HARLINGEN 100 PLAN UPDATE

WILLIAM A. MARTIN

HARLINGEN EDC

DECEMBER 9, 2008

BUSINESS RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION

Board adopted The “Guiding Principles” for HEDC

Provide assistance to “basic” business/industry Help existing industry expand Support large-scale commercial development

The Program of Work

Community Profile 350 site location consultants 500 national commercial and industrial realtors Won SEDC Promotional Materials Award

Fact Book Distributed 60 to clients

BUSINESS RECRUITMENTAND RETENTION

BUSINESS RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION

Updated All available buildings and site information 4,000 target industry database

Developed 53 new prospects Hosted 45 visits by 28 prospects

BUSINESS RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION

Marketing Participated in

CORENET Site Location Consultants Forum Matamoros Maquila Association Reynosa Economic Development Committee

New website being developed Results (5 Letters of Intent – 410 jobs)

BUSINESS RETENTION STRATEGY

Work with Harlingen Manufacturers Assn. Call on 30 companies per year 7 firms have expansion plans

ITD Precision - $2.2 million – 60 jobs ACCT parking lot – 50 jobs

BUSINESS RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION

Customer Service Training Assisted HR Department in training City of

Harlingen employees Rio Grande Regional Center for Innovation

and Commercialization (Rio Tech Fund) Funded establishment Harlingen Office

SUPPORT MAJOR RETAIL DEVELOPMENT

HARLINGEN CORNERS $33 million project - 375,000 square feet Kohl’s Logan’s Roadhouse Marshall’s Bed, Bath and Beyond Famous Footwear

VALLE VISTA MALL $9.775 million renovation project Cricket Communications Circuit City Aeropostale Perfumania

SUPPORT MAJOR RETAIL DEVELOPMENT

SUPPORT MAJOR RETAIL DEVELOPMENT

Arroyo Grande - $11 million Lowe’s Texas Roadhouse Denny’s

Harrison Crossing - $7.9 million Walgreen’s Starbucks T-Mobile

Tourism

Develop a plan to attract an upscale hotel with meeting facilities Developed factual presentations and potential sites Hosted 8 visits by hotel representatives Hotel feasibility study under way

Healthcare

Position Harlingen as Healthcare Hub of the Region Attended Healthcare Council Meetings Worked to insure long term property solutions

Purchased 35 acre tract for development

Tourism

Develop a plan to attract an upscale hotel with meeting facilities Developed factual presentations and potential sites Hosted 8 visits by hotel representatives Hotel feasibility study underway