Greater Waco Business - Spring 2023 - Infrastructure

PLANNING

TOMORROW’S INFRASTRUCTURE TODAY

Late last year, your Chamber had the pleasure of hosting a comprehensive dive into infrastructure in our community and beyond. The event, Building the Texas of Tomorrow – A Greater Waco Chamber Infrastructure Summit, covered a breadth of topics, including transportation, energy, broadband technology, water and more. The gathering was extremely powerful – so much so that we wanted to capture those presentations and present them to you to tell the story of how Greater Waco and Texas are preparing for the future. In the coming pages, you will read about various facets of infrastructure from local, state and national experts and learn how Greater Waco is planning for the exponential growth expected in coming years.

Also, in this issue, you will find your Chamber’s 2022 Annual Report. This report looks at the substantial impact your Chamber had on our community and economy last year. The work we undertake is strategic and delivered in concert with the support and active involvement of many vital partners. Importantly, we could not be effective without the passionate support of our many investors and volunteers, who make sure the Greater Waco Chamber is strongly resourced and given the capacity to meet the needs of our local community and businesses, and vigorously compete for new business and industry on a global scale.

2022 was a great year of gathering business leaders to learn from each other and continue to grow our community and economy. We are excited to see what the new year holds as we continue to help our existing business community grow, focus on bringing new workers and talent to our community, and strive to diversify and grow our regional economy through the attraction of new investments into our community. We are off to a very strong start in 2023 – in the first quarter of this year, we announced the largest economic development capital investment to date, Graphic Packaging International (GPI). Over the next three years, GPI will invest $1 billion dollars to build a new state-of-the-art facility, and we are pleased to welcome them to their new home in Waco.

Thank you for your continued support of your Chamber of Commerce.

With appreciation,

2023 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

CHAIR

Philip Patterson, FACHE

Ascension Providence

CHAIR-ELECT

Kary Lalani

Lalani Lodging, Inc.

VICE CHAIR

Carolyn Haferkamp

Central National Bank

VICE CHAIR

Todd Moore

Alliance Bank Central Texas

IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR

George Chase

Insurors of Texas

CHAMBER STAFF

Kris Collins

Senior Vice President Economic Development

Gabriella Colurciello

Associate Director of Marketing & Communications

Leigh Davis

Director of Marketing & Communications

Alivia Gomez

Director of Signature Events

Nancy Gupton

Resource Development Director

Jacob Hogan

Director of Public Policy & Chamber Foundation

Keith Kusler

Art Director

Rachel Martinez

Director of Leadership Development

Debbie McCutchen

Office Coordinator

Sarah McDonald

Manager of Signature Events

Matt Meadors

President/CEO

Seth Morris

Vice President Economic Development

Jason Powers

Vice President of Finance & Operations

Lexy Reil

Director of Economic Development

Magen Sepeda

Resource Development Coordinator

Matthew T. Meadors President & CEO

Lupe Teichelman

Resource Development Manager

Michelle Williams

Finance & Operations Assistant

Bonnie Yeager

Economic Development Coordinator

A MESSAGE FROM MATT MEADORS

President & CEO, Greater Waco Chamber

INTRODUCIN G TH E CL ASS OF 2023

Teen Leadership Waco develops future leaders by exposing them to engagement opportunities in our community. Students learn about community history, government and social issues and are encouraged to undertake leadership roles to improve their environment. Learn more at WacoChamber.com/Teen-Leadership-Waco.

Avery Alexander Robinson High School

Reyvan Alexander Waco High School

Kyleigh Benton Riesel High School

Ethan Cuevas University High School

Hayden Fadal Bosqueville High School

Treniti Freeman Waco High School

Daniel Garner Waco High School

Hudson Harp Waco High School

Hutson Harper Vanguard College Preparatory School

Kinley Helpert Robinson High School

Elizabeth Johnson Vanguard College Preparatory School

Marshall Kolb Midway High School

Ella Martinez Vanguard College Preparatory School

Sophia MitchellFlores Midway High School

Alan Pahmiyer Live Oak Classical School

Abigail Peters Vanguard College Preparatory School

Leah Powers Bosqueville High School

Nicholas Pruitt Midway High School

Caroline Rice Vanguard College Preparatory School

Eli Risinger China Spring High School

Townlin Starr Vanguard College Preparatory School

Maggie Steakley Midway High School Brody Stein Riesel High School

Luke Williams Vanguard College Preparatory School

Maggie Winarick Vanguard College Preparatory School

INVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE

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Agrowing population and economy increase infrastructure needs. From highways and roadways to broadband to water to schools, expansion necessitates careful investment to avoid eroding quality of life for current and future residents.

The Texas population now tops 30 million according to recent estimates from the US Census Bureau. In fact, the state added 470,708 people (measured from July 2021 to July 2022), the largest-gaining state in the nation. Growth in Texas last year was fueled by gains from all three components: net domestic migration (230,961), net international migration (118,614), and natural increase (118,159). That’s a lot of new Texans (almost 1,300 every day)!

People choosing to move to Texas reflects a range of factors, from the dynamic economy to greater affordability. With companies locating and expanding and the likelihood that the state will outperform most areas, we can expect to continue to attract new residents from other parts of the country and the world. At the same time, a younger population contributes to the natural growth rate.

Our latest forecasts indicate that by 2050, there will be more than 11 million additional Texans. We

also project that the Waco population will be about 30% larger than it is today. In addition to the need to maintain existing infrastructure, there is also a need for expanded capacity.

An efficient transportation system is essential to quality of life and economic prosperity. For example, investments in transportation infrastructure can be crucial to preventing excessive congestion. They also often systematically enhance economic productivity and efficiency. In areas experiencing rapid expansion or increases in traffic, planning for future growth is essential. While the construction process can lead to some dislocations, the benefits in terms of increased efficiency and additional desirable development far outweigh these costs.

The relationship between an efficient and effective transportation system and economic growth is well documented. Numerous studies indicate excessive roadway congestion leads to decreased productivity, increased motivation for companies to invest and expand elsewhere, and elevated production costs, among other detrimental effects. Excessive traffic congestion also provides increased motivation for residents, and thereby workers, to locate elsewhere.

Dr. M. Ray Perryman, President & CEO of The Perryman Group

Interstate 35 through Waco ranked 46 among all Texas roadways in terms of congestion in 2021, and the current expansion can help reduce problems in the future. In addition, a significant local effort is underway to resurface and improve city streets. Such investments not only increase the useful life of existing pavement, but also help reduce problems such as potholes. Investments at the state and local level are needed to help prevent worsening congestion and roadway conditions, and the current programs are part of an ongoing need for additional highway infrastructure in the region.

The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) is charged with ensuring adequate and affordable water supplies for all Texans. Supplies must be adequate to meet the needs of the state’s growing population and economy and to withstand future droughts. The TWDB also assists local areas with related financing. Advance planning and implementation are essential, and the most recent state water plan identifies nearly $80 billion in investments across the state over the next few decades in order to ensure adequate supplies. Projects include, among others, desalinization facilities, conservation measures, new reservoirs and wellfields, and reuse. Several initiatives are set for the Waco area, helping to ensure adequate fresh water supplies for the future.

Another investment which will be required given projected population growth is for schools. According to data from the Texas Education Agency, total enrollment in Texas public schools increased by nearly 429,000 students (8.6%) over the past 10 years, and

many schools are crowded.

In addition, almost 61% of all students are identified as economically disadvantaged and the number is rising (up by some 56,000 over the last year). The percentage of students identified as emergent bilingual students/English learners is also growing and now approaches 22%. Both of these groups may require additional resources in the classroom and are critical to our future workforce. Broadband is also becoming an essential part of overall infrastructure not only for education, but also healthcare delivery and business expansion.

Accommodating the substantial population and economic expansion expected in the decades to come will require investing in infrastructure of all types – not only highways and water capacity and delivery, but also broadband, electric transmission and distribution, and pipelines. Waco is presently seeing substantial growth in a diverse set of industries, and we are projecting that it will continue for the foreseeable future. The key is to try to get ahead of (or at least stay with) the necessary increases in infrastructure to avoid eroding quality of life for all. n

Dr. M. Ray Perryman is President and Chief Executive Officer of The Perryman Group (www.perrymangroup.com), which has served the needs of more than 3,000 clients over the past four decades.

BUILDING A 21 ST CENTURY GRID FOR TEXAS

PHASE 1 FINISHED; NOW TIME FOR PHASE 2

by Bill Flores, Independent Board Member & Vice Chairman, Electric Reliability Council of Texas

Whenever we flip a light switch, adjust a thermostat, or turn on a device in our homes, businesses, and classrooms, it demonstrates the foundation of why the Waco region and the state of Texas continue to grow and prosper.

We are fortunate to be served by an electric grid that provides reliable, resilient, affordable, abundant, clean, and safe electricity. Since Texas leaders decided in 1935 to maintain control of most of the Texas grid as a separate unit, we have had one of the most reliable electric grids in the nation. That said, Texans experienced a huge wake-up call during Winter Storm Uri in 2021 where we learned that our grid and substantial energy system infrastructure had vulnerabilities that needed to be addressed.

Fortunately, leaders in Texas, including our Governor, State Legislature, Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT), energy industry

personnel, and ERCOT’s new Board of Directors stepped up and addressed the most pressing issues related to our dynamic energy industry. The improvements and changes that have been implemented since then, many in record time, have worked! During the cold snaps of the winter of early 2022, the record-breaking heat of the summer of 2022, the prolonged and intense cold of Winter Storm Elliott in late December 2022, and the extended cold and icing spell of late January/early February of 2023, the Texas grid quietly did its job of providing reliable power to millions of Texans. This performance was due to the changes made by Texans who leaned in and worked together to fix our shortcomings, along

with the thousands of Texans who work in the electric power and energy industries of Texas. This turnaround was particularly noticeable when the performance of the Texas grid during Winter Storm Elliott was compared to other grids around the country that struggled to keep power flowing to their customers. Even though it might feel like a good time for everyone to pat themselves on the back for a job well done, it is too early for that. There is still a lot of work to be done to continue building a grid to power Texas’ exciting 21st century.

