In 1997, Alex Harris, new chairman of the Greater Corpus Christi Business Alliance, said the top issues for the business group will be:
Community Progress Partnership is an effort begun last year by the alliance and the city to improve the community.
After several neighborhood meetings held throughout the city, a committee drew up a list of $153 million in projects. Al Jones, a banker who heads the group coordinating the task, presented a draft to the City Council. The possible financing framework would involve a half-cent economic development sales tax.
The projects spanned interests ranging from youth, sports and arts to neighborhood improvements and tourism development.
Harris said he expects a vote on a sales tax this year, and the alliance plans to take an aggressive role in working with the community bring the projects before residents.
Harris also said job development -- both retention and expansion of current businesses as well as recruitment of new businesses -- will continue to be a key area for alliance staff. He said the Small Business Development Center also is stepping up its role in procuring grants and loans to help small businesses.
Keith Arnold, chief executive of the alliance, listed four recruitment focuses:
In terms of retention, Arnold said many communities have put together successful programs that have helped businesses attain financing for new ventures and expansions.
"We want it to be as easy for our existing industry to do business here and to expand as it is for new businesses to come in," Arnold said.
In the Legislature and Congress, transportation issues will dominate many efforts, especially discussions on the so-called NAFTA highway which could run through Robstown on its way to Mexico. Also important to Corpus Christi are the extension of Crosstown Expressway, the raising of the John F. Kennedy Causeway and a road-and-rail expansion on the north side of the Port of Corpus Christi, Harris said.
On education issues, Harris highlighted property-tax reform as something the alliance would monitor, and getting appropriations to continue to move Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi forward, as well as equitable funding issues involving Del Mar College.
The alliance also wants to work on a local level on education issues, partnering with school districts in mentoring and leadership programs, he said. The alliance committed in December to taking a leadership role in attacking the gang problem.
"The business community can do that in a number of ways," Harris said. "One is by being aware that people who work for them need to be at their children's schools."
A resolution adopted in December by the alliance pledged support to fight gangs, focusing on three areas: prevention, law enforcement and correctional activities.
"The (alliance's) mission is to provide leadership that promotes an environment of economic vitality throughout the Greater Corpus Christi area," the resolution said.