BY THE NUMBERS

KERR COUNTY RETAIL ➤ The Kerrville Daily Times asked its readers what retailer they wanted most to see come to Kerrville and the clear winner was Target. With more than 200 people weighing into the opt-in survey, 59% said they wanted to see the Minneapolis-based retailer open a store in Kerrville. The next two biggest were discounter Ross and retailer Kohl’s. However, on The Kerrville Daily Times’ Facebook page there was a furious write-in vote for Houstonbased sporting good store Academy. Here are some of the comments from readers about the retail environment: ➤ Would like to see a Petsmart, Dillards and Costco. Sure would be nice to spend our money in Kerrville than have to go to San Antonio. Thank you ➤ Target and other big chains will never put a store in a town as small as Kerrville or Fredericksburg. Gotta have a certain population to support it. They are building some small versions in some suburbs. Big ones need hundreds of thousands of people within a 30-mile radius. ➤ I voted for Target but I would like to see Academy.

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At Tivy High School innovation is on display and students in the Air Force JR. ROTC program turned a Croc shoe into a flying quadcopter as part of their studies, which includes access to advanced flight simulators and other opportunities.

the region.

“I’d call it critical,” said Peterson Health CEO Cory Edmonston, himself a recent transplant to Kerrville. “From the standpoint for us to grow, survive and thrive as an institution, and even as a community, we have to have affordable housing.”

Edmonston’s take is one Salinas has heard over and over. During a recent Kerrville City Council meeting, Kerrville Independent School District Superintendent Mark Foust said that retaining teachers is challenging considering the price of homes and rent in the area.

While Salinas’ main task is to attract companies to set up shop in the area, he’s also increasingly focused on ensuring affordable housing is in the conversation about economic development for Kerr County.

Right now, Peterson Health has nearly 70 open positions across its system, including more than 30 nursing positions. In the coming year, the Kerrville State Hospital will undergo major renovations and add 260 new positions as part of its expansion.

“The jobs are here and the jobs are coming,” Salinas said. “Now we’ve got to look at the workforce, but also talent attraction. Millennials are somewhat absent in this community, or it’s not the biggest part of our demographic. So, when I say talent attraction that’s exactly what we’re looking at.”

Salinas makes it clear that there needs to be a focus on retaining the community’s young people by providing opportunities, and jobs.

“The best one that I like (as far as economic development) is using

Gil Salinas said the Guadalupe River is one of the quality of life amenities that is attractive to businesses wanting to relocate to the region.