Built to Last Manufacturing industryretains strong roots

Outstanding Outdoors

All for OneRegional collaboration brings

new investment, opportunities

imagescoastalbend.com

®

the cOAstAL Bend Of texAs

Business

spOnsOred By the cOrpus christi regiOnAL ecOnOmic deveLOpment cOrpOrAtiOn | 2011-12

www.tamuk.edu

www.robstownadc.com

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The New

Texas Connection

www.sanpatricioedc.com

(361

) 643

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✔ 45 Ft. Deep Water Channel

✔ I-37 & I-69 Corridor

✔ Two-Point Rail Access

✔ Airports

✔ Cost Effective

✔ Available Land

✔ Small-Town Living

✔ Big-City Life

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All or part of this magazine is printed with soy ink on recycled paper containing 10% post-consumer waste.

Please recycle this magazine

WorkstyleBuilt to Last 16Manufacturing sector has strong roots in Coastal Texas

A show of strength 20Military presence keeps Coastal Texas economy on the march

Outstanding Outdoors 26Coastal Texas amenities make it a destination of choice

insightOverview 7

Almanac 8

Business climate: All for One 12

energy/technology 30

transportation 34

health 38

education 42

Livability 44

economic profile 48

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On the cOver downtown corpus christi Photo by brian Mccord

4 c O A s t A L B e n d i m A g e s c O A s t A L B e n d . c O m 5

One of the key components to economic development success in the Coastal Bend region is Workforce

Solutions of the Coastal Bend, which provides comprehensive human resource services for businesses and residents of the 12-county region.

Ken Trevino, president/CEO of Workforce Solutions of the Coastal Bend, details the board’s role and scope of services.

What are the scope of services your organization provides?

We invest in our regional economic success through access to jobs, training and employer services. We provide comprehensive human resource services for businesses and residents. Our network of partners and providers offers a wide range of no-cost and low-cost opportunities for employers and job seekers. We offer recruitment services, job search assistance, training, child care support, educational initiatives and much more. We have developed innovative opportunities that bring together economic development, education and employment. This results in a high-quality workforce system that ensures economic viability for the Coastal Bend.

How does Workforce Solutions work with companies that are locating in the region to help meet their hiring and training needs?

Getting the right employees hired quickly is critical for employers. Through general recruitment, job fairs, direct hire events, applicant pre-screening, interviewing space and skills assessments, we help expedite the hiring process. This local access helps both the employer and the job seeker. Our Solutions 2 Business approach builds relationships with employers so we can understand both their business needs and their company culture.

What role does partnership with other organizations in the region, such as colleges, play in your delivery of services?

We meet our mission by collaborating with industry, education, economic development and labor to develop a comprehensive regional workforce strategic plan; develop a trainable and available workforce; and provide workforce-relevant educational and training opportunities for youth. Workforce Solutions is dedicated to meeting community needs by providing up to date information on in-demand occupations in our region’s workforce. Educational institutions such as Del Mar College, Coastal Bend College, Craft Training Center and Texas A&M University in both Corpus Christi and Kingsville are critical partners in helping us meet our workforce needs.

What do you see as the region’s key employment growth areas?

In the Corpus Christi Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), Leisure & Hospitality and Mining, Logging, and Construction industries continue to add the largest number of jobs to the local economy for the year, followed by Trade, Transportation & Utilities. With 5,700 jobs added over the past year, the Coastal Bend continues to see positive growth throughout the region. We also are seeing growth and demand in the petrochemical industry, craft trades and health care.

What should someone making an investment or location decision in the region know about the quality of the region’s workforce?

Workforce Solutions of the Coastal Bend maintains key labor market data for the region, including: labor trends, wage shifts, prevailing wage rates, in-demand occupations, workforce availability by occupation, and unemployment figures by county. This critical data is available for our existing regional employers and prospects that need up-to-date data as part of their decision-making process. For more, go to www.workforcesolutionscb.org.

