BUSINESS
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HEART OF TEXAS
Flying High Aerospace lifts regional economy
Successful Mix Where traditional businesses and innovative firms thrive
Clean and Green Industry byproducts converted to energy
What’ss Onlinee The Dr. Pepper Museum is a Texas original.
SPONSORED BY THE HEART OF TEXAS COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS | 2010
BUSINESS ®
18 Workstyle Biz Climate: A Successful Mix
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Clean and Green
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Byproducts get new life with fuel-conversion process
Flying High
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Region’s historic role in flight continues with aerospace expansion
Made in the Heart of Texas
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Manufacturing sector remains core component of business here Table of Contents Continued
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26 ON THE COVER Baylor University
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Insight Overview
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Business Almanac
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Energy/Technology
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Transportation
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Economic Profile
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32 Livability
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Let’s Go Clubbing
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Education
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Health
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2010 EDITION , VOLUME 3 MANAGING EDITOR KIM MADLOM COPY EDITOR JOYCE CARUTHERS
HEART OF TEXAS
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ASSOCIATE EDITORS LISA BATTLES, JESSY YANCEY STAFF WRITERS CAROL COWAN, KEVIN LITWIN
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CONTRIBUTING WRITER JOE MORRIS DATA MANAGER CHANDRA BRADSHAW REGIONAL SALES MANAGER CHARLES FITZGIBBON INTEGRATED MEDIA MANAGER TRIP MILLER
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PRODUCTION PROJECT MANAGERS MELISSA BRACEWELL, KATIE MIDDENDORF, JILL WYATT SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNERS LAURA GALLAGHER, KRIS SEXTON, CANDICE SWEET, VIKKI WILLIAMS
Flying High Aerospace lifts regional economy
LEAD DESIGNER ERICA HINES GRAPHIC DESIGN JESSICA MANNER, JANINE MARYLAND, MARCUS SNYDER
Successful Mix Where traditional businesses and innovative firms thrive
Clean and Green
Lifestyle
Industry byproducts converted to energy
What’ss Onlinee The Dr. Pepper Museum is a Texas original.
SPONSORED BY THE HEART OF TEXAS COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS | 2010
Find out what it’s like to live here and what makes the community such a special place to be.
WEB IMPLEMENTATION DIRECTOR ANDY HARTLEY WEB DESIGN DIRECTOR FRANCO SCARAMUZZA WEB CONTENT MANAGER JOHN HOOD WEB PROJECT MANAGER YAMEL RUIZ
Read the magazine on your computer, zoom in on articles and link to advertiser Web sites.
WEB DESIGN LEAD LEIGH GUARIN WEB PRODUCTION JENNIFER GRAVES COLOR IMAGING TECHNICIAN ALISON HUNTER AD TRAFFIC MARCIA MILLAR, PATRICIA MOISAN, RAVEN PETTY CHAIRMAN GREG THURMAN PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER BOB SCHWARTZMAN EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT RAY LANGEN SR. V.P./CLIENT DEVELOPMENT JEFF HEEFNER
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SR. V.P./SALES CARLA H. THURMAN SR. V.P./OPERATIONS CASEY E. HESTER
Our editors give you the
V.P./SALES HERB HARPER
Inside Scoop on the latest
V.P./VISUAL CONTENT MARK FORESTER
development and trends in the community.
V.P./SALES TODD POTTER V.P./EDITORIAL DIRECTOR TEREE CARUTHERS V.P./CUSTOM PUBLISHING KIM NEWSOM MANAGING EDITOR/BUSINESS BILL McMEEKIN MANAGING EDITOR/TRAVEL SUSAN CHAPPELL PRODUCTION DIRECTOR NATASHA LORENS
Workstyle
SUCCESS BREEDS SUCCESS >>
A spotlight on the region’s innovative companies
Meet the people who set the pace for business innovation.
PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR JEFFREY S. OTTO CONTROLLER CHRIS DUDLEY ACCOUNTING MORIAH DOMBY, DIANA GUZMAN, MARIA McFARLAND, LISA OWENS RECRUITING/TRAINING DIRECTOR SUZY SIMPSON DISTRIBUTION DIRECTOR GARY SMITH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR YANCEY TURTURICE IT SERVICE TECHNICIAN RYAN SWEENEY
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HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER PEGGY BLAKE SALES SUPPORT RACHAEL GOLDSBERRY
Plug into the community with
SALES/MARKETING COORDINATOR RACHEL MATHEIS
links to local Web sites and
OFFICE MANAGER SHELLY GRISSOM
resources to give you a big
EXECUTIVE SECRETARY/SALES SUPPORT KRISTY DUNCAN RECEPTIONIST LINDA BISHOP
picture of the region. CU S TO M M AG A Z INE M ED I A
and statistical information
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Prosperity in the Heart of Texas! Heart of Texas Economic Development District Driving Regional Economic Development s %CONOMIC $EVELOPMENT 0LANNING s 2EGIONAL -ARKETING AND !TTRACTION s %CONOMIC $EVELOPMENT 'RAND 3UPPORT 3ERVICES s #OMPREHENSIVE %CONOMIC $EVELOPMENT 3TRATEGY s ,OCAL %CONOMIC $EVELOPMENT 3UPPORT
Overview
Ten Good Reasons to Come, Do Business 1. Talented Workforce Baylor
7. Central Location The Heart of Texas is along the I-35 and I-45 corridors, equidistant between Austin and Dallas-Fort Worth. Extensive air and railway transportation infrastructure also is found throughout the region.
9. Cultural Vitality Cultural
University, with more than 25 research institutes, is centrally located in the Heart of Texas. Also in the region are Texas State Technical College, Hill College and McLennan Community College.
