Business Images Research Valley, TX: 2009

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“Best Kept Secret in Texas, Like No Place Else ...” (979) 828-3276 www.franklintexas.com

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Photos courtesy of Stacey Reynolds Photography

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On TX Highway 6, surrounded by green prairies and rolling hills, 21 miles from Bryan-College Station, 70 miles from Houston, 117 miles from Austin and 189 miles from Dallas/Ft. Worth.

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Highly skilled and qualified workforce – progressive K-12 school system. The distance is 21 miles to Texas A&M University, 30 miles to Blinn College and the Workforce Center, 45 miles to Sam Houston State University.

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Major State Highways TX-6, TX-90 and TX-105 pass through Navasota. The distance to US-290 is 20 miles, I-45 is 40 miles, I-10 is 70 miles. Navasota has a local public airport, Easterwood airport is 22 miles away, Houston and Austin International airports are close. Our Industrial Park is serviced by the Union Pacific Railroad.

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Many opportunities exist to hunt, fish, watch and play sports. Navasota is a family-oriented community filled with quality recreational facilities for everyone in your family to enjoy.

Blues C apital of TöĉòĄ t Room to Grow ... Proximity to Everything! Steve Maddox, Economic Director (936) 825-2961

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spoiled for choices throughout the region. The more rural areas can and do offer advantageous land deals for industries, while the more urban settings are able to compete with tax breaks and other incentives. The region – which includes Brazos, Burleson, Grimes, Leon, Madison, Robertson and Washington counties –

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hether it’s small-town ambiance or a large metropolitan area with a host of amenities, Research Valley is able to offer any company looking to relocate to or expand within the region plenty of options. With municipalities of varying sizes and the attendant benefits that they’re able to bring to the table, companies are

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also boasts knowledge assets such as Texas A&M University and Blinn College, both of which produce highly skilled, educated graduates for employers and ongoing, specialized workforce devel opment and training programs that can be customized to meet most business needs. “We’re working right now with a lot of motels, because we’re building an expo center for the county,� says Ken Jones, executive director of the Buffalo Economic Development Corp. in Leon County. “We’ve got a Hampton Inn opening and a couple of others that are getting started in advance of the center.� Leon County planners have begun the site-selection process for the center, which when finished will seat around 6,000 people and be a hub for sporting events, large-scale rodeos and other touristfriendly programs, Jones says. “We’ll spend around $3 million on the project, and we’re willing to do that because we think it will greatly enhance our tourism potential,� he says. “We have a lot of major industry in our area, including Nucor Steel, so we’re pretty well known as an industrial community. We certainly want to continue in that

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G roup R ates A vailable • M eeting S pace A vailable 907 E. University Dr. College Station, TX 77840 (979) 268-5500 • Fax: (979) 268-5501

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regard, but we’re also looking at going in a different direction, as well.� In Burleson County, the focus is on growing the business base with industrial park acreage, promoting the area’s prox imity to most of the state’s population centers and transportation offerings, and touting its rural quality-of-life amenities as well. “We have some land available at the county industrial park, which is within the city limits, and we’ve also got a nine-acre and six-acre tract that we’re selling along with vacant land adjoining the industrial park,� says Sal Zaccagnino, treasurer of the Burleson County Industrial Foundation and a member of its board of directors. “We’re working with several companies coming in that want large parcels of land, but also want access to city services. With these, we can offer them both.� The county has scored some major coups in recent months, including landing a FedEx distribution center. That, in turn has been a key factor in securing companies such as Ceres Inc., a seed-research firm out of Thousand Oaks, Calif., which is building an office and research complex on land adjacent to the FedEx center. “They’re building on a five-acre tract, but they’ve leased 200 acres of land to do their plant research,� Zaccagnino says. “We’ve been fortunate that our private landowners have been very proactive and working with us and being reasonable in terms of land costs.� These recent successes, along with ongoing revitalization and adaptive reuse of existing structures, are being replicated throughout Research Valley. Economic development officials are finding that one or two new players can reinvigorate an entire area, and they’re wasting no time building on those successes. “A big company coming here makes us a beacon for potential future relocations, and these professionals move into the community and that helps us as well,� Zaccagnino says. “And that brings more business and more people, and we’re able to keep on developing and working on new projects.� – Joe Morris

We’ll See You There!

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ust take a deep breath and say “Wow.� The $128 million Texas A&M Health Science Center campus is under construction in Bryan as part of the Texas A&M University System’s plan to have all HSC buildings on one site. A current Health Science Center exists at Texas A&M University but is spread among several buildings and offices in Bryan and College Station. The new campus will be on 200 acres on the west side of Bryan, along State Highway 47, says Joey Dunn, city of Bryan engineer. That site will ultimately allow the center to consolidate its academic programs and administration onto a single campus. The first two buildings in the complex – the $60 million Medical Education and Research Center and the Health Professions Education Center – are scheduled to open in summer 2009. The Texas A&M Health Science Center provides the state with health education, outreach and research at six colleges throughout Texas, including Texas A&M in Bryan. Getting the Health Science Center to locate in Bryan is a major coup for the city. In 2010 alone, HSC is expected to have

a $1 billion impact on the Research Valley economy when its first two buildings open. “The west side of Bryan is about to get very busy and interesting,� Dunn says. Also on the city’s west side is the existing Traditions Club golf course/residential community, which is adjacent to the HSC property. “Bottom line for the city of Bryan is that there are going to be a lot of growth opportunities around two major projects here – the 200-acre Health Science Center and the adjacent 900 acres of property at Traditions Club that still has 500 acres to develop,� Dunn says. The Texas A&M Health Science Center campus will be utilized for research as well as to educate future doctors, nurses and other health-care professionals. Texas A&M officials say that the campus might include a hospital in the future, if the need for more hospital beds in Research Valley arises as the population continues to grow. “We also want to eventually get a parkway built that will link the HSC in Bryan to the main Texas A&M campus in College Station,� Dunn says. “This whole project is exciting.� – Kevin Litwin

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with tuition, more specifically, looking at an increase and deciding how much. Then there was the matter of setting up her administration, tackling issues left over from her predecessor, preparing to deal with the state legislature, even retiring Reveille, the school’s mascot, and finding a new one. It’s made for busy but exciting days on campus, where some $580 million in new construction projects are under way or just completed. Murano is revved, in particular, about

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hen she was sworn into office, Dr. Elsa Murano represented a lot of firsts at Texas A&M University. The new president, the 48,000-student university’s 23rd, is the first woman to hold the post, as well as the first Hispanic-American. “We went to work right away, so I haven’t thought about my appointment much because we’ve been busy getting things done,� Murano says. First up on her to-do list was dealing

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the school’s multifaceted research arena, both as a former researcher herself and as an administrator who sees endless possibilities. “I started my career here teaching and conducting research in an area that was very hot – food safety,� she says. “So I know about the importance of conducting research and pursuing support from granting agencies. We are a Tier One research university, and that’s as important to us as teaching and service.� The Cuban-born Murano, who came to the United States with her family when she was 14, joined the Texas A&M faculty in the Department of Animal Science and was named director of its Center for Food Safety in 1997. After a stint as undersecretary for food safety for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, she returned to Texas A&M in January 2005 as a vice chancellor and dean of Agriculture and Life Sciences, joint positions she held until being appointed president. The university is no small economic engine in Research Valley in employment and overall spending, and the R&D aspect is a major driver for the area as well. “The research we conduct is in areas of tremendous importance, not just to the state but to the nation,� she says. “We are working on the development of alternative fuels and energy sources, from biofuels to wind energy, to climate change. “We have a world-class veterinary medicine school here, and a lot of their work with animal models moves to the area of human health, such as nutrition and ways to prevent diseases. There’s just a lot going on here.� The university also is preparing an academic master plan, which will cover its research, teaching and service missions. Under it, a research road map will set priorities, everything from types of research to pursue to lab remodeling and equipment purchasing priorities. “We’re coming together as a university community to grapple with development, and we’re going to maximize our resources and energies to make significant strides in some very specific areas of research,� Murano says. – Joe Morris

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esearch Valley’s health sector is receiving a boost from expansions and new technologies that will improve care given to residents of the region. The projects highlight the role that health care plays in the regional economy, where it is responsible for 11,400 direct jobs and roughly $750 million in annual spending. The Bryan-based St. Joseph Health System in 2008 opened an urgent-care center in College Station called St. Joseph Express. That project marked the jumping-off point for a planned 38-acre campus that the health system plans for the area. In 2007, St. Joseph acquired 281 acres from the city, allowing it to bring a health-care facility to a high-growth area. Work was slated to begin in October 2008 on a freestanding emergency room and imaging center. In all, St. Joseph is spending $15.5 million on the three projects. A medical office building is also planned, with St. Joseph serving as anchor tenant, and primary-care physicians and specialties filling out the remaining space. Slated for completion in 2010, the office building will complement the urgent-care building on campus. St. Joseph CEO Tony Pfitzer says the campus is needed to serve a growing population in the southern area of the community and ease emergency room demands at the Bryan campus. He says half of the campus will be available for future expansion. St. Joseph also operates 25-bed health centers in Burleson, Grimes and Madison counties and family medicine clinics in several communities. At its home campus in Bryan, St. Joseph is spending $13 million to upgrade its women’s

health center. Pfitzer says the project will provide “state-of-the-art� nurseries, patient rooms and family spaces for inpatient maternal and childhealth services. The provider will also expand the capacity of its nursing, labor and delivery, and postpartum units as part of the upgrade. Scott & White has worked with Texas A&M University to educate the next generation of physicians. The hospital has its main campus in nearby Temple, but operates a clinic in College Station that includes outpatient surgery services. Dr. Walter Dyck, a former executive associate dean, says that earlier this decade both the Temple and College Station locations developed four-year campuses for medical schools. A nonprofit provider and insurer, Scott & White wants a role in academia and follows a model similar to the Mayo Clinic. At both campuses, scores of students pass through the program each year, both serving patients in the area and training future physicians. College Station Medical Center has been unveiling its own development plans. The hospital, which employs more than 500 and has nearly 170 active physicians, already provides urgent-care, outpatient and other services from its health centers. In 2007, the hospital broke ground on its sixth medical office building. In addition to bricks-and-mortar development, College Station has spent $6 million on new technologies, including a $1.5 million da Vinci surgical system and $3.5 million for a 64-slice CT scanner. The project includes an advanced cardiac catheterization lab, creating “the most advanced cardiology technology in our region,� says CEO Thomas Jackson. – Roy Moore