Workforce helperCoastal Bend offers key resourCe to Businesses

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Business®

the cOAstAL Bend Of texAs2011 Edition, volumE 5

ProofrEading managEr RAvEn PETTyaudiEncE dEvEloPmEnt dirEctor DEAnnA nELSOncontEnt coordinator JESSICA WALKERStaff WritEr KEvIn LITWIncoPy Editor JILL WyATTcontributing WritErS JOHn FULLER, M.v. GREEnE, BETSy WILLIAMSmEdia tEchnology dirEctor CHRISTInA CARDEnSEnior graPhic dESignErS LAURA GALLAGHER, JESSICA MAnnER, JAnInE MARyLAnD, KRIS SExTOn, vIKKI WILLIAMSgraPhic dESignErS RACHAEL GERRInGER, TAyLOR nUnLEymEdia tEchnology analyStS BECCA ARy, CHAnDRA BRADSHAW, LAnCE COnzETTPhotograPhy dirEctor JEFFREy S. OTTOSEnior PhotograPhErS JEFF ADKInS, BRIAn McCORDStaff PhotograPhErS TODD BEnnETT, AnTOny BOSHIERWEb contEnt managEr JOHn HOODWEb ProjEct managEr nOy FOnGnALyWEb dESignEr ii RICHARD STEvEnSWEb dEvEloPEr i yAMEL HALL, nELS nOSEWORTHyWEb account managEr LAUREn EUBAnKad Production managEr KATIE MIDDEnDORFad traffic aSSiStantS KRySTIn LEMMOn, PATRICIA MOISAni.t. dirEctor yAnCEy BOnDi.t. SuPPort tEchnician DAnIEL CAnTRELLSEnior accountant LISA OWEnSaccountS PayablE coordinator MARIA McFARLAnDaccountS rEcEivablE coordinator DIAnA GUzMAnofficE managEr/accountS rEcEivablE coordinator SHELLy MILLERSalES SuPPort coordinator ALEx MARKScolor imaging tEchnician ALISOn HUnTER

chairman GREG THURMAnPrESidEnt/PubliShEr BOB SCHWARTzMAnExEcutivE vicE PrESidEnt RAy LAnGEnSEnior v.P./SalES TODD POTTER, CARLA THURMAnSEnior v.P./oPErationS CASEy HESTERSEnior v.P./cliEnt dEvEloPmEnt JEFF HEEFnERSEnior v.P./buSinESS dEvEloPmEnt SCOTT TEMPLETOnv.P./ExtErnal communicationS TEREE CARUTHERSv.P./cuStom PubliShing KIM HOLMBERGv.P./viSual contEnt MARK FORESTERv.P./contEnt oPErationS nATASHA LOREnSv.P./SalES CHARLES FITzGIBBOn, HERB HARPER, JAREK SWEKOSKyv.P./travEl PubliShing SUSAn CHAPPELLcontrollEr CHRIS DUDLEycontEnt dirEctor/buSinESS PublicationS BILL McMEEKIncontEnt dirEctor/livability.com LISA BATTLESmarkEting crEativE dirEctor KEITH HARRISdiStribution dirEctor GARy SMITHExEcutivE SEcrEtary KRISTy DUnCAnhuman rESourcES managEr PEGGy BLAKErEcEPtioniSt LInDA BISHOP

Business Images Coastal Bend is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is distributed through the Corpus Christi Regional Economic Development Corporation. For advertising information or to direct questions or comments about the magazine, contact Journal Communications Inc. at (615) 771-0080 or by email at info@jnlcom.com.

fOr mOre infOrmAtiOn, cOntAct:Corpus Christi Regional Economic Development Corporation800 n. Shoreline Blvd., Suite 1300 S. Corpus Christi, Tx 78401Phone: (361) 882-7448 • Fax: (361) 882-9930 www.ccredc.com

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6 c O A s t A L B e n d i m A g e s c O A s t A L B e n d . c O m 7

You can get anywhere from our airport.

But, you have to get here first.

We are a full-service commercial airport with daily service provided by three major airlines: Continental, American Eagle and Southwest Airlines.

But, we are more than an airport.

We have an International Business Centre that is shovel ready for development and located close to not only air transportation, but within miles of the port, rail, and major highways and highway connections.

1000 International Dr. • Corpus Christi, TX 78406 (361) 289-0171 • Fax: (361) 826-4266

www.corpuschristiairport.com

6 c O A s t A L B e n d i m A g e s c O A s t A L B e n d . c O m 7

6. deep-Water port. Port Corpus Christi is an economic engine for the Coastal Bend and is undergoing several major expansion projects. The port’s presence is generating additional investment.

7. international trade. Ever-increasing trade between the Coastal Bend and Mexico is resulting in sustained growth in many industries, including the trucking and distribution sectors.

8. tourism. Unspoiled beaches, wildlife and waterways thriving with marine life are a few reasons why the Coastal Bend is becoming an increasingly popular place for vacationers year round.

9. health care. The Coastal Bend is a center of health care innovation, delivering cutting-edge treatments and top-level expertise throughout the region, and adding medical services that allow patients to receive high-level care close to home.

