Monday Morning Report
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Mayor Susan Narvaiz of San Marcos is hosting a luncheon this week for a discussion of regional rail issues and the campaign to finance the Texas Railroad Relocation and Improvement Fund in the 2009 Legislative Session. It will take place this Wednesday, July 16, 11:30 am and Executive Committee members are invited to attend in lieu of a committee meeting that day. If you would like to attend please contact sarah@thecorridor.org.
Infrastructure
Toyota officials will shut down the San Antonio Tundra production plant for three months starting in August in an effort to reduce the inventory of the slow-selling pickup truck. Toyota Motor Manufacturing Texas is one of Toyota’s largest facilities. With a $1.3 billion plant investment, it employs 2,000 people inside the plant and more than 2,000 with the 21 on-site suppliers.
TxDOT has formed a task force charged with creating a "comprehensive update" of the state's transportation needs during the next 20-plus years. Comprising state transportation experts and business leaders, the 12-member 2030 Committee will hold five public hearings beginning later this month and plans to issue a report on their findings in December.
City Manager Doug Faseler announced last week that Victoria police Capt. Kevin Kelso had been selected as Seguin’s new police chief. Kelso, a Gonzales native and 21-year veteran officer, begins on Aug. 4.
Economic Development
San Antonio is the third fastest-growing city in America, according to Census Bureau figures. The Alamo City added 32,680 new residents between July 1, 2007, and July 1, 2008, giving the city 1.32 million residents. Houston came in first with 38, 953 new residents. Fort Worth ranked fourth,
Austin ranked eighth and Dallas ranked 13th in the nation with 12,605 new residents. Southwest Airlines will partner with Canadian low-fare carrier West Jet. The airlines said their relationship will be a marketing partnership that allows travelers to seamlessly ticket travel using both airlines. That’s similar to what was announced recently by Houston-based Continental Airlines and United Airlines.
The retail sector remains a bright spot in Austin commercial real estate amid rising office vacancy and a potential glut of apartments. Austin’s occupancy inched up slightly in the first six months of 2008, from 92% to 92.5%, according to a report from The Weitzman Group. That’s the highest occupancy among the major Texas markets, with Dallas/Fort Worth at 89.3%, San Antonio at 91% and Houston at 88%.
The fifth edition of the European film Festival will be held from September 8 until September 11, 2008 at the Santikos Palladium cinema complex at IH 10 West and Loop 1604 thanks to Santikos Theatres. It is a unique opportunity for San Antonio to have a presentation of twenty five recent award winning European movies at one venue. The admission is free. Six European Consulates supply the films and co-sponsor the event with the City of San Antonio. Santikos Theatres and UTSA Department of Modern Languages assist in the organization. Details here.
The Nature Conservancy of Texas invites you to join hundreds of community leaders on Friday, September 12, 2008 in celebration of their Fourteenth Annual Austin Conservation Leadership Awards Luncheon. The event will be held from 11:00 am until 1:00 pm at the Hilton Hotel Austin. If you have any questions regarding this event, please contact Kara Kokotas, Philanthropy Coordinator, (512) 494-9559, kkokotas@tnc.org.
"No nation was ever ruined by trade."
- Benjamin Franklin