2. Affordable Living The Heart of
8. Quality of Life Whether you’re
10. Educational Excellence School
Texas offers a wonderful lifestyle at an affordable price. The region has one of the nation’s lowest costs of living. Texas also has no personal income tax.
experiences enrich life here. The region is home to the Bosque Conservatory, Cameron Park Zoo, Texas Ranger Museum, Dr Pepper Museum, Waco Symphony Orchestra, Lyric Opera and more. districts in the Heart of Texas region strive for educational excellence. There is a realization and an appreciation that education is the key to success in life.
looking for the tranquility of a small town or the pace of a modern city, the Heart of Texas has it all, and this highly rated quality of life runs throughout the region.
3. Premium Health Care Hillcrest Health System, Providence Healthcare Network and Scott & White serve the area with top-notch medical services. Both Hillcrest Hospital and Providence Hospital are preparing to move into new buildings, increasing service capacity and quality.
4. Business Incentives The Heart of Texas offers enterprise zones plus incentives such as tax abatements, economic development grants and fee waivers. Many economic development corporations within the region provide extensive assistance to businesses.
Heart of Texas
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HILL
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5. Healthy Lifestyle If you enjoy the outdoors, you will love the Heart of Texas. Lake Waco and Lake Whitney offer various recreational activities. Waco’s 416-acre Cameron Park, the start of the Texas Hill Country, is filled with challenging hiking and biking trails.
6. Shopping and Dining From the outlet stores in Hillsboro to the Central Texas MarketPlace in Waco, there are countless places to spend that extra disposable income. The region also is filled with “mom and pop” places to dine as well as nationally familiar chain restaurants.
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Almanac
MUSIC TO THEIR EARS From strings to arias, residents here are tuned in to top-notch classical music. The Waco Symphony Orchestra brings the best in orchestral music to the Heart of Texas, with classical performances that often include worldrenowned soloists as guest performers. Holiday Concerts and Sunday Sounds offer something for everyone.
BITING WATERS Fishermen are not disappointed when they are looking for that special fishing hole in the Heart of Texas. Lake Whitney, with 23,500 acres of water, is one of the prettiest lakes in Texas. This, combined with excellent public access and good fishing for many species, makes it a popular destination. It offers top-notch angling for striped bass and white bass, and diverse opportunities for smallmouth bass and trophy blue catfish. Solitude and good fishing for many species combine to make 12,553-acre Lake Limestone a winner. The crappie fishing at Waco Lake is tough to beat, especially when fishing the coves between February and April.
A BAKER’S DOZEN Yum! That’s what customers say when they eat one of Collin Street Bakery’s tasty fruit or cheese cakes, all baked fresh daily in one of three Texas locations – one in Waco and two in Corsicana. Try the World Famous DeLuxe Fruitcake, the Texas Blonde Pecan Cake, Grandma Shaw’s Pecan Pie and an assortment of cookies and nut cakes – all Texas originals that are delivered throughout the United States to the address of your choice. Visit www.collinstreet.com.
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HEART OF TEXAS
Both the Waco Symphony Youth Orchestra and Choir promote the musical and cultural education of young people from the area. Presenting professional opera for those in Waco and Central Texas, Lyric Opera of Waco stresses that “opera is for everyone.” In addition to major productions, this opera company also hosts events and educational programs in order to increase awareness and enjoyment of opera for all ages.
MUSEUMS COVER TEXAS CULTURE Whether it’s sports, soft drinks or saber-tooth tigers, the Heart of Texas has a museum for it. The Mayborn Museum on the campus of Baylor University in Waco boasts exhibits ranging from American Indian dwellings to simple machines. At the Mammoth Site, visitors get acquainted with Columbian mammoths, a saber-tooth tiger, a tortoise and a camel, all among the finds in a prehistoric site unearthed in Waco and believed to be some 68,000 years old. No one really knows how Dr Pepper got its name, but the Dr Pepper Museum and Free Enterprise Institute in Waco pays homage to the product that began in Morrison’s Old Corner Drugstore in 1885. Meanwhile, nothing is bigger in Texas than sports, and two Heart of Texas museums – the Texas Sports Hall of Fame and the Texas Rangers Museum – pay tribute to a rich tradition.
FACT-FINDING MISSION The Historical Research Center, located in the Texas Heritage Museum on the campus of Hill College in Hillsboro, is a treasure-trove of Confederate history. Books and microfilm offer details covering Confederate veterans, medical and surgical history, Civil War damage claims, a capsule history for all Civil War regiments, and prison camps – all under the watchful eye of Anita Tufts, center archivist and librarian. The center is open Monday through Friday.
CALLING ALL SHOPPERS Whether it’s chic evening wear, hip school clothes or the latest in electronics gadgets, shopaholics can get their fix in the Heart of Texas. Hillsboro Prime Outlet Mall in Hillsboro boasts savings of 50 percent to 75 percent off retail prices at more than 85 national brand name stores. Central Texas Marketplace is conveniently located in Waco and provides an exceptional mix of department stores, specialty shops, restaurants and services for everything you need.