10. Workforce development. The region is aggressively working to train a highly skilled workforce in order to meet the business challenges in a global economy.

For more information, contact:

corpus christi regional economic development corp. 800 n. shoreline Blvd., suite 1300 s. corpus christi, tx 78401 (361) 882-7448 www.ccredc.com

Overview

top 10 reasons to Live and Work in the coastal Bend of texas1. Location. Corpus Christi is an important seaport and central gathering place for communities up and down the Coastal Bend region.

2. education. The Coastal Bend has a strong nucleus of higher education institutions that help meet the career needs of students and the workforce needs of the region.

3. military presence. The presence of major military installations keeps the economy marching in the Coastal Bend. naval Air Stations in Corpus Christi and Kingsville, and the Corpus Christi Army Depot bring millions of dollars into the region and support thousands of civilian jobs.

4. energy production. The Coastal Bend is a major player in the energy industry, from exploration to production to innovation in new energy sources, such as wind energy. Parts of the region are in the Eagle Ford Shale, a huge deposit of oil and natural gas that extends 400 miles across South Texas.

5. population growth. The Coastal Bend economy is bringing more people to the region. The population increased 20,000 people from 2000 to 2008, creating continued growth in the education, recreation and health care sectors.

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WhAtAgAme And WhAtAfieLdThe summer game has a home in Corpus Christi. The Corpus Christi Hooks are the Double A affiliate of the Houston Astros.

The Hooks play their home games at Whataburger Field, which includes seating for 5,000, 19 luxury suites and two outfield berm areas that can accommodate nearly 2,000 fans. Opened in 2005, Whataburger Field was designed to have the feel of an old-time ballpark, and its features include several architectural touches to the interior and exterior that pay tribute to the cotton industry and warehouses that previously occupied the present stadium site.

The field was named by Minor League News as the best venue in north America for two straight seasons. For more, go to www.cchooks.com.

A hOme hOnOring tejAnO’s rOOtsAlice in Jim Wells County bills itself as “The Birthplace of Tejano.”

The city’s claim to Tejano dates to the mid-1940s, when Armando Marroquin Sr. of Alice and partner Paco Bentacourt of San Benito

launched what was to be the first home-based recording company to record Tejano artists exclusively. Ideal Records, which was based in Alice, became the vehicle of choice for Tejano groups and artists to get their music to the public.

The Tejano Music Hall of Fame in Alice honors and recognizes Tejano artists, musicians, composers and

others who have contributed to the awareness and entertainment of the Tejano culture.

The museum preserves the historical artifacts, documents and culture of the Tejano music industry.

AWAsh in histOryThe Coastal Bend region’s connection to the maritime trades is chronicled at the Texas Maritime Museum in Aransas County.

Visitors can get a flavor of Texas history from exploration and settlement to boatbuilding and shipbuilding, sports and commercial fishing, and the search for offshore oil and gas.

The museum also hosts the annual Rockport Festival of Wine and Food, held every Memorial Day weekend. For more, go to www.texasmaritimemuseum.org.

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frOm BALLrOOm tO BrOncOsyou can get in touch with your inner cowboy at the Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds in Robstown.

The complex includes a 49,000-square-foot central pavilion that hosts rodeos, equestrian events, livestock shows and sporting exhibitions.

The complex also includes a 20,000-square-foot ballroom, a 1,000-seat equestrian center with 150 stables and a 4,200-seat baseball stadium. For more on the center, go to www.rmbfairgrounds.com.

they send Out A LOt Of tWeetsnature is always within easy reach in the Coastal Bend.

San Patricio County, for example, is in the heart of two major north-south fly patterns for migratory birds and is a prime spot for bird-watching enthusiasts. The 115,000-acre Aransas national Wildlife Refuge, which includes portions of Aransas and Refugio counties, provides prime nesting grounds for migratory birds and native Texas wildlife.

The refuge hosts the largest wild flock of endangered whooping cranes each winter. Other native species include the American alligator, roseate spoonbill, white-tailed deer and armadillo, as well as spectacular wildflowers. The refuge is a key hunting and fishing location as well. A fishing pier and five shoreline access points to San Antonio Bay are available from April 15 through Oct. 15.

Where eAst meets sOuth texAsThe Coastal Bend is a highly diverse region that embraces the many cultures that can be found there.

The Texas State Museum of Asian Cultures & Education Center educates visitors by utilizing art and cultural exhibits indigenous to Asia, as well as class offerings, special events and a resource library.