;]`S 7\aWUVb COLLEGE STATION MEDICAL CENTER 604 Rock Prairie Road College Station, TX 77845 (979) 764-5100 www.csmedcenter.com Beds: 150 Patient discharges FY 2007: 5,870 Inpatient days FY 2007: 27,531 SAINT JOSEPH REGIONAL HEALTH CENTER 2801 Franciscan Drive Bryan, TX 77802 (979) 776-3777 www.st-joseph.org/sjrhc Beds: 259 Patient discharges FY 2007: 14,445 Inpatient days FY 2007: 77,458 Also operates health centers in Burleson, Grimes and Madison counties Source: American Hospital Directory

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esearch Valley has a wealth of airports in its seven counties and is investing in them to capitalize on growing corporate, charter and recreational traffic. The lineup includes Easterwood Airport in College Station, which Texas A&M University has owned since it opened in 1940. The city of Bryan owns Coulter Field. Burleson County has Caldwell Municipal Airport, Grimes County is home to Navasota Municipal Airport and Washington County has Benham Municipal Airport. Hearne Municipal Airport in Robertson County will be getting new hangars as part of an expansion. The project also calls for extending the runway from 4,000 to 5,500 feet and adding a GPS landing approach for pilots, says Kent Brunette, Hearne’s director of economic development. Most of the airports in the region are general aviation facilities, though Easterwood hosts two commercial providers, American Eagle and Continental Connection. American Eagle offers three daily trips to Dallas and Continental schedules eight flights to Houston, says

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Coulter hosts an open house each year, with vintage aircraft, flyovers and several hundred visitors. It will be the site of a Light Sport Aircraft Showcase on March 14-15, 2009. The city has acquired an additional 60 acres for the airport, which is looking for additional investors to build hangars. Including public and private hangars, Coulter now has space for about 70 planes. Hearne wants to be a destination for Texas A&M visitors who’d rather avoid the college crowd. City officials see investing in the airport as part of a broader economic development initiative that in large part is serving the booming oil and gas industries. “In fact, one day there was a lady in a gray flannel suit, getting out of a charter jet, who hopped into a Jaguar the same color as her clothes,� Brunette says. “One of the energy companies had flown her in for a meeting.� – Pamela Coyle

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John H. Happ Jr., Easterwood’s director. Easterwood includes a 38,000-squarefoot terminal and three runways. The opening of the George Bush Presidential Library on the Texas A&M campus in College Station in 1997 increased the number of charter flights at the airport, Happ says. “The university has lots of functions, and the football games bring in quite a few,� he says. Driving to airports in Austin or Houston takes at least 90 minutes, and when time is money, more companies are looking at other options. “An airport like this is basically another highway into the city,� says Karl Preston, director of fixed base operations at Coulter Field. “It provides another conduit, and people can come in from all over.� Private investors recently built more hangars at Coulter, and all the bays are spoken for. “I have a waiting list of about 50 people,� Preston says.

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or James Y. Lancaster, it’s a simple question: “Are you shooting for the moon or are you shooting for Mars?� It’s a question Lancaster poses to fledgling entrepreneurs in his capacity as general manager of the Research Valley Innovation Center, estab-

lished in 2007 to help science and technology startup companies reach their potential. “A lot of times, the entrepreneurs are the inventors,� he says. “They may be mechanical or biomedical engineers and may never have sold a product. These are very bright people, but they haven’t taken a product to market before. So let’s find the business expertise that complements them.� The Innovation Center, he says, matches expertise with the entrepreneurial vision and the realistic options that the technology presents. The center is the result of an agreement among the Texas A&M System, Texas A&M University and Health Science Center, and the Research Valley Partnership, a public-private corporation dedicated to promoting the region and creating jobs. The center has a broad scope of work, including business advisory services, funding-access support programs, investment networking, peer-to-peer networking, an Entrepreneur-in-Residence program, and virtual and physical incubator space. The center is a business incubator, Lancaster says, but not necessarily in the traditional sense. While there is physical space available for fledg ling companies, much of the Innovation

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;]`S 7\aWUVb THE RESEARCH VALLEY INNOVATION CENTER 1500 Research Parkway, Suite 270 College Station, Texas 77845 (979) 260-1755 x. 101 www.rvic.org The RVIC is a science and technology incubator/ accelerator formed to help early-stage ventures transition into successful businesses. Its work includes business advisory services, funding-access support programs, investment networking, peer-to-peer networking, an Entrepreneur-inResidence program, and virtual and physical incubator space.

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Center’s work centers on providing support services. “Ten percent of it is admitting what I know and sharing it with them, and 90 percent of it is almost like a matchmaking service,� says Lancaster, founder of three of his own successful companies. He brings together Innovation Center clients with active entrepreneurs or retirees, Texas A&M faculty members, attorneys, accountants or other professionals, who bring particular talents to the task of launching a business. Advanced Anesthesia, the center’s first client, is a specialized billing service that developed and uses its own software to improve process efficiency and increase client revenue. It turned a profit with its first customer. Advanced Anesthesia, which won the Research Valley New Ventures Competition in 2007, is a tenant of Innovation Center space in Fibertown, a technology complex in downtown Bryan with world-class Internet connectivity and data-security capabilities. In May 2008, the Innovation Center cut the ribbon on 1,200 square feet in Fibertown’s Varisco Building. “This particular location is tailored toward information technology or technology-enabled businesses,� Lancaster says. Thus, Advanced Anesthesia is a good fit, as was Phage Biocontrol, a pipeline corrosion-prevention company that leased space from the Innovation Center in its early months. The Innovation Center also has some incubator space available in the Texas A&M Health Science Center. More room will come online when the Texas A&M Institute of Preclinical Studies opens its doors in 2009. “We’re targeted to have 12,000 square feet of mixed office and wet-lab space there for health-care ventures, whether pharmaceutical or medical-device companies that would be collaborating with the institute,� Lancaster says. “They would be young, emerging companies that could use some coaching and consulting.� – Sharon H. Fitzgerald

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“Your Down to Earth Company� Kelly Burt – Owner 6217 E. Hwy. 21 Bryan, TX

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cross Research Valley, a movement is quietly taking shape: people are saying no to rushhour traffic, no to concrete boxes and no to long lines. Living in a small community never looked so good. “We have a beautiful county,� says Shirley Curtiss, a real estate agent in Grimes County. “The rolling hills and quiet country life draw a lot of people here from the big city.� Navasota, the largest city in the county at about 7,500 people, is a mere 26 miles from Bryan-College Station and 75 miles from Houston. The area is often billed as one of the best-kept secrets in Texas, but that image is rapidly becoming obsolete, says Curtiss. The area has seen a tremendous surge in the last several years, including a population growth of 10 percent in the last eight years by some estimates. “The secret is out,� she says. “You’ve got the small-town atmosphere, but you still have the ability to feel like you have the qualities of a city.� The city of Franklin in Robertson County also rubs elbows with BryanCollege Station, but has managed to keep the simple life intact. “Living in a small town, you’re able to park your car and walk to take care of your business without even having to get in and drive away,� says Robbin Bohler, business manager of the Franklin Chamber of Commerce. The nice thing about Research Valley is that not only is a trip to the big city a car ride away, but it’s a car ride away in

just about any direction. “People who buy from me will say, ‘Where are my kids, and where do I want to be? I want to be right in the middle of easy access to all my kids,’� says Melinda Scott, a real estate agent in Caldwell. “Their kids are in San Antonio, they’re in Houston, they’re in Dallas. And they pick a point right in the middle, and we’re it.� Accessibility to the major metros draws parents, business folks and young families. Another growing demographic, especially in Burleson County, Scott says, is retirees attracted by a central location and open spaces. “There aren’t the long lines, and they don’t have to worry about the traffic like in these bigger towns that they’ve lived in their whole lives,� she says. In many cases, the scenery of a pasture alongside the road or a historic building anchoring a downtown is just as important as a quick trip to Wal-Mart and rising property values. Washington County is the site where the Texas Declaration of Independence was signed, and even if the 150 someodd historical markers weren’t there to remind you, the town’s old-fashioned charm wouldn’t let you forget it. “It’s a very scenic and historic community, and that appeals to a lot of people who may have come from suburbs or just random, nameless cities,� says Page Michel, President/CEO of the Washington County Chamber of Commerce. “This is really a family-oriented community where people come and put down roots.� – Michaela Jackson

