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Home My WebLink AboutEDC ANNUAL REPORT ?ott Arthur Sect~o~ 4A Development Cor~or~t~o~ August 2004 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Deborah Khalajabadi President Maria Block Morris Carter Charles Herlin Allen J. Watson ADVISORY DIRECTORS Eli Roberts Charles Hall Paul McCallum EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Igalious "Ike" Mills MISSION STATEMENT The City of Port Arthur Section 4A Economic Development Corporation shall be charged to act on behalf of the City to promote and develop new, existing and expanded business enterprises in the City of Port Arthur. The Board shall develop an overall economic development, job training and infrastructure plan that will bolster the business climate throughout the City. The board shall develop a strategy for the promotion and development of commercial, industrial and manufacturing enterprises within the City of Port Arthur in keeping with general duties of the Board as reflected in the Bylaws. 2 PORT ARTHUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION GOALS 2003-2004 · EXPANSION AND BUSINESS RETENTION · ATTRACTING NEW BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY · STRENGTHENING AND EXPANDING THE SKILLS OF THE PORT ARTHUR LABOR FORCE · H.U.B./M.W.B.E.'S DEVELOPMENT · PROMOTE ORGANIZATION AND COORDINATION OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS IN PORT ARTHUR 2003-2004 COMMITTEES STANDING COMMITTEES A. BUDGET, FINANCE & AUDIT COMMITTEE B. COMMITTEE FOR BUSINESS RETENTION & EXPANSION C. COMMITTEE FOR NEW BUSINESS FORMATION D. COMMITTEE FOR NEW BUSINESS ATTRACTION & RECRUITMENT SPECIAL COMMITTEES A. COMMITTEE FOR E.D.C. CONSTRUCTION B. BUILDING COMMITTEE C. GOALS, OBJECTIVES & MISSION STATEMENT COMMITTEE D. BY-LAWS & OPERATING PROCEDURES COMMITTEE E. GRANT COMMITTEE 4 ANNUAL REPORT FOR CITY OF PORT ARTHUR SECTION 4A ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION SEPTEMBER 2004 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. The Port Arthur Economic Dev. elopment Corporation initiated the first known Import/Export data base for Port Arthur. Working with the U.S. Department of Export Assistance Center, Application Forms were placed in the local newspaper as well as our web site. The Port Arthur E.D,C. facilitated site visits to local businesses by the U.S. Department of Export Assistance Center. The E.D.C. continues to advertise in several prominent national and international publications, which continue to produce quality leads2 Area Development Magazine~ Business Facilities Maeazines, Outlook Magazines~ and Expansion Solution Macazine continues to provide excellent avenues for promoting Port Arthur and the Port Arthur Business Park. The E.D.C. will work with The Golden Triangle Minority Business Council, Entergy, P.O.S.T., Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Port Arthur Chamber of Commerce and the Texas Department of Economic Development to develope a mailing list of companies in the manufacturing industry to begin our direct mail and target marketing program. The E.D.C has additionally begun promoting our city and the Business Park through intemet sites as well. The E.D.C advertised in the Red News Commercial Real Estate Directory, to reach the Brokers and site consultants who locate properties for National and International companies. The National Real Estate Registrv~ the Texas Department Economic Development~ The South East Texas Black Pages ~ and Houston Industrial Guide have Port Arthur listed in their registries. The future of promoting growth will benefit greatly from this new pro- active approach to advertising. The EDC has developed a quarterly newsletter that is set up for production in the fall of 2004. The marketing campaign for the business park will be a community effort. International marketing/development efforts include China, Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), Atkins International, U.S. Export Assistance Center, Yokohama Japan and Texas Department of Economic Development International Business Development Office. The Executive Director was the guest speaker at the Corpus Christi NAACP Banquet speaking on economic development in our communities and working together. The Port Arthur Economic Development Section 4A Corporation was the Runner-Up for the 2003 Community Economic Development Award for outstanding achievement in Community Economic Development by a nomination from Entergy. The Hospital Project was shown during the Texas Economic Development Council (TEDC) Awards Luncheon in Houston, Texas. The extended audit authorized and initiated by the City Council was concluded with specific areas of concern identified. One of those areas identified in the audit was contract compliance and the need to have internal controls within the corporation. The EDC Board had already identified issues regarding the existing contracts and proceeded to develop new contracts that allowed for more accountability from the business. The City Council and EDC Board approved these changes. An accountant was contracted to address contract compliance issues and establish an accounting, grants and loans system. The Port Arthur Economic Development Corporation Economic Development activities include 7 top projects that have resulted in site visits. One of these projects resulted in the largest project The Port Arthur Economic Development Corporation has undertaken since the inception of the corporation. This project is the IASIS Hospital, which required $8 million infrastructure bonding for the $90-100 million investment into the community. Other top projects: Project Mexico/ Griffin Industries/ Project Cat/ Team Industries/ Project Paper (International prospect), Project PBC, Exxon Mobil Project and Project EcoWater. 