The museum includes exhibits that feature Japanese kimonos, porcelains and a rickshaw, as well as artifacts from China, India, Sri Lanka, Hmong, Thailand, the Philippines, Korea, Taiwan, Laos and Myanmar. A highlight of the museum is a collection of intricately carved jade pieces from China. For more, go to www.asianculturesmuseum.org.

Almanac

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www.tamucc.edu

Artistic fLOurishA landmark on the Corpus Christi bayfront is the Art Museum of South Texas, with its gleaming white poured concrete and shell aggregate exterior that includes unrivaled waterfront views.

The three-level, 30,000-square-foot museum includes a permanent collection of more than 1,300 paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings, mixed media, ceramics, textiles and other works. The permanent collection focuses on fine art and crafts of the Americas, with particular interest in Texas and surrounding areas, including Mexico.

The museum, affiliated with Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, also houses the South Texas Institute for the Arts, formed by the merger in 1997 of the Art Museum of South Texas, Creative Arts Center and Center for Hispanic Arts. The institute offers diverse exhibitions and educational outreach programs that reflect the multicultural heritage of the region. Go to www.artmuseumofsouthtexas.org for more.

ALL hAiL rAnch rOyALtyThe sprawling King Ranch covers 825,000 acres in the Coastal Bend region, including parts of Kleburg, Kenedy, Brooks, Jim Wells and nueces counties.

One of the world’s largest ranches, the King Ranch dates to the 1850s, when riverboat pilot Capt. Richard King traveled into the region and shortly afterwards acquired a 15,500-acre Mexican land grant known as the Rincon de Santa Gertrudis.

Today, the King Ranch still raises thousands of head of cattle, as well as quarter horses, and the company’s holdings include 60,000 acres of farm land that produce cotton, milo and sod, and the young Pecan shelling operations, one of the world’s largest pecan shellers. The King Ranch offers a number of specialized tours, as well as a museum in Kingsville. Go to www.king-ranch.com for more.

WAter resOurcesTwo research centers at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi are working to improve the quality of the oceans and waterways.

The Center for Coastal Studies (ccs.tamucc.edu) conducts basic and applied research on marine topics from Coastal Texas to the farthest reaches of the Gulf of Mexico in areas as diverse as wetlands ecology, habitat restoration, coral reef ecology and oil spill impacts.

The Harte Research Institute (www.harteresearchinstitute.org) focuses on environmental issues facing the Gulf of Mexico, wetlands, coastal waterways and beaches. Using an interdisciplinary collaboration that brings together expertise across a range of university academics, the institute conducts research in a number of areas related to the Gulf, from biodiversity and resource management to fisheries and ocean health.

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Business Climate

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All for Oneregional collaboration brings new investment and economic opportunity to Coastal Bend

Story by John FullerPhotography by Brian McCord

home to nearly 600,000 people, the 12-county Coastal Bend region has

seen population growth of nearly 14 percent since 1990.

With the availability of skilled and knowledgeable workers, lower costs, an integrated transportation network, abundance of higher education options and world-class port facilities, the area is drawing new investment and jobs. A collaborative regional approach to economic development has helped build major clusters in energy, petrochemical manufacturing, large-scale

fabrication, marine research, agriculture and tourism.

“Promising energy-related developments, dynamic expansion of our port facilities and continuing growth of our existing industry partners makes me very bullish on the region,” says Roland Mower, president and chief executive officer of the Corpus Christi Regional Economic Development Corp.

cOAstAL Bend hAs right mix fOr grOWth

When you add in a talented workforce, low cost of living and

excellent transportation assets, Coastal Texas is an area ripe for growth. Forbes magazine listed the Corpus Christi metro as No. 2 on its 2011 list of Best Cities for Jobs in the mid-sized category.

Port Corpus Christi is the fifth-largest U.S. port in cargo tonnage and is expected to grow further with construction of the LaQuinta Trade Gateway Terminal and other major projects. The region is a major trade gateway for Mexico and Latin America, and is preparing to take full advantage of the future expansion of the Panama Canal.

Coastal Texas is attractive for new investments due in part to its transportation network and the world-class Port Corpus Christi.

Business Climate

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regiOn drAWs mAjOr fOreign investment

The energy sector of the regional economy recently received a shot in the arm with the emergence of the Eagle Ford Shale development in South Texas. This major oil and gas formation covers 16 fields and 22 counties stretching to the northeast across Texas from the Mexican border. Several major pipelines are expected to bring oil and gas to Coastal Bend refineries and Port Corpus Christi.

