Transcript Document

Granbury-Hood County Economic
Development
Joey Grisham, Director
Lake Granbury Area EDC
2012 Annual Economic Outlook Conference
Hood County Snapshot
 2000-2010 Population growth outpaced Texas and
U.S. —Grew by 25% from while U.S. was 9.7% and
Texas was 21%
 Largest growth in the 55 and older cohort
 Lost population in Age 35-44 category
 Median age is 46 in Hood County; Texas is 33.6; and
U.S. is 37.2
Hood County Snapshot
 Hood County Median Household Incomes are higher:
2010
Hood County $54,882
Texas
$49,646
U.S.
$51,914
 Hood County ranks 15th in Texas in Per Capita Income
 Hood County has 12th highest median travel time to
work-32 minutes
Hood County Strengths
 Access to 3 Class One Rail Carriers
 Quality of life
 Proximity to DFW
 Strong growth pattern
Hood County Challenges
 Loss of over half of labor force each day—takes away
dollars and customers
 Hood County leaks out nearly $650 million annually in
retail sales
 Lack of primary jobs
 Lack of large available industrial sites with adequate
water, sewer, and natural gas capabilities
 Aging workforce (national trend)
Texas Positive Trends
 Fastest growing state in U.S.
 Continues to be one of the hottest economies
 Very Pro-Business: Right to Work State, No income
tax, and competitive incentives
 Adds about 500,000 new people per year
 Always last state to go into recession and first to
come out
Texas Negative Trends
 Many of the new jobs created are lower wage
 Texas ranks 35th in college graduation rates at 4-year
institutions; 33rd in Act Avg. Composite scores
 Ranks 35th in % of citizens with Graduate or
professional degree
 High dropout rates and only 1 other state has a higher
percentage of citizens without a high school diplomaMississippi
Economic Development Trends
 Less focus on landing the “big one”
 More focus on start-up firms and small business
 More interaction with existing companies—building
synergies and clusters (economies of scale)
 Economic Gardening
 Rifle approach vs. Shotgun approach
 Regionalism
 Incentives playing bigger role—creates an Economic War
between states and communities
DFW-13 cities with 100,000 or more
Houston has 2
Projects
 Air EVAC
 STOL Aircraft Assembly plant
 Working with FWWR on 3 potential projects: 1 project is
$70 million; 1 is $30 million; and 1 is $10 million
 Just completed target industry report
 EPA/Clean Air Coalition
 Airport expansion is important—5200 foot runway
 Retail—Michael’s coming in March, as well as Fuzzy’s Taco,
Farina’s, and Linda’s Kitchen. DQ is looking.
New Weatherford
College Building at Main
Campus
Wouldn’t it be great to
see one of these in
Hood County?
2012-2013
 Tell the World about Hood County: Aggressive
marketing and targeted trade shows
 Strategic planning retreat
 More private sector interaction
 Explore funding mechanisms—we are behind our
competitors
Quote
“Everyone wants to go to heaven but no one wants to
die.” Albert King
Questions???