What is ERCOT?

Before we dive into what has been done and the work that remains, it makes sense to know more about the Texas grid and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) which manages it. Many Texans think of the grid and ERCOT interchangeably; thus, it is important to dig into this subject. The United States has nine power pools, three of which have footprints in

Texas – the portion managed by the Southwest Power Pool (SPP), which covers parts of the western and northern Panhandle, far west Texas, and the northeast corner of Texas; the portion managed by the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) which covers southeast Texas; and the remaining 90% of the state’s power load which is managed by ERCOT. The portion of the state grid managed by ERCOT has over 26 million Texans who rely on a robust power system powered by over 1,100 generation units (including Private Use Networks), connected by almost 53,000 miles of transmission lines which feed dozens of local distribution systems to power homes and businesses.

It is also important to cover more about what ERCOT does and what it doesn’t do. ERCOT does not own or operate any generation, transmission, or distribution assets. Rather, it operates like an air traffic controller to make sure that, every second of every day, on a 24/7 basis, sufficient electricity is generated and transmitted to meet

Photos by American Public Power Association

the needs of millions of hardworking Texans. As the independent system operator (ISO) for the region, ERCOT schedules power generation and transmission resources. It also performs financial settlement for the competitive wholesale bulkpower market, and administers retail switching for 8 million premises in competitive choice areas. As ISO for the geographic region it covers, ERCOT has four primary responsibilities –maintain system reliability, facilitate a competitive wholesale market, facilitate a competitive retail market, and ensure open access to transmission. It is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit corporation, governed by a board of directors and subject to oversight by the Public Utility Commission of Texas and the Texas Legislature.

Over the past 20 years, ERCOT has been a global leader in electric grid operations. After legislative changes in the late 1990s, Texas developed the healthiest, most competitive electric market in the world. A decade later, it successfully led the nation in integrating renewable energy into the electric grid with one of the largest modern electric transmission buildouts in the nation. During this period, many other states were struggling to do a fraction of what we accomplished. The portion of the Texas grid managed by ERCOT is now the third largest grid in the nation (measured by demand) and has the

highest penetration of renewable power generation of any ISO.

Aftermath of Winter Storm Uri

Now that we know more about ERCOT and what it does, we need to look at the recent performance of the Texas grid and what Texas needs to grow and prosper. Let’s start by talking about Winter Storm Uri in February 2021. Virtually everyone in the nation knows that our power and energy systems in the southeast U.S. were strained and failed to deliver adequate power during a weather event that included record cold and freezing precipitation. During the event, almost half of the generation into the Texas grid failed due to cold weather or lack of fuel. These failures affected all of our sources of electricity –wind, solar, coal, natural gas, and nuclear. Scores of people died, and billions of dollars of property were damaged during the storm due to the lack of power, energy, water, and related factors. The bottom line is that we all learned that the lack of reliability and resilience has a cost and that it can be a huge cost in lives and dollars.

Immediately following the storm, it was “all hands on deck” to determine what happened, make sure that these failures never happened again, and develop plans for longer-term growth in the Texas population and economy. In particular, the State Legislature passed and the Governor signed meaningful legislation to improve power and

During the recent all-time peak demand record set on July 20, 2022, Texas homes and businesses required over 80,000 megawatts of power – an amount in excess of the New York and California grids combined.

energy systems reliability and resilience – both for near-term and long-term horizons. At the same time, new leadership at ERCOT developed a comprehensive 60-point plan to improve grid reliability. New PUCT Commissioners also acted boldly and made major changes to improve Texas grid resilience and reliability. In addition, ERCOT’s new Board of Directors and new CEO worked with stakeholders to identify important initiatives to be implemented quickly to better serve the families and businesses of Texas. This list of initiatives is thoughtful, robust, and comprehensive. Now it is up to market participants and ERCOT to implement these changes, integrate them into the electric market, and ensure there is enough reliable power every day – regardless of the weather.

Recent Near-Term Improvements

The near-term changes to the Texas grid include:

• Weatherization of Generation and Transmission Facilities

• Aggressive Grid Management

• Implementation of Firm Fuel Supply Service (FFSS)

• Scheduled Maintenance Period Improvements

• Fast Frequency Response Service

• Expansion of Non-Spinning Reserve Service

• Development of a Critical Supply Chain and Critical Infrastructure Map

• Improved Communication Protocols

More information regarding these changes is available at www.ERCOT.com.

As noted earlier in this article, the implementation of these near-term initiatives led to a marked improvement in grid reliability and resilience during the multiple winter and summer season strains on the grid during 2022 and early 2023. During this time, the Texas grid consistently met the electricity needs of Texas families and businesses. While there were some power disruptions to certain areas during the recent cold weather event in late January-early February 2023, it is important to recognize these outages were caused by the effect of icing conditions on distribution infrastructure outside of ERCOT’s oversight.

Looking to the Future

The Lone Star State is an exciting, dynamic, and fast-growing enterprise, with thousands of new families and businesses deciding to call Texas “home” every day. As a result of this growth, Texas will need substantial increases in power resources – both in the near term and in the long term. In addition, Texas’ fleet of legacy dispatchable generation assets, consisting primarily of nuclear, natural gas, and coal-fueled generators is aging. Moreover, the addition of significant renewable generation infrastructure has made the Texas grid harder to manage due to the variability of output from these resources.

Additionally, the recent federal government enactment of the “Inflation Reduction Act” (IRA) adds increased strains due to the tens of billions of federal taxpayer dollars that are now available to subsidize significant additions of variable and non-dispatchable generation resources to the U.S. and Texas grids. Renewable power has a mixed impact on grids (including Texas’); on one hand, it produces no emissions while operating and it generates cheap power due to free fuel and significant federal taxpayer-paid subsidies; while on the other hand, it is highly variable and hard to dispatch when power is needed. For example, during a peak summer demand period on July 11, 2022, wind power was producing at only 3% of its aggregate nameplate capacity. Another more recent example occurred during the recent winter event from January 30 through February 2, 2023;

during this period, over a third of wind generation capacity was offline due to icing and solar generation was minimal due to heavy cloud cover. Fortunately, dispatchable generation assets –nuclear, coal, natural gas, and significant additions of grid-scale battery storage were available to step up and meet load needs during each of those periods. It should also be recognized that Texans responded and reduced their power needs by taking conservation actions during these events.

In recognition of these challenges, the PUCT has promulgated the following market and grid reforms which ERCOT is implementing and/or planning to implement in the near future:

• Real-time Co-optimization (RTC)

• Aggregated Distributed Energy Resource Pilot (ADER) program

• Firm Fuel Supply Service – Phase 2

• Improved integration of large, flexible loads (e.g., Bitcoin mines) into the ERCOT grid

• ERCOT Contingency Reserve Service (ECRS)

While these changes will improve grid operations and reliability at minimal expense to consumers, a full discussion of them is beyond the length constraints of this article.

The Heavy Lift that Remains in Front of Us

While there will be numerous additional changes and reforms to the grid in the future, the real challenge is re-designing our electricity market to encourage the substantial investment in and deployment of dispatchable generation resources in Texas, while retaining our “Energy Only” market features. For purposes of this discussion, dispatchable resources can be thought of as generation resources and flexible loads that have an “on/off” switch. In other words, ERCOT and grid participants can add resources and/or reduce load on a discretionary basis as compared to hoping that the wind is blowing or the sun is shining. Current examples of dispatchable resources are natural gas-fueled generation facilities, gridscale battery storage infrastructure, large flexible loads like bitcoin mining operations that respond quickly to ERCOT dispatch instructions, and nextgeneration nuclear generation. Of course, future technologies will be developed which will be part of this resource mix. The most important thing to note regarding this part of our discussion is the Texas electricity market needs to be designed so that it encourages tens of billions of dollars of future investment in these types of energy

resources. Of course, this will have a cost to consumers, but it has the benefit of substantially improving reliability. On the other hand, as we learned during Winter Storm Uri, the lack of reliability has a substantial cost. It seems obvious that Texans would prefer to pay for reliability vs. paying for the aftermath that comes with a lack of reliability.

In this regard, the PUCT has stepped up to the plate in a big way by designing the next phase of electricity market reform. In mid-January, the PUCT forwarded a recommendation to the Texas Legislature to fulfill the requirement of SB3 to address reliability during times of low nondispatchable (renewable) power production. By unanimous vote, the PUC has recommended the implementation of the Performance Credit Mechanism (PCM). PCM is a performance-based methodology for Load Serving Entities to contract for energy, ancillary services, and reserves needed in the ERCOT market. Along with implementation of the PCM program, the recommendation provides for the establishment of a firm and quantifiable reliability standard for overall grid operations as well as the participants in the Texas market. The bottom line is that the outcome of PCM implementation will be substantial new investment in reliable, dispatchable generation so Texas has the power it needs when it needs it. Unfortunately, the PCM recommendation has caused “political bullets” to start flying in

Austin during the current legislative session. This politicization of the grid reduces the certainty that Texas needs to ensure a stable electricity market to encourage substantial future investment in reliable, dispatchable generation. Hopefully, this rhetoric will be replaced by rational and realistic dialogue to thoughtfully address our future challenges.

The PCM recommendation is just what Texas needs to deliver long-term reliable, resilient, affordable, abundant, and clean energy to our growing economy and an ever-increasing number of hardworking Texas families.

