Community Betterment | Convention & Visitors Bureau | Economic Development

Economic Indicators | Membership Services & Outreach | Public Policy

ISSUE: 29 JULY 26, 2010

SECOND HEB OPENS FRIDAY

The community's second HEB grocery store will open this Friday, July 30 at the WestPointe Village Shopping Center at the intersection of Hwy 46 and Loop 337. Phase one of the center is 90% pre-leased according to Wade McGinnis of Barshop & Oles at last week's Economic Development Foundation quarterly Board and membership luncheon. HEB officials at the same meeting announced that the Braunfels Foundation Trust would be one of three local non-profits to receive a cash gift at the grand opening. A preview party will be held on Thursday, July 29 for invited guests. Congratulations, HEB!

TRUST SUPPORT GROUP GETTING "ROYAL" TREATMENT

The first-ever support group for the Braunfels Foundation Trust is taking shape. The Barons and Baroness' of the Trust has been organized by New Braunfels "Living Legends" Roxolin Krueger and Carroll Hoffmann along with Chamber President Michael Meek. The group will be limited to 100 members and will help the Trust in their annual programming and fundraising activities. The group has formed eight committees and will be recognized at the 6th Living Legends of New Braunfels event set for October 12, 2010 at the New Braunfels Civic-Convention Center. The group's first "mixer" will be held at the McKenna Events Center September 9.

GET "EXPOSED" ON SERVING YOU

Did you know that you can be a sponsor of the Chamber's weekly e-newsletter and have your business logo linked to your website or special publication? Serving You is emailed to over 1,700 members weekly and previous issues are archived for six months at www.nbcham.org . Your advertisement will be featured over eight times generating over 13,600 impressions. For more information contact Ginger Doherty at 210-861-7148 or gingerdoherty@mail.com . Get exposed!

CHAMBER STAFF LEARNS BEST PRACTICES

So far this month five Chamber staffers have attended training symposiums and conferences to learn best practices and upgrade their skills. On July 14 - 15, Chamber Finance Director Alice Hernandez and Communications and Personnel Director Phyllis Foerster attended the Texas Employment Relations Symposium in San Antonio, This human resource training conference was sponsored by the Texas Association of Business and the Society for Human Resource Management. Alice and Phyllis learned cutting edge labor law changes and trends critical to their job. This past week CVB Director Judy Young attended the national Destination Marketing Organization conference in Florida. Marketing tourism in the world of electronic communication was a major topic as well as crises management. Lastly, Chamber President Michael Meek and Director of Economic Development Rusty Brockman attended the Texas Economic Development Council's summer conference in Tyler last Wednesday and Thursday. Breakout sessions included incentives compliance, angel groups and entrepreneurship organizations, SBDCs and incubators, business retention programs, and SBA CDC programs.

MILLER: REDISTRICTING, BUDGET TO CONSUME SESSION

State representative Doug Miller was the guest presenter at last Tuesday's Government Affairs Committee meeting in Honors Hall. Miller updated attendees on the upcoming Texas Legislative Session that will convene January 2011. Miller stated that redistricting and budget issues will dominate the session and possibly cause multiple special sessions to occur after the regular session adjourns in May. The Government Affairs Committee is preparing recommended priorities for the Chamber Board to support as they did for the 2009 session. Miller will also speak to the Chamber's Transportation Committee August 3. City Planning Director Shannon Mattingly will also give the group and update on plans to form a metropolitan planning organization with Seguin and Guadalupe County.

SPECIAL MEETING THURSDAY FOR NBIDC

The New Braunfels Industrial Development Corporation, known locally as the 4B Board, will convene this Thursday at 6:00 pm for a special meeting to take up three items including incentives for a new firm considering moving to the community, incentives for an existing firm looking to expand at the airport, and funding for more classrooms at the Central Texas Technology Center. The new jobs created by the relocation and expansion will bring the total primary jobs to date past the 500 mark. The annual goal for primary jobs in the community is 350. The temporary classroom additions for the CTTC is in advance of the Clarus Study update now underway with interviews scheduled next week with targeted local employers.

COUNCIL CONVENES TONIGHT

The New Braunfels City Council will convene this evening for their last meeting of July beginning at 6:00 pm at 424 S. Castell Avenue. The meeting can also be viewed on Time Warner Cable Channel 21. The agenda includes action on a unanimous recommendation from the New Braunfels Industrial Development Corporation to contract with the Chamber of Commerce for professional services in the City 2011 and 2012 fiscal years. The agenda includes twelve consent agenda items and nine action items.

SYSCO DC SETS GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY

Sysco Foods has set Saturday, August 7 at 10:00 am as their official groundbreaking for their new distribution center at IH35 and Schwab Road just south of the city limits. Comal County officials as well as City of Schertz officials will be on hand for the ceremony. The over 600,000 sq. ft. facility will employ over 600, combining their San Antonio and Round Rock operations into this Comal County facility. The new distribution center will also be served by New Braunfels Utilities electricity.

TRADE SHOW BOOTHS SOLD OUT - DEADLINE TO LEAD AHEAD

The 22nd annual Business Trade Show, set for September 14 - 15 has all available booths committed. To view exhibitors, to confirmed sponsors and general information, log onto to www.nbtradeshow.com . The theme for the show is "Business In New Braunfels is Staying Alive!".

Applications are available at the Chamber office for the 19th class of Leadership New Braunfels. The deadline to return completed applications is Friday, August 13. Applications are available online at www.nbcham.org/lnb or by coming by the Chamber office. The deadline passed last Friday for the 14th class of Youth Leadership New Braunfels.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"You carry forever the fingerprint that comes from being under someone's thumb."

Nancy Banks-Smith, Bits and Pieces on Leadership, July 2010

The Week Ahead:

11:00 am - AAAI

12:00 pm - Braunfels Foundation Trust

6:00 pm – City Council

Tuesday:

7:30 am – Executive Committee

2:00 pm - Business-Education Partnership Grant Committee

Wednesday:

12:30pm – 1:00 pm - "Inside the Chamber" Radio Show