Schertz EDC » Press Releases

Schertz, New Braunfels and Seguin to form Economic Development Alliance

schertz — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 14:32:39 +0000

Pooling resources, will promote and collaborate on economic development marketing activities.

South Central Texas, August 20, 2010 – Schertz, New Braunfels and Seguin economic development groups are set to merge some areas of their economic development activities and market themselves as the regional 10/35 Economic Development Alliance to site selectors and prospects. In doing so, the three cities will be able to combine resources in a cost-effective manner, expand its reach and compete on a larger, more global scale.

The genesis of the name stemmed from the location of the three cities located on or near Interstate Highway 35 and Interstate Highway 10, both of which can be reached in less than 15-minute drive time. The alliance formed on the cusp of recent company relocation announcements affecting the tri-city area including Caterpillar, Sysco Foods and Baptist Health Systems.

Already in a longstanding partnership, New Braunfels and Seguin approached Schertz Economic Development due to their strategic location, shared county resources, strong warehouse and distribution centers, shared workforce and values.

“Having worked on a number of projects together, there was already a level of familiarity established with Jeff Jewell, Economic Development Director for Schertz,” said Rusty Brockman, Economic Development Director for Build – New Braunfels.

The new alliance has already approved a marketing budget that includes traveling to more trade missions with the Office of the Governor, increased tradeshows, a FAM/Bus tour, commercial broker breakfast and expanded advertising and social media marketing vehicles.

“We are thrilled to become a part of this alliance. As economic developers, we have the option to grow by choice or chance. We are happy to be at the helm of choice; to shape and guide the area’s economic development future with our new partners,” said Jeff Jewell, Economic Development Director for the City of Schertz. “

The new alliance is just one of the many regional alliances spanning Texas and beyond. The thought stems from the idea that instead of competing against other cities with the same resources and goals, the cities should collaborate together since an expanding or relocating company uses all the resources from the region.

“As for the three cities in the alliance, we are all situated ideally between San Antonio and Austin. We have the same strengths as the bigger cities, but promote our cost advantages, availability of space and business – friendly attitude,” said Terry Trevino, Economic Development Director for Seguin.

About Us

New Braunfels, TX –New Braunfels is uniquely cultivated by industry-diversified business that brim with innovation yet remain deeply rooted in the sectors of manufacturing, healthcare, logistics, distribution and aviation. Balanced by an affordable, quality of place – it’s no wonder the city has grown 55% in the last 8 years. Complimented with a pro-business leadership attitude, competitive incentives, low tax burden and easy access to IH-35 and IH-10, its easy to understand why companies have relocated here. Over 300+ days of sunshine a year and nearby rivers, lakes, Schlitterbahn (America’s #1 Rated Waterpark) and over 500 acres of outdoor recreation make New Braunfels a desirable destination for work – or play, year round. More information can be found at www.buildnb.org.

Schertz, TX - Schertz is a premier Texas community, located just northeast of San Antonio, nationally recognized for its family atmosphere, foresight and innovation, and commitment to economic prosperity and workforce opportunities. With miles of frontage along two major interstates and as one of the largest cities in the San Antonio MSA, Schertz has witnessed tremendous population and business growth and has looked to capitalize on its unique location and assets. It is a strategic priority of the city to engage in and develop new opportunities of regional partnerships which are mutually beneficial to the residents of Schertz and of neighboring communities. More information can be found at www.schertzedc.com.

Seguin, TX – Seguin, the county seat of Guadalupe County, is located on the picturesque Guadalupe River and abuts IH-10. Nestled 35-minutes east of San Antonio, Seguin is within 20-minutes of IH-35 and 30-minutes from San Antonio and South Austin. Upon completion of SH-130, Seguin will be strategically positioned as a crossroad for traffic diverted from IH-35. Seguin has the distinction of having the largest manufacturing jobs per capita in the State of Texas. For the last 23 years, U.S. News and World report ahs recognized Texas Lutheran University (TLU), located in Seguin, as one of the nation’s top ranked best regional comprehensive colleges. More information can be found at www.seguinedc.com.

Schertz to annex land in San Antonio

schertz — Wed, 19 May 2010 21:14:45 +0000

The City of Schertz asked San Antonio’s city council to approve an annexation of about 3,500 acres in the Interstate 10 corridor, between FM 1518 and the Bexar County Line. (News 4 WOAI)

SAN ANTONIO — A part of San Antonio is now in Schertz.