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early 20 years ago, downtown Bryan was unsightly. Now it is being cited – for awards. The Texas Downtown Association recognized Bryan in 2008 as one of only three cities in the Lone Star State to achieve excellence in downtown infrastructure improvements. “It has taken awhile, but if you look around today – the improvements have been exciting,� says Joey Dunn, city of Bryan engineer. “I’ve been here since 1992, and there have been plenty of major infrastructure upgrades during that time. It’s just great to see just how far the downtown district has progressed over the past couple of decades.� That progression includes a complete revitalization of Main Street, including a current construction project that

involves renovating the strip from 24th Street to Martin Luther King Boulevard. In addition, there have been several upgrades to Bryan Avenue, the city’s other primary downtown thoroughfare. Bryan’s downtown master plan was approved in 2001. Since then, the city has implemented two phases of the master plan and invested more than $1.1 million in infrastructure improvements. City officials tout a highly successful grant program to help building owners upgrade their properties that has resulted in façade improvements to 85 buildings. “Downtown is also a hub where we have installed fiber optics systems over the years, so we are trying to attract high-tech companies to move into the district,â€? Dunn says. “Downtown is the premier spot in Bryan for high-speed

fiber connectivity, so maybe some New Age companies will start moving into renovated buildings that are available.� Besides office workers, the city is also looking to increase residential occupancy in the district. Under discussion is the feasibility of a high-rise building in the north sector of downtown Bryan, in a seven-block area that the city purchased in 2008. Dunn adds that he hopes the revitalized Bryan downtown will also attract more retail – to make it look somewhat akin to the city’s existing Old Bryan Marketplace. “The ultimate goal of this whole rejuvenation effort is to make downtown Bryan a vibrant place to live, shop, work and play,� he says. “We’re getting there.� – Kevin Litwin

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or proof of the brainpower in Research Valley, look at the area’s entrepreneurial life-science ventures, many of them spawned from Texas A&M University research. “Texas A&M has really jumped in headfirst into translating discoveries anywhere in the university system, commercializing them and making them available – and hopefully making those businesses land right here in (Research Valley),� says John Criscione, a Texas A&M assistant professor of biomedical engineering. Criscione joined the faculty in 2001 and in 2004 co-founded CorInnova Corp., a spinoff of his university research to develop devices to aid the functioning of an unhealthy heart. Texas A&M is a 10 percent owner in CorInnova, “a clear indication that they think we’ll succeed and that they want us to succeed,� Criscione says. CorInnova is developing three devices: one for patients who recently suffered a heart attack and need to rebuild muscle; one for those suffering congestive heart failure; and one for patients whose heart isn’t recovering from an openheart procedure. “All of our devices are focused on controlling the mechanics of the heart – how much the heart moves – and adding motion to the heart,� Criscione explains. CorInnova’s lab is in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, only because College Station lacked the type of space Criscione needed at the time. That will change with the opening in 2009 of a new 120,000-square-foot facility for the Texas A&M Institute of Preclinical Studies. TIPS, as it’s known, fosters multidisciplinary service, research and education activities in the areas of device development, preclinical studies and biomedical imaging. “We hope to come right back to College Station as soon as the institute is finished,� he says. “We’re one of the companies that hopes to be in the incubator there.� Accelerator Technology was founded in 1987 by Peter McIntyre, a Texas A&M physics professor. “We’re dirty-

fingernails physicists and material scientists, and we build very high-field, superconducting magnets,� McIntyre says. The company’s latest venture, under the name Texas NanoMaterials Inc., is the first commercial nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer for biomedicine applications. The spectrometer, McIntyre says, allows scientists to decode “that mind-boggling, three-dimensional, twisty, gnarly structure of the protein� to devise pharmaceuticals to control potentially lethal diseases such as cancer and autoimmune disorders. In the early entrepreneurial stages is a life science-related company with a different twist. Phage Biocontrol marries Texas A&M research on bacteriophage with company President Neil Summer’s expertise in the oil and gas industry. Bacteriophage are particles capable of killing bacterial cells – cells that cause pipeline corrosion. The problem is traditionally treated with toxic, environmentally harmful chemicals. “Chemical biocides are manufactured, they take energy to produce and they are marginally effective. They also have to be disposed of after use,� Summer says. Phage Biocontrol’s natural solution presents none of those problems and is another example of the expertise and ingenuity of the smart people in Research Valley. – Sharon H. Fitzgerald

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esearchers and entrepreneurs working to bring new medical devices and pharmaceuticals to the marketplace have an ally in the Texas A&M Institute of Preclinical Studies. Already operational under the aegis of the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine, TIPS will open the doors of its new 120,000-square-foot facility in College Station in 2009. Theresa Fossum, TIPS director, says the institute is filling a void that had forced some companies to leave the state. The institute offers the space, equipment and expertise to study potentially lifesaving devices and drugs in large animals – a necessary step before the U.S. Food and Drug Administration will approve clinical trials in humans. “Many times animals have the same diseases as people have, an example being oncology. The cancers in dogs are oftentimes exactly like the cancers in people, so we’re looking at developing new drugs for dog cancers that would also work in people,� explains Fossum, a veterinary surgeon. Animals included in the studies are already suffering from naturally occurring disease.

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Fossum says TIPS is unique in the country for two reasons: 1. Its association with the veterinary college brings expertise to bear from across the animal-medicine spectrum, from cardiology and neurology to orthopedics and behavior. 2. It can pull in experts from across campus in fields such as engineering, business and marketing to assist with development or commercialization. TIPS offers an animal hospital with space to house 248 large animals, worldclass imaging equipment, GLP (good

laboratory practice) and surgical labs, intensive-care suites, an auditorium for physician training and incubator space for entrepreneurial ventures. “We are all about what we call the translational end,� Fossum says. “I personally feel – and I know that our administration feels this way, too – that as a state-funded institution, it is both an obligation and a privilege to help make sure that these new products actually get to the taxpayers who have funded this institution.� – Sharon H. Fitzgerald

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S\S`Ug Most likely, the earliest commercial potential exists with small fuel cells as backup power for consumer electronics such as laptops, Clanton says. Yet the bigger, experimental stuff is getting attention. Seven major automakers took fuel-cell powered vehicles to 31 U.S. cities as part of the Hydrogen Road Tour ’08. A fuel-cell unit will generate half the electricity and all of the hot water at a Whole Foods store in Connecticut. And the restored Lion House at the Bronx Zoo will use a fuel cell unit in conjunction with standard power. – Pamela Coyle

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wo Research Valley companies are deep into alternative energy these days, and the work of both involves neither the wind nor the sun. Fuel-cell technology is on a roll, and though widespread commercial applications remain years away, Research Valley companies are in the race. At their most simple, fuel cells are a way to convert energy stored as hydrogen into electricity. “That can happen in a very small scale, like a laptop or cell phone, all the way up to larger applications, such as homes and offices and buses and forklifts,� says John Clanton, CEO of Lynntech, a research and development company in College Station. Lynntech has 20 of its 120 staff members devoted to developing fuel cells and application prototypes. For the U.S. military, the company is working on a fuel cell-charged tractor to tow large Air Force and unmanned aerial vehicles that would work like big, high-tech, remote-control airplanes. Other prototypes in the works include a motorized wheelchair powered by fuel-cell technology rather than a battery and small units to provide uninterrupted, mobile power for consumer electronics. “The ratio of usable time versus charge time is significantly increased or improved with fuel cells,� Clanton says. “It eliminates the recharge cycle.� Fuel Cells 2000, a nonprofit based in nearby Austin, is one of the nascent industry’s biggest advocates. It touts fuel cells as clean, quiet and efficient because they rely on an electrochemical process, not combustion. “A fuel cell is an electrochemical device that combines hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity, with water and heat as its by-product. As long as fuel is supplied, the fuel cell will continue to generate power,� the group says. BCS Fuel Cells Inc. is a Bryan-based company that makes fuel cell stacks for academic use and public demonstrations. Hari Dhar, president of BSC, says what sounds simple turns out to be quite complicated. Early fuel cells, he says, had a membrane that needed to be kept hydrated or humidified. Advancements produced a self-humidified membrane that eliminated the need for an outside water source, which also improved efficiency, Dhar says. BCS supplies mostly 1- to 3-kilowatt fuel cells to universities for faculty and student research and companies trying to develop real-world applications for them. “We are working with local companies, electronic and machine companies,� he says.

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passes over one electrode and hydrogen over the other, generating electricity, water and heat. Fuel cells are used in a variety of applications, from powering buses, boats and trains, to vending machines, vacuum cleaners and highway road signs.

Miniature fuel cells for portable electronics and computers are on their way to market. Hospitals, credit card centers, police stations and ďŹ nancial institutions are all using fuel cells to provide power to their facilities. Source: Fuel Cells 2000

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esearchers have big hopes for f lax and other tiny seeds as potential sources for biofuel. Texas A&M AgriLife Research is fieldtesting 15 varieties of flaxseed alone, using some types the university’s own breeding program developed in the 1950s and 1960s. “Some of them are quite promising,� says Gaylon Morgan, associate professor and small grains researcher. “The yield potential is higher.� Trials in the university’s fields near College Station also are investigating canola, grapeseed, rapeseed, winterhearty safflower and camelina. Chevron Technology Ventures and Targeted Growth International are among the private companies financing some projects; state and federal grants are

coming in, too. “In the last two years, we’ve put 30 projects on the ground,� says Bob Avant, bioenergy program director. That represents $27 million in research into dedicated energy crops such as sorghum and cane and those with multiple uses, such as flax and other oilseeds. “We are overwhelmed in that area and that is good news,� Avant says. “It is very exciting.� To be commercially viable as biofuel components, flax and other oilseed crops need big yields, careful processing and solid market prices, researchers say. The AgriLife project is looking at all those aspects and more, everything from microbiology that can convert algae into biomass, to equipment to harvest, process and store the crops, to economic and

policy implications. For example, commercial farmers today could not insure dedicated energy crops, Avant says. Other challenges include how to grow the crops without causing fertilizer runoff or crowding out land needed for feed and food. Avant’s specialty is agricultural production logistics, and this work provides plenty of challenges. The USDA, he says, anticipates that 1 billion tons of biomass could produce 30 percent of the fuel supply in the United States by 2030, and 80 percent of it would come from agricultural sources. “It would take 118,000 trailer truckloads a day hauling that material,� he says. “It is amazing how significant the logistical challenge will be.� – Pamela Coyle

