A robust discussion on the business advantages of the Texas Triangle region and the Brazos Valley was the centerpiece of the Brazos Valley Economic Development Corporation’s 2022 Executive Luncheon.
The keynote remarks of the event were delivered by Henry Cisneros, who served as U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President Bill Clinton and was the first Hispanic American mayor of a major U.S. city.
The four-term mayor of San Antonio is the co-author of “The Texas Triangle: An Emerging Power in the Global Economy.” The book’s topic was the focus of Cisneros’s luncheon remarks as he laid out how the triangle – formed by Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio and Austin – and communities like the Brazos Valley within it are helping lead Texas at the forefront of national and global business.
“I wanted to remind people that this community is blessed,” Cisneros, a Texas A&M University graduate, said. “I can’t think of another community in that entire area that is right smack in the center of the Triangle with an asset like A&M. This picture is almost a guaranteed future of economic opportunity.”
Cisneros detailed the rapid growth of the metropolitan areas that both form and are located within the Triangle, then encouraged the Brazos Valley to leverage its proximity and connectivity with the major metros to help bring new jobs and investments. He also urged continued focus by the community on education, transportation and quality of place in order to gain and retain talent. He said the region was well on its way to being the “diamond of the Texas Triangle.”
Following his remarks, the secretary joined a panel with Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp and Texas Economic Development Corporation (TxEDC) President/CEO Robert Allen to continue talking about state and local economic impacts. Sharp presented some of the efforts by the A&M System in the Brazos Valley and beyond, and promised continued efforts to advance research and collaborations.
Asked what he hoped the approximately 350 attendees would take away from the event, Allen said, “I tell people all the time, ‘you need to take advantage of what’s given to you.’ In this case, your location is a key asset, and then building off of that with what A&M and the System is doing. It’s a recognition of where you are and what you have, and how do you harness that power to go out and do good for the region – more jobs, higher paying jobs, all those kinds of things.”
“The Executive Luncheon helped to raise awareness and underline and even highlight just how fortunate we are to be in the Brazos Valley and to be located in the hub of the Texas Triangle,” said BVEDC President/CEO Matt Prochaska. “The economy is booming and we have a great opportunity to showcase the advantages of our market to the rest of the state, nation and world. Our sincere appreciation to Secretary Cisneros, Chancellor Sharp and Robert Allen for making this event such a wonderful success.”
The luncheon’s panel was sponsored by TxEDC. Sec. Cisneros’s book was given to the first 100 people who registered for the event thanks to Oldham Goodwin. The luncheon’s venue, the Texas A&M Hotel and Conference Center, joined Midtown City Center and the Texas A&M Hotel and Conference Center as Platinum Sponsors.
Gold Sponsors of the luncheon were The Arkitex Studio, Higginbotham, Prosperity Bank, Stibbs & Co. Attorneys, and Techbundle.