TPCO America Corp., a subsidiary of China manufacturing giant Tianjin

Pipe Corp., plans to build a $1 billion steel pipe mill in the region that will eventually employ 500 to 600 people. The facility, scheduled for completion in 2013, will be located in San Patricio County. TPCO officials say they chose the site because of its strategic location, convenient access to raw materials and the ability to export to North America and South America through Port Corpus Christi.

Italy-based M&G Group, an international PET resin manufacturer, selected Corpus Christi for its third North American plant, creating at least

250 direct jobs and generating hundreds of millions of dollars in capital investment.

Collaboration among public and private entities across the region is another major reason for the positive economic upswing, says Mower. A business incubator at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi has enhanced the regional economy’s diversification.

In addition, entrepreneurial and small-business development programs, such as the Flint Hills Community Action Committee program, are helping f ledgling firms grow.

Coastal bend by the numbers

572,000Regional Population

288,000Labor Force

202,863Households

$56,827Average Household Income

Port Corpus Christi

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Built to LastManufacturing sector has strong roots in the Coastal Bend

Story by Betsy WilliamsPhotography by Brian McCord

f rom household names such as DuPont and OxyChem to companies making

everything from components for the burgeoning wind energy industry to food items for America’s dinner tables, manufacturing is a durable and growing economic sector in the Coastal Bend.

The benefits of investing in the region are clear, says Josephine Miller, executive director of the San Patricio County Economic Development Council.

Clean air, excellent transportation, available land, top-notch education, training programs that certify skilled workers and a climate that doesn’t interrupt production schedules are just some of the reasons manufacturers choose the 12-county region for new investment or expansion.

Access to Union Pacific, BNSF

and KCS rail providers, the presence of the deep-water Port Corpus Christi and load-bearing soil (no pilings needed) round out the picture, Miller says.

Robert C. Blair, vice president of Bay Ltd., one of the region’s largest employers, says the region’s workforce is also a key asset.

“The quality of the people goes beyond their significant skill level – there is a genuine concern for one another and a real focus on improving every aspect of our community, including welcoming new business partners to the community,” Blair says.

educAtiOn gives the edgeBlair also cites the “significant

continuing education support” from regional institutions, and Miller agrees.

“We niche target our workforce training,” she says. “We do our

Specialized training programs teach students the skills to work in manufacturing plants.

18 c O A s t A L B e n d i m A g e s c O A s t A L B e n d . c O m 19

research and identify the needs of our industries and then develop the programs to produce workers with those specific skills. We don’t tailor programs to whatever grant happens to be available and then end up with people trained for jobs that don’t exist.”

Cooperation among the area high schools is producing graduates who hold certifications for entry-level jobs. Welding at Ingleside High School is just such a program. After high school, a network of training centers, colleges and universities, including Del Mar College, Coastal Bend College, Texas A&M-Kingsville, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and the Craft Training Center, offer programs that equip students with the skill sets needed to earn competitive

pay in area manufacturing plants.Many of these students find

employment in the major companies in the region that build some of the world’s largest off-shore drilling platforms or manufacture intricate components for the aerospace industry.

strOng mAnufActuring fOundAtiOn

Bay Ltd. has more than 50 years of growth and success in the Coastal Bend. Bay is an industrial services company that, among other things, performs vessel, pipe and structural fabrication for companies that include refineries, chemical and petrochemical manufacturers, and offshore exploration.

Two other firms with more than 50 years of history in the

region are: • Corpus Christi-based Horton Automatics, which developed the first automatic sliding door in America in 1960 and gave birth to an industry. Horton’s products are installed worldwide at restaurants, airports, hospitals, hotels, casinos, offices and convenience stores, as well as at some unique locations, such as at the Back to the Future Ride at Universal Studios, Star Trek Ride at the Hilton Hotel Las Vegas and the Tower of Terror Ride at Disney World. • Sherwin Alumina, which remains one of the key manufacturers in the region. Located in Gregory, the company produces in excess of 4,000 metric tons of alumina products per day, most of which is exported and converted into aluminum.

In 1960, Horton Automatics in Corpus Christi developed the first automatic sliding door in America.

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harvesting OpportunityagriCulture industry sets the taBle for the Coastal texas eConoMy

From cattle to cotton, agriculture and food production are important components of the Coastal Bend economy.

When combined with the Rio Grande valley, the Coastal Bend agricultural output contributes about $2.86 billion in cash receipts, about 13 percent of Texas’ total agriculture receipts, says Dr. Larry Falconer, professor and extension economist-management for the Texas AgriLife Extension Service in Corpus Christi.