7 The EDC Board recommended moving forward with a spec-building for the Port Arthur Business Park. We have had numerous inquiries from companies wishing to locate in the park. The EDC has received a commitment and several requests from companies that want to be placed on the waiting list for available lease space in a spec-building in the Business Park. The E.D.C. will continue to work with the Brownfields Community Committee and others to help bring economic growth to the West Side. There is continued commitment by the corporation which has allocated $1 million for eligible 4A projects on the Westside of Port Arthur. A Funders Forum was held as part of the Port Arthur Redevelopment Initiative. This Initiative was initiated by the City Council as a part of redevelopment efforts in the City. Job creation, business expansion and tourism are vital to the economic growth of Port Arthur. 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. It is vital that the City strongly consider the Small Business Enterprise (SBE) Program. The Hospital Project is a benchmark on what the SBE Program can accomplish and it clearly displayed the need for a city wide implementation of this program. Port Arthur Businesses hire our Port Arthur residents which sustains economic growth for the future of our city. Existing Business Survey ............ PORT ARTHUR Please help the Port Arthur EDC better serve our community by EC ONOA/HC filling in the information requested below and returning it to DE VELOPMENT P.O. Box 3934 Port Arthur, TX 77642 Questions? Call lke CORPORATION Mills 963-0579 Fax: 962-4445 ~vv~,po~ t~rrhuredc,com Business Name: Contact Person: Phone: 1) Is your firm locally owned? Yes E~ No E~] 2) What are the location plans for your Port Arthur business in the next three (3) years? E~ a) Remain at current location E~ e) Reduce employment [] b) Relocate to another Port Arthur location E~ f) Add employment [~ c) Relocate outside of Port Arthur E~ g) Expand Business [] d) Discontinue Business 3) If planning to relocate or discontinue business, please indicate the reasons by checking the appropriate boxes. [] a) Lack of space for expansion [] d) Crime rate too high [] b) Lack of customers [] e) Utility rates too high [~ c) Property taxes too high [] f) Other 4) What is the best thing about your business location in Port Arthur? ' 6) Please indicate below if you have any concerns about the following: [] a) Financing options [] e) Existing business problems [] b) Available buildings or sites [~ f) Taxes [] c) Planning and zoning [] g) Utility billing/cost [] d) Permitting [] h) Other 5) In your opinion what would help the business climate in Port Arthur? 9 '~ PORT ARTHUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION Export Assistance Survey This survey is intended to help the Port A~thur Economic Development Corporation prepare to assist prospective clients by accessing their current interests and needsI pertainin~ ~o exportin[~ {}oods and secvices. COMPANY INFORMATION Date: Prime Contact / Title: Company Name: Year Established: Type of Company: Manufaet Distrib Exprt Trd Co Service (specify) Other (specify) Address: .City: Zip Code: #of Employeex Phone: Fax: E-mail: Web Site Total Sales: under$1 million $1-5 million $5-10 million $10-25 million over $25 million %Iht'I: Type of Sales in the U.S.: Local Regional National Sales Method (Direct, Agents, Distributors, Joint Venture, etc.)~ Do you have an expor~ promotion budget? Yes No Do you have an e~port marketingplan? Yes No Company Literature available? Yes No If not a Manufacturer, do you have documented rights ~ export your product? Yes No Are the manufactured goods to be sold ebroad at least 51% US content? Yes No IMMEDIATE INTERNATIONAL OBJECTIVE/GOAL: PRODUCT/SERVICE INFORMATION HS Schedule B# (10 digits): Metric Non Metric Component Final Product Service Description: PRIMARY Product Uses: Type of INDUSTRY: END-USER INFORMATION Type of Leading Customerx Specify: 1. 1. 3. 3. MARKET INFORMATION Target Countries (Primary Countries (Currently Exporting To): (Interested in Exporting To In the NEXT 12-l 8rnths in order of priority): 1. 1. 2. 2. 3. 3. 4. 4. PLEASE COMPLETE AND RETURN TO: Mr. lke Mills ofllce (409) 963-0579; FAX (409)962-4445; e-mail: portarthuredc(~ortarthm'.net 4173 39'bStreet, Port Arthur, Texas 77642 If you have any questions, plcese ?ontact Mr. Ike Mills ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION Come row 300 Ac~'e Port Arthur II! [.III6PpPis6 ZOI16 Business Park Master Site Plan IncentiYes For Your' Economic Development · Easy ^ccess to Highway · Available Work Force · Foroi~n lrado Zono · 2 Milos from Airport · Acreage Adjustable · Available Buildings · Tax Abatement Southeast Texas · Sites Available Regional Airport · Job Training lust 2 Miles From ]usiness Park NORTH PORT ARTHUR INTERNATIONAL " PUBUC PORT LOCATED JUST 19 MILES INLAND ON THE WELL MARKED, DEEP WATER OF THE SABINE-NECHES SHIP CHANNEL. CONTACT PORT OFFICIALS: Floyd Gaspard Port Director Orlando Ciramella Director of Trade Contact The Port Arthur Ike Mills ~ Development Economic Development Corporation Executive Director 409-983-201'1 Telephone: 409-983-8195 email: por[arthuredc@portadhur, net Tim Alexander www.paed~;.com Business Development Coordinator