The City of Schertz asked San Antonio&rdsquo;s city council to approve an annexation of about 3,500 acres in the Interstate 10 corridor, between FM 1518 and the Bexar County Line. Thursday, city council voted unanimously to release the land to Schertz.

As part of an agreement to release the land, San Antonio will get 50% of the sales tax revenue collected in the area for the next ten years.

Schertz Unemployment Decreases in December

schertz — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 15:17:34 +0000

by Brad E. Bailey

(January 22, 2010) San Antonio – The City of Schertz’s unemployment rate decreased in December according to labor market statistics released by Workforce Solutions Alamo. The city’s jobless rate for the month was 5.1 percent, down from 5.3 percent reported for November.
Schertz’s unemployment rate, meanwhile, registered well below the overall jobless rate of 6.8 percent for the 12-county Workforce Solutions area, which includes Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Comal, Frio, Gillespie, Guadalupe, Karnes, Kendall, Kerr, Medina and Wilson counties. Gillespie County registered the lowest unemployment rate in the Alamo Area at 4.6 percent.

When the 12-county Workforce Solutions Alamo area is compared to the State and Nation, the Texas unadjusted (actual) unemployment rate increased to 8.0 percent in December, up from 7.9 percent reported in November. The nation’s unemployment rate increased to 9.7 percent, up from 9.4 percent reported in November. Comparatively, the state and the nation released seasonally adjusted unemployment rates, with the state reporting increases to 8.3 percent while the nation remained the same at 10.0 percent for the month of December.

The mission of Workforce Solutions Alamo is to build a premier workforce in America by providing employers and residents with the opportunities, resources and services to develop and gain a competitive edge in the global economy. Workforce Solutions Alamo reaches over 40,000 businesses and more than 2.0 million residents in the City of San Antonio and the counties of Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Comal, Frio, Guadalupe, Gillespie, Karnes, Kerr, Kendall, Medina and Wilson counties. For more information on available workforce programs and services, visit our website at www.workforcesolutionsalamo.org.

Note: Only the Actual series unemployment rate estimates for Texas and the US are comparable to sub-state unemployment rates.

Media Contact: Eva Esquivel
Communications Coordinator
Workforce Solutions Alamo
(210) 581-1087

San Antonio #1 in Forty Strongest U.S. Economies

admin — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 20:44:38 +0000

Business Week ranked the San Antonio Metropolitan Area as the #1 overall Strongest Metropolitan economy in the U.S.A.

Congratulations to San Antonio and all the Metropolitan Cities!!

Brad E. Bailey, Director Community & Media Relations

Northeast OB/GYN Heading to Schertz

bgage — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 22:34:51 +0000

Schertz, October 26, 2009 – SPV Ventures, LLC, a San Antonio-based real estate developer with properties in San Antonio and Schertz, Texas announced today the addition of Northeast OB/GYN Associates as the newest tenant to its medical office project, Schertz Parkway Professional Plaza. The project, which is to begin construction as early as November, is located at 5000 Schertz Parkway in Schertz, Texas at the intersection of Schertz Parkway and IH-35.

Northeast OB/GYN Associates are women’s health care specialists and provide all general services Obstetrics and Gynecology to patients throughout the San Antonio metro area. Northeast OB/GYN Associates currently has offices in Live Oak, Stone Oak and Village Drive, all in San Antonio, and it is anticipated that their new office in Schertz will augment these locations to provide a wide range of women’s health services to the Schertz/Cibolo/Selma area. “We are excited about expanding our services into the far northeast communities around and including Schertz. We recognize a need for women’s Obstetrics and Gynecological in these areas,” said Dr. Kent Sadler, Medical Director and CEO of Northeast OB/GYN Associates, “ and we are looking forward to providing our programs as well as welcoming other medical practices as they join in Schertz Parkway Professional Plaza’s continued development.”