The region’s major crops include cotton, grain, sorghum, corn, vegetables and cattle. Falconer attributes some of the area’s agricultural gains to its location and the presence of major processing operations. “Most of the meat-packing plants are located in the High Plains, but they don’t have the port we do,” he says, referring to Port Corpus Christi.

The region has a significant livestock industry, including the massive King Ranch complex that covers 825,000 acres. The King Ranch still raises thousands of head of cattle, and the company’s holdings also include 60,000 acres of farm land.

Beef packing and processing is a major employer. South Texas had about 7 percent of the state’s cattle, or 943,000 head, including 182,000 head in Kleberg and Bee counties alone. The region is also developing an aquaculture industry that includes farm-raised fish.

As for the future, Falconer predicts steady growth in agriculture for the region.

“I wouldn’t expect any drastic changes, but we should see a slow increase in agriculture over the next few years.”

– Karen Schwartzman

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t he Coastal Bend is known for its tropical climate, Gulf of Mexico beaches, wide-open expanses, and

intriguing culture and history. Yet for all its uniqueness, the region is perhaps proudest of its long tradition as a haven for major military installations and military-related businesses.

mAjOr miLitAry presenceMajor installations include the Naval

Air Stations in Corpus Christi and Kingsville and the Corpus Christi Army Depot. Naval Air Station Corpus Christi is headquarters for the Chief of Naval Air Training. Additional military presence in the region includes the Marine Aviation Training Support Group, Naval Health Clinic Corpus Christi, Armed Forces Reserve Support Center and the U.S. Coast Guard.

These facilities are supported by growing private military-related enterprises, such as Sikorsky Aerospace Maintenance in Bee County and McTurbine Inc., a helicopter repair company in Corpus Christi.

Dick Messbarger, executive director of the Kingsville Economic Development Council, says the military’s regional economic impact has been measured

at $3.6 billion annually, including $458 million a year in direct economic benefit to Kingsville, population 25,000, the county seat of Kleberg County and home to Naval Air Station Kingsville.

The air station, commissioned in Kingsville in 1942, employs about 1,800 civilians from Kleberg and surrounding counties. “It’s a huge operation that has a lot of spillover. We have benefited so much from Naval Air Station,” Messbarger says. “We are so proactive on the military. Just about everything we do, we do in partnership with the military base.”

miLitAry Affects mOre thAn ecOnOmyEconomic development officials make

a living talking up a region’s benefits as a means of attracting business. But Messbarger says the military’s presence in the Coastal Bend plays another important role not limited to economics. Many military retirees tend to remain in the area after they leave active duty. For instance, two of the last five mayors of Kingsville were Navy pilots, Messbarger notes.

“It’s difficult to measure the impact of the base once these retirees leave the military and go into the community, but it’s been a huge benefit. They work at our banks, they’ve opened businesses in town,

A show of strengthMilitary presence keeps the economy of Coastal texas on the move

Story by M.V. Greene

The Corpus Christi Army Depot, the largest industrial employer in South Texas, is the Army’s lead installation for helicopter repair, overhaul and maintenance.S

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they’ve helped improve the schools. They contribute to the economic benefit of the region, but they also contribute to the quality of life,” Messbarger says.

The Corpus Christi Army Depot employs about 3,500 of the 5,500 workers at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, where it is housed as the Army’s lead installation for helicopter repair, overhaul and maintenance. The depot contributes about 12 percent of the local Corpus Christi economy, with a $2.17 billion economic impact, says depot spokesman Ed Mickley.

In Bee County, activity is bustling as well with private military-related businesses finding homes at the Chase Field Industrial & Airport Complex, the former Chase Field Naval Air Station that was closed in 1993. Sikorsky Aerospace Maintenance repairs and modifies helicopters at a 200,000-square-foot hangar at Chase and is growing its 200-person workforce.

Joe B. Montez, executive director of the Bee Development Authority, which owns Chase Field, says Sikorsky’s presence speaks well for the county’s future.

“We have a lot of hopes for growth in the future at Chase Field,” Montez says. “We have good, adequate, sound and safe

facilities and plenty of space. Your community environment for housing, schools, education and community events all play a key into the development of a good workforce. We have a very good friendly community.”

nAvAL Air stAtiOn cOrpus christi

Commissioned in March 1941, Naval Air Station Corpus Christi is part of the Navy Region Southeast, which has operational responsibility for 19 installations within the southeastern United States and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Naval Air Station Kingsville in the Coastal Texas region is also a part of Navy Region Southeast.