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Business Climate
A Successful Mix Innovative companies and core industries drive the Heart of Texas economy Story by Joe Morris
vibrant economy
low business costs
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HEART OF TEXAS
regionalism
I
f it’s catching on in the rest of the country, chances are it’s already up and running in the Heart of Texas. The region is home to traditional industry sectors such as manufacturing and distribution and continues to see successes in those areas. But it’s also a thriving – and growing – center for green ventures of all kinds, everything from wind-turbine construction to biofuel generation. And then there’s the aerospace industry, which is building on more than a half-century of success to lure the next generation of rocket builders and more. “There’s a lot of development going on as far as Texas is concerned, and we’re even busier from downtown Waco and out through our entire region,” says Kenneth Simons, executive director of the Heart of Texas Council of Governments. “We have seen some effects of the recession, but we have been very fortunate compared to the rest of the country.” A diverse economy is one reason for that, but Simons also points to assets ranging from quality of life to workforce availability as reasons the regional economy continues to grow. “We have the workforce, which is very important to bringing new ventures into our area, but we also have a very strong group of universities and community colleges,” he says. “Our higher education institutions are working separately and together to develop programs that improve our workforce, and that’s continuing to be a very important plus for our region.” As an example, Simons points to how the schools have been particularly effective in helping train and retain employees for the burgeoning aerospace industry. “We have the facilities here to provide the infrastructure for these
new industries, and with the aviation programs being developed by Texas State Technical College and the other institutions, we can continue to have a significant impact with those companies,” he says. Another growth area that’s being successfully cultivated is the health-care sector, with local hospitals expanding their facilities and coverage areas, thus creating more jobs throughout the region. The region also offers financial advantages, including tax abatements and incentives, employee training, recruitment assistance and more. These and other programs are often
jointly supported by city and county governments throughout the Heart of Texas. In fact, the strong regional cooperation here is probably behind all of its successes, Simons says. “Regionalism is essential when we’re trying to bring business and industry here,” Simons says. “We have created the Heart of Texas Economic Development District, a separate corporation with representation from all six counties in our service region. They are constantly working to put together lists of potential prospects for new business, and they market our region as a group. Everybody has something they can offer.”
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HEART OF TEXAS
Clean and Green Industry byproducts get new life with fuel-conversion process
Story by Joe Morris Photography by Brian McCord
F
rom eco-friendly buildings and businesses to recycling programs that find a new use for just about everything, the Heart of Texas is going green in a big way. The area is home to a growing number of green-focused businesses and initiatives, as various companies and organizations work separately and together to preserve the environment. A flagship venture is the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce’s new building, which is touted as the first green chamber building in the country. It anchors a three-block, $75 million mixed-use development downtown and has fast become a hub of activity
for all things green in the area. Mars Snackfood-US in Waco has earned national recognition for its use of landfill gas to replace a portion of the energy needed to power its operation. Mars invested in new boiler controls, instrumentation and a 5-milelong pipeline from the landfill to the plant. The move has been a resounding success and has received national, state and local awards. Meanwhile, EQMA is poised to bring a new twist to the production of ethanol. A $250,000 grant from the Texas Emerging Technology Fund provided the seed money to produce up to 2 million gallons of alcohol a
The interior of the new Science Center at McLennan Community College. The center is one of three new LEED-certified buildings on the campus.
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year using candy waste from Waco’s Mars Snackfood-US plant and food waste from grocery stores and bakeries. EQMA also plans to convert manure from dairy operations into fuel in an ambitious project that will begin with a demonstration plant at Tarleton State University’s planned model dairy in Stephenville. “We think that this might fit into a system and integrate with other technologies to maximize the output of the bioenergy recovery process for animal manures,” says Don Cawthon, dean of the College of Agriculture and Human Sciences, Agribusiness, Agronomy, Horticulture & Range Management at TSU. “In five or 10 years, these types of technologies will potentially cure a multitude of sins, not only to help with the energy issue but also help solve other pressing
“These types of technologies will potentially cure a multitude of (environmental) sins.” environmental issues associated with animal-feeding operations.” College campuses have gotten in on the action as well, as Texas State Technical College has joined with four other colleges to bring in federal funding for their Green Corridor Collaborative. The five will pursue federal stimulus money allocated for renewable energy development, and it’s hoped that by pooling their resources they will each, and collectively, get a bigger slice of the financial pie. Specific projects are taking shape as
well. At McLennan Community College, the new science building is expected to receive a gold rating by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System. To gain this rating, MCC included solar panels, environmentally friendly flooring, low-flow water fixtures and more in the design. In addition, the Emergency Services Education Center beat out more than 2,500 other projects to snag Real Estate & Construction Review-Southwest’s Green Building of America award.
McLennan’s new science building, above, and the Emergency Services Education Center, right, set the standard for sustainable construction.
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HEART OF TEXAS
Flying High Aerospace sector continues to provide jobs and a lift to the regional economy
Story by Joe Morris
A
s far back as World War II and before, the area in and around McGregor has been home to airplanes, airports and flight-testing ventures of all kinds. The more things change, the more they remain the same. These days, aerospace companies are moving in and setting up expansive operations as they prepare the next wave of military and commercial spacecraft. Everything from engines to rocket boosters are being studied and developed here, making the Heart of Texas the place to be for those companies that look to the skies. Space Exploration Technologies, or SpaceX, is one such firm. The 7-year-old company has completed a portion of the testing for its Falcon 9 launch vehicle at its 300-acre structural and propulsion testing
facility in McGregor. The facility here was built out from existing structures, and that, coupled with plenty of land for expansion, has made for a good testing home, says Lauren Dreyer, director of business development. “We do all of the engine and structural testing on our rockets here, and we’re contracted for about 25 missions over the next five years,” Dreyer says. “All of the engines required for those missions will come through McGregor.” For the company’s NASA contract, that means about 400 engines – everything from large rocket engines to smaller thrusters – for 12 flights, Dreyer says. Equally busy on the ground is L-3 Integrated Systems, which is building cargo planes for the U.S. Army and Air Force at its facility adjacent to Texas State Technical College. The company
By the Numbers 48,924 Aerospace workers
$1,545 Average weekly wage
$269 million Capital investment
$11.1 billion Product shipments Source: Texas Workforce Commission
Liftoff of Falcon 1 RazakSAT mission P H O T O C O U R T E S Y O F S PA C E X
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Joint Cargo Aircraft
has begun operations in a new, $10 million hangar and is hard at work growing its share of the military and commercial refurbishment and modernization market, says Lance Martin of L-3. “The new hangar provides four additional bays to house mediumsize aircraft, up to the C-130 in size,” Martin says. As part of a $2 million funding package through the Waco-McLennan County Economic Development Corp., the company pledged to hire 100 new employees and is well on its way to doing so, Martin says. All the private development is augmented by efforts in the public sector as well. Texas State Technical CollegeWaco has received $1.5 million in seed capital to help create a $13 million aerospace center of excellence, and work is well under way to meet a scheduled fall 2011 opening, says Jeff Beene, director of TSTC’s aviation programs. TSTC’s rapid movement on this project “has commitment written all over it,” Beene says. “We’re taking the assets we have and building on what we’ve got. We’re showing the companies that we want to be involved and letting them know we’re here both for them and for new aerospace businesses that come to the region.”