Looking forward, all of ERCOT’s Board, management, and team members, working alongside the thousands of persons who work on 24/7 on the Texas grid are committed to maintaining a bright future for Texas by working hard every day to keep it energized! n

Bill Flores is an Independent Board Member & Vice Chairman of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas. He is the former United States Congressman for the 17th Congressional District of Texas during 2011-2021. Bill is also an entrepreneur, business leader, volunteer, energy nerd, husband, father, grandfather, Certified Public Accountant (CPA), instrument-rated pilot, ninth-generation Texan, and proud Texas Aggie. The views expressed in this article are his and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Texas Policymakers, the PUCT, or ERCOT.

Like many parents these days, I often find myself reflecting on my children growing up as digital natives and how, in such a short time, the internet has become such an indispensable part of our lives.

In this digital world, I find parenting three teenagers often involves a good bit of helping my kids navigate FOMO – or Fear of Missing Out –which happens when they learn what their peers are doing and want to be included.

In my role as Texas Comptroller, I’ve been hearing about a different kind of FOMO – Fear of Missed Opportunities – caused by lack of broadband access across our state. It is crucial to our state’s future success that we take steps now to provide all Texans with equitable access to the same activities, options and advantages.

Almost 2.8 million Texas households — more than 7 million Texans — do not have access to broadband, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. This lack of access translates into missed opportunities on a colossal scale: 23% of Texans are unable to attend online classes, see a healthcare provider from their living room, fill out a job application online, start a business or access online marketplaces from their kitchen table. These barriers negatively affect Texans’ quality of life and limit opportunities for the state overall.

Waco is situated literally in the heart of Texas

within the Central Texas economic region, which covers about 17,400 square miles and is composed of 20 counties. Forty-two percent of households in the region do not have cable broadband, and 20% do not have internet of any kind, according to Ernst & Young LLP.

WHO GOES WITHOUT?

Broadband consists of: a high-speed internet connection that is constant and continuously available 24/7; can transmit high-quality data with a wide bandwidth; and includes Wi-Fi, DSLs, fiber and satellites. Broadband is considered an indispensable part of our country’s infrastructure.

According to a 2016 Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas report, rural communities, communities of color and low-income families are disproportionately affected by limited broadband coverage. Since that report’s publication, the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of technology for some but expanded the digital divide for others.

BroadbandNow, a company that provides consumers with a comprehensive dataset of internet plans and internet service providers (ISPs), currently ranks Texas as 40th among states in its annual rankings of internet coverage, speed and availability. There are broadband “dead zones” in

by Glenn Hegar, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts

Texas where the lack of broadband availability is unrelated to cost. Eighty-nine percent of households in rural areas are without broadband, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture found in 2019 that a quarter of Texas farms have no internet access. For residents living in these areas, it doesn’t matter what they are able or willing to pay — the service is just not there. For those who can’t afford basic service, it may as well not be there.

LAUNCHING TEXAS’ BROADBAND DEVELOPMENT OFFICE

Over the past three years, the gaps in our state’s broadband coverage were never made so starkly apparent as when the COVID-19 shutdown quickly revealed how essential internet connectivity is for our interactions. There is a direct correlation

between broadband coverage and whether our state’s communities, businesses, health care and education systems thrive.

To close the digital divide, the 87th Legislature created the Texas Broadband Development Office, or BDO, in the Texas Comptroller’s office, marking a giant step toward achieving broadband equity for all Texans. The Texas Legislature charged the BDO with awarding grants, low-interest loans and other financial incentives to ISPs, allowing for the expansion of broadband services across the state to provide Texans with fast, reliable and secure internet. That access is critical for economic growth, health care options and educational and innovative opportunities.

When the BDO launched in August 2021, Texas was one of just a handful of states without a broadband plan. The Texas Broadband Plan, released in June 2022, is a living document based on several guiding principles forming the foundation for future federal and state funding, and built upon the feedback my staff collected from Texans through 12 public town halls, 60 virtual regional roundtable discussions and more than 16,000 survey responses. The plan will be refined over time as federal agencies finalize program guidance and funding allocations. We anticipate more details will be added if the Texas Legislature appropriates additional state funding for new programs on broadband expansion.

BROADBAND FUNDING SOURCES

The BDO was awarded $5 million in Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Initial Planning Funds from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). This funding has been applied toward the development of the state’s five-year action plan to establish the state of Texas’ broadband goals and priorities.

The BDO was also awarded $3.1 million to develop the State Digital Equity Plan, which must identify barriers that prevent individuals and communities in Texas from having the information technology capacity that is needed for full participation in the society and economy. The Digital Equity Capacity

Grant Program is a formula funding program to distribute $1.4 billion to states to implement plans and promote digital inclusion; additionally, the program funds an annual grant program for five years.

The passage of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) provides Texas with significant funding to support broadband efforts. A significant focus of the BDO will be establishing grant programs and the ongoing awarding and monitoring of funds to achieve intended impacts.

This January, my agency received $363.8 million from the U.S. Department of the Treasury for the Bringing Online Opportunities to Texas (BOOT) program, which is a competitive grant application program administered by the BDO. The funds, administered through the federal Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund, will bring much-needed service to about 152,000 locations across the state, and is designed to fund last mile broadband infrastructure projects in eligible unserved and underserved areas throughout the state.

THE ROUTE TO AN ACCURATE COVERAGE MAP

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released its long-awaited initial version of the National Broadband Map on Nov. 18, 2022. The National Broadband Map displays location-bylocation views of high-speed internet availability

“SERVED” = locations where maxspeed is greater than or equal to 100/20 Mbps

“UNDERSERVED” = locations where maxspeed is between 25/3 and 100/20 Mbps

“UNSERVED” = locations where maxspeed is less than 25/3 Mbps

across the country, as reported by ISPs to the FCC. The final map, due to be published in June 2023, will be used by the FCC and NTIA to determine how $42.5 billion provided by IIJA and BEAD funds will be distributed.

Unfortunately, the National Broadband Map is clearly flawed and could potentially reduce Texas’ allocation of BEAD funds by billions of dollars. The FCC gave state and local officials until Jan. 13, 2023, to challenge the map’s accuracy – a tight deadline that limited the accuracy of our response.

My agency will continue to urge the NTIA to allow additional time for a thorough and transparent process to improve the FCC map accuracy and adjust BEAD funding allocations to ensure that each state is getting its fair share based on the best data available. Allowing more time to incorporate a bulk location challenge into the map fabric is a meaningful step that NTIA can take to improve BEAD funding decisions.

YOUR ENGAGEMENT MATTERS

In the meantime, the BDO has developed tools to help local entities engage Texans in the FCC challenge process. Anyone may challenge the map’s accuracy. Resources on the Comptroller’s website offer answers to frequently asked questions, outreach materials, detailed challenge submission instructions, video tutorials and more.

I urge you to participate in challenging the accuracy of the FCC National Broadband map. Visit the Texas Broadband Development Office website, and download the FCC Map Challenge Toolkit for Texans (PDF) and Map Challenge Flowchart (PDF) to help you through the process. Use our tools to check your area’s broadband access anywhere in your community.

The BDO launched its own Texas Broadband Development Map on Jan. 12, 2023. This interactive map identifies areas of the state eligible for broadband expansion project funding as defined by state law. (State law defines a designated area as eligible for funding if less than 80% of serviceable locations have access to internet at speeds of 25 megabits per second (mbps) downstream and 3 mbps upstream.) The map also allows Texans to check broadband coverage across the state, using data collected from ISPs operating in Texas.

The Texas Broadband Development Map will be updated twice a year, with the next data refresh scheduled for February or March. As the BDO creates

a more granular address-level broadband availability map, newly collected data will allow the BDO to operate with greater precision moving into the future.

THE IMPORTANCE OF STAYING CONNECTED

Connecting more than 1 million households to high-speed broadband, improving connectivity for over 5.6 million households, improving broadband affordability for 3.6 million households and assisting 3.8 million Texans with digital literacy education presents a challenging, but not impossible, goal. Help is on the way, but we need your participation to secure broadband for all Texans. n

SCAN FOR THE TEXAS BROADBAND PLAN DETAILS

THE TIME TO INVEST IN TRANSPORTATION IS NOW

During the construction of Interstate 35 through Waco, Baylor University welcomed motorists to the city with a humorous greeting on a Baylor-branded billboard that stated: Bless our mess; bear with the construction. After four years of construction, the blessings are abundant, and the mess is gone.

The I-35 Waco project is officially complete: four new mainlanes in each direction, reconstructed frontage roads and ramps, enhanced safety design, and improved pedestrian and bicycle access. All the credit in the world belongs to the Texas Department of Transportation’s (TxDOT) Waco District, the contractors, local stakeholders, and the Waco and Bellmead communities for their patience during construction.

by Brandye L. Hendrickson , Deputy Executive Director, Texas Department of Transportation

The almost 13,000 women and men that work at TxDOT have the same mission: Connecting You with Texas. There are seven strategic goals that guide the agency to achieve that mission, so it’s not just a meaningless bumper sticker motto. One of the strategic goals is to deliver the right projects, which means adhering to planned budgets and schedules and using scenario-based forecasting to plan projects. Ultimately, the I-35 project was delivered on budget and ahead of schedule, but more importantly, the project was delivered for the right reasons. Waco is a major freight route and carries more than 100,000 vehicles per day— a number that is expected to increase substantially in the future. The I-35 project is in place now to withstand the enormous growth forecasted not just for Texas, but for Waco.

Fortunately, Texas and the federal government have recognized that the time to invest in transportation is now. Texas voters spoke loudly in 2014 and 2015 when they voted by massive majorities in favor of Propositions 1 and 7 to dedicate more funding to transportation needs. 2014’s Proposition 1 is a constitutional amendment that directs more funds to transportation by directing a portion of oil and gas severance tax revenue to the State

Highway Fund. And 2015’s Proposition 7 dedicates a portion of the state’s general sales and use taxes to build highway projects. Together, the funding is now expected to provide about 40% of Texas’ total project funding over the next ten years. The total amount of new transportation funding Texas has received from these sources is now $26.5 billion total.

