The Texas Resiliency Hub

The Texas Economic Development Council (TEDC) has a grant under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act from the Economic Development Administration (EDA) to provide education and resources related to resilience, recovery, and sustainability for economic development.

TEDC created the Resiliency Hub to celebrate and share inspiring stories of Texas communities that have displayed exemplary work in establishing, implementing, and maintaining programs that support their economies after facing economic distress and to:

Highlight the importance of economic resiliency planning and implementation
Broadcast and share innovative solutions to common economic problems
Highlight potential future challenges and opportunities within the regions
Reinvigorate professionals involved with the programs and initiatives with the meaningful outcomes and potential of their work

TEDC defines economic resilience as the ability of a community’s businesses and economic development efforts to better withstand, and recover more quickly from, adverse incidents of any kind. Four regions were selected, showcasing their initiatives and programs which exemplify resilience and recovery in Texas.

This report and content was prepared on behalf of the Texas Economic Development Council using federal funds under award #08-69-05432 from the Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. The statements, findings, conclusions and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Economic Development Administration or the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Kerrville

Kerrville, TX is a small city located two hours west of Austin. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the region, the Kerr Economic Development Corporation (KerrEDC) knew that without action, their small businesses and residents would be hit the hardest. They brought together partners from local industries, workforce organizations, and educators to talk through the challenges they were facing and how best to address them. The initial success of these conversations developed into a long-standing quarterly roundtable, where KerrEDC facilitates conversations on how best to proactively address new challenges that arise in their community.

Lubbock

Lubbock is a city located in northwestern Texas. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, it heavily impacted local and small businesses in Lubbock. The Lubbock Economic Development Alliance (LEDA), Market Lubbock, and the South Plains Association of Governments (SPAG) acted quickly, creating a revolving loan fund called Support Lubbock.

McAllen

McAllen is a large city located in the Rio Grande Valley region, and home to over 144,000 residents. McAllen has evolved from a railway stop into a thriving city with a diverse economy. Balancing growth and environmental consciousness, McAllen prioritizes initiatives such as the Quinta Mazatlán Center for Urban Ecology, showcasing its commitment to a sustainable future.

Rockport

Rockport is a small coastal town on the Gulf of Mexico. On August 25th, 2017, the city was devastated by Hurricane Harvey, leaving the region unrecognizable. In the aftermath, the Aransas County Partnership Economic Development Corporation was created. Their focus has been on rebuilding the vibrancy of the community by focusing on the reconstruction of the Center for the Arts and the development of the Workforce Development Center.