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Home My WebLink AboutJ.EDC GOALS & OBJECTIVESPort Arthur Economic Development Corporation P. O. Box 1089 · Port Arthur, Texas 77641-1089 409/983-8195 · 409/983-8222 fax Ema]hedc@portarthurtexas.com · http://www, portarthurtexas.com/edc Memo Date: November 5, 2002 To: Steve Fitzgibbons, City Managj~r... From: Ike Mills, Executor Directo~/~L RE: EDC Annual 2002 Report, 2003 Goals and Objectives Please put me on the City Council Agenda to present the Port Arthur Economic Development Section 4A Corporation annual report along with the 2002-2003 adopted Goals and Objectives. As stipulated dudng our recent EDC, board meeting, this newly appointed Board of Directors is committed to working closely with City Council, If you have any questions please contact me at Ext. 8195. EDC Board and Advisory Jim Wimbedy, EDC Attomey PORT AR THUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORA TION 2002 - 2003 GOALS, OBJECTIVES · EXPANSIONAND BUSINESS RETENTION · ATTRACTING NEWBUSINESS AND INDUSTRY · STRENGTHENING AND EXPANDING THE SKILLS OF. THE PORT ARTHUR LABOR FORCE · H.U.B./M. W.B.E. 'S DEVELOPMENT · PROMOTE ORGANIZATIONAND COORDINATION OF ECONOMIC · DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS IN PORTARTHUR . ANNUAL REPORT FOR CITY OF PORT ARTHUR SECTION 4A ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AUGUST 2002 In the past year, the Port Arthur 4A Economic Development Corporation has brought together creative economic ideas with area partners to enhance the growth of our diverse community. Employment opportunities continue to develop and significant strides continue to promote organization, understanding and the coordination of sound economic development concepts. Remaining faithful to the goals and objectives of the corporation, the E.D.C. continues to encourage a solid retention program with the local industry for the City of Port Arthur. In an attempt to encourage Historically Underutilized and Minority Business participation in the areas economic upsurge, the E.D.C. laid the foundation for a Business Opportunity Symposium Series (BOSS) Conference in Port Arthur by allocating $50,000 for the preliminary planning and implementation. A successful conference would match H.U.B./M.W.B.E.s with corporate businesses to establish access for local sub-contracting efforts. The E.D.C. continues to work toward developing a Minority Vendor Database to identify minority businesses in Port Arthur. Assistance in this effort is being provided by The Texas Minority Business Opportunity Committee. The E.D.C. continues to advertise in several prominent national and international publications, which continue to produce quality leads. The Perryman Group~ Business Facilities Magazine and Area Development Magazine~ U. S. Plants~ Sites and Development~ Outlook Magazines and the POST Quarterly Magazine continue to provide excellent avenues for promoting Port Arthur. A special advertisement was included in International Business Publishers featuring the BASF-ATOFina Project. The E. D. C. and the City of Port Arthur were visited recently by West African dignitaries who expressed the desire to begin foreign trade relations. We have additionally begun promoting our city and growth through the electronic age of internet sites as well. The National Real Estate Registry and The Texas Economic Development Corporation have Port Arthur listed in their registries. The future of promoting growth will benefit greatly fi.om this new avenue of advertising. A special presentation was given at a meeting held in May, 2002 for the South and Mid- County Realtor's Association concerning the Goals and Objectives of the Port Arthur E.D.C. and promoting real estate development opportunities in Port Arthur. The Port Arthur 4A Economic Development Corporation was awarded the 2001 Community Economic Development Award for outstanding achievement in Community Economic Development by a nomination fi.om Entergy. This is the second time that the Port Arthur E.D.C. has been recognized for promoting economic growth in Port Arthur. Early in the year, the Board instituted a moratorium on grants for a period of time which limited the amount of projects which were begun in 2002. However, this did not diminish the amount of growth for our ongoing projects. In addition to Auslyn Industries (Flow Serve), Port Arthur. Com, Lamar College - Port Arthur Welding & Operator Training Program, the Small Business Development Center, Port Arthur Main Street, Tex-Mix, Port Arthur Food Packaging and Logistics, Inc.; we have seen the opening of the Wal-Mart/Lowes centers, the ribbon-cutting of the new facility of Service Zone which hopes to employ up to 600 people, and the ongoing progress of the Small Business Forums held by the Port Arthur Redevelopment Initiative. This is a great oppommity for small and minority businesses to come together and see the growth potential in Port A~hur. The ground-breaking for Tres Caballeros marked an addition to the downtown growth of Port Arthur. This project expects to be up and running by early 2003. Our Board recommended construction contracts for the Port Arthur Business Park which has already had several inquiries by companies wishing to locate in the park. The Brownfields Pilot Program has progressed significantly toward the revitalization of the West Side and efforts continue in bringing growth to these designated sites. The efforts of the Brownfields Community Committee, K.C.S. Railroad, the E.D.C., and City officials have opened doors of opportunity for growth in the coming months that just a short year ago, did not seem obtainable. The E.D.C. will continue to work with the Brownfields Community Committee and others to help bring economic growth to the West Side. Job creation, business expansion and tourism are vital to the economic growth of Port Arthur and the E.D.C. continues to work with all area entities in a team effort to ensure that new businesses and opportunities come to the city.