Then in November 2021, federal leaders passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, or IIJA. The IIJA is Congress’ standard highway authorization bill — similar to previous authorization bills MAP-21 or the FAST Act — and authorizes federal transportation funding over five years. Combined with previous propositions passed by Texas voters, the IIJA will help us keep people connected, in Waco and throughout Texas, during this unprecedented boom. The IIJA authorizes $1.2 trillion for transportation, broadband, electricity grid and water infrastructure, including $351 billion for highway programs, of which $307 billion goes to states — that’s $26.9 billion for Texas.

In combination, Propositions 1 and 7 with the IIJA provided money for highway bridge replacement, and the rehabilitation, preservation, protection, and construction of public roads, as well as funding bridge construction and maintenance, rural transit, and electric vehicle infrastructure.

TxDOT, through our districts, Local Government Projects Program, and multi-modal divisions, is assisting local governments and Metropolitan Planning Organizations with the administration and coordination of grant awards to ensure the successful implementation of IIJA grants, and this increased funding due to the IIJA has had a major impact on TxDOT’s 10-year project development plan. The Unified Transportation Program, or UTP, approved by the Texas Transportation Commission last August, serves as a 10-year plan to guide the development of nearly 7,000 transportation projects in Texas and supports projects in every region of the state — rural, urban, and metro areas. The 2023 UTP is approximately $85 billion — a historic dollar amount, providing significant funding for safety investment, statewide connectivity, metro mobility and other strategic priorities, including $5 billion for our Texas Clear Lanes projects, which address Texas’ biggest congestion chokepoints in TxDOT’s most populous districts.

In using these funds, TxDOT awarded more contracts than ever in 2022 -- about $10.6 billion. That is double the amount of contract awards just nine years ago. Our divisions and districts are working hard to accelerate projects already in the pipeline to ensure we maximize the opportunity to put those dollars to work and “turn dirt” to deliver the safety, mobility and connectivity improvements that Texans expect and deserve.

Waco occupies a strategic location in the economic powerhouse that is the Lone Star State. Two interstates, I-14 and I-35, run through or near the city and serve as a transportation hub for commercial travelers and through motorists alike. With the current population at just over 260,000, estimates forecast that McLennan County will eclipse a population of 300,000 by 2045. Additionally, population and employment along the Texas I-35 corridor are projected to increase by more than 80% and 77%, respectively, by 2040. Approximately $750 billion dollars in goods is transported on I-35 each

year, and much of it travels through Waco.

And, it’s not just residents moving in and taking advantage of I-35. With its easy accessibility off the interstate, Waco has welcomed millions of tourists over the past few years, providing businesses with an additional stream of customers and revenue. TxDOT and Waco have an opportunity to get ahead of the projected population growth and increased visitors areawide. Even with the completion of the I-35 project through Waco, TxDOT’s work in the area is not done. There are exciting transportation solutions that will serve Waco and its growing business community for decades to come.

Most people associate TxDOT with motor vehicles. The agency is primarily funded through state

motor fuel taxes and vehicle registration fees, and TxDOT’s work is driven by trucks and construction vehicles. However, residents in the communities we serve, including Waco, travel in numerous ways, which has pushed TxDOT to become a multimodal transportation agency. TxDOT and the Waco District have a clear call to action during the project design process to construct pedestrian and bicyclist facilities, as well as roads.

With five local colleges and universities, Waco is

a natural city for the backpack-carrying pedestrian and bicyclist. Walkability and accommodating bicyclists in today’s multimodal world are a necessity for fostering a healthy business environment for the city. TxDOT has a proven record of demonstrating support for these modes of transportation. The I-35 project added more than 12 miles of ADA-compliant sidewalks, upgraded eight crossings with pedestrian and bike access, and improved lighting. During construction and after the final concrete pour, TxDOT is here to serve pedestrians and motorists, alike.

The Waco business community understands that to grow, no matter the industry, innovation is crucial. TxDOT is no different in that regard. TxDOT is in the business of creating innovative construction techniques and design elements in Waco and throughout Texas. An innovative design that TxDOT plans to implement is a roundabout at the Potts Interchange (Waco Drive and BUS 77 intersection.) Roundabouts improve safety using two design features. The circular central island reduces vehicle

speeds and prevents the high-speed, T-bone collisions seen at traditional intersections. The splitter islands serve as a refuge for pedestrians and smoothly deflect traffic into the roundabout, forcing vehicles to slow down further. The Potts interchange is emblematic of the growth Waco has experienced in recent decades. Prior to the interstate highway system, heavy traffic into Waco traveled through various Texas and US highways. To maximize efficiency, the Potts Interchange was constructed 70 years ago to allow motorists to travel on a gradeseparated system at a more free-flowing pace. Today, TxDOT plans to construct a roundabout in the area to improve operational and safety measures at the intersection for not only vehicle traffic but for pedestrians and bicyclists. Future improvements along the US-77 corridor will include up to three or four additional roundabouts. The previous freeway section will transition into a multi-modal boulevard section to meet future changing uses of the local community, Baylor University and both pedestrians and bicyclists.

Social media, smart phones, and communication technology have introduced an entirely new dynamic for businesses. Advertising and customer service are just a few of the business practices that have been completely changed by the emerging technology we see in the business world. In planning the I-35 project, TxDOT Waco identified communication as one of the key objectives in conducting our business.

Ongoing construction is not convenient for business owners — and that is a fact TxDOT does not take lightly. More so, with its advantageous placement surrounding the interstate, TxDOT anticipated how critical it would be to communicate project updates for community businesses. Clear and concise communication was needed during the project to keep business owners apprised of updates that could impact their business and their customers. TxDOT’s Waco District and its contractors, CD&P and the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, engaged in more than 400 in-person visits with businesses and residents during the project to provide updates; that’s more than 100 visits a year to businesses in a concentrated six-mile area. Social media and email updates, dynamic websites and old-fashioned mailers were used to communicate with local businesses. With the success of agency-to-business communication demonstrated during the project, the Waco District has a blueprint going forward to guide future construction projects that will impact Waco businesses.

TxDOT’s priority as a transportation agency is safety for workers and the traveling public. November

7, 2022, marked 22 years of daily deaths on Texas roads — more than 79,000 lives lost in fatal crashes. That’s why TxDOT created the End the Streak safety campaign to raise awareness about the long streak of traffic fatalities in Texas. 2021 was the second deadliest year since TxDOT began tracking this data in 1940, with nearly 4,500 people killed. TxDOT’s Waco District has committed more than $30 million of safety projects. In McLennan County alone, TxDOT has committed funding to an illumination project on State Highway 6 near Lake Waco, cable median barrier installation on US 84 heading to McGregor, and traffic and pedestrian signal improvements at North 19th Street and Park Lake Drive, by the popular H-E-B grocery store. All safety funding allocated ensures the Waco community has its transportation needs addressed and that roadways are as safe as possible for motorists.

Last year, City of Waco City Manager Bradley Ford reported that Waco hit impressive economic benchmarks, including increased sales activity and the second highest monthly sales tax amount in Waco’s history, despite the inflation woes and a potentially grim outlook nationally. More and more people are moving to Waco and more and more travelers are visiting Waco to explore what the city has to offer. I cannot think of a better time for a business to be a part of Waco, and I am excited that TxDOT is a committed partner during the city’s growth. n

CALLING ON CONGRESS:

by

One of the lasting legacies of the 117th Congress will be billions of dollars of new investments to address crumbling infrastructure, the digital divide, and clean energy. Adoption of a bipartisan infrastructure bill had been a top Chamber priority for decades, and we worked with Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle to ensure this critical legislation got across the finish line in 2021. This year, Congress followed it up with the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which contained even more investments in clean energy. However, those investments will be considerably delayed or even halted unless Congress improves our outdated permitting process.

Projects of all kinds are plagued with endless delays and litigation. The permitting process suffers from multiple agency roadblocks, lack of transparency and timely reviews, and numerous bites at the apple for project opponents seeking to kill projects through costly delays. As a result, many in the private sector are reluctant to tie up capital in projects, costing us jobs and the benefits associated with better, more resilient infrastructure. The average transportation project takes almost seven years just to obtain federal approval, and more complex ones can span more than a decade. The same is true for pipelines to maintain energy security and low-cost energy, transmission lines needed to connect clean energy to

the grid, and other kinds of energy infrastructure.

Over the past few years, there’s been a slow but steady realization that projects such as wind and solar farms, and interstate transmission lines can also face extreme delays in today’s permitting process. Simply put, the Biden Administration’s ambitious climate goals cannot be met without a permitting overhaul. In fact, an analysis cited by the Administration about the benefits of the Inflation Reduction Act even contains the important caveat that the permitting process be more streamlined.

In 2022, considerable progress in Congress was made, making permitting improvements a realistic goal for the 118th Congress.

Martin Durbin, Senior Vice President, Policy, U.S. Chamber of Commerce President, Global Energy Institute, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Both Chairman Manchin and Senator Capito introduced substantive permitting reform bills. Senator Manchin made his support for IRA contingent on consideration for his package, which ultimately fell short. While Senator Manchin’s efforts didn’t result in a positive floor vote, they did serve to both raise awareness and educate members of Congress about the urgent need for improvements. While some members may never support permitting updates that could benefit traditional energy sources, most realize that permitting improvements are necessary to accommodate growing demand for and investments in solar and wind power. Therefore, permitting reform will accelerate the clean energy transition rather than impede it. What began as merely a political deal has grown to genuine, good-faith support for improvements on both sides of the aisle.

