June 2009

MAYOR'S SUMMIT FOCUSES ON TALENT PROJECT

 

The 3^rd Mayor’s Economic Summit was held in the Civic-Convention Center Thursday, June 11.  Approximately 50 invitees  were in attendance.  Attendees included Chamber board members along with representatives of the city council, 4B board, EDF, NBU, Commissioners Court, Airport board, Downtown, and other stakeholder groups in local economic development efforts.Tom Stellman of TIP Strategies facilitated the session that focused on the results of the Talent Project, including an extensive community-wide survey.  The 2 hour session ended with a review of several strategic considerations with improving access to higher education the number one goal.  Also included were leveraging tourism marketing for talent attraction and establishing a young professionals organization. Attracting and retaining talent is a communitywide issue and needs a mechanism for implementing priority strategies over time according to the consultant.  Mayor Boyer announced he has already formed a Higher Education Task Force to possibly expand offerings locally, rebrand existing higher ed opportunities, and expand higher ed to downtown. 

 

THE TEXAS GREENBELT COALITION CONTINUES ORGANIZING

 

The Texas Greenbelt Coalition has continued to grow as an important Clean, Green Technologies Organization.  A partnership started in October 2008, around the membership of the Austin/San Antonio IH 35 Corridor Council boundaries, now boasts more than 175 people on its Linked In network.  The Coalition represents members of government, Chambers, utilities, businesses, education institutions, and non profit energy groups from north of Austin to San Antonio and east from Brenham to Johnson City.  A primary aim is to facilitate public and private alliances and partnerships to green businesses, in turn those businesses will provide green solutions to the residential and commercial consumers. At the last meeting held in New Braunfels on May 15, more than 30 attendees listened to an organizational presentation made by Kimo Storke, and Austin based business consultant.   A draft business plan was presented to the group and involved in the plan was 4 developmental “Work Teams” suggested.  The Coalition’s attendees reviewed the teams and chose one to work on to assist in the Coalition’s efforts to spread the work using the expertise of the volunteers.  A Steering Committee Work Team will assist the membership in the direction, growth, and ongoing mission of the coalition.  The Survey Work Team will survey the end user customers of the utilities in area communities to determine the ways energy providers can assist them in their use and conservation efforts.   The Solution Work Team will take the end results of the surveys and build solution oriented goals for the customers to meet their energy needs.  Finally, the Validation and Perception Work Team will be charged with sharing the vision, mission, and objectives of the Coalition and its stakeholders. The suggested mission of the Texas Greenbelt Coalition is to assist in the economic development of cities in Central Texas, utilizing the Green Energy movement to create jobs, companies and green solutions for residential and commercial customers.  As of June 9, 2009, the Austin/San Antonio Corridor Council has taken the Coalition under its organizational structure to assist in its development.  There is hope that the Council may recommend to their Board that the Coalition become a fully operational part of the Corridor Council.  For more information about the Texas Greenbelt Coalition call Rusty Brockman at 830-608-2811.

 

 

NEW BRAUNFELS OUTER LOOP TASK FORCE MET JUNE 15

 

The NBOL Task Force met for the third time on Mon. June 15, at the Civic Center in New Braunfels.  The meetings are being facilitated by J R Rivera & Associates from Austin.  They are an engineering firm working closely with the City, County, and TXDOT to create an unbiased study of the outer loop project and help convey that study to the community for consensus.   A project that has met with resistance from some citizens, will continue to be studied and evaluated till December 2009.  The Task  Force, made up of more than 40 members representing business, property owners, and governmental entities, will hear details about the first studies, concerns from the citizens, and then propose a process to present the findings to local City and County officials.  Citizens comments are part of every meeting and will be heard verbally and in writing by staff and Task Force members.  The public is invited to every meeting.  For more information please contact Yobana Diaz at 866-704-1114, info@nbolstudy.com, or web site at www.nbolstudy.com.

 

 

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