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ALL EYES ON NB FOR CONFERENCE
The 44th annual Texas Legislative Conference is less than two weeks away, with the Texan of the Year Reception set for Thursday evening, March 18. The half-day conference on Friday, March 19 will feature a “roast” of Conference Chair, Representative Edmund Kuempel. The KGNB Comment Show last Saturday and Sunday featured the conference with guests Chamber President and Conference Program Director Michael Meek, Representative Kuempel, Arrangements Chair Carter Casteel, and panel moderator, economist Ray Perryman. Tickets are available online at www.txlegislativeconference.com . New Braunfels residents have a unique opportunity to stay close to home and see what has been voted the best of its kind in the state each year on legislative issues.
JOB PROSPECT ACTIVITY REVIEWED
BUILD NB staff at the Chamber briefed the Advisory Team last Friday on current economic development leads and prospects. Thirteen different opportunities were reviewed including downtown hotel prospects, a data center, two pharmaceutical operations, local business expansions, six new leads from the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, a major distribution center, Caterpillar suppliers, medical service expansion opportunities, and more. The January unemployment figures were up due to post holiday lay offs and lower temporary employment. The City of New Braunfels remains much lower than the San Antonio Metro, State of Texas, and national unemployment rates.
AND THE SURVEY SAYS
The Chamber’s National Government Affairs Subcommittee has a federal issues survey out and will send out a follow up this week. This one-question survey takes only seconds to complete so please let the Chamber’s Public Policy Division know what issues you would like them to focus on in 2010. In addition, the Chamber’s Local/State Government Affairs Subcommittee will be sending out a short survey on the proposed Comal County Justice Center soon. Voters county wide will decide the future of this project May 8 at the polls. The Chamber Board meeting March 15 will focus on government affairs with presentations from Legislative Conference leaders Representative Edmund Kuempel and Carter Casteel as well as Chamber Government Affairs Committee Chair Mark Hampton. Hampton’s committee will reconvene next on March 10.
COUNCIL CONVENES TONIGHT
The New Braunfels City Council will convene in regular session this evening beginning at 6:00 pm at 424 S. Castell Avenue. The meeting can also be viewed on Time Warner Cable Channel 21. Following a ten-item consent agenda that includes the second and final reading of an ordinance amending the Civic Center rental rates, Police Chief Ron Everett will make a presentation on youth curfews and Assistant City Manager Robert Camareno will give a presentation on the 2010 Census. Council will then consider six individual items for action including giving staff possible direction on prohibiting future short term rentals in residentially zoned areas. Council will also consider adopting on second reading the Downtown Development Board, including by-laws for that group. Over forty-two applications have already been submitted for the seventeen seat board.
LINKS FROM TOURISM TO BUSINESS LOCATION
At a recent Destination Marketing Conference in Washington, D. C., CVB Director Judy Young brought back information regarding the links from tourism to business development. The recently completed Talent Project has established the fact that people now move to where they want to live before looking for a job. Destination Marketing organizations are the keeper of the brand of a community. Thus, tourism is economic development. As speaker Bill Peeper said, “Build a place people want to visit, and you’ll build a place where people want to live. Build a place where people want to live, and you’ll build a place where people want to work. Build a place where people want to work, and you’ll build a place where business has to be.”
CURRENT WATER LEVELS BODE WELL FOR SEASON
The Chamber’s Water Strategies Task Force, chaired by County Judge Danny Scheel, met last week and reviewed the current level of the Canyon Reservoir and current and future release rates. El Nino weather over the last couple of months has set the stage for good flows in the Guadalupe River from the dam through New Braunfels. The Comal Springs is charged above average for this time of year as well. Looks like the makings of a great summer water recreation season!
CVB SUPPORTING EXTREMITY GAMES
The Texas Ski Ranch in New Braunfels will be the location for the June 18 – 19, 2010 Extremity Games. This is an extreme sports event for people living with limb loss and limb difference. The event will also welcome members of the Wounded Warrior Disabled Sports Project, where recovering wounded warriors can not only compete in extreme sports, but also educate themselves on sports that the have never before tried. Extremity Games is organized by Athletes for Disabilities Network, a subsidiary of Easter Seals. For more information go to www.extremitygames.com or call 248-475-3623.
4B BOARD MEETS THURSDAY
The New Braunfels Industrial Development Corporation (4B Board) will meet this Thursday at 6:30 pm at the Municipal Building Room B. Two items on the agenda of interest include a presentation by the Center for Entrepreneurship Board on their future plans and needs. In addition, the Central Texas Technology Center Advisory Board will be on hand to ask for support for an update to the Clarus Study. That study in 2001 chronicled the higher education needs for the community that led to the building of the CTTC. Before the building can be expanded and federal funding acquired, an update of the study is needed. Stay tuned.
NOMINATE SB PERSON OF THE YEAR
Small business person of the year nominations are due Friday, March 19. Selection is based on a business person’s successful operation of a company and evidence of significant contributions to the community. The nomination form is available at http://www.nbcham.org/smallbusiness or by calling 830-625-2385. 2009 Small Business Person of the Year John Guenzel will be the guest of the Inside the Chamber Show this Wednesday. The show airs from 12:30 – 1:00 pm on KGNB 1420.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored."
Aldous Huxley, Bits and Pieces on Leadership March 2010
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