On the Republican side, Senator Capito’s comprehensive legislation was introduced with the support of the entire Republican caucus, and incoming House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman has made permitting improvements a priority. Although there were differences between the Manchin and Capito bills, they are hardly insurmountable, and progress toward bridging the gap has already been made.

Communities across the country depend on Congress taking action to cut red tape and ease delays. For 2023, we are calling on Congress to enact a bipartisan permitting modernization bill and will work with any member of Congress who will help accomplish this goal.

Greater Waco is fortunate to be a place where collaboration is more than a word; it’s a way of ensuring that business gets done and the community continues to thrive. The City of Waco and McLennan County work closely together, with many other entities in the community, to ensure that projects in both jurisdictions are completed to support Greater Waco’s growing population. We sat down with City of Waco Mayor Dillon Meek and McLennan County Judge Scott Felton to learn about upcoming projects and the future of infrastructure in Greater Waco!

What impact did the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act have on Greater Waco’s infrastructure projects? What additional funding is in place to support new projects?

Mayor Meek: We really are just starting to see some of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) funding become available locally. Once the IIJA was signed into law in November 2021, that authorization went to the various federal agencies to begin their processes of implementing programming and allocating funding. We were excited to observe the development of those programs throughout 2022 and to begin to apply for funding over the course of the last six to nine months. The IIJA has opened doors for the City to apply for competitive grant funding on some significant local infrastructure projects, particularly bridges, that we otherwise have not been able to fund at this point in time.

By nature, bridges are complicated and expensive projects. Waco has applied for planning and construction grants for several bridge projects in and around Waco. While we were not awarded all our planning grant applications, we are grateful to be one of the 22 entities nationwide to receive a 2022 Planning Grant award under the Bridge Investment Program. Of the $20 million allocated across the nation, Waco was awarded an $800k planning grant for the Primrose Bridge, which will allow us to assess solutions to

Photos by Jerry Larson

capacity and flooding issues that impact that area, particularly during inclement weather. We are still awaiting notification on awards for construction applications under the Bridge Investment Program (at the time of writing) but are hopeful to receive funding to complete the expansion and replacement of the Speegleville Bridge over the Middle Bosque River.

Judge Felton: The County has engaged a grant consulting firm to help us navigate this Act and to look for available funds that are a fit for the County. We have already submitted some grant pre-applications. The County will look to acquire funding for culverts, bridges and road repair, as needed.

In addition to new funding made available to us, the County has judiciously used General Obligation Bonds to have funds available for road construction and other projects. The County has also begun budgeting funds for bridge and low water crossing projects.

Now that the I-35 project is complete, what additional road projects are underway or in the planning stages for our community?

Mayor Meek: One exciting and forwardleaning project that has gone for funding application to the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant program is for development of a Smart Corridor Plan, facilitated by the Waco Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). If awarded, the MPO will develop a Smart Corridor Plan within Waco that aligns with the RAISE program’s aim of investing in surface

transportation that will have a significant local or regional impact. Such a project includes planning, design, and engineering work for a Smart Network Corridor- a comprehensive mobility space utilizing smart network technologies to maximize access and ensure system-wide gains in safety, climate benefits, disaster preparedness, and resiliency. Similar projects (upon completion and build out) in other cities have included free public wi-fi access, interactive functionalities, dynamic traffic signals, and related smart infrastructure.

Waco also has a dynamic street program. The City of Waco’s Pavement Management Program performs an annual review that identifies which city streets should receive specific applications to lengthen the life of their surface. These city streets are selected by conducting a pavement surface inspection and calculating an overall pavement condition index rating.

The city council requested the Public Works Department to provide fundamentally reliable data to support the specific selection of streets identified, annually, for consideration, and to create the template for balancing funding allocations per year — and now they have it. While the City’s legacy database system rating was only updated once every other year, Public Works is now leveraging real-time asset condition, work resources, and data to formulate decisions utilizing a software program called Cartegraph.

Cartegraph models pavement condition and how it deteriorates over time. These prediction models can be used to predict pavement condition for a number of different proposed treatments. Through the degradation curve algorithms built into Cartegraph, Public Works can now prepare a comprehensive street preventive maintenance and repair program that optimizes the available funding to improve the street system condition rating to the maximum extent possible. This system allows us to predict and plan cost efficient street projects for much longer terms (five, ten, twenty years) providing City Management with the ability to evaluate funding mechanisms and scenarios. More importantly, we’re able to address the needs of the pavement before it becomes a very costly investment.

The goal of Waco’s program is to create an overall plan that will support revitalizing our complete network to achieve and maintain a state of relatively good condition and prevent streets from falling into such a state of disrepair that they must be reconstructed. Preserving a street through a surface seal or similar treatment is four to five times more cost effective than waiting to repair a street until after it requires reconstruction.

Judge Felton: McLennan County is currently under construction on a $8.8 million Chapel Road improvement project, which will greatly improve efficiency and safety for commuters while connecting to critical transportation routes. In addition, we are working on a project to help with erosion on Bullhide Creek Road.

With the recent focus on broadband and energy, how are these facets of infrastructure supporting current and future Wacoans?

Mayor Meek: In the post-pandemic era, as more and more of our workforce have moved to remote or hybrid-remote solutions and schools have implemented online learning solutions, we have realized across the nation the importance of, and the need for, reliable access to broadband, cybersecurity, and energy. As we think about maintaining and improving the connectivity and infrastructure that already exists in our region, we also must think about where future development needs might be and ensure the extension of appropriate infrastructure as we grow into those spaces.

We are excited for Waco to receive just over $187,000 of formula funding as part of the IIJA’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program. As we explore the federal guidance for use of these funds, we look forward to programming some pilot projects for the Waco area regarding energy efficiency and energy usage reduction.

Following Winter Storm Uri in 2021, Waco has focused on building upon not only our energy efficiency but also implementing additional resiliency measures. You’ve seen this as we’ve established community warming and cooling centers for subsequent inclement weather events. We’ve made moves to ensure functionality of those centers to operate even in the event of a power outage or grid failure. As part of those same resiliency efforts, the City spent $3 million of American Rescue Plan Act funding to purchase and install backup generators for the Riverside Water Treatment Plan and the Central Wastewater Treatment Plant to guarantee continuous water and sanitary sewer services even during times when electrical power may be interrupted or unavailable.

Judge Felton: The Comptroller’s Office has prepared a Texas Broadband Development Map. In reviewing that map, the vast majority of McLennan County has broadband coverage, with the higher speed availability in the heart of the County. Further out into the County, the coverage does become spottier, with some areas that are considered “underserved” and some that have no coverage at all. Our grant consultant is actively visiting with broadband companies and looking into funding through the Texas Broadband Development Office. I view this as a community-wide issue, and the County will explore options to partner with other entities, as well.

Photo by Jerry Larson

Ambassadors are the o cial goodwill greeters and volunteer liaisons between the Chamber and its members by attending ribbon cuttings and greeting attendees at selected Chamber events.

Why Volunteer?

Professional recognition as a community leader

Networking opportunities and business leads

Eligibility for Ambassador Awards

For more information, visit WacoChamber.com/Ambassadors

What is our community planning to ensure that Greater Waco has an adequate water supply?

Mayor Meek: I’m so thankful for the dedicated work of Congressman Sessions and his efforts to secure federal appropriations for critical projects here in Waco. The recent drought here in Central Texas has only further highlighted the importance of careful stewardship of our water resources.

In the FY23 federal budget cycle we received a $3 million allocation for planning and engineering work to increase future capacity at the Bull Hide Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant. Increased treatment capacity at this plant supports growth and development for the southern part of McLennan County including Waco, Hewitt, and Lorena. In the FY22 federal budget cycle, we received $1.7 million for the Flat Creek Water Reuse project, and we have recently requested additional funding in the upcoming FY24 federal budget. Development of this project will allow us to divert reclaimed water from the Central Wastewater Treatment Plant to the industrial district for non-potable industrial uses, such as in cooling systems, so that treated drinking water can be preserved for actual drinking water uses both in Waco and the surrounding communities that we supply with water.

Judge Felton: Many of the rural water systems in eastern McLennan County are facing fines and penalties from the EPA due to arsenic levels in the

water. The County has obligated $4.4 million of American Rescue Plan Act funds to help with this challenge and has already issued checks to two water supply companies to help their efforts.

Additionally, we are looking at opportunities to leverage the expansion of water service to encourage economic development. This could be water line extensions, backup generation equipment, and updated technology, such as smart meters.

The County has successfully applied for and received Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to help the unincorporated community of Elm Mott with water and sewer improvements.

What influence do both economic and population growth have on infrastructure projects? Given the strategic planning and ongoing execution of these infrastructure projects, what will life in Greater Waco look like for future Wacoans?

Mayor Meek: It is an incredible time to be in Waco because there is an unprecedented opportunity for smart growth. There is energy and excitement around the growth opportunities here now, but from a leadership perspective, we know that infrastructure planning is more critical than ever. Waco will undoubtedly grow, but I believe we can grow in a way that maintains our values and culture,

Photo by Rod Aydelotte

so Waco always feels like Waco. One important aspect to this is ensuring that the quality of life and ease of transporting around town is maintained (and improved) rather than diminished by growth. We are committed to long-range planning on all infrastructure.

Judge Felton: Population growth places a strain on existing infrastructure and causes already aged or weak infrastructure to fail sooner than anticipated. Economic growth is critical to cover these costs. This allows us to be able to cover the costs of long term financing to pay for these improvements now.