McGregor
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HEART OF TEXAS
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Gallery
Legends Crossing Park Staff Photo
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HEART OF TEXAS
GROESBECK … Explore LIFE IN GROESBECK
s 'ROESBECK )3$ IS THE HOME OF STATE OF THE ART EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES AND THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR THE FUTURE
s $UAL CREDIT PROGRAMS WITH .AVARRO #OLLEGE ENABLE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO EARN COLLEGE CREDITS WHILE COMPLETING THEIR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA
s /N YOUR DOORSTEP ARE TWO OF THE NATION S lNEST UNIVERSITY RESEARCH SYSTEMS n "AYLOR 5NIVERSITY AND 4EXAS ! - 5NIVERSITY AS WELL AS 4EXAS 3TATE 4ECHNICAL #OLLEGE THE STATE S FOREMOST SCHOOL FOR A VARIETY OF TECHNICAL TRAINING PROGRAMS AND CERTIlCATIONS
s 'ROESBECK HOSTS THE 3OUTHWEST &IDDLE #HAMPIONSHIPS ,IONS #LUB #AR 3HOW AND THE ,IMESTONE #OUNTY &AIR IN ADDITION TO MANY OTHER FAMILY ORIENTED ACTIVITIES
s -AFFETT -EMORIAL ,IBRARY HAS THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF CITIZENS FROM TODDLERS TO SENIORS AND IS WELL KNOWN FOR ITS GENEALOGY RESEARCH DEPARTMENT
s 4HE AREA BOASTS OUTSTANDING RECREATION AREAS AND NATURAL HABITAT FOR HUNTING lSHING CAMPING AND OTHER WATER SPORTS AT BEAUTIFUL ,AKE ,IMESTONE AND &T 0ARKER 3TATE 0ARK
GROESBECK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE s WWW CITYOFGROESBECK COM
TEXAS’ BEST KEPT SECRET
Success AWAITS IN GROESBECK
s )DEALLY LOCATED IN THE CENTER OF THE 53 AND 4EXAS A SHORT DRIVE TO THE THREE LARGEST CITIES IN THE STATE n (OUSTON
$ALLAS AND !USTIN WITH TROUBLE FREE ACCESS TO MAJOR INTERSTATE RAIL REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL AIR TRAVEL
s 4HE ATMOSPHERE AND PACE OF SMALL TOWN 4EXAS COMBINE WITH AN ATTITUDE OF PROGRESS AND INNOVATION
s ,OWER COSTS GREAT CLIMATE AND A TRUE ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT THAT WELCOMES ENTERPRISE MAKE 'ROESBECK AN EXCELLENT PLACE TO OPERATE YOUR BUSINESS
s 2ESOURCES YOU NEED FOR YOUR BUSINESS ARE AVAILABLE
,AND n ACRE INDUSTRIAL PARK FOR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
7ATER n LARGE STABLE WATER SUPPLY
0OWER n AMPLE ELECTRICITY AND NATURAL GAS ARE AVAILABLE FOR YOUR BUSINESS
0EOPLE n HARDWORKING CONSCIENTIOUS PEOPLE TO MEET YOUR EMPLOYMENT NEEDS
s 'ROESBECK %CONOMIC $EVELOPMENT #ORPORATION IS READY TO SERVE THE NEEDS OF YOUR BUSINESS AND ASSIST YOU AS YOU LOCATE TO 'ROESBECK
GROESBECK ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION s WWW GROESBECKEDC COM
" /FX 7JTJPO JO )FBMUI $BSF Our Wellness Environments Rooms Since 1973, Limestone Medical Center has been committed to providing the highest level of service as well as family and general practice medical care to the residents of Limestone and surrounding counties. Being the only facility in Texas offering Wellness Environments Rooms and offering a multitude of inpatient and outpatient services shows how dedicated Limestone Medical Center is to its patients and community.
701 McClintic Dr. Groesbeck, TX (254) 729-3281 www.lmchospital.com
Historic buildings line the streets of downtown Clifton. Staff Photo
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HEART OF TEXAS
The Hill County Courthouse, located in Hillsboro, was built in 1890. Staff Photo
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HEART OF TEXAS
Made in the Heart of Texas Manufacturing sector remains core component of regional business
Story by Joe Morris
T
he Heart of Texas is a magnet for new and nontraditional companies these days, but its longtime manufacturing base continues to grow and thrive as well. In fact, manufacturing accounts for 14 percent of the jobs in the Heart of Texas region, compared to 9 percent in Texas and 8 percent across the nation. Companies employing workers include Associated Hygienic Products, which just completed a 310,000-square-foot advanced diaper manufacturing facility. The plant began production in the fall with more than 100 employees and is expected to create more jobs over the next two years. AHP is one of the leading manufacturers of private label/ corporate brand baby diapers and training
pants in the country. Allergan is launching the second phase of a multiyear expansion at its pharmaceutical manufacturing plant. The company’s Waco plant has more than 500 employees. Allergan is a multi-specialty healthcare company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing innovative pharmaceuticals, biologics and medical devices that enable people to see more clearly and move more freely. Its list of products include BOTOX and RESTASIS. In addition, Coca Cola recently completed a $30 million expansion to add its new Vitamin Water, Powerade and Fuze lines as part of continued growth at the 600,000-square-foot facility in Texas Central Park. Since 1995,
What’ss Onlinee Learn more about manufacturing in the Heart of Texas at imagesheartoftexas.com.