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hough it celebrated 25 years in business in 2007, every day is still the salad days for Del Sol Food Co. Inc. The Brenham-based company is the maker of the top-selling specialty brand Briannas Fine Salad Dressings. “We literally went from nothing to No. 1 in those 25 years,� says Jerry Brown, president of the company his sister started and his mother owns. “The secret is just an absolute focus on quality. From conception to blending to packaging to shipping, we’re fanatical about all of the steps.� Not bad for a family-owned business with about 50 employees located in a community of about 15,000 smack between Austin and Houston. It’s a location that has helped the company grow. Brenham is within easy reach of Texas’s main hubs and the major markets along the East and West coasts, Brown says. The company sells in every state as well as abroad, notably in Canada, Mexico and the United Kingdom. “It’s a perfect part of Texas,� Brown says. “It’s good for national and international distribution.� The company’s product line appeals to a generally upscale clientele looking for sophisticated, healthier options to traditional ranch, blue cheese or Thousand Island. Briannas’ dozen or

ÂľES ZWbS`OZZg eS\b T`][ \]bVW\U b] <] W\ bV]aS # gSO`a BVS aSQ`Sb Wa Xcab O\ OPa]ZcbS T]Qca ]\ _cOZWbg Âś so varieties include Ginger Mandarin, Chipotle Cheddar, Blush Wine Vinaigrette and its top seller, Rich Poppy Seed. Most are made exclusively with natural ingredients, all of them include highqualify canola oil, which has also helped sales as awareness of healthy eating has increased, Brown says. And the attention to quality has built a loyal following. Customers write letters about using dressing in chili and stews, as sautĂŠs and marinades, and on wraps and endless other things besides salads, says Carin Simmons, Del Sol’s food service director. While the flavors may sound fancy, Brown insists they’re born of a simple test: What appeals to their own taste buds. “It’s not particularly sophisticated,â€? he says. Simmons vouches for the downhome approach. Forget the focus groups, what ends up in Briannas bottles is what the family thinks tastes good with input from employees and customers,

she says. “It’s real homestyle,� she says. “It does taste like you made it yourself.� Still the results impress the professionals, too. Briannas brands have won numerous awards – its Asiago Caesar took home back-to-back Best Taste Awards in 2007 and 2008 from ChefsBest, an independent judging organization. The company has also received numerous kudos for its distinctive, but elegant, packaging. Most of the bottles feature a simple black border around a white background that frames a colored sketch of either a dominant ingredient or a serving suggestion. The idea, not surprisingly, also comes from members of the family, Simmons says, crediting the packaging design for converting customers. “Packaging is everything in getting the first sale,� Simmons says. “Before they can know what you taste like, they have to pick you off the shelf.� – Sam Scott

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sk “Where’s the Beef? � in Research Valley and the directions will lead to a new $20.5 million complex for livestock shows and sales in Bryan. The Brazos County Exposition Complex boasts three venues – a 60,000-squarefoot covered pavilion, a 3,000-seat arena and an exhibit hall. Brazos County bought 150 acres and the Expo is spread over 50 of them, leaving room to grow. “Agriculture is a huge industry in the state and a big industry in Brazos County,� says Tom Quarles, the county’s director of special event facilities. “It’s doubly important to have a facility like this,� he says, citing nearby Texas A&M University. “It showcases agriculture, provides opportunities for educating the public and promotes the agriculture industry.� The region wants to capitalize on its strong agricultural base to attract local, state and eventually national livestock

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shows. “Obviously those are the ones that really, really drive the economy,� Quarles says. “That’s one of the reasons to bring as many events as possible to Brazos County.� The Expo celebrated its first anniversary in October 2008, and more organizations are booking events as word of the facility spreads. The pavilion can accommodate a wide range of equestrian, cattle, livestock and other events. It includes space for up to 266 horse stalls, 216 livestock pens or 576 cattle ties. Beef is big here. The region – Brazos, Burleson, Grimes, Leon, Madison, Robertson and Washington counties – boasted 589,000 cattle and calves on Jan. 1, 2008, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Robertson County alone had 74,000 head, more than half of them beef cattle. Charles Brown’s share is a modest 100 heads, but he’s been ranching Brahman cattle for 35 years. “I think it is great to have a place here to put on a show,� Brown says. “It’s a big part of the economy.� In its first year, Expo facilities also hosted proms, weddings, private parties and the Texas Special Olympics. Livestock events included the Texas Polled Hereford Show, the Brazos County Youth Livestock Show and the Texas Mounted Shooters state championship. The Texas A&M Equestrian Team competes on the site, and the university’s Saddle and Sirloin Steer & Heifer Futurity club is another frequent user. In fact, the Saddle and Sirloin club held the first event at the Expo, months before its grand opening. “It’s been an excellent asset to programs here particularly for our student organizations,� says David Forrest, a professor of animal science at Texas A&M. “Our students are able to gain more experience in being able to plan and deal with the business side.� The county sold bonds to finance this first phase; the Texas state legislature in 2007 allowed Brazos to impose a 2 percent bed tax on hotels and motels to help pay for marketing and future expansion. “It’s been a really, really good starting place,� Quarles says. – Pamela Coyle

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has grown faster than they expected. Sheared once a year, alpacas produce fiber that is as soft as cashmere but only one-third the weight of wool, says Cindy Berman, spokeswoman for the Alpaca Owners & Breeders Association.

It is also hypoallergenic, making alpaca an option for those who can’t wear wool. “When you wear alpaca you really notice the difference right away,� Roberts says. “It is not as stiff as sheep wool.� – Pamela Coyle

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aul Roberts had run three startup companies, moved four times in five years and wanted something different. After some research, he shared an idea with his wife. She laughed, eventually stopped, and seven years later, the Roberts are fulltime alpaca ranchers. They raise and sell the animals and have a separate company that makes and sells clothing from alpaca fiber. Another of the couple’s companies, Paca Bear, produces collectible teddy bears from the soft fleece. Still a cottage industry, alpaca fiber production is growing, and Americana Alpacas, the Roberts’ enterprise in White Hall, joins at least a half-dozen other ranches within 50 miles of Navasota. Ranchers rave about the animals, which are native to South America’s Andes Mountains. They have soft, padded feet with two toes – no hooves or claws – and are easy on the land. They eat grass and chew cud, and one acre of pasture can support five to 10 of them. The Alpaca Registry recognizes 22 different colors with 250 separate shades. Each animal produces five to 10 pounds of fiber annually. Fiber artists and handspinners are attracted to raw fleece; the fiber can be spun into yarn and used for hand knitting or production clothing. In 2008, Bluebonnet Hills Alpaca Ranch in Navasota for the first time sent its “seconds,� coarser fibers from the animals’ necks and legs, to be made into rugs, says Laurence Binder, who owns the ranch with his wife, Donna. He and his wife are career Texas educators and were among the first alpaca ranchers in the region. The idea was to get the business started to keep them occupied in their “retirement.� They haven’t retired yet, but the business

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ith hundreds of programs, 57 affiliated agencies in seven counties and its own gallery and permanent collection, the Arts Council of Brazos Valley is the go-to source for all things arts-related. Founded in 1970, the council’s influence stretches across Research Valley. At its hub is a 5,000-square-foot complex in College Station, which houses the 1,700-square-foot Texas Gallery. Operated by the council and the Brazos Valley Art League, the gallery hosts up to 16 exhibits each year. In the community, the council’s dozens of partners and agencies keep the arts before the public with programs such as Community-Gallery-at-Large, a rotation of local and regional art, and the Public Art Collection, 26 sculptures dotted throughout Bryan and College Station. The Arts Business Consortium Program allows companies

to buy into the arts community through annual investment and employee-giving campaigns. “We provide either programs or support services [to the arts] in basically three areas – funding support, marketing advocacy and outreach, and programs we produce ourselves,� says Padraic L. Fisher, the council’s executive director. Funding programs encompass public and private dollars, while marketing efforts cover everything from brochures and newsletters to its Web site, and television and radio spots. “We are good for the quality of life, in that we support education and other economic divers, but we are residents and taxpayers, too,� he says. “In addition to our 57 affiliates in seven counties, there are hundreds of arts an cultural agencies not affiliated with us.� A major program is Reflections of a Special Olympics Athlete, a community-wide exhibition of works by the athletes of their experiences. Following a two-week run at the gallery, the exhibition went into the community and the council produced a full-color catalog. Though offering more than 250 programs, the organization is always cycling in new activities and evaluating existing programs so that it stays fresh and relevant. “We have to be fluid, like anything else,� Fisher says. Council staff conducted a straw poll of local arts-related agencies recently, seeking information on their number of employees, how many patrons they had a year, how many people took part in their programs and how much the average person spent with them. “Our loose tabulation showed that there are more than 1 million people participating in arts programs in the valley and spending around $20 million,� Fisher notes. “We hope to do a real economic-impact study [in 2009]so we can see what that’s all about.� – Joe Morris