Wacoans and McLennan

County residents can expect to experience more traffic on the roads and higher frustrations on the commute to work until these improvement projects are completed. Higher demand for construction materials will be met with higher supply costs. A higher tax burden on existing and future taxable assets will may be necessary to cover those inflationary purchases; however, assuming we have a growing tax base, there will be minimal increased tax cost on owners of residences and businesses over the long term. n

OUR AREAS OF FOCUS

FOR THE 88TH TEXAS LEGISLATIVE SESSION

Your Greater Waco Chamber is active in the public policy space. We engage at all levels of government on our community’s behalf to serve as a voice for our members and the broader business community with legislators. Guided by our public policy committee, we’ve developed priorities to ensure that new legislation and decisions are conducive to continued economic growth and prosperity.

WORKFORCE & EDUC AT ION PRIORITIES

• Support solutions and funding to attract and retain high-quality teachers and improve the overall teacher experience.

• Ensure school districts receive their full Tier 1 entitlement to support a strong and equitable public-school system.

• Support the Texas Commission on Community College Finance’s concept and funding of the new community college outcomes funding model.

• Increase funding of the state financial aid programs, such as the Texas Tuition Equalization Grant program, to ensure opportunities for all Texans to attend an institution of higher education.

• Support training programs like the TRUE (Texas Reskilling and Upskilling through Education) program that will reskill, upskill, and strengthen the Texas workforce across all industry sectors.

• Support solutions and funding to unlock and retain more workers that will strengthen the talent pipeline and addresses the barriers to entering or re-entering the workforce such as affordable housing, high quality childcare, transportation, healthcare, food security and broadband access.

BUSINESS CLIMATE PRIORITIES

• Support tax provisions that spur private sector innovation and development and that encourage the formation of new businesses large and small.

• Support solutions that reduce the property tax burden on businesses and promotes a fair, professional appraisal process that retains local authority and spurs business development and growth.

• Ensure regulations reflect a cost-benefit perspective and support legislative efforts to maintain a regulatory climate that does not impose hidden taxes on employers through excessive fees and fines, but rather reduces excessive regulations to promote economic growth and job creation.

• Oppose any regulations or policies that incentivize ablebodied workers to not join or return to the workforce.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES

• Reauthorize Chapter 311 and reimplement or replace Chapter 313 for large capital investment projects.

• Support the Texas Enterprise Fund, the state’s deal-closing incentive fund, and all other competitive economic development incentives and tools.

• Permanently fund the Spaceport Trust Fund (minimum $10 million per biennium) for communities with designated Spaceport Development Corporations.

• Advocate for using the state’s record budget surplus towards funding long term impact capital and infrastructure projects.

• Support policies and programs that increase access to capital for small business loans and that provide resources for small business development.

INFRASTRUCTURE PRIORITIES

• Support increased transportation funding and dedicated funds for small/mid-size MPOs and preserve the local decisionmaking ability of MPOs in the prioritization, planning and designation of funding for regional transportation projects.

• Support completing the reconstruction and expansion of Waco’s section of Interstate 35 without requiring the sacrifice of additional local resources.

• Support innovative water management strategies including reuse, conservation and conjunctive use of quality ground and surface water along with providing incentives for the implementation of these strategies to ensure adequate supply of water that supports future economic growth and development of the region.

• Support the further implementation and funding of the statewide broadband plan that fairly serves all Texans.

• Support the domestic production of efficient energy sources to further Texas’ position as a global energy leader.

In addition to the State Of Series planned for later this year, your Chamber coordinates and hosts visits to Washington, D.C. and Austin to keep our priorities top of mind. Learn more about our advocacy visits at WacoChamber.com/PublicPolicy. n

InWaco was created to highlight the things that make our community special with the ultimate goal of recruiting and retaining our most valuable resource: our people. InWaco comprises everything Greater Waco has to offer, including jobs. With an integrated job board and place for job seekers to post their resumes, the inWaco website offers a place for employers and potential employees to connect. Talent and workforce remains vital to the work of your Greater Waco Chamber and we are committed to being part of the solution.

THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS

The Waco Young Professionals (Waco YPs) is an opportunity for professionals between the ages of 21 and 40, who call the Greater Waco area home, to network and develop professionally. Whether Waco has been home for years or just a few months, there is opportunity for anyone to forge new relationships within the organization.

The vision of the Waco YPs is to be an organization that facilitates the transition, development and advancement of the young professionals in the Greater Waco area as the future leaders of the community. The organization diligently fosters and prepares an exceptional pool of confident, competent and well-rounded Young Professionals who feel compelled to promote economic sustainability, engage within their community, and create a valuable, business network.

Each month the Waco YPs host a membership gathering called the Lunch Connection. This is an opportunity for members to meet and hear and learn from a guest speaker on a relevant topic. After-work happy hours are quite popular as well, providing a laid-back atmosphere to get to know fellow young professionals. For current event offerings, follow along on Facebook and Instagram (@WacoYPs)!

The Waco YPs also offer a unique opportunity for members to rub shoulders with some of Waco’s most seasoned professionals through the Waco Executive Mentoring Program. The premise of this program is to provide our members the opportunity to cultivate relationships with seasoned business professionals and community leaders who are passionate about pouring into the next generation of leadership.

This group is where you want to be, if you are a young professional in Waco! For more information you can visit WacoYP.org. n

GOLD SPONSORS

PRESENTING SPONSOR

Hour Economy provides a quar terly over view of the economic index and recently announced proje ct s followed by a guest speaker discussing topi cs like emerging economic trends and developments in Waco, all in one hour.

PRESENTING SPONSORS

WacoChamber.com/events

Graphic Packaging International has selected Waco to build a new facility for its state-of-the-art coated recycled paperboard (CRB) machine

$1 BILLION CAPITAL INVESTMENT WACO’S LARGEST ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ANNOUNCEMENT TO DATE

640,000 SQUARE FEET IN PRODUCTION AND WAREHOUSING FACILITIES

230 NEW JOBS

Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Graphic Packaging manufactures fiber-based consumer packaging solutions for the world’s leading consumer product and foodservice companies. The Waco facility will be located in the heart of Waco’s largest industrial park, Texas Central Park, on Gateway Boulevard. The 124-acre campus will be home to 640,000 square feet in production and warehousing facilities and will offer approximately 230 new jobs with an average annual salary of $65,000, and full benefits.

“We are looking forward to joining the Waco community and working with the great talent base in the area. We appreciate the strong support and engagement we received from the City of Waco and McLennan County as we

conducted our site selection process,” said Michael Doss, president and CEO of Graphic Packaging. “Building a new recycled paperboard mill in Waco will enhance our ability to meet growing global demand for packaging made with recycled materials.”

“After nearly a year of discussions with Graphic Packaging, we are pleased to welcome them to Waco,” said McLennan County Judge Scott Felton. “A group of local leaders and I spent a good amount of time with the company’s executive team, and we visited one of their facilities. They are undoubtedly committed to health and safety and value the opportunities Waco offers for community partnerships.”

Graphic Packaging is embarking on a significant capital investment to modernize and grow its coated recycled paperboard (CRB) platform in response to consumer demand for more recycled materials in their packaging. The Waco investment will allow Graphic Packaging to upgrade its overall CRB capacity and take advantage of a rapidly growing recycled fiberbased packaging market.

Graphic Packaging’s decision to locate in Waco represents a regional economic development collaboration between the City of Waco, McLennan County, the Waco Industrial Foundation and the Greater Waco Chamber, with all entities strategically partnering to provide support for the project.

“I am thrilled that Waco will have its first billion-dollar investment in the community,” said Waco Mayor Dillon

Meek. “I’m thankful for the Graphic Packaging leadership team, who saw first-hand how our community comes together for the greater good, including workforce development and longrange infrastructure plans. Our community’s commitment to collaboration between local government, businesses, and education greatly benefits large and small businesses. Thank you to all the parties who diligently worked to achieve this important milestone. Welcome to Waco, Graphic Packaging.” n

Texas Wins Governor’s Cup For Record-Shattering 11th Consecutive Year

Governor Greg Abbott has announced Texas secured Site Selection Magazine’s Governor’s Cup for a record-shattering 11th consecutive year and 13th win overall—records unmatched by any other state. Awarded annually by Site Selection since 1978, the Governor’s Cup recognizes the nation’s top-performing state for job-creating business relocations and expansions.

Feb. 2022 versus Feb. 2023

Waco MSA Records Highest Labor Numbers

The February 2023 employment data has been published, and Waco is growing! Labor force growth in the Waco MSA is outpacing the region, Texas AND the U.S. The Waco MSA labor force currently has grown to its highest level on record and shows no signs of slowing.

Greater Waco Aerospace Alliance Attends SpaceCom

The Greater Waco Aerospace Alliance joined the McLennan County Spaceport Development Corporation at SpaceCom in Orlando, FL in February. The conference gave our community the opportunity to educate attendees about why Waco is a fantastic location for commercial space and aerospace businesses.

UNEMPLOY MENT RATE LA BOR FORCE

13 7,93 1

13 2,232

GREATER WACO’S LABOR FORCE GREW BY MORE THAN 5,600 INDIVIDUALS!

RETAIL SPENDING

YTD 2022: $438,100,940

YTD 2023: $420,330,135

% Change: -4.1%

AUTOMOBILE SPENDING

YTD 2022: $71, 360,919

YTD 2023: $72,413,060

% Change: +1.5%

BUILDING PERMITS ISSUED

YTD 2022: $77,012,174

YTD 2023: $335,591,591

% Change: +361.7%

At Technology Business Brie ng, attendees learn about regional and national tech-driven innovation. Hosted quarterly, this program features experts highlighting new technological advances.

PRESENTING SPONSORS

WacoChamber.com/Events

Tuesday, July 25

The Baylor Club

11:30 am - 1:00 pm

FIRST PITCH LUNCHEON

In January, the Greater Waco Chamber wrapped up its 2022-2023 Sports Luncheon Series with its annual First Pitch Luncheon to celebrate the start of baseball and softball seasons. We received season previews from the McLennan Community College and Baylor University baseball and softball coaches. Former Baylor University pitcher and guest speaker Shawn Tolleson gave an inspirational talk on perseverance.