Chicken is big business in the Heart of Texas for growing companies like Sanderson Farms. P H O T O B Y J E F F R E Y S . O T T O
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Texas Machine Tool International
Coca Cola has added 15 new lines to its facility here and grown employment to more than 300. Other companies making substantial investments include: Texas Machine-Tool International is opening a new, 24,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Bellmead. The company designs, manufactures and refurbishes machine-tool equipment and is investing close to $2 million in the project. Caterpillar is ramping up work at its new 750,000-square-foot distribution center and should be at full capacity by June 2010, when it is expected to employ 200 workers. Business is also going well for Sanderson Farms Inc., which came into the area with an $80 million complex that opened in August 2007. The combination processing plant
“It took us two years to ramp up but we’ve gotten there at this facility, which is the single largest capital investment in job creation in the history of Waco.” and hatchery is now running at full capacity and employs some 1,200 people, says Bob Billingsley, director of development and engineering. “It took us about two years to ramp up but we’ve gotten there at this facility, which is the single largest capital investment in job creation in the history of Waco,” Billingsley says. Sanderson was, and is, high on the area. The company has been in the Bryan-College Station area since 1997.
When it began looking around for other sites, the company stayed pretty much within Texas’ borders. “We have some 50 points in our site-selection criteria, because we’re making a judgment on a good place to do business,” Billingsley says. “Texas had always been on our radar as a place to expand because of the dynamics of the consumer base and workforce, and growing in Waco has been a very good decision for us.” IMAGESHEARTOFTEXAS.COM
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Bellmead Room to Grow With a new Home Depot, Discount Tire and Holiday Inn, the property adjacent to Interstate 35, north of Lakeshore Drive is an ideal location for future investment. Numerous hotels and restaurants in the area service travelers and guests to nearby Baylor University sporting events. The Bellmead Economic Development Corporation is available to meet with site selectors who are looking for a central location, well-trained workforce and excellent quality of life. Photo by Sarah Hess
Outstanding Schools LaVega ISD boasts several new schools for the children of Bellmead. These state-of-theart facilities provide outstanding programs to prepare students for a bright future.
Bellmead City Hall Progressive City The City of Bellmead has a new police department and city hall to serve the citizens of the community. These facilities were built for the needs of a growing city and to enhance services for taxpayers.
Photos by Sarah Hess
Bellmead Police Department
Where business intersects lifestyle
Chamber of Commerce Working for You
Crossroads of Economic Development
The Bellmead Chamber of Commerce engages local businesses through ribbon cuttings and events to raise scholarship funds for LaVega ISD students. This organization brings the business community together to stimulate growth and seek ways to partner with the city on economic development projects.
Bellmead’s location on Interstate 35 makes it a hot spot for development. Rail runs through the city, and two airports are nearby.
New Businesses Collin Street Bakery’s beautiful new store in Bellmead draws customers from both the interstate and local residents. It’s an ideal example of the confidence investors have in Bellmead. Three local colleges train a diverse workforce for a growing job market.
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HEART OF TEXAS
Livability
Let’s Go Clubbing Heart of Texas golf is inviting and challenging
Story by Kevin Litwin Photography by Brian McCord
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et’s go clubbing can be a rally cry at several top golf courses throughout the Heart of Texas. Some of the nicest golf venues this side of Scotland are located in the region, with all of the courses having their own distinct flair and amenities. For example, Bosque Valley Golf Club in Meridian features a difficult nine-hole narrow layout where golfers are rewarded for good shots, while Battle Lake in Mart features Birdie Girls who ride golf carts to provide golfers with food and beverages during the 18-hole rounds. In Waco, there are numerous venues for golfers to enjoy including one of the state’s most beautiful and challenging courses, Twin Rivers Golf Club. Nestled among the rolling hills along the banks of the South and Middle Bosque Rivers, Twin Rivers serves as the home course for the Baylor University Golf Teams. The course measures 7,478 yards and is the second-longest in Texas. Other courses in the region include Bogey’s Par 3, James Connally Golf Course, Lake Waco Country Club and Ridgewood Country Club. In the Marlin community, Marlin Country Club is a nine-hole course that has been in operation since 1920, while the city of Mexia is home to Olde Oaks Golf Course that features nine holes set among rugged hilly terrain. Two of the most popular golf destinations in the Heart of Texas region are Cottonwood
Creek Golf Course in Waco and White Bluff Resort in Lake Whitney. Cottonwood Creek is a public facility whose design team included Pete Dye, one of the most respected golf course architects in the world. The Waco Parks & Recreation Department takes pride in landscaping Cottonwood’s rolling-plain terrain, with the par 72 course measuring an impressive 7,140 yards from the championship tees. The facility also has a driving range that is 300 yards long and 100 yards wide, and it features the largest putting green in the area. Cottonwood Creek’s on-site sports bar is known for its burgers. Meanwhile at White Bluff Resort, compliments are easy to come by. White Bluff features two championship courses that were both designed by 13-time PGA tour winner Bruce Lietzke, and Golf Digest magazine has rewarded the resort with a four-star rating. Both the Old Course and the New Course at White Bluff have well-kept fairways that wind through hundreds of trees, and bent grass greens are highlighted by water hazards and sand bunkers. The two courses have front and back nines that are completely different from one another, thanks to changes in elevation. In addition, the New Course was chosen by the Northern Texas PGA to host the Texas State Open from 2003-2006. It remains a true jewel in the Heart of Texas, where several other golfing gems grace the region’s green landscapes as well.