According to Jesse Hellums, President o f SPV Ventures, “We are also extremely pleased to welcome Northeast OB/GYN Associates as the lead tenant for our project. This project has been in the works for some time, and we are now ready to begin, with plans already drawn and our financing underway.” Mr. Hellums added, “Schertz Parkway Professional Plaza will be comprised of a first phase of 18,000 square feet, which will of course include Northeast OB/GYN, and we plan to eventually construct up to 82,000 square feet of professional-use office space, as well as flex-space, as needed.” Mr. Harry Whitney, Vice President of the Schertz Economic Development Corporation, was integral to SPV Ventures’ efforts to secure Northeast OB/GYN for the Schertz Parkway Professional Plaza project, according to Mr. Hellums. Mr. Whitney, having formally served 30 years as a hospital executive including president CEO of a Los Angeles facility, said “the City of Schertz and Schertz EDC is committed to providing the broadest range of services to our citizens and our neighboring communities, particularly in the medical field. The inclusion of Northeast OB/GYN into Schertz Parkway Professional Plaza is further confirmation of that commitment. Schertz EDC, along with Northeast OB/GYN and certainly SPV Ventures, is excited by the prospects of such a project for growth in our area.”

SPV Ventures, LLC, is a privately owned limited liability company based in San Antonio and has its main offices at 16161 College Oak, S. 100, San Antonio, 78249. Contact Carey G. Birmingham, managing director, for more information at 210-262-8490 or coinvestments@satx.rr.com.

Providence Title Opens Office in Schertz

schertz — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 20:34:43 +0000

Friday, June 19, 2009

Providence Title extends footprint to Schertz

with new office

San Antonio Business Journal – by Tricia Lynn Silva

Some three months after officially entering the local real estate scene, an up-and-coming title company is on the move again.

Earlier this month, Providence Title Co. opened a second office in the greater San Antonio area — at 171656 IH-35 North, in the city of Schertz, on the far Northeast Side.

The office has opened for business with a staff of eight — including escrow officers Dinah Heilmann, Donnetta Dobbs and Dedra Stark. The professionals hail from competing firms, including Independence Title and Mission Title Co.

“They are already successful to begin with,” says Denise M. Smith, area vice president and an escrow officer for Arlington-based Providence.

Why are they moving to Providence? According to Smith, who oversees the new Schertz office, it’s because of the title company’s culture — its commitment to support employees who are making the day-to-day decisions in the specific markets they serve.

“Our philosophy: We hire successful people, and give them the support to be more successful,” Smith explains.

A title company acts as a middle party in collecting the information related to a real estate deal, and assures the proper transfer of the title.

It was Smith who initially brought Providence Title to the local market. This past March, she re-aligned her company — formerly a franchise office for LandAmerica Lawyers Title — with Providence. Her office is located at 700 E. Sonterra Blvd., in far North San Antonio.

Local leadership

Smith and Providence founder Dan Foster talked with the Business Journal this past March, when the firm made its debut in the Alamo City.

Like Smith, Foster also previously hailed from LandAmerica. A fee attorney by profession, he founded Providence in May 2008.

As Foster explained to the Business Journal, the decision-making power afforded to Providence’s employees has been crucial in a state like Texas — which has fared much better during the housing slump than much of the country.

By comparison, that freedom is often lost in larger firms — which may be more focused on the bottom line than on the individual markets or on the escrow officers that serve those markets, Smith contends.

Case in point is a city like Schertz. The professionals who make up the new Providence Title office already have good market share within the city.

“Schertz is a unique community — with its own customers, its own clientele,” Smith says. “It’s a fairly young market, but a relatively explosive market.”

“Providence Title’s move into Schertz is an affirmation of something that we’ve known in the community for a long while now — Schertz and the entire area northeast of San Antonio continues to be in a strong growth position,” says George Antuna Jr., executive director of the city of Schertz Economic Development department. “Providence’s new office is a clear indication that the real estate market is starting to gain more confidence in Schertz … .”

And as a city like Schertz grows, having professionals in place who know that market is going to be the key to Providence’s success, Smith says.

Of the new professionals who have joined the firm, she adds: “I am so proud, and so honored (to have them at Providence). They are just that good.”

More to offer

Another advantage that Providence brings to this industry: Choice. For example, as an officer with LandAmerica, Smith was limited to selling that firm’s title insurance products. With Providence, she has been able to shop a myriad of underwriters. The company is currently licensed to sell insurance products by major underwriters Lawyers Title, First American, Title Resources and Stewart Title.

With the Schertz office, Providence Title’s coverage now spans eight Texas counties: Bexar, Guadalupe, Kendall, Comal, Tarrant, Denton, Johnson and Parker County.

Statewide, the firm has nine offices. In addition to the two local offices and the Arlington headquarters, Providence Title also has a presence in north Texas counties Weatherford, Burleson, Colleyville, Mansfield and Southlake.

Here in San Antonio, Smith is intent on expanding Providence’s presence.

“I won’t stop until I have everybody,” she says.