In This Issue
- Good Seats Available Partnering to build arenas, stadiums
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From Comptroller
Susan Combs - TEXpansion/
New Texas Innovator - Shining a Light on Transparency
Leadership Circle recognizes efforts 
Partnering
for Impact:
Sharing services improves efficiency- Regional
Approach
Pays Off
Both sides of border offer prospects for Eagle Pass - No Borders Here
Texarkana partners across boundary lines - Nursing Head Start
High school programs pave way to health care careers - Neighbors Working Together
Communities draw on advice, experience of others - Soaring to Success for Texans
Tarrant County College gives aerospace industry a lift
Web Exclusive
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Taking the High Ground
Regional attitude is ‘win for one is win for all’
denotes expanded online or Web-exclusive content.
A Message from Comptroller Susan Combs
The old saying “two heads are better than one” also can apply to local government and economic development. With Texas’ vast size and varied regions, one community might not be able to recruit a company or land a project on its own. Often, communities – particularly rural or small towns and cities – find that banding together with nearby areas helps maximize resources and presents a more compelling case for wooing new business and jobs.
As your strategic partner for local government management, the Comptroller’s office is pleased to present this issue of Texas Rising, which shares how some Texas communities are partnering across county, state and even international borders to achieve success in work force training, economic development and tourism.
In our cover story, we visit Cedar Park, where city officials joined forces with the National Hockey League’s Dallas Stars franchise to build the $55 million Cedar Park Center and adjacent retail and office development. We travel to Frisco, where economic developers worked with the Southwest Sports Group and Hunt Sports Group, respectively, to finance the popular $28 million Dr Pepper Ballpark and $85 million Pizza Hut Park.
Next we visit Eagle Pass, right across the Rio Grande from the larger Mexican city of Piedras Negras. With a focus on bringing business, retail, hotels and tourism to Eagle Pass, officials work on providing employment opportunities for residents on both sides of the border.
Straddling two cities, two counties and two states, Texarkana has its share of challenges. Yet the Texarkana Regional Initiative, which includes economic developers in Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas, stresses cooperation and teamwork as key in bringing bigger and better business prospects to the entire area.
Also in this issue, we announce our agency’s new Leadership Circle program, which recognizes local governments that are making strides in their financial transparency efforts. For a step-by-step guide on how your community can achieve transparency, or for information on how to apply for our Leadership Circle, visit our Texas Transparency Check-Up site.
When it comes to economic development, creating jobs and generating new levels of prosperity, local governments in Texas are focused on rising to the occasion every time.
Susan Combs
Tell Us Your Story!
E-mail us at texas.rising@cpa.state.tx.us.
We want to hear about your town’s economic development accomplishments. Whether you’ve landed a new employer or partnered with a university to train tomorrow’s work force, please tell us the unique solutions you’re using to create success in your community every day.