Baylor in Big 12 College football fans in the Heart of Texas region have plenty to cheer about. This region is the home of the Big 12 Conference. There are many national football powerhouses in the Big 12 Conference, including Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas A&M and Waco's own Baylor University. The Big 12 Conference is one of the most competitive in college sports.
Brian Jones tees off at Cottonwood Creek Golf Course in Waco. Cottonwood Creek features 7,140 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 72.
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Education
Well-Schooled Partnership between MCC, universities creates four-year option
Story by Joe Morris • Photography by Brian McCord
Pursue a Degree Higher education is accessible to residents in the Heart of Texas. Here’s a look at three options: • Baylor University is a nationally ranked liberal arts institution offering a top academic experience. More than 70 percent of entering freshmen graduated in the top 25 percent of their high school class. • Texas State Technical College confers more associate degrees in engineer-related technologies than any other school in the nation. • Hill College is an excellent choice for those students interested in transferring to a fouryear college or entering a technical career.
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he partnership between area universities and McLennan Community College’s University Center just keeps getting better. The center allows those pursuing an associate’s degree at MCC to stay on campus and complete a four-year program. Texas Tech University now offers a bachelor’s degree in general studies, with English, biology or communications concentrations. Texas Tech joins Tarleton State University, the University of Texas at Arlington, the University of Texas at Brownsville, the University of Texas Medical Branch-Galveston and Midwestern State University at the center. The expanding partnerships and programs support the center’s mission to make higher education more accessible. “In the late 1980s, the MCC administration realized that the Waco area had as many as 30,000 individuals that had earned an associate’s degree from MCC or [Texas State Technical College-Waco], but did not have the opportunity to attend a four-year state university to earn a bachelor’s degree,” says Lewis Snell, the center’s director. “Discussion soon began that resulted in offering limited classes on the MCC campus. In the late 1990s, the idea of offering all the necessary upperdivision classes over a two-year period was developed, which ultimately led to the current concept of bachelor’s degrees being offered through the University Center partnerships.” To say the idea took off is a serious
understatement. “We began offering complete degrees with the University of Texas at Arlington in 2001 with just a handful of students,” Snell says. “By 2009, we had six partner universities, 30 degrees offered and just over 800 students. At this point, we can say that over 600 students have graduated with a degree from one of the partner universities and have never had to leave McLennan County.” Each of the participating universities is responsible for its degree programs and provides faculty members to instruct each course. Some are taught live on campus, while others are conducted remotely via the Internet, but all have combined to benefit not only MCC students but the partner institutions as well. “They gain access to students, classrooms and the general use of the MCC facilities,” Snell says. “In some cases, they are also able to recruit students from Waco to their home institutions as an added benefit.” Each also has been busily adding faculty and advisers, which they’ll need if current enrollment projections hold true. “Our general goal is to offer educational opportunities to the 9,100 students that are currently enrolled at MCC,” Snell says. “Roughly 40 percent of students are currently enrolled in classes in preparation to attend one of the University Center partner programs, and we have projected that we will have 2,500 students enrolled in classes in the next five years.”
The new Michaelis Academic Center at McLennan Community College.
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HEART OF TEXAS
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HEART OF TEXAS
Health
Healthy Choice New hospital, expanded networks give residents top-ranked care
Story by Joe Morris Photography by Brian McCord
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ew facilities and advanced technology are the order of the day for health care in the Heart of Texas. Hillcrest Health System has recently moved into its new $185 million, 472,000-square-foot complex that includes a community hospital, two medical office buildings, and a women and children’s hospital. The new Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center campus features everything from an outpatient surgery and imaging center and expanded emergency room facilities to wireless computers for staff. The 236-bed facility also offers a Level II trauma center and the Hillcrest Family Health Center, a network of family-medicine clinics. The region’s health-care community is defined more by its partnerships than competition, as evidenced by the partnership agreement that was finalized between Hillcrest and Scott & White Healthcare in April 2009. The agreement unites the two entities to operate Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center. Scott & White has more than 20 outpatient clinics in central Texas, a hospital and clinic in Temple and an acutecare hospital in Round Rock. It is the principal teaching facility for the Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine. Change is in the air at Providence Healthcare Network as well, which continues to benefit
from a $48.5 million expansion to Providence Heath Center, its main facility. The hospital saw its service area grow by almost 10 percent between 2000 and 2005 and expects a similar rate of growth by 2010. The expansion, which included a five-story tower, doubled the ER to 50 beds, doubled the ICU and added six more suites to the surgery department. Providence also has partnered with Waco Surgical’s Cecilia Mitchell Comprehensive Breast Center and the Providence Plaza Mammography Center of Waco Radiology to open a new breast-health center. The $3 million center is a full-service facility that offers advanced digital mammography and a spa-like atmosphere, according to Jonathan Ford, vice president of marketing. The provider also was named a Joint Commission Accredited Primary Stroke Center in 2008 and was fully recertified in August 2009. “The interdisciplinary team of the Stroke Center at Providence will ensure patients are rapidly evaluated for treatment and receive all appropriate care to improve outcomes,” Ford says. “Providence will work to increase community awareness of the signs and symptoms of stroke. This commitment reflects the deep commitment of Providence Healthcare Network to front-line stroke care in Waco and the surrounding area.”
