The Orange County Economic Development Corporation held a luncheon Tuesday at the Expo Center to update the business community on local and statewide developments involving retail news and business growth.
After Executive Director Megan Layne welcomed the crowd and Orange City Councilman Matt Chandler lead the invocation, several speakers spoke to the crowd.
They included County Judge John Gothia and Larry McManus who is the director of Business and Community Development from the Economic Development and Tourism Office of the Governor.
McManus bragged on why Texas has been the nations best when it comes to companies investing in the Lone Star State and the fact that we’ve put record numbers of people to work. Texas won the Governor’s Cup for the most new and expanded corporate facility projects in the nation—for an unprecedented 13th year in a row. Texas continually ranks as the Best State for Business by the nation’s top CEOs.
Following McManus, Dana Espinal of Lamar State College Port Arthur Small Business Development Center hosted a small business panel consisting of Heath Sheppard, David Jones and Eric Andrus who all own local businesses. All three answered questions about how they’ve been successful in Orange County.
The last guest speaker was Tyler Sudderth of Retail Strategies, a company that helps communities attract retail, strengthen their downtowns, and support local businesses through proven strategies and real estate insight.
Sudderth had the crowd’s attention as he discussed which major retail business were hot or cold and how the closing of one retail store just means opportunity for another to move in.
Layne finished the meeting by recognizing the Port of Orange and Innovative Air with Economic Development awards.
The crowd was treated to Mexican cuisine on Cinco de Mayo from Old Orange Cafe along with some budín de pan.
Social Media