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pring and fall, when temperatures still hang in the 70s, are Aaron Palermo’s favorite times to hit the trails around Lake Bryan. The 20 miles of undulating singletrack are a magnet for area mountain bikers of all skills, whether they’re drawn to the East Loop, a tight, technical challenge, or the easier West Loop. “It’s definitely a great place to get away,� says Palermo, Web master for the Brazos Valley Mountain Bike Association. The 830-acre lake and its 180-acre island host all manners of guests, including rowers, sailors, campers and anglers looking for bass or catfish. Perhaps no one sees as much of the lake as quickly as the hundreds of tri-athletes who descend each May for the Tri-o de Mayo, to swim a quarter-mile before speeding onto the trails for a nine-mile bike ride and a three-mile run. You might argue that watching Aggie football ranks as the No. 1 outdoor pursuit in Research Valley, but there is an abundance of other options at Lake Bryan and beyond. The area has more than 400 miles of cycling routes and trails, 86 parks and a variety of golf courses, including the elite Traditions Club, a 7,146-yard, Jack Nicklaus-designed championship course near Easterwood Airport that opened in 2004. For water and nature lovers looking for more than Lake

Bryan offers, Lake Somerville State Park, which surrounds an 11,000-acre reservoir, is convenient to Brenham and BryanCollege Station. The lake hosts all manner of water sports as well as horse riding and wildlife watching. The surrounding woods are home to white-tailed deer, wild turkey, feral hogs and plentiful songbird. In the spring, the landscape explodes with wildflowers including bluebonnets, Indian blankets and coreopsis, says Rob McCorkle, a spokesman with the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Of course, golf and lakes are common to many areas. If you want to try something that conjures the ruggedness of the Texas tradition, consider Tonkaway Ranch, a 2,400-acre working cattle ranch and hunting haven on the Navasota River, 10 minutes from College Station. Tonkaway provides guns, gear and instruction for shooting at clay pigeons or for hunting for duck or quail. The ranch also offers bird watching, horse trails and mountain biking. “We love introducing people to the outdoors, whether it is hunting or bird watching,� says Kyle Kacal, part of the family that owns Tonkaway. “It’s a beautiful ranch and we love to share it.� – Sam Scott

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BRYAN The Good Life, Texas Style

R IGHT ON TA RGET Bryan Towne Center opens to eager shoppers

E AT, DR INK, CHILL Texas Reds Festival continues to grow

For more stories about the City of Bryan, go to imagesresearchvalley.com. Special Advertising Section

Br yan, Te xa s

Right on

Target BRYAN TOWNE CENTER OPENS TO EAGER SHOPPERS

B

e sure to wear comfortable walking shoes when you visit the spacious, new Bryan Towne Center. You’ll need them to navigate the 400,000-squarefoot retail venue, which debuted in July 2008. The Bryan Towne Center is anchored by a Target store that boasts a Pizza Hut and a Starbucks inside. Shoppers will also find Anytime Fitness, Baskin-Robbins, Maurices, Nailtopia, Rack Room Shoes, rue21 and Shipley Do-Nuts, with more shops planning to open in 2009. “People who live in Bryan are happy to get a Target – it’s just a nice store that has a good reputation nationally,� says Kevin Russell, Director of Planning and Development Services for the City of Bryan. “With the continued growth in Bryan, it was time to give our residents more shopping opportunities.

Bryan’s population has been increasing by at least 2 percent for the past 15 years, so it was time for this to happen.� Russell says it is important for the city to gain the sales tax revenue that goes hand in hand with such a popular complex. “It’s vital to keep retail sales tax within our city if we want to continue enjoying a good quality of life here,� he says. “And besides the residents of Bryan and Brazos County, shoppers are also frequenting Bryan Towne Center from Burleson, Milam and Robertson counties. Plus, we are only three miles from Texas A&M University and its 45,000 students.� The center is conveniently located at the intersection of State Highway 6 (Earl Rudder Freeway) and Briarcrest Drive (FM 1179). That intersection sees a daily traffic count of more than 100,000 vehicles. “Motorists who pass through that busy intersection each day will certainly notice this beautiful shopping landmark built by the talented Lauth Group,� Russell says. Lauth Property Group of Indianapolis, which is overseeing construction of the shopping center, is the 13th-largest commercial real estate development company in the United States. It is known for building retail complexes with interesting architecture and landscaping that provide an inviting atmosphere for shoppers. The architects of the project were Carter-Burgess of Fort Worth, which is known for using regional materials and colors that bring a contemporary Texas feel to the company’s designs. “We now have a beautiful Target store in our city, and there is talk about another big anchor arriving in the near future,� Russell says. “There are 254 acres that make up Bryan Towne Center. This place will have a positive impact on the city for many years to come.� The Bryan Towne Center is anchored by a Target store that features a Starbucks and Pizza Hut. 0@7/< ; 1=@2 1

Special Advertising Section

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T h e G o o d Life, Te x a s St yle

www.bryantx.gov

Br yan, Te xa s

And

Justice for All POLICE, MUNICIPAL COURTS MOVE INTO NEW BUILDING

been especially interesting for me since I haven’t been in Bryan very long,� says Morrow, who took over as police chief in 2007. The chief heads a department that has 131 sworn, 40 support and 20 reserve police officers. “I took over in Bryan after coming here from Virginia, so being an outsider police chief was unusual because the staff had to adapt to my style of leadership and my way of conducting business,� he says. “That can be difficult

for some people, and I understand that, but luckily the transition has been pretty smooth.� Morrow says he enjoyed moving into the new building and being welcomed so warmly by the community. He is also grateful for the dedicated police staff and the opportunity to work with a supportive mayor, city manager and city council. “Bryan is a great city with friendly residents,� he says. “It’s a place that I am happy and proud to now call home.�

Police Chief Tyrone Morrow heads up the Bryan Police Department.

Special Advertising Section

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T

he Bryan Police Department has been a part of this community for 148 years. Now, after more than a century of service, the police department has a new home. “Always in the past, we have been headquartered in old buildings that were ultimately closed down and then refurbished to fit police needs,� says Tyrone Morrow, Chief of the Bryan Police Department. “But by the spring of 2008, a brand-new home was built for us, and it is absolutely phenomenal.� The new, two-story building called the Bryan Justice Center houses the Police Department and the City’s Municipal Courts. The justice center is at the corner of East 29th Street and South Texas Avenue, on the opposite corner of where the police department was most recently located. “We were previously in an old vacated bank building that was falling apart around us, which was truly the story of this department’s housing life until the justice center opened,� Morrow says. “What makes the new building even nicer is that it was designed specifically by police architects,� he continues. “They know about police administration offices and how to put people together who need to be within close proximity of one another.� The building has been designed to expand if necessary in the future and makes interaction between the police and the courtrooms much easier. “This has been an exciting venture for the entire department, and it has

T h e G o o d Life, Te x a s St yle

More Than Just a

Pretty Façade CITY CONTINUES EFFORTS TO RENOVATE DOWNTOWN BRYAN

J

oey Dunn has been involved with the revitalization of downtown Bryan since 1992. The Deputy City Manager says it is great to see just how far the downtown district has come. “It has taken awhile, but just look around today – the improvements have been exciting,” Dunn says. “There have been plenty of major infrastructure upgrades, including one that is currently occurring along Main Street, from 24th Street up to Martin Luther King Boulevard. This district has become interesting again.” The city purchased seven city blocks in 2008 in the north sector of downtown Bryan. “Those multiple blocks of land have a range of positive possibilities for the future,” Dunn says. “We are going to hire consultants who will advise us about whether we should build a high-rise residential building on part of the land, or office buildings with interesting architecture.” Dunn says the city will construct something eye-pleasing in the northern part of the district but with a different feel than what’s in the southern end of downtown. “That south end around the LaSalle Hotel has a certain identity, so the north end should have its own feel as well,” he says. “We’re thinking of something like a four-story building

for residential, with retail shops on the bottom f loor. Something like that would be nice.” Meanwhile, Dunn says a matching façade grant program has already awarded $900,000 to help building owners upgrade their downtown properties. There has also been $3.5 million in private investment to improve the look of the district. “Downtown is also a hub where we have installed fiber optics systems over the years, so we are trying to attract hightech companies to move into the district,” he says. “Downtown is the premier spot in Bryan for high-speed fiber connectivity, so maybe some new-age companies will move into renovated buildings that are available.” Dunn adds that he hopes the revitalized downtown area will also attract more retail to the district to make it look somewhat akin to the city’s existing Old Bryan Marketplace. “The ultimate goal of this whole rejuvenation effort is to make downtown Bryan a vibrant place to live, shop, work and play,” he says. “We’re getting there, and people are taking notice. For example, in 2008, the Texas Downtown Association recognized Bryan as one of only three cities in the Lone Star State to achieve excellence in downtown infrastructure improvements. That is a nice recognition for all of our hard work.”

Downtown Bryan, which has a wide array of shops, restaurants and hotels, continues to be revitalized.

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Eat, Drink,

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here’s no doubt about it, people hunger for good food and wine. Not to mention great entertainment and children’s activities. So, it’s no wonder that the Texas Reds Steak & Grape Festival is attracting more and more people. In fact, there were 18,000 people at the 2008 event, up from the 8,000 who attended the inaugural event in 2007. “Now we are looking forward to even more success at our third festival in Historic Downtown Bryan, which will occur June 19-20, 2009,” says Gwynne Shillings, special events

TEXAS REDS FESTIVAL CONTINUES TO GROW IN ATTENDANCE

marketing coordinator for the City of Bryan. City employees who were interested in organizing an event that would best represent Bryan came up with the idea for the Texas Reds Festival. Their thinking was to find a way to honor the cattle industry, which fueled the city’s growth, and the Messina Hof Winery, a mainstay in Bryan since 1977. Since both have the color red in common – for red meat and red wine – the name Texas Reds sounded like a winner. The special weekend begins with a sponsorship party on

The Texas Reds Steak & Grape Festival features music, grilled steaks, wine tastings, vendors and lots of activities for the kids.