Presenting sponsorship for the Sports Luncheon Series is provided by Jim Turner Chevrolet. Details about the upcoming Series will be available at WacoChamber.com soon! n

GREATER WACO CHAMBER RECOGNIZES LEADERS DURING MEMBER CELEBRATION

The Greater Waco Chamber hosted its Member Celebration in January. This prestigious event recognized the 2023 Board Chair, Philip Patterson, and honored 2022 Board Chair, George Chase. The evening also celebrated the Waco Chamber’s membership, event sponsors, investors, and volunteers. The Thomas G. Salome, Jr. Legacy Award was presented to Louis

Englander and Bernard “B” Rapoport (posthumously). Louis and “B” were recognized for their leadership, impact, sustained investment of time and talent, innovative thinking, and collaborative approaches to addressing community needs and opportunities. n

GREATER WACO CHAMBER HOSTS MIDTEX FARM & RANCH SHOW

For more than 50 years, the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce has hosted the MidTex Farm & Ranch Show. This year, with presenting sponsor, United Ag & Turf, we welcomed hundreds of farmers, ranchers and their families to the Extraco Events Center’s BASE Facility to see the latest in farming and agriculture technology.

During MidTex, the Greater Waco Chamber had the opportunity to award two scholarships, sponsored by Helberg Barbecue, to local high school students: Chelsea Holy and John Loyd “JL” Singer. Holy will graduate in May from Robinson High School. She’s been involved in FFA as the chapter secretary for one year and chapter president for two years and showed pigs for three years through FFA. She plans to attend Tarleton State University where she hopes to get a degree in Agriculture to become a Certified Crop Advisor. Singer will graduate in May from McGregor High School where he is active in FFA, National Honor Society, and multiple sports. He is a 10-year member of the McGregor 4-H Club and one of his key service areas is working with the McGregor Food Pantry each month. Upon graduation, he plans on attending Tarleton State University. We also partnered with the BIG Conference to offer classes about beef, cotton, rural land management, grain, and more, with CEUs available for certain courses. n

COMMUNITY RAISES FUNDS FOR SCHOLARSHIPS AT 2023 FREEDOM BALL

The Greater Waco Chamber and the Greater Waco Aerospace Alliance hosted the Freedom Ball, with presenting sponsors, Johnson Roofing and University Kia, in February at the Waco Convention Center.

The Freedom Ball was established more than 12 years ago and is a patriotic celebration honoring active-duty service men and women, veterans and Gold Star families.

This year, we welcomed honorary chairs, Margaret and Weldon Ratliff, who avidly support the military. The event featured live music, dinner, drinks, dancing and more. Some proceeds from the event benefit the Greater Waco Aerospace Alliance Scholarship Fund, providing scholarships to McLennan County high school and college students pursuing aviation, aerospace and engineering careers and supports target industry marketing of Greater Waco’s aerospace industry. To date, the Alliance has distributed nearly $230,000 in scholarships to more than 100 Central Texas high school and college students. n

SAVE THE DATE

2024 FREEDOM BALL

Saturday, February 24 6-11 p.m.

BASE at Extraco Events Center

GREATER WACO CHAMBER CELEBRATES WPROMO’S NEW LOCATION AT BUSINESS AFTER HOURS

The first Business After Hours of 2023 was hosted in February at WPROMO’s new location! With door prizes, hors d’oeuvres and drinks, it was great time to network with members of the community.

Attendees had the opportunity to visit with the experts at WPROMO throughout the night. The event included special

GREATER WACO CHAMBER VISITS LAKE AIR POOL SUPPLY AT BUSINESS AFTER HOURS

behind-the-scenes tours of WPROMO’s screenprinting, embroidery and wideformat workshops. In addition to making connections and seeing unique items created by WPROMO, attendees left the event with a free t-shirt! n

The March Business After Hours was hosted at Lake Air Pool Supply’s (LAPS) showroom and office! During the event, attendees had the opportunity to view products and learn why LAPS has been a pool supplier of choice for Greater Waco. n

TFNB YOUR BANK FOR LIFE MOVING TO NEW LOCATION ON ELM AVENUE

TFNB Your Bank for Life has moved from the East Waco location they temporarily occupied at 715 Elm Avenue into the newly renovated Gladstone Knight building at 700 Elm Avenue. This will be the permanent location for TFNB Your Bank for Life’s East Waco location.

Chairman and CEO David Littlewood said, “The historic Gladstone Knight building has been a focal point for decades in both the immediate neighborhood and greater East Waco community. It’s in that vein by which we have restored this iconic landmark to honor the legacy of the community and Reverend Knight.”

TFNB recently celebrated its two-year anniversary in East Waco and is thrilled to continue the trajectory of working alongside this community. The bank now offers a full-service location equipped with a drive through lane, expanded

parking and dual ATMs on each side of Elm Avenue.

Waco Mayor Dillon Meek, who represents District IV, affirmed this advancement by saying, “This is great news for economic development in Waco. Accessibility to bank services is critical for economic development. TFNB’s presence in East Waco is a vehicle to expedite economic prosperity in our city. I am thankful for TFNB‘s commitment to all of Central Texas.” n

TSTC’S WORKFORCE TRAINING DEPARTMENT AND OSEC PROGRAM TEAM UP TO PROVIDE OSHA TRAINING

Texas State Technical College’s (TSTC) Workforce Training and Continuing Education department and the Occupational Safety and Environmental Compliance (OSEC) program at the Waco campus are joining together to provide Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) training throughout the state.

Adam Barber, TSTC’s executive director of workforce training for the Central Texas and East Texas regions, said in the past a third party had been hired to conduct OSHA training for clients.

“Now we have shifted to using student-learning faculty when at all possible,” he said. “As requests have come from industry, they have been doing the training for us. It is just a change in training model. It has been great for the department and faculty.”

OSEC faculty have traveled to Belton and Harlingen, along with doing work in Waco, to lead OSHA courses in construction safety, general industry outreach, and customized safety classes. Classes can last from four hours to at least two days.

Brian Spry, lead instructor in TSTC’s OSEC program, said he wants people who are taking the training to gain the knowledge of how to address any safety situations that may arise and have the passion to enforce the safety of those around them at work and in the community.

Jason Morrow, an instructor in TSTC’s OSEC program, said it is a privilege giving back to the workforce with classes that meet their professional needs.

“Maintaining a safe environment is good not only for the employer and employee, but also for the community,” he said.

To learn more about TSTC’s workforce training and continuing education opportunities, go to tstc. edu/workforcetraining or email workforcetraining@tstc.edu. n

BLACKHAWK AEROSPACE SELLS MAJORITY OWNERSHIP TO NEW STATE AVIATION HOLDINGS

Blackhawk Aerospace, a recognized leader in aircraft performance improvements, announced that the Company has sold its majority ownership to New State Aviation Holdings, the general aviation-focused platform of the middle-market private equity firm New State Capital Partners.

Blackhawk joins New State’s anchor aviation investment, AVEX, a leading provider of sales and maintenance for the Daher TBM turboprop aircraft, which was acquired in December 2021. AVEX and Blackhawk will continue to operate independently, while working together to expand New State’s aviation offerings.

Headquartered in Waco, Texas, with more than 60 employees, Blackhawk provides engine upgrades for a broad range of turboprop models, improving an aircraft’s speed, safety, and climb capabilities, while extending engine life. The Company serves customers worldwide in the commercial and defense markets. Blackhawk was founded in 1999 as Blackhawk Modifications, Inc., and added divisions for defense support, maintenance, avionics, composites, and aircraft sales by establishing locations in Huntsville, AL and Columbia, MO.

Their experienced team and expansive capabilities have given Blackhawk the opportunity to serve as a one-stop-shop for all things turboprop-related worldwide. The composites business is not included in the transition and will remain independent.

“We are very excited to join New State Aviation Holdings and partner with the folks at AVEX,” said Blackhawk CEO, Jim Allmon. “Our family of companies shares a singular focus: to increase an aircraft’s capabilities to unrivalled heights while maintaining the highest level of safety possible. We look forward to working with Chad [Cundiff] and the rest of the New State Aviation team to further expand our services.”

JIM ALLMON

MCC UNVEILS NEW LOGO THROUGH REBRANDING PROJECT

McLennan Community College (MCC) has unveiled a new logo as part of the College’s ongoing project to unify its brand and create an identity that portrays the value of an MCC education and the focus on student success.

The College partnered with World Design Marketing (WDM), a firm with extensive higher education experience. WDM researched the College and held numerous workshops with students, employees, the Board of Trustees and community leaders to gain understanding of the College.

The new logo combines features that reflect on the College’s history, location and values. The outer “M” represents the Bosque River, where the campus is nestled along the banks, and the greater Waco family. The inner “M” signifies the culture of the College as the MCC Family. The chevron heart ties back to the McLennan Family Crest and represents the students and their families. n

RIBBON CUTTINGS

Digital Media Butterfly

Ribbon Cutting on October 25, 2022

RDI Corporation

Ribbon Cutting on November 1, 2022

Digital Media Butterfly, an award-winning marketing agency, marked its 10th anniversary with a ribbon cutting and celebration. The Digital Media Butterfly team, which began with founder Caryn Brown, was flanked by ambassadors from the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce and the Hewitt Chamber of Commerce for the ceremonial moment. Caryn Brown said she looks forward to many more years of serving Waco area businesses with websites, branding, social media and more.

Caryn Brown, Owner

200 W State Highway 6, Ste 315, Waco, TX 76712 (254) 297-4404

DigitalMediaButterfly.com

My35 Waco Project

Ribbon Cutting on November 9, 2022

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) celebrated the substantial completion of the $341M My35 Waco Construction project with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Nov. 9, 2022. Speakers included local and state elected officials, and representatives from TxDOT, the Texas Transportation Commission, Baylor University, and the contractor. The event had over 80 attendees and TxDOT even shared a piece of the old Brazos River Bridge as a thank you for their time and patience during construction.

