 of its reserve funds as well.  Phase one is scheduled to open in the fall of 2007.

Local cement makers TXI and Cemex announced over $400 million in capital improvements projects in 2006.  These expansions allowed the city’s commercial and industrial building permits to double from the previous year.  Both companies have improved air quality equipment at their facilities and received accolades from the Alamo Area Council of Governments for their good citizenship.

Home Depot Supply merged with Hughes Supply of Houston late in the year, giving the community opportunities for increased sales tax revenues in 2007 and beyond.  Retail opportunities continued to expand and at press time the multi-million dollar Creekside Development Project was set to break ground.

Also, on the far north side of the city, the Texas General Land Office purchased nearly 2,000 acres on IH-35 for future development.  Koontz McCombs is underway on a distribution center project off Goodwin Lane that will add thousands of square feet to the community’s inventory and millions of dollars in new tax base.

Silver State Helicopters began instructional operations in the new air traffic control tower at the New Braunfels Municipal Airport, as well as plans for a fixed-base operation there.  The Economic Development Partnership of Central Texas unveiled their website and the three communities are working together to attract wealth to the area.

The year ended with sales tax revenues up 30% over 2005, room occupancy tax revenues up 10% for the second consecutive year, unemployment reached historic lows and residential home starts continued to set records.

Community Betterment

• 14^th LNB class graduates
• 15^th LNB class begun
• 9^th YLNB class graduates
• 10^th YLNB class selected
• Fall Shadow Day sets record for participation
• Teachers honored with appreciation cards and back to school program
• Over 35,000 PAC cards distributed to area students
• Braunfels Foundation honors twenty middle schoolers
• Airman of the Quarter receptions held with Randolph Air Force Base
• Wayfinding signage planning concludes with final recommendations to Council in January 2007
• Chamber staffs Guadalupe Basin Coalition
• Chamber receives state-wide award for education programs
• IH-35 construction updates sent regularly
• Air quality health alerts sent regularly

Membership Programs Grow

• Chamber membership tops 2,100 during 2006, an all time high
• Website adds interactive referrals
• Weekly “Inside the Chamber” show held on KGNB
• Weekly electronic E-newsletter “Serving You” created and distributed year long
• Member to Member E-discounts sent throughout the year
• Monthly business after hours “mixers” held
• Small Business Week held – Miles Granzin Small Business Person of the Year
• Passion for Service Seminar attracts over 200 participants
• Twelfth Operation Thank You distributes new directories
• “Did You Know?” campaign held year long with KGNB and New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung
• Blue Coats attend 91 functions
• Marian Benson Besserung Awardee

Public Policy

·        40^th TLC features AT&T CEO Ed Whiteacre as Texan of the Year

·        41^st conference selects Governor Rick Perry as Texan of the Year

·        All-member public policy E-surveys taken regularly

·        NBISD bond referendum backed

·        Chamber opposed county tax rollback

·        Chamber supports city in river behavior ordinances and River Activity Committee recommendations

·        Transportation Committee endorses road improvements

·        Natural Resources Committee active in water issues

·        Chamber staffs  Guadalupe Basin Coalition