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T h e G o o d Life, Te x a s St yle

Friday evening, followed by entertainment along Main and South Bryan streets on Friday and Saturday. A lot of the proceeds from the two-day summer festival go to a variety of local causes, including a 4-H Club Leadership Scholarship Program. “We had 23 steak cook-off teams in 2008 that were competing for the title of grand champion, which was won by a team called the Cut Loose Cookers,� Shillings says. “Meanwhile, a caterer cooks steaks for the public all day long. You can imagine the beautiful aroma that fills the downtown streets.� As for the wineries, a total of 16 participated in the 2008 downtown festival, with Bryan’s own Messina Hof Winery serving as host. “Texas is actually the fifth-largest wine-producing state in the nation, currently with more than 100 wineries,� Shillings says. “As for other activities on Saturday, we always have a Kids Zone with inflatables, a 25-foot-long zip line and a fishing tank. There is also a petting zoo on site with 35 animals.� Live musical entertainment is on tap throughout the day, and headliners perform on the main stage at night. The inaugural festival featured concerts by Bonnie Bishop and the Bellamy Brothers, while the 2008 event included Jerry Jeff Walker and Wild Horses. As for awards, the Texas Downtown Association and the Texas Main Street Program named the 2007 Texas Reds Steak & Grape Festival Best Promotional Event. In 2008, the Bryan-College Station Convention and Visitors Bureau presented the festival with its Hometown Hero Award, which recognizes organizations that contribute to tourism by promoting downtown areas. “It takes about 400 volunteers to pull off an annual event such as this, and around 230 of those volunteers are city employees,� Shillings says. “Our city slogan is ‘The Good Life, Texas Style,’ and that certainly is true during Texas Reds.�

This special section was created for the City of Bryan by Journal Communications Inc.

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For more information, contact: City of Bryan 3 4EXAS !VE s "RYAN 48 0HONE s &AX www.bryantx.gov ŠCopyright 2008 Journal Communications Inc., 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067, (615) 771-0080. All rights reserved. No portion of this special advertising section may be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent.

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On the cover: Bryan Justice Center Staff Photo

Br yan, Te xa s

That’s a

” B

Billion “ With a

HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER TO HAVE ENORMOUS ECONOMIC IMPACT

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he Bryan-College Station economy is about to make an incredible leap – to the tune of $1 billion by 2010, when the first two buildings open at the Texas A&M University System’s new Health Science Center (HSC) campus. The $128 million Health Science Center campus is situated on 200 acres of land in west Bryan, along Texas Highway 47, adjacent to the Traditions Club golf course at Texas A&M and a residential community. There will be four phases of construction in the HSC project, and the entire campus is scheduled for completion around 2020. “We want our new health science center in Bryan to be a place that is welcoming and valuable to our students as well as to the public; one that supports and promotes lifelong learning and an interdisciplinary approach to health care,” says Dr. Nancy Dickey, president of the Texas A&M Health Science Center. “We want it to be visible to the community and recognized as an integral part of the Texas A&M System. But we also want it to be designed in such a way as to be an extension of TAMU – inviting and welcoming of our colleagues, fellow researchers and students from TAMU to come learn with our students and continue longstanding collaborations with our faculty.” A&M System Chancellor Dr. Michael McKinney has called the planned facilities “the central nerve of a complex academic and research health science center.” “This is truly an exciting time for the Texas A&M University System and the Texas A&M Health Science Center,” McKinney said at the campus groundbreaking. “It’s also an exciting time for the City of Bryan.” The city recently hired a consultant who will suggest ways that Bryan can benefit from the new Health Science Center

campus, says Deputy City Manager Joey Dunn. “We want to make sure future development around the eventual campus is compatible to what the HSC is doing,” Dunn says. “One very critical project on which we are working closely with the state department of transportation is to establish an interchange entrance and exit at Highway 47, which would form a new commercial corridor on the city’s west side and provide easy access to the HSC.” Dunn says that since Texas A&M is a state university, the cities in which it is located do not receive ad valorem property taxes. “However, in our 200-acre land agreement with the University System, 50 acres will be set aside for public-private partnerships and can be taxable property,” he says. “We just want to make sure any companies that locate on that acreage will be consistent with what HSC is all about.” The Texas A&M Health Science Center campus will be utilized for research and to educate future doctors, nurses and other health-care professionals. The first two buildings slated to open will be the Medical Education and Research Center and the Health Professions Education Building. Texas A&M officials say that the Health Science Center campus could include a hospital in the future if the need for more hospital beds in Brazos County arises as the population continues to grow. “The bottom line for the City of Bryan is that there are going to be a lot of growth opportunities around two major projects here – the Health Science Center and the adjacent 900 acres of property at Traditions Club that still has 500 acres to develop,” Dunn says. “The west side of Bryan is about to get very busy and interesting.”

The new Texas A&M Health Science Center will be located on 200 acres in west Bryan, along Texas Highway 47.

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Br yan, Te xa s

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T h e G o o d Life, Te x a s St yle

Opportunity Keeps

Knocking $40 MILLION ALLOCATED IN BRYAN FOR CITY IMPROVEMENTS

The capital improvement plan includes roadway projects and a new annex for the Bryan City Hall, pictured left. AB/44 >6=B=

The capital improvement plan will also include storm sewer upgrades in areas that have seen minor flooding in the past. These include the Old Oaks and Windover East subdivisions, and one on Williams Street near the Bryan Municipal Golf Course. “We will also be renovating the old building that the police department vacated this year and turn it into a city hall annex,� Kaspar says. “The city has needed additional space for its employees for a long time as many people are working in cramped offices right now.� Future projects include reconstruction of College Main Street at the Bryan-College Station city limits, as well as an eventual widening of 28th Street. In addition, the city’s Fire Station No. 2 will be rebuilt in a new location in 2011. “The City of Bryan is really ready to move on these projects,� Kaspar says. “It’s an exciting time around here.�

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he City of Bryan is thinking big – $40 million big. The Bryan City Council has approved a five-year capital improvement plan, with $8 million a year going toward a variety of projects. Those projects will take place from fiscal year 2009 through fiscal year 2013, with the first one slated to start in October 2008. “These are projects costing $200,000 and above – significant projects,� says Paul Kaspar, City of Bryan City Engineer. “They are important efforts to improve buildings, sidewalks, traffic signals, streets and drainage.� One of the first projects city officials will tackle is the continued reconstruction of Main Street, from 24th Street to Martin Luther King Boulevard. “This will complete the rejuvenation to the northern segment of Downtown Bryan,� Kaspar says. “We are removing old pavement and sidewalks, replace all the utilities, install new lighting and repave the sidewalks and roads. The final touches will include brick accents, landscaping and sidewalk furniture.� Kaspar says Bryan also has several old traffic signals on wires spanning intersections that need to be replaced. “One example is at the South College Avenue and Dodge Street intersection – that signal certainly needs our attention,� he says. “New signals cost roughly $200,000 apiece, so we are going to put aside $400,000 a year from the annual $8 million budget to make traffic signal improvements and replacements.� The city of Bryan will also build a new sidewalk along Texas Avenue. “There is no sidewalk right now, and you can see where countless folks have walked along the roadside path over the years because the grass is totally beaten down,� he says. “Texas Avenue will see a sidewalk spanning from the city limits of Bryan-College Station to the Villa Maria Road intersection.�

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Br yan, Te xa s

East Meets West BRYAN COMPLETES CITYWIDE ROADWAY PROJECTS

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raffic is moving very smoothly on Bryan’s city streets these days. Three major road construction projects were completed in 2008 to make travel easier from the east side of town to the west, and vice versa. The largest initiative was construction of Villa Maria Road Underpass, which helps motorists get through the city’s central business corridor with ease. For years, train tracks on the west side of town along Villa Maria Road would often create havoc for motorists whenever trains stopped traffic. The new $15 million underpass, which was partially

funded by the Texas Department of Transportation, now allows vehicles to travel under a bridge that carries the trains, which alleviates the problem. “Work on this vital underpass began in 2004 and was finally completed in the summer of 2008,” says Dale Picha, Director of Traffic and Transportation for the City of Bryan. “This creates a nice new gateway to the west side of Bryan. The city had some cost participation in the project, but really our hats go off to TXDOT for planning, designing and funding almost all of the construction.”

The new Villa Maria Road Underpass is making travel much easier in Bryan.

Another road project completed in 2008 was an extension of Beck Street to the west. It gives motorists easier access into Downtown Bryan if they are driving in from the west side of town along FM 2818 (Harvey Mitchell Parkway). “Beck Street has really become a nice roadway,” Picha says. “This upgrade has resulted in an excellent east-west corridor into the downtown area.” And last but certainly not least, a 29th Street road-widening project was also completed in 2008. The result is less traffic congestion around Blinn College, which has 15,000 students attending its Bryan campus. “Many motorists entering St. Joseph’s Regional Health Center also use 29th Street, so congestion on school days at Blinn was even that much more snarled,” Picha says. “The upgrade means much better mobility for traffic in this specific part of town.” The 29th Street project included taking the existing roadway located between Joseph Drive and Villa Maria Road that was four lanes wide and making it six lanes (with a seventh lane for turning). “East-west traffic flow through Bryan has certainly become less stressful thanks to these three roadway improvements,” Picha says. “Motorists in the past had to do a lot of zigging and zagging to get from the east side of town to the west, but that isn’t the case anymore. Better mobility was what we were after in these three projects, and better mobility is what we got.”

