EAST ALDINE– The District held their Business Development luncheon last Thursday, March 31, and a large audience heard from the economic development team about their efforts to bring new business to the area. The luncheon was held for the first time in the new offices of the District, at 5333 Aldine Mail Route.
Headed by Gretchen Larson of the East Aldine District, the team includes consultant Ray Lawrence, and North Houston Economic Development Council head Cathy Owen. Also tasked to assist are EAD staff Richard Cantu and Joy Rice. The overall effort is coordinated by Executive Director David Hawes, and Chairman Clyde Bailey.
Larson explained that the nature of attracting new business has to be a collaborative effort, and to that end the District partners with many private and public entities. These include commercial real estate firms, chambers, the state and area development agencies, financial institutions, and other districts. Larson explained that development is often a slow process, building contacts, and promoting an area and its strengths to businesses and developers that have other choices as well as this district. She has been working for the district for over two years, having come from a similar background in LaPorte and the San Antonio area.
In addition to new businesses, she is working on retention and growth of existing businesses in the area.
Ray Lawrence is a new business development consultant working for Hawes Hill Calderon, the East Aldine’s management firm. His background is extensive in this and related fields, having worked for Exxon, and with the Greater Houston Partnership. In addition, he has headed his own marketing firm and worked for CDS, a real estate research firm.
These experiences give him a broad range of contacts and viewpoint on the economic development scene.
Lawrence said that the district must recognize its strengths and its limitations, and tailor its marketing accordingly. He said that obvious industries that could be attracted are light manufacturing, distribution, and skilled trades.
East Aldine has the advantage of location, close to the airport and in the middle of an extensive highway system. Highway US59 is an obvious location for development, especially after the water and sewer work parallel to it is completed. Traffic on US59 is projected to double in 15 years, making it very desirable for retail.
Lawrence said that we need to have strategic partners, such as banks, Lone Star College, EAD staff, EAD website, and contacts at trade shows.
He also said that jobs would follow new housing which he encourages, and thinks there are many available sites.
Cathy Owen presented both herself to those who did not know her, and also the work of her organization, the North Houston Economic Development Council. NHEDC was formed by a partnership of Lone Star College, Houston International Chamber, Greenspoint District, East Aldine District, Airline Improvement District, and Northside Management District.
Owen retired from a development job with Lone Star College in 2009, but was persuaded by the college to join NHEDC. Prior to that she had experience with a real estate company, and the Humble Chamber.
With less than 6 months in office, she has seen quite a bit of success in new business start-ups. She said she handles daily inquiries from prospects by phone and through the state. She works with site consultants, trade shows, and strategic partners to present our area and its strengths.
Owen mentioned some of the recent new businesses that have come to the area and the jobs they have projected. These incllude Enerflow Industries 400 employees, Neutex Advanced Energy Group 400 to 500 employees, Eastgroup Properties, Newfield Exploration, Gulf Coast International, and expansion of the AmerCable company.
At the end of the luncheon, East Aldine board chairman Clyde Bailey reminisced about how much he likes the area and the people, how he has enjoyed heading the district for the last 16 years. “There isn’t another placfe I would rather be. My heart is here. I grew up here.”