Jake Smith, Public Information Officer

Under I-35 at 4th/5th Streets (254) 867-2836

my35.org/central-project-4b.htm

This project is a testament to the RDI Winning Spirit: RDI absorbed competitors over a holiday weekend, on-boarded hundreds of employees, and worked out of a conference room for over a year. Getting their site across the finish line has been a massive undertaking, and their Waco team knocked it out of the park! RDI is very excited to see what this new site brings in the future for their employees and the Waco community.

Kristi Smith, Site Director

1428 Wooded Acres Dr Ste 104, Waco, TX 76710 (254) 264-8185

RDICorp.com

American Guaranty Title

Ribbon Cutting on November 10, 2022

American Guaranty Title’s vision is to provide transparent and unbeatable service to their clients. AGT treats each client like family. Every transaction at AGT is treated with the priceless attention it deserves, for everyone: their partners, homebuilders, first-time home buyers, or experienced investors. Their professional escrow agents work hand in hand with all parties of the transaction ensuring a smooth and timely real estate title closing. AGT is always available to discuss any questions or concerns regarding the title and escrow real estate process.

Chuck Sivess, CEO

510 Austin Ave, Ste 2250, Waco, TX 76701 (254) 399-8485

www.AGTitle.com

BioLife Plasma Services

Ribbon Cutting on November 14, 2022

BioLife Plasma Services has recently expanded to Waco, Texas (19th in the state), with a brand new, state-of-the-art plasma donation center located in the Marketplace retail area. BioLife Plasma Services is an industry leader in the collection of highquality plasma that is processed into life-saving plasma-based therapies. Prospective donors are encouraged to stop in and learn more about becoming a donor and helping to save lives!

Charvette Davis, Center Manager

2329 Marketplace Dr, Waco, TX 76711 (254) 523-2018

www.biolifeplasma.com

Athletico Physical Therapy – Waco Central

Ribbon Cutting on November 17, 2022

Athletico Physical Therapy – Waco Central was joined by the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce to commemorate its Chamber partnership and clinic grand opening. Athletico offers free assessments, accepts most major insurances, and strives to see new patients within 48 hours. Services include treatment of physical injuries and pain management for specific goal attainment, as well as dry needling services. No physician referral or prescription is needed to start PT with most insurances.

Kyndall Brownsworth, Clinic Manager/Physical Therapist 2452 W Loop 340, Ste B, Waco, TX 76711 (254) 265-9988

Athletico.com

SPONSORED

Firewater Liquor – Downtown Waco

Ribbon Cutting on November 17, 2022

Firewater Liquor celebrated the grand opening of its third store to date! This is Firewater’s largest location which includes a second story mezzanine, countless chandeliers, a piano, and the dark wood shelving Firewater is known for. Firewater strives to give the best experience and customer service when it comes to liquor, beer, wine and cigars.

Kollin Behrghundi, Owner 1011 S 10th St, Ste 150, Waco, TX 76706 (254) 732-0711

Facebook.com/FireWaterLiquorStore

John Houston Homes

Ribbon Cutting on November 20, 2022

John Houston Homes celebrated the grand opening of their newest model home in Callan Village in Lorena. The beautiful, two-story 3,560 square foot home features 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, study, game room, and media room. The exterior design boasts a mix of Buff Lueders stone and Palladium brick. Callan Village is the area’s newest masterplanned community and will be surrounded by parks, playgrounds, a pavilion, resort-style pool with an amenity center and more!

Paul Lasater, Sales Manager 2201 Paddington Way, Lorena, TX 76655 866-582-9581

JohnHoustonHomes.com

Luxury Scrubs LLC

Ribbon Cutting on November 29, 2022

The Blake at Waco

Ribbon Cutting on December 1, 2022

Luxury Scrubs LLC is an online nursing medical uniform store that provides innovative, comfortable & outrageously technical medical apparel. The unique scrubs move when you move making your professional work experience more confident and feeling your best! Refusing to accept subpar scrubs, Sherry set out to disrupt the medical uniform industry with stretchy, stylish, comfy scrubs. Luxury Scrubs are made with the scrub wearing professional in mind.

Sherry Harris, Owner

(737) 239-1978

www.luxuryscrubs.net

Ribbon Cutting on December 5, 2022

At La Madeleine French Bakery and Café, your experience begins with a resounding “Bonjour” as you embark on a brief journey through the lavender fields of France with La Madeleine’s signature menu items. Whether you’re in the mood for the best omelet in Waco with a delicious latte, world famous tomato basil soup and croque monsieur, or divine baked goods and decadent pastries, you can find it all at La Madeleine. La Madeleine French Bakery and Café also offers catering!

Manager, Jennifer Polk

2816 Marketplace Dr, Ste 101 Waco, TX 76711

(254) 262-3170

www.lamadeleine.com

Melissa Frazier, Executive Director

5901 Crosslake Pkwy, Waco, TX 76712

(254) 237-2006

www.blakeliving.com

Ribbon Cutting on December 6, 2022

Texas Retina Associates held an official ribbon cutting event to celebrate the opening of its new, larger Waco area office. Board-certified ophthalmologist and retina specialist Ivan Castillo, MD, joined Texas Retina Associates in 2017 to serve the Waco community. Fluent in both English and Spanish, he specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of eye conditions like macular degeneration, retinal tears and detachment, diabetic retinopathy, and macular holes.

Ivan Castillo, MD Retina Specialist

203 Archway, Woodway, TX 76712

(254) 753-7007

TexasRetina.com

The Blake at Waco celebrated its one-year anniversary with an official ribbon-cutting and Winter Wonderland party. The resort-style assisted living and memory care community blends hospitality and luxury to create an exceptional environment where you will feel right at home. Offering fine dining, unmatched care, and an active and social lifestyle, The Blake is Waco’s premier senior living community.

La Madeleine French Bakery & Café

Texas Retina Associates

Archway of Hope

2114 Austin Ave

Waco, TX 76701

(254) 227-3469

ArchwayOfHope.org

Bliss Fire Reiki

1612 Austin Ave Ste C Waco, TX 76701

(480) 363-3710

BlissFireReiki.com

C12 Business Forums

510 Austin Ave Ste 25214 Waco, TX 76701

(254) 216-9946

JoinC12.com

D&L Vacation Rentals, LLC

Waco, TX (877) 365-8222

DandLVacationRentals.com

Daily Service Company

265 Rockford Rd

Woodway, TX 76712

(254) 754-5250

DailyServiceCo.com

Epic Party Productions

1220 Austin Ave Ste 12 Waco, TX 76701

(254) 716-7583

Facebook.com/EpicPartyProductionsWaco

Freight Waco

1613 James Ave Waco, TX 76706

(254) 732-0054

FreightWaco.com

Furry Land Of Greater Waco

(254) 262-0086

Furryland.us/Waco

Gates Tree Company 214 Wright Rd Waco, TX 76712

(254) 744-9790

GatesTreeCompany.com

Granite Guys

202 Mid Tex Rd

Lorena, TX 76655

(254) 655-4355

CounterTopsWaco.com

Haus Realty - Cory Duncan, Broker

600 N Park Ave Waco, TX 76708

(254) 900-3800

HausRealty.co

Karem Shrine 400 Karem Cir Waco, TX 76712 (254) 848-5600

KaremShriners.com

L&L Hawaiian BBQ

300 S 6th St Ste E Waco, TX 76701 (254) 296-4516

HawaiianBarbecue.com

Le Danni Fine Jewelers 6001 W Waco Dr Ste 409 Waco, TX 76710 (254) 324-9990

LeDanni.com

Loud Lacquer 720 Elm Ave Ste 102 Waco, TX 76704 (254) 313-1090

LoudLacquer.com

Orkin Pest Control Service 42001 Lake Shore Dr Ste A Waco, TX 76710

(254) 744-0041

Orkin.com

Pignetti’s Italian Restaurant

401 S 3rd St Waco, TX 76706 (254) 294-8947

WacoPignettis.com

The Cove - Heart of Texas, Inc.

524 W Waco Dr Waco, TX 76701

(254) 224-6095

TheCoveWaco.org

The Dental Gallery

2511 Ambassador Drive Waco, TX 76712 (254) 741-9324

DentalGalleryWaco.com

The Tire House Retail and Wholesale Tires, LLC

1728 Franklin Ave Waco, TX 76701

(254) 753-0119

TheTireHousewaco.com

Tritalent Funding Group Inc.

Woodway, TX

(503) 222-4466

Tritalent.com

Tropical Smoothie Cafe

922 S 10th St Ste 200 Waco, TX 76706

(713) 598-0950

Facebook.com/TSCWacoTx/

TY Ink Promotions

1550 W Hwy 6 Ste 1315

Waco, TX 76712

(254) 315-8094

TYInkPromotions.com

Unbound Now

Waco, TX (254) 757-2333

UnboundNow.org

UniFirst Corporation

Hewitt, TX (254) 666-8066

UniFirst.com

Waco Family Medicine Foundation 1600 Providence Dr Waco, TX 76707

(254) 313-4162

WacoFamilyMedicine.org

Waco Sprinkler Services Waco, TX

(254) 424-2243

WacoSprinklerServices.com

Wiley Eye Waco, TX (503) 708-9674

WileyEye.com

Yaki 1307 S Valley Mills Dr Waco, TX 76711

(737) 747-8439

EatYaki.com

Zuke’s Tea Bar, LLC

720 Franklin Ave Ste 310 Waco, TX 76701

(254) 235-3832

ZukesTeaBar.com

SEE