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Sound the

Sirens

BRYAN FIRE DEPARTMENT ADDS FIFTH STATION TO SERVE CITIZENS

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hink you’re busy? The Bryan Fire Department responds to more than 8,000 emergency calls every year. The department, which consists of 113 full-time employees, is called into service approximately 20 to 25 times a day. These employees are responsible for an area that covers 43.4 square miles, and they help protect a residential population that now numbers more than 72,500 people. “We are certainly busy, there’s no doubt about that,� says Mike Donoho, Chief of the Bryan Fire Department. “Out of our 8,000 annual calls, about 90 percent of them involve providing emergency medical services. But that is no problem for us because our firefighters are cross-trained, so they ride both the fire trucks and ambulances.� In fact, the department is so busy that a fifth fire station will open in late 2008 on the west side of town at 2502 W. Villa Maria Road. “The one-story building has three bays that will house a fire truck, as well as an ambulance,� Donoho says. This will allow for expansion in the future. “At least seven people are assigned to the station each day to provide fire and emergency medical services.�

Donoho says Fire Station No. 5 has been on the drawing board for the past five years and will provide immediate emergency services response to west Bryan. “Our future plan is for Station No. 2 to be rebuilt in another location during 2011 as part of the city’s overall capital improvement plan,� he says. “It will be constructed in a new location because the goal of this department is to ultimately arrive at any 911 emergency in Bryan within three to five minutes from when we receive the call from the dispatch center. Once Station No. 2 is relocated, we will be better able to accomplish that goal.� Donoho says relocating Station No. 2 is part of the city’s plan to lower its “ISO� or fire insurance rating from four to two. That lower rating can help homeowners and business owners within the city limits save money on the personal fire protection portion of their insurance. “Those are our two big goals,� he says. “We want to get our stations located correctly for the growth and development that has taken place in Bryan over the years and to keep up with the city’s changing demographics. And certainly looking at our insurance rating, to save our residents money, is another one of our top priorities.�

Fire Department Chief Mike Donoho is spearheading the continued growth of the fire department in Bryan.

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T h e G o o d Life, Te x a s St yle

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Br yan, Te xa s

Watching

Waste Line Their

CITY DEPARTMENTS BECOME MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS

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he green light has been given to City of Bryan employees to be more conscious about the environment. A program known as Be Green in Bryan was introduced to make an extra effort to protect the local environment. The initiative will not only improve the health of the community but will save money at the same time. While many city departments currently promote environmentally sound practices, Be Green in Bryan unifies and expands these efforts to create a sustainable and healthy place for people to live, visit and work. “Our first step was to create an internal Green Team Advisory Committee,� says Mary Strauss, Sustainability Programs Coordinator with the City of Bryan. “The committee is composed of representatives from each of the city’s departments. We meet on a monthly basis to work toward meeting the goals in our Sustainability Action Plan.� The six main green initiatives that are being targeted in the action plan are: s Waste Reduction s Energy Efficiency s Sustainable Development s Parks and Trailways s Water Conservation s Air Quality “For example, the City of Bryan Parks and Recreation

Department is looking to develop an elaborate series of walking and biking trails,� Strauss says. “In addition, the Building Services department is pursuing Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification through the Green Building Certification Institute.� Meanwhile, the City of Bryan Fleet Services Department has established a Vehicle Replacement Program in which every vehicle in the city fleet is analyzed for efficiency. “We do this through the tracking of each vehicle’s maintenance and fuel costs,� Strauss says. “Eventually, vehicles not in use are eliminated and each employee receives the right-sized vehicle for his or her position.� There is also a drive-in recycling center for residents and businesses where more than 800 tons of recyclable goods were collected in 2007, Strauss adds. Strauss says city departments will continue to develop more practices that will improve living and working environments in Bryan. “The ultimate goal of Be Green in Bryan is to build a program of green initiatives benefiting our city now and far into the future,� she says. “These initiatives will be easy and affordable, and each employee in every Bryan department is on board.� For more information on current and future green initiatives in Bryan, visit the Be Green in Bryan Web site: eee PSU`SS\W\P`gO\ Q][.

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It Pays To Be

Energy-Efficient BTU REWARDS CUSTOMERS THAT USE RENEWABLE RESOURCES replacements and certain heating and air conditioning units. “We offer a Residential Energy Efficiency Loan Program where BTU customers can apply for a 7 percent annual interest loan to upgrade their homes,� Wood says. “Customers can borrow from $500 to $10,000 and have a payback period of six months to five years. The money can go toward purchasing energy-efficient windows, weather stripping, insulation and many other energy-saving products.� “We inform local businesses about new technologies and products with the goal of reducing consumption and lowering costs,� Wood states. “We offer a number of rebates to commercial entities, such as the commercial lighting

program where the customer can receive a rebate depending on the number of energy-efficient lighting fixtures that are installed.� Wood states that customers can find out more about the rebate program by going to the eee PbcbWZWbWSa Q][ Web site and clicking on the rebates link for more detailed information in regards to commercial or residential Energy Efficient Programs. “People can also call BTU at (979) 821-5715 and talk to someone who will help explain what rebates are available in a customer’s specific situation,� he says. “This is a program that makes a lot of sense – both money-wise and conservation-wise.� – Stories by Kevin Litwin

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f you are building a new home or upgrading your current one, Bryan Texas Utilities can help you save some money. In 2008, BTU introduced a Green Plus Energy Efficiency and Conservation Program to encourage its customers to be more energy-efficient. The program promotes the use of renewable energy sources in homes and businesses, and provides rebates to anyone who installs more efficient products. “The goal for Bryan Texas Utilities is to reduce the carbon footprint on the environment and promote energy conservation thru its Energy Efficient Programs,� says Allen Wood, Key Account Manager for Bryan Texas Utilities. “It makes sense financially for homeowners and homebuilders to promote conservation.� One rebate incentive that BTU has introduced is a solar hot water heater program. A solar heater can be retrofitted into a standard hot water heater, providing customers with energy and cost savings. “Solar heaters that are retrofitted into existing homes cost about $4,000, and BTU will give any of our customers a $1,500 rebate if they install one,� Wood says. “Meanwhile, a brand-new, solar hot water heater costs about $3,000 to install in a new home under construction, and BTU will provide a $1,000 rebate in those instances.� Bryan Texas Utilities has rebate programs for the purchase and installation of LED lighting, as well as ref lective roof coatings, heat pump BTU is encouraging energy conservation.

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College Station, TEXAS

Howdy! From Our Home to Yours Preserving the Past for Future Generations

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C olle ge St ation, Te x a s

Howdy!

From Our Home to Yours

GREAT PEOPLE, ACTIVITIES AND EDUCATION MAKE COLLEGE STATION A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE

F

rom home of the George Bush Presidential Library to home of Texas’ first public institution of higher learning, College Station is a city rich in character and tradition, but more importantly, it is a place its residents are proud to call home. With an accredited health-care facility, quality education from one of the nations’ top-rated public school districts and a vast array of activities for young and old alike, it’s no wonder more than 89,000 people have made College Station

a place to call home. The city sits in the heart of the Brazos Valley, only 100 miles from Houston and Austin, and 160 miles from Dallas and San Antonio. A nearby regional airport facilitates quick transportation between College Station and the rest of the country. The City of College Station boasts a highly educated population, with more than 50 percent of residents 25 years and older holding a bachelor’s degree. College Station is the proud home to Texas

A resident enjoys one of the city’s Starlight Music Series concerts held each summer.

A&M University, an institution rich in tradition and pride. The nationally recognized facility sits on a 5,000-acre campus with an annual enrollment of more than 46,000 students. College Station Independent School District, with an enrollment of more than 7,300 students, is an ever-growing district that is constantly striving to meet the needs of its current and future students. Since 1998, the district has been ranked as a “Blue Ribbon School District” by Expansion Management magazine. College Station’s residents and visitors are also blessed with a broad variety of great cultural and entertainment opportunities. The George Bush Presidential Library brings visiting dignitaries from around the world, including Tony Blair, Henry Kissinger, Colin Powell and U.S. and international ambassadors. From venues such as Reed Arena on the Texas A&M campus to the Wolf Pen Amphitheater, entertainment in College Station is never hard to find. With more than 1,300 acres of beautifully maintained public parks and sports facilities, nature is an integral part of life in College Station. Recreational activities are plentiful, with numerous golf courses, lush nature trails, challenging bike paths and sports leagues of every kind. College Station has earned the reputation as one of the safest, most family-friendly places to live in Texas. The city consistently maintains one of the lowest crime rates in the state, giving peace of mind to residents and business owners alike. Overall, College Station is a great place to call home.

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A Joint

Venture

COLLEGE STATION AND TEXAS A&M FIND COMMON GROUND

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s home to Texas A&M University, College Station has a wide range of demographics. With a population of 89,570, including many students, the City of College Station is taking steps to ensure the well-being of its residents and the integrity of its neighborhoods. As one can imagine, students and full-time residents lead different ways of life. Conflicts arise from issues such as noise, parking, trash and poorly maintained structures. Multiple departments from the City of College Station, such as Neighborhood Services and Code Enforcement, have teamed up with Texas A&M University in order to raise awareness and educate both students and residents so that all may peacefully co-exist. College Station and Texas A&M

recently collaborated on “Aggie Up.� “Aggie Up� is a public education campaign geared toward educating students about integrating into the community and neighborhoods in a safe and respectful manner, while maintaining the Aggie experience. In conjunction with “Aggie Up,� the City and Texas A&M will offer a noise abatement class to students in an effort to resolve behavior flaws instead of having repeat offenders. College Station also offers “CS 101� a class for off-campus students. “CS 101� educates students about topics such as municipal court procedures and law enforcement as it relates to loud parties and alcohol use, and being a respectful neighbor. Several departments from the City

of College Station and Texas A&M University conduct “Walk and Talks� at the beginning of each semester. The “Walk and Talks� are held in neighborhoods that receive the highest volume of complaints and violations. Events such as these give city staff the opportunity to interact with residents and distribute useful information that explains rules and regulations, as well as municipal contact information. The students of Texas A&M also give back to the community. “Big Event� is the largest, one-day service project in the nation, where students of Texas A&M go out into the community to perform tasks such as yard work, painting and minor renovations for those in need. Additionally, “Replant� is a student organization that strives to improve College Station neighborhoods by performing a one-day environmental service project in the community. In the future, College Station and Texas A&M University will continue to foster a strong partnership and strive to make a positive impact on both students and residents of the community. This special section is published for the City of College Station by Journal Communications Inc.

