JUDGE’S COMMENTS
On Monday, I had the pleasure of meeting with Robert Allen, president and CEO of the Texas Economic Development Corporation; Bryan Daniel, executive director of Gov. Abbott’s Economic Development and Tourism, and Drayton McLane Sr.
Mr. McLane arranged for the meeting to discuss economic development in Milam County. He has done so much for Milam County including philanthropic projects, such as our volunteer fire departments and Cameron City Hall.
Probably more importantly, his personal commitment is to make Milam County a better place for all of us.
These fine gentlemen have a lot of great ideas regarding new economic development in our county and they are willing to help us! Of course, Allen and Daniel are in the business of economic development and they know their business very well and they know what needs to be done to attract new business to the county.
They invited us to Austin in the very near future for some hands-on training to assist in getting started on a county wide basis.
They also offered to come to the county to meet with the business community for assistance in this most important project.
One of the basics is to develop a plan of action for the county. What county assets do we have to market, to whom do we market them and how do we do it? Big issues for all of us.
We have two global issues to deal with: one is the Alcoa property and the second is the rest of the county.
The Alcoa property is so valuable in so many ways, due to its location and its amenities, such as water, sewage, roads, transportation and power.
Undoubtedly many new businesses will spawn at the site, which will provide jobs and tax revenue for the county. However, as a county we are neither in charge of development nor the sale of the property.
As for the rest of the county, what do we have to market and how should we go about it?
We have a great agricultural base and Milam could truly be the agricultural center of the state. We have to market that idea.
We must support revitalization of downtown Rock-dale, Cameron and Thorn-dale. For example, in Cameron we need to beautify the square. The buildings around the square need work and the new 44 Farms building is the perfect example of what can be done.
Moving county employees out of the downtown buildings to make them available for business and quieting the train horns would help as well. Both of these issues are under consideration.
We need a plan. We need a plan to market this county. This is a big order, but this can be done and we will do it. There is help out there for us and this was a huge first step for every one of us to make a plan.
I sincerely appreciate the help and support of Mr. McLane for everything he has done for Milam county; the opportunity to meet Mr. Allen and Mr. Daniel; and for Gov. Abbott’s vision to make Texas the great economic power it is today.
- Log in or Subscribe to post comments.