Community Betterment | Convention & Visitors Bureau | Economic Development

Economic Indicators | Membership Services & Outreach | Public Policy

ISSUE: 25 JUNE 28, 2010

NB RIVERS OPEN AGAIN

Last Thursday marked the official opening of water recreation in New Braunfels city limit rivers with a "Jump In" media event at the old Camp Warnecke Chute on the Schlitterbahn property. The event was covered by multiple news outlets and carried out across the state due to the efforts of the local visitor industry and the Chamber C&VB. The post-flood marketing plan is well underway and citizens are urged to pitch in by posting positive pictures on New Braunfels on their Twitter or Face book pages. If you don't use these social mediums, send your pictures to the Chamber and we'll post it for you. New Braunfels is 100% back in business!

GALLUP INTO SEMINAR WEDNESDAY

Put the assets and information technology of the Gallup organization to work for your business this Wednesday. How? Attend the next NB Business University at the Civic/Convention Center entitled "The Emotional Economy," presented by Jeff Tobaben, the managing partner of Gallup's Texas operations. Learn what's most important to your employees and to your customers and how that translates into real profits for your business. You can register online at www.nbcham.org/seminar . For over 70 years Gallup has been measuring consumer trends around issues that include the economy.

CHAMBER EXECS CONVENE IN NACOGDOCHES

Chamber professionals from around the state convened in Texas oldest city, Nacogdoches, this past Sunday and Monday for the TCCE annual conference. New Braunfels hosted this event two years ago and last year Chamber President Michael Meek received the prestigious Marvin Hurley Award at the conclusion of the conference in Lubbock. Meek had the honor of bestowing the award to this year's recipient, Chuck Carpenter of Denton. Carpenter has been a Chamber executive in Denton for nearly 40 years.

2011 CVB BUDGET DELIVERED

With a unanimous recommendation from the C&VB Strategy and Steering Committee as well as the Chamber Board of Directors, the 2011 tourism marketing and promotions budget was delivered to the City Manager last Thursday. The Chamber's contract with the City now calls for the proposed budget to be delivered on or before June 30 http://www.nbcham.org each year for the next year. The Chamber is foregoing the opportunity for a mid-year adjustment caused by increased revenue in lieu of the June 9th flood and need to employ an emergency marketing campaign. Record room inventory as well as a strengthening economy and good water for the remainder of the summer should still make for a record year in room tax revenues.

The requested budget amount for 2011 is approximately 3.9% higher than estimated actuals for 2010. In-kind donations from the local visitor industry are expecting to top $107,000 toward the program in 2010 and exceed $189,999 in 2011. Supportive local and state public relations and marketing services for the C&VB emergency post-flood communications adds an additional $87,000. Approximately 23% of the proposed budget is dedicated to functions at the Civic/Convention Center.

COUNCIL CONVENES TONIGHT

The New Braunfels City Council will convene in special session at 4:00 pm and in regular session beginning at 6:00 pm this evening at 424 S. Castell Avenue. The meeting can also be viewed on Time Warner Cable Channel 21. Following citizens’ communications, Council will consider a nine-item consent agenda and twelve individual items for consideration including discussion and action on an amendment to the 2010 – 2011 CVB budget to increase marketing in response to the June 9 flood.

TUNE IN TO NEWBRAUNFELS.TV

The community's new web-based television channel debuted June 19 and another live program aired this past Saturday June 26 from 9:00 - 11:00 am on www.newbraunfels.tv . NewBraunfels.tv is a project of your Chamber in partnership with Tip Jar Productions and AMMO Advertising. Live chat is available during the show. Podcasts of the show are also available online. The on-demand information service gives citizens and potential visitors 24/7 access to all things New Braunfels. The web-based program will also drive traffic to the Chamber's website and give local businesses added exposure.

CREEKSIDE DEVELOPMENT GROWING

With the addition of Starplex Cinemas to the New Braunfels Town Center at Creekside that follows the announcement earlier this year that the Baptist Health Systems would be building on a 55 acre regional hospital, local development is doing well despite the national economy and weak credit markets. The developer of Creekside, Newquest Properties in cooperation with Lockard development, has 50 centers around the state and Southwest US and has over 13 million sq. ft. of building space leased. 86 leases have been signed this year to date and Newquest owns over 2,320 acres of property. The developer is currently working with the New Braunfels tax increment reinvestment zone district (commonly known as the TIRZ Board) to annex an additional 43 acres of land into the project that would include a Bucees.

TRUST SUPPORT GROUP GETTING ORGANIZED

Ever want to be a Baron or a Baroness? Well, so far 6 New Braunfelsers have answered the call for a new support group of the Braunfels Foundation Trust to be know as the Barons or Baroness' of the Trust. Living Legends Roxolin Krueger and Carroll Hoffmann along with Chamber President Michael Meek have been working with a dedicated group of citizens over the last several months to form the new group that will assist the Braunfels Foundation in their youth education program. The next event for the Trust is the six Living Legends of New Braunfels event, set for October 12 in the Civic/Convention Center. Be looking for the announcement of the latest "Living Legends" in August.

JULY 4TH HOLIDAY THIS WEEKEND

The community will celebrate the July 4th holiday weekend with the annual Sophienburg Museum July 4th Parade on Saturday downtown and a fireworks program in Landa Park on Sunday. Kudos to HEB for their participation in both the parade and their long standing commitment to the fireworks program. The Chamber main office will be closed on Monday, July 5 but the highway visitor center at IH-35 and Seguin Avenue will be open throughout the holiday weekend as well as Monday.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"By the time you get your shoulder to the wheel, your nose to the grindstone, and your ear to the ground, it's usually time for lunch."

Author unknown, Bits and Pieces on Leadership, June 2010

The Week Ahead:

Sunday - Monday:

TCCE - Nacogdoches

Monday:

6:00 pm - City Council

Tuesday:

11:00 am - BEDC Review - Austin

4:30 pm - Ribbon Cutting at New York Pizza Pub

Wednesday: