But, Ms. Combs cautions, resistance does not mean immunity. Although the Texas gross state product expanded in 2008 - 4.2 percent for the state versus 1.9 percent for the nation - that rate is slowing.
Here in Bell County, local economic developers are making use of this slow time to build infrastructure and court local and out-of-state companies that may be ready to make a move when things pick up.
The Temple Economic Development Corp. is working with city planners developing a family of industrial parks - more than 4,500 acres - with roads, utilities and rail access. Some sites will be ready in 2009, but many are already complete. They are called shovel-ready.
“Shovel-ready sites are essential to attracting major new facilities. Companies simply don’t have time to wait and will usually not even consider an area otherwise,” Texas economist Ray Perryman said. “Temple is well situated in this regard for a town of its size.”
Looking forward to 2009, Mary Poche, director of marketing with the TEDC, said businesses looking at Temple can also have a hand in developing the industrial park. If the interested party has an unusual situation, the city is flexible and can tweak the location to their specifications on some locations.
“I think that opens us up for greater opportunity for attracting companies,” Ms. Poche said. “They (prospective companies) have a hand in how it all plays out. If they need something special, something in addition to what might be there, because it’s a work in progress, there’s some leeway and flexibility. It really makes an interesting format as we move forward into 2009, how we approach our businesses, or how they approach us and how we know we can work with them.”
The Belton Business Park - 200 acres one mile from Interstate 35 on U.S. 190 - also has some shovel-ready sites, says Cynthia Hernandez, associate executive director at the Belton Economic Development Corp. And they have sites ranging from 1 to 55 acres that can be developed.
Ms. Hernandez said the park is ideal for light industrial and distribution.
Also looking forward to 2009, Jonathan Scott, TEDC director of business development, said it would be a challenging year for recruiting new industry. With the economy still struggling, companies continue to look for ways to streamline supply chain management, which would boost their bottom line.
“Cost savings and consolidation is what we’ll see the most significant motivation for business, for new locations, and for expansions of existing companies,” Scott said.
Economist Perryman said new investment would likely slow in Texas during first quarter 2009. However, Temple has several factors going for it: excellent leadership, an established presence in distribution, health care and several manufacturing sectors, central location on Interstate 35 and a good incentive program.
Even with these attributes, with the economy struggling internationally, and in the United States, Perryman said competition can be brutal.
“Economic development is very, very competitive on a global scale, and even excellent programs are not always successful,” Perryman said. “It is often a winner-take-all situation in which second place gets a fruit basket.”
Back at Belton, Ms. Hernandez said although it may not look like it, the wheels are turning, even in a recession.
“We have a lot of behind the scenes activities. It’s all we can do now to utilize this time to get all our ducks in a row, and be sure we are ready and competitive when people start knocking on the door.”
Editor’s note: This is part of a series on issues that will impact Central Texas in 2009.