Health Care Providers • Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center • Hillcrest Women & Children’s Hospital • Scott & White Healthcare • Providence Healthcare • Waco VA Hospital • Limestone Medical Center • East Texas Medical Center, Fairfield • Goodall Witcher Hospital • Falls Community Hospital & Clinic • Hill Regional Hospital • Family Diagnostic Medical Center • Waco Family Health Center
Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center opened its new campus April 4, 2009.
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HEART OF TEXAS
Energy/Technology
More Power to Us New coal-fired plant provides jobs now, fuels future growth Story by Joe Morris Photography by Brian McCord
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he $1 billion price tag is enough to make the Sandy Creek Power Generation Facility get noticed, but supporters say that job creation and ongoing tax revenue are what make the project really stand out. “At its construction peak, it will have around 1,200 employees out there, and then there will be around 100 permanent direct jobs,” says McLennan County Judge Jim Lewis. “And that doesn’t factor in indirect employment not only in our county but surrounding counties.” As far as the tax rolls are concerned, the plant boosts McLennan from about $7 billion to more than $11 billion, an increase that will allow for enhanced municipal services as well as a faster track for infrastructure and other improvements and enhancements the area needs to remain competitive for business relocation and expansion. The project is led by Sandy Creek Energy Associates LP, a joint venture between subsidiaries of Houston-based Dynergy Inc. and LS Power Group of New Jersey. The 900-megawatt facility will operate by pulverizing coal from the Powder River Basin and have the latest in emission-reduction
technology, according to Dynergy officials. Local provider Brazos Electric Cooperative also is participating in the project, through both direct ownership and 150 megawatts of output. The plant currently is set to come online in 2012 and has all of its permits. Among its high-tech equipment are low-NOx burners, a selective catalytic reduction system, scrubbers and a continuous emissions monitoring system. Once running, it will be selling energy into the Electric Reliability Council of Texas and provide energy for around 100,000 homes and businesses. On the ground in McLennan County, however, it’s all about the jobs and about how a massive project such as this can be a game-changer for years to come when talking about economic development in the area, Lewis says. “By the time the investment in the plant is over, others will be able to look at our local power grid and see what we can offer,” he says. “It may not be something that we can use to bring other energy providers in here, but just about any industry that has a heavy demand for electricity will be looking at us now.”
The site-selection committee looked at land all over Texas and elsewhere, so successfully landing the facility took about four years and a lot of cooperation – efforts that will pay off down the road as this project matures, Lewis predicts. “There was a lot of hard work, and we benefited from some timing issues,” Lewis says. “But with what it’s doing for jobs, and for our tax base, it was very worth it. This has definitely been a good move for McLennan County.”
18% 32%
22%
28%
WHERE DOES THE ENERGY GO? Industry Transportation Commercial Buildings
Energy generation has a positive economic impact on the Heart of Texas region. The Sandy Creek Energy Station is one of the largest new coal projects in the country.
Residential Buildings
MORE AT IMAGESHEARTOFTEXAS.COM
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Mexia, Texas is the Magical Middle of America. Equidistant between Seattle and Miami, Mexia is where magic and reality become one.
Whether you are looking for family fun or a site for your business, Mexia, Texas is the right choice. Come look us over, you’ll like what you find. www.cityofmexia.com
S TA F F P H O T O
BRIAN McCORD
BRIAN McCORD
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HEART OF TEXAS
Transportation
Distribution Evolution Distribution center expansions lead to public transit improvements
Story by Joe Morris
A
s manufacturers and retailers grow their distribution presence throughout the Heart of Texas region, local officials are looking at new and innovative ways to move something else: personnel. Distribution centers are big business here, with such players at Caterpillar Logistics Services Inc., SherwinWilliams, Tractor Supply Co., Walmart and others on the ground. The area has proven to be such a good location, in fact, that many companies are growing: Caterpillar is building a facility that will contain more than 750,000 square feet of space, while Tractor Supply is spending $10.2 million to double its facility to more than 650,000 square feet. “An impressive number of distribution centers have chosen the Waco region as their location for manufacturing and as a distribution point for their products,” says Gary Rushing, transportation manager for the Heart of Texas Council of Governments’ Rural Transit District. “Waco is centrally located in Texas, and Interstate 35 and freight rail are both easily accessible.” The jobs the centers have created are good news for McLennan and surrounding counties, but they have also created a challenge worth addressing: How to get people to and from work if they prefer public transportation or don’t own a car? “As the distribution center population grows, the need to increase the workforce grows accordingly,” Rushing says.
“The Heart of Texas Council of Governments Rural Transit District provides public transportation in Bosque, Falls, Freestone, Hill, Limestone and McLennan counties, and one of our transportation partners is Waco Transit, the urban transportation provider that offers fixed-route bus service and ADA complementary paratransit services within the Waco urbanized area. Both the rural and urbanized transit systems work as a collaborative to link people to jobs by providing public transportation in the six-county region.” Having that web of services available is very attractive to companies looking to move into or expand within the area, as it allows them to draw from a larger employee pool. The rural and metro services are constantly adding to their fleets in anticipation of further growth, and they also are constantly reviewing routes and ridership needs so they can continue to meet needs now and in the future, Rushing says. “The long-term vision for the Heart of Texas is to evolve into a region of integrated and collaborative transit services whose function is to connect people with their destinations, remove barriers to mobility, and generate efficiencies by innovation and by aggregating trips and resources,” he says. “We fully expect to become a region that is clientfocused, that is managing a greatly increased trip volume and expanded services, and that is providing public transportation more effectively and efficiently.”
Opposite: Walmart, Tractor Supply Co. and Sherwin-Williams have distribution centers in the Heart of Texas.
