The city of Orange needs a plan to know what success looks like, a consultant Wednesday told the city’s Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors. The meeting was a workshop to exchange ideas.
Last year the city’s economic development corporation hired the consultation company of Griffith, Moseley and Johnson of Port Arthur to help grow the city’s industrial, retail and commercial base.
John Johnson (right), vice president of the company, used a 2008 economic development plan the city had and talked about building on it for the future. “If you don’t have a plan, you don’t know where you’re going,” he said.
Carl Griffith (left), a former Jefferson County judge and the president and CEO of the consultant company, said Orange has been strong on keeping the base of heavy industry. He said city Economic Development Director Jay Trahan, City Manager Shawn Oubre and Mayor Jimmy Sims have been visiting with managers of industrial plants and keeping the base. Those contacts can lead to economic growth, he said.
If heavy industry locates, or expands, near Orange, then construction jobs come. Those jobs bring commercial growth. Then the good-paying permanent jobs are established. He said Orange has been expanding water and sewer to attract companies and businesses wanting to locate.
Griffith praised the city’s work. “Jay’s been awesome making things happen,” he said.
Economic Development Corporation Director David Meaux asked if Orange could get fracking and LNG (liquefied natural gas) like in Port Arthur. Griffith though said fracking is not being done now because of the drop in the oil prices. He said the deepening of the Sabine-Neches waterway could open up more LNG opportunities in the parts of the county where the dredging will eventually be done.
Economic Development Board President George Mortimer asked about the quality of life and pointed out Orange doesn’t have a public golf course. He said if industry grows but people can get a sports arena in Beaumont and recreation facilities in Sulphur, Louisiana, they may choose to live there even if they work in Orange. He pointed out those cities are a quick commute on the interstate with a 75 mile per hour speed limit. “Why would someone want to build a $350,000 or $400,000 house?” in Orange he questioned.
Johnson pointed out Orange has a museum, a theater and Shangri La.
Sheri Arnold, a real estate specialist with the consultants, said retailers look for specific statistics when locating in a town. Those items include the population, the purchasing power of the citizens, competition, land and development availability, traffic counts and ease of access off major roadways, and the appearance of the area.
No decisions were made during the workshop.
-Margaret Toal, KOGT-
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