The overall command assignment of Naval Air Station Corpus Christi is pilot training. The Chief of Naval Air Training is headquartered at the installation to oversee the training operations throughout the Southeast region, from Texas to Florida. Under CNATRA’s (Chief of Naval Air Training) command are five training air wings, 16 training squadrons, more than 14,000 Navy and civilian personnel, the Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Naval Aviation Schools Command and the National Museum of Naval Aviation.

cOrpus christi Army depOtThe Corpus Christi Army Depot

is the largest industrial employer in South Texas. The mission of the facility is to perform depot maintenance on Army aircraft and aeronautical equipment, train military personnel in aeronautical depot maintenance for assignment worldwide and to prepare aircraft for overseas shipment. The depot also distributes overhauled items and maintains a mobilization base capable of rapid expansion in the event of a national emergency.

nAvAL Air stAtiOn KingsviLLeNaval Air Station Kingsville is

one of the U.S. Navy’s two premier locations for jet/strike aviation training. The base’s primary mission is to train tactical jet pilots for the Navy and Marine Corps. To accomplish its mission, NAS Kingsville is home to Training Air Wing 2 and several tenant military and civilian commands with approximately 300 officers, 200 enlisted, 350 civilian personnel and 625 contract maintenance personnel.

The base’s Operations Department operates the airfield and provides services to support operations of activity, tenant and transiting aircraft, firefighting functions, and operates air traffic control and air terminal functions among its duties.

Mechanics run a ground check on a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter at the Corpus Christi Army Depot.

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Outstanding Outdoorsthe Coastal Bend’s superior amenities make it a destination of choice

Story by Kevin Litwin

how sweet it is.The annual average

temperature in the Coastal Bend region is 71 degrees, which makes it easy to get outdoors. The region offers four-season opportunities for golf, fishing, hunting, boating and bird watching, and the miles of beachfront and the Gulf of Mexico’s waters bring in millions of visitors each year.

“We alone attract 1 million visitors a year,” says Diane Probst, president/CEO with the Rockport-Fulton Chamber of Commerce.

Gulf breezes, charming downtowns, unique restaurants

and retail, and abundant and diverse cultural and recreational options are fueling a growing segment of full-time transplants relocating from other parts of the country and part-time residents with second homes in the region.

“People who move here do so mainly because they’ve visited us in the past, and now are at a point in their lives where they can retire or semi-retire to a place of their choosing,” Probst says. “We have no industry and have become mostly a retirement community for people ages 50 and up, and for people who want second homes. And because they happily choose

to live here, their outlooks and ref lection on life are positive and fun-loving.”

WhOOping crAnesProbst says high-end retirees

want to buy homes on the water and live on the coast, and houses in Rockport-Fulton are priced $300,000 and above. In many cases, homeowners also have yachts to enjoy.

“The seascape also attracts our most famous winter visitors, the endangered whooping cranes,” she says. “Plus, there are more than 75 other species of birds that can be spotted. The area is also known among anglers for speckled trout

top: Padre Island national Seashore Bottom: The bayfront in downtown Corpus Christi

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and redfish, while fresh seafood can be eaten fried, grilled, blackened, breaded and stuffed in our quaint restaurants.”

Attractive communities and diverse living options can be found throughout the Coastal Bend counties: Aransas, Bee, Brooks, Duval, Jim Wells, Kenedy, Kleberg, Live Oak, McMullen, Nueces, Refugio and San Patricio. Many individual cities in these counties have claims to fame – for example, Palacios is the shrimp capital of Texas, Edna is the gateway to Lake Texana and George West is the storytelling capital of Texas.

Ann Vaughan, executive director with the Port Aransas Chamber of Commerce/Tourist Bureau, says visitors f lock to the Coastal Bend for the coastline and a variety of other reasons, giving each city its own sense of community and opportunity.

“Our particular laid-back community has many quality-of-life options for people of any age and any economic background,” Vaughan says. “There is a great housing market with a variety of opportunities, with very attractive prices thanks to the current national real estate market. We also have wonderful schools, an abundance of year-round activities and events and many civic organizations in which to get involved. The Coastal Texas region is a beautiful place to be.”

clockwise from left: The annual three-day Texas SandFest in Port Aransas, billed as the largest master sand sculpting contest in the U.S., draws 100,000 people each year; Port Aransas hosts the annual Whooping Crane Festival to celebrate the return of the cranes to their winter home. Port Aransas on Mustang Island is a prime bird-watching locale and has more than a half-dozen designated birding preserves; the Coastal Bend offers four-season weather for boating. P

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Energy/Technology

Wind, oil, gas fuel investment in Coastal Bend

A daily, steady breeze in the Coastal Bend helps fan the region’s growing wind

energy sector, while the region’s more traditional energy economy of oil and natural gas is experiencing a new and exciting wave of investment.