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For more information, contact: City of College Station 4EXAS !VE s #OLLEGE 3TATION 48 0HONE s &AX www.cstx.gov Ăš#OPYRIGHT *OURNAL #OMMUNICATIONS )NC #OOL 3PRINGS "LVD 3UITE &RANKLIN 4. (615) 771-0080. All rights reserved. No portion of this special advertising section may be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent.

A Texas A&M student and College Station resident discuss issues in a CS 101 class.

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C olle ge St ation, Te x a s

Green

College Station

COLLEGE STATION PREPARES FOR A CLEANER WAY OF LIFE

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he City of College Station is steadily moving forward as a leader in the sustainability movement and has been declared one of the nationally recognized Cool Cities as designated by the United States Conference of Mayors. In January, the College Station City Council adopted the “Green College Station” program and signed the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement to become a part of the Cool Cities national movement. The movement empowers residents and local leaders to encourage cities to implement smart energy solutions to save money and build a cleaner, safer future. The College Station City Council says the city is committed to being a leader in resource conservation and protection of the environment. Green College Station will express the city’s commitment to achieve resource conservation and sustainability over the long term. The Green College Station program is aimed at creating a sustained quality of life for local residents by bringing all environmental efforts together under one program. Green College Station focuses efforts into five areas, each with specific objectives for achieving measurable results toward conservation: renewable energy, water conservation, hazardous waste reduction, green development and air quality. Water reuse and conservation projects are already under way. College Station is working to implement a water reuse system to irrigate athletic fields in city parks using recycled water from the local wastewater treatment plant. When the water reuse system is fully built out, it will save more than one million gallons of drinking water per day in the summer. College Station has already allowed residential electric customers to sign up for the city’s new wind energy program, Wind Watts. By January 2009, wind energy will be received from the South Trent Mesa Wind Project located west of Abilene. College Station will initially contract with AEP Energy Partners for 10 megawatts of capacity and will increase to 30 megawatts in 2015. The initial contract is projected to be able to fully supply approximately 3,000 residential customers of CSU in 2009. Special Advertising Section

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Preserving the Past for

Future Generations COLLEGE STATION IS ACTIVELY ARCHIVING ITS HISTORY

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ollege Station is a young community that became a municipality only 70 years ago on Oct. 19, 1938, with a vote of 217 to 39. But it was long before 1938 that the community began to grow and prosper around a Morrill Land Grant institution: the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas. The early 1800s brought immigrants from Europe who lived and worked alongside the area’s native Hispanic cultures and the African-Americans originally brought here as slaves. The fertile Brazos Valley gave rise to an agricultural community rich in cotton and cattle. By the time the railroads were established, College Station was well on its way to becoming one of the fastest-growing cities in the state. Documenting the history of this thriving community is the focus of the City of College Station Heritage Programs, which encompass several volunteer-based projects. The College Station City Councilappointed Historic Preservation Committee has put together programs that enable the committee to “aid in the collection and preservation of the history of the City of College Station and its environs, and to provide for education of citizens on the history of this city as set forth by the City Charter.” Together with a city staff liaison, they are preserving the history of Brazos Valley. Project HOLD (Vbb^( 6=:2 Qabf U]d), the city’s historic online library database, offers an in-depth look at Brazos Valley through a Web site that is user-friendly and accessible around the clock. It is frequented by students, teachers, genealogists, historians and prospective community members looking for background on the area. Once a month, community members come to the College Station Conference Center for the “Exploring History Lunch Lecture Series.” The speakers are retired university professors, businesspeople and community members whose families

have been here for decades. The lectures are taped for replay on the city’s CSTV19, then archived on our Web site. The Historic Marker Program recognizes homes and buildings that are at least 50 years old and have maintained the integrity of their surroundings or commemorate a subject of historical significance. The structures are marked

with a numbered cast plaque. College Station had the foresight to preserve its early history through the efforts of the Historic Preservation Committee and city staff. The programs have been recognized by the State Historical Commission and awarded the Excellence in Preserving History Award in 2005 and 2007.

Peggy Campbell at the College Station city limits, c. 1940.

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C olle ge St ation, Te x a s

The

Ring of

Fire FIRE DEPARTMENT’S EDUCATION EFFORTS COME BACK FULL CIRCLE

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very year, the College Station Fire Department invites 26 citizens to join the Citizens’ Fire Academy, a program for residents who want to know more about their fire department. The Citizens’ Fire Academy involves 14 weeks of simulated firefighting activities such as cardiac monitoring, hazardous material decontamination, ladder climbing and vehicle extrication. Citizens’ Fire Academy participants have the opportunity to attend three different classes at the well-known fire training facilities – TEEX: Texas Engineering Extension Service. Each year, more than 45,000 emergency responders from all 50 states and 45 countries travel to College Station to the Brayton Fire Training Field, the original firefighter training facility of TEEX. The 120-acre fire training field, located adjacent to the Texas A&M campus, has 132 specific training stations that offer emergency responders instruction not only in firefighting, but also in rescue, emergency medical services, hazardous materials, marine, aircraft and emergency management. Next to the Brayton Fire Training Field, Disaster City® is a 52-acre mock community that features full-scale, collapsible structures designed to simulate various levels of disaster and wreckage.

Since 1999, the academy has graduated more than 200 participants consisting of public officials, administrators, business owners and residents. These graduates continue to actively volunteer in the community though Citizens’ Fire Academy Alumni and the Community Action Response Team (C.A.R.T.). The C.A.R.T. team, which is staffed by Citizens’ Fire Academy alumni, assists residents who have had to evacuate their homes from a fire or other emergency situations. This team provides those residents with ongoing assistance, such as recovery information, shelter, packing boxes, clothes and other items and services that are needed. Another public education project that the College Station Fire Department took on this year involved supplying the Brazos Valley with 1,000 free smoke alarms. The Fire Department teamed up with United Way of the Brazos Valley to install 1,000 free smoke alarms, including smoke alarms for the deaf and the hearing-impaired. The project targets children, parents, seniors, landlord/ property owners in high fire-risk neighborhoods, and inter national students to reduce the incident of injury and death due to the absence of smoke alarms or how to identify defective smoke alarms. The goal is to educate or remind families and other house owners about fire escape plans, heater safety, cooking safety, electrical and candleburning safety. With help from United Way and the Texas Engineering Extension Service, the College Station Fire Department continues its success with exceptional service and quality education in the community.

The Citizens’ Fire Academy has educated more than 200 people in firefighting and emergency response techniques.

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www.cstx.gov

A Growing Business City S

ome call it College Station’s original downtown; others call it a mixed-use district adjacent to Texas A&M University’s “north gate.” Either way, Northgate is a vibrant part of College Station, preserving its history while reshaping its future through redevelopment and revitalization. Northgate is known for its business, residential, church and entertainment district. Whether you want to dance the night away or try some great local cuisine, in Northgate there is something for everyone! “In the past 10 years, the City of College Station has reinvested more than $30 million in Northgate,” says Economic Development Director David Gwin. “These investment decisions were made in furtherance of Northgate as one of the premier entertainment districts in our region.” As a result of the city’s commitment to revitalizing Northgate, private sector investment is growing with recent projects such as the $25 million Tradition Dormitory and the $4 million Cross Street Lofts. Economic growth seems eminent in College Station as Northgate leads the way into the future. Texas A&M University, one of College Station’s largest economic catalysts, is also creating exciting new opportunities for the city. Last March, construction began on a $47.8 million state-of-the-art facility to house the Texas A&M Institute for Preclinical Studies (TIPS). TIPS is intended to foster multidisciplinary service, research and education initiatives. It will be instrumental in training veterinarians, physicians, scientists, engineers and technicians to help meet the needs of the state’s biomedical industry. The 104,000-square-foot facility is just another step in establishing the state of Texas as a major biomedical center – right here in the heart of the Brazos Valley. TIPS is expected to be completed by June of 2009.

The Texas A&M Institute for Preclinical Studies will house advanced imaging research technology.

A Recreation Destination

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ake a stroll through one of College Station’s parks, and you’ll see why its Parks and Recreation Department is nationally accredited. In fact, College Station is one of only three cities in Texas that is accredited by the national Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies. Since its inception in 1971, it has expanded to 50 parks totaling just under 1,300 acres. The Parks Department provides more than 200 programs with athletic fields, playgrounds, pools, a conference center, recreation center, teen center, library, nature trails, an outdoor amphitheater and rental facilities. The department also promotes education and safety through Kids Klub, an after-school program for children in elementary and intermediate schools in cooperation with College Station Independent School District and through the EXIT Teen Center, which offers after-school activities for teens. In collaboration with College Station Utilities, the Parks and Recreation Department offers a series of free concerts, called the Starlight Music Series (eee Qabf U]d abO`ZWUVb) at Wolf Pen Creek Amphitheater. During the holiday season, residents can enjoy free refreshments and entertainment as they look at more than 500,000 lights beautifully decorating the 47-acre Stephen C. Beachy Central Park. “The College Station Parks and Recreation Department offers fun and recreation for every citizen in our community,” says College Station Mayor Ben White. “From after-school care to swimming lessons to arts and crafts, recreation is a job they do extremely well.”

Special Advertising Section

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