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ECONOMIC PROFILE
McLENNAN COUNTY www.co.mclennan.tx.us
BUSINESS SNAPSHOT The Heart of Texas region is strategically positioned for business, with its proximity to Mexico, excellent infrastructure, skilled and trainable workforce, and pro-business environment. Affordable, customized workforce training is available through local colleges.
COUNTY INFORMATION BOSQUE COUNTY www.bosquecounty.us Population 17,760 (U.S. Census 2008) Meridian Chamber of Commerce P.O. Box 758, Meridian, TX 76665 (254) 435-2966 www.meridianchamber.com
Fairfield Chamber of Commerce 900 W. Commerce Fairfield, TX 75840 (903) 389-5792 (903) 389-8382 (fax) www.fairfieldtx.com
www.co.hill.tx.us Population 35,637 (U.S. Census 2008) Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce 115 N. Covington Hillsboro, TX 76645 (254) 582-2481 (254) 582-0465 (fax) www.hillsborochamber.org
FALLS COUNTY
LIMESTONE COUNTY
Marlin Chamber of Commerce 245 Coleman St. Marlin, TX 76661 (254) 803-3301 (254) 883-2171 (fax) www.marlintexas.com
FREESTONE COUNTY
Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce 900 Washington Ave. Waco, TX 76701 (254) 752-6551 (254) 752-6618 (fax) www.wacochamber.com
HILL COUNTY
Clifton Chamber of Commerce 115 N. Avenue D, Clifton, TX 76634 (254) 675-3720 www.cliftontexas.org
Population 16,900 (U.S. Census 2008)
Population 230,213 (U.S. Census 2008)
www.co.limestone.tx.us Population 22,051 (U.S. Census 2008) Groesbeck Chamber of Commerce 110 N. Ellis St. (254) 729-3894 www.groesbecktexas.org
www.co.freestone.tx.us
What’s Onlinee
Population 18,923 (U.S. Census 2008)
For more in-depth demographic, statistical and community information on the Heart of Texas, go to imagesheartoftexas.com and click on Economic Profile.
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WWW SLEEPINNHEWITT COM
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HEART OF TEXAS
Who is Oncor?
City ofT Whitney E X A S One of the best kept secrets in Texas is just a short distance between Dallas/Ft. Worth and the Austin area. The City of Whitney sparkles as a multi-faceted prism on a cool, crisp sunlit morning. Many of us remember the location from our childhood as a remote place to go to a limestone faced, deep water lake teaming with Strippers and Bass just ready to be caught. But the secret is out, and the city is quickly living up to the slogan, “The Future in Action” with plenty of shopping that can fill a woman’s need for that just right antique or the man’s quest for that perfect championship golf course, Whitney has it all. From a spa hideaway to a four-star gourmet restaurant, to a number of state park sites, it is all a short drive from North or Central Texas. The visitor friendly city also wants the would-be entrepreneur to check out the historic downtown and surrounding area for that perfect place for your business to call home. Affordable living, educational excellence, business friendly incentives
and a great quality of life is why visitors are coming to us for a total package environment that puts the City of Whitney on a fast-forward track to becoming a desired destination location. Something for everyone, Whitney is the future in motion. For more information on the city that has the best of all worlds, contact the City of Whitney at the City of Whitney, P.O. Box 2050, Whitney, TX 76692, or call (254) 694-2261 or online at www.cityofwhitney.org.
Other potential incentives: s %NTERPRISE ZONE s AGREEMENTS
If you’ve got questions, I’ve got answers.
I am Oncor
We are Oncor
City of Bellmead-EDC www.bellmead.com
Hubbard Economic Development www.hubbardcity.net
City of Groesbeck www.groesbeckedc.com
Mexia Economic Development Corporation www.mexiaedc.com
Extraco Banks www.extracobanks.com
I am Oncor
I use the latest technology to keep the state’s electric superhighways moving at light speed.
advertisers
City of Whitney
My job is to secure your power lines day or night, sun or storm.
Business incentives include: s )NDUSTRIAL AREA s "USINESS RELATED SEWER water-site improvements s )NFRASTRUCTURE ASSISTANCE TO RETAIL or commercial projects
visit our
City of Hillsboro www.hillsborotx.org
I am Oncor
Oncor Electric Delivery www.oncor.com Sleep Inn & Suites www.sleepinn.com/hotel-hewitt-tx976
Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce www.wacochamber.com
Texas State Technical College Waco www.tstc.edu
Heart of Texas Council of Governments www.hotcog.org
Workforce Solutions – Heart of Texas www.hotworkforce.com
Together, we serve millions of customers every day. Together, we are the new faces of electric delivery.
www.oncor.com Oncor provides the same reliable electric service no matter which retail electric provider you choose. Oncor works in partnership with communities it serves to encourage economic development and promote energy efficiency.
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Ad Index 3 0 C IT Y O F B E L L M E A D - E D C
8 H U B BA R D ECO N O M I C D E V E LO P M E N T
2 3 C IT Y O F G RO E S B EC K
C 2 C IT Y O F H I L L S B O RO
4 0 M E XI A ECO N O M I C D E V E LO P M E N T CO R P O R ATI O N
C 3 C IT Y O F W H IT N E Y
C 3 O N CO R E L EC T R I C D E LI V E RY
5 E X T R ACO BA N K S
4 4 S L EEP I N N & S U ITE S
2 G R E AT E R WACO C H A M B E R O F CO M M E RC E
C 4 T E X A S S TAT E T EC H N I C A L CO L L EG E WACO
6 H E A RT O F T E X A S CO U N C I L O F G OV E R N M E N TS
4 4 WO R K FO RC E SO LU TI O N S – H E A RT O F T E X A S