Parts of the region are in the Eagle Ford Shale, a huge deposit of oil and natural gas that extends 400 miles across South Texas.

In 2010, Eagle Ford Shale generated 6,800 full-time jobs and paid $311 million in salaries and benefits. When spinoff jobs are added to the mix – from support industries to restaurants – the numbers rise to 12,600 full-time

jobs and $512 million in salaries.A University of Texas at San

Antonio study estimates that by 2020, the Eagle Ford will support more than 67,000 full-time jobs in the region.

OiL, gAs fueL suppOrt industries

Jim Wells County is just one example of how the energy industry literally energizes the local economy. “Alice has been the hub of the South Texas oilfields for three generations, resulting in a cluster of drilling, trucking, service and supply operations,” says Dean Kruckenberg, executive director

of the Alice & Jim Wells County Economic Development Corp.

The state comptroller reports a 44 percent increase in sales tax revenues for Jim Wells County in 2011 over 2010, most of which is directly attributable to oilfield business, Kruckenberg says.

In San Patricio County, TPCO America is investing $1 billion to construct a plant that will produce seamless steel pipe for oil and gas extraction. The project is expected to create 300 jobs within its first two years of operation and 500 to 600 jobs when fully operational.

Major refineries in the Coastal Bend include Koch, Valero Energy Corp., Citgo and Flint Hills

energizing the economy

Story by Betsy WilliamsPhotography by Brian McCord

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Flint Hills Resources is one of several major refineries serving the energy industry in the Coastal Bend.

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Resources. Kiewit Offshore Services, Dynamic Industries and Gulf Marine Fabricators also serve the energy industry.

In spring 2011, Canyon Supply and Logistics agreed to acquire 776 acres of the former Naval Station Ingleside from Port Corpus Christi for $102 million and convert the site into an offshore oil exploration service center. Canyon currently is negotiating to bring added educational and training opportunities to the 136 acres remaining on the site. This “campus” space has great potential for training to support wind and solar energy research and offshore safety training.

Wind BLOWs strOng in the cOAstAL Bend

E.ON Climate and Renewables North America recently completed Phase II construction of its Papalote Wind Project in San Patricio County. The $460 million investment will supply energy to central Texas.

“Electricity is priced every 15 minutes in Texas and the highest prices occur in the daytime when demand is highest,” notes Josephine Miller, executive director of the San Patricio Economic Development Council. “Our region is one of the few places in the country where the wind is strong in the daytime.”

The Coastal Bend has another advantage in terms of wind energy – space on Texas’ transmission system. “Companies can put up wind towers here and contract to move their electricity onto the transmission system and get it to market,” Miller says.

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major player, major projectsMultiple transportation options a key to port Corpus Christi suCCess

M&G Group, the largest producer of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) for packaging applications in the Americas, has selected Corpus Christi as the location for construction of its 1 million-tons-per-year PET plant and accompanying Purified Terephtalic Acid (PTA) plant.

The new plants will generate about 250 new jobs, as many as 700 additional direct jobs and up to 3,000 construction jobs, according to company officials.

The city’s regional economic development corporation expects the new plants will have a total economic

impact of $4.8 billion over the next decade. The facility is expected to take 30 months to complete. It will be the Italian company’s third facility in north America.

“Corpus Christi is an excellent strategic home for what will be M&G’s largest-ever investment. It has exceptional highway, deep-water and rail access, including three Class 1 railroads,” says Marco Ghisolfi, CEO of M&G’s Polymers Business Unit.

TPCO America Corp. broke ground on its new pipe-making facility in August 2011. The 1.6 million-square-foot facility will meld scrap steel and

pig iron into 500,000 metric tons of seamless pipe annually for the oil and gas industry. The facility will result in almost $1 billion in investment and up to 600 new manufacturing jobs. Construction and operations will generate a $2.7 billion boost to the local economy in the first decade.

TPCO cited the many transportation options available at Port Corpus Christi – including ship, barge, truck and train – to get material into its plant and finished product out.

– Betsy Williams

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port Corpus Christi