A newly released report on industry recruitment completed for the City of Houston points to room for improvement but gives reason for optimism because of some existing services and institutions not usually found in rural America.
The detailed assessment — from Newmark Knight Frank, one of the world’s leading commercial real estate advisory firms — comes following an on-site visit earlier this year by two members of the firm. Kim Moore and Daniel Oney toured the community, attended an event designed to pitch Houston as a prospect for an industry and later met with community and city leaders at a mixer. It also privately met with leaders at the Durham Co. and Texas County Memorial Hospital. Earlier, the city had completed a detailed document that normally would be used in the pursuit of an industry.
Houston’s participation came as part of a state program that allows cities to receive a grade card on their readiness to court industries looking to locate new or expanded operations. The latest round of tours also included Republic, West Plains and Lake of the Ozarks.
“We’re going in the right direction,” said Rob Harrington, Houston’s economic developer director who came to the city last fall. Harrington discussed the findings Monday before the Houston City Council.
The report says rural American is dividing into winners and losers and “Houston and Texas County is on the bubble.” It singles out Texas County Memorial Hospital for its ability to transition Houston into the winner’s column. The 43-page report says the hospital, with an $18 million annual payroll, is the only asset large enough to keep the community viable long-term. It also notes the community’s regional shopping presence with a Walmart Supercenter that is about to undergo a multi-million dollar renovation. “Growth will come from other businesses, but losing the hospital kills all development opportunities,” the authors wrote.
Harrington said Houston is fortunate to have resources “that small towns are not suppose to have.” Additionally, he notes Houston residents recently took a leap of faith and approved plans to construct a new gymnasium and make other improvements at the Houston School District campus and build a new municipal swimming pool. The latter issue –– a one-cent sales tax –– also provides additional revenue for law enforcement and firefighting.
The report offers detailed priorities for the city to complete during the next six to 12 months. They include:
•A development strategy that shores up existing assists: the hospital, downtown, manufacturers and small businesses and calls for selective investment in business expansion, improving chances for recruitment wins.
•Greatly expanding its online presence through updating its website and improving its ability to be found on the internet. It’s a project that the city already has underway.
•Including city and regional data in all marketing materials and online.
•Detailing military skills available in the area for relevant target industries.
•Creating printed and digital marketing materials.
•Designing materials that show potential industry sites.
•Developing branded materials to use for responses to industries, including on letterheads and presentations.
•Putting some effort into enhancing what it notes is a nice downtown that has added spark in recent years. It recommends putting some effort into signage, landscaping, events and business development downtown. It also asks city leaders to resist placing public facilities outside of the downtown business district.
•Evaluate and make sure city infrastructure is up-to-date and sustainable, including power, water and internet, which can make a difference even on small projects. Harrington says the city is already examining internet needs and is studying a municipal system that would allow the community to be a “gig city,” where affordable, high speed internet is available.
Harrington said recently that other resources are also in development, including a labor study of the community that is slated for completion in July and executing a contract for a study of housing.
Harrington said Houston’s economic focus resembles a three-legged stool — with each supporting the other. They include business retention and expansion efforts, attracting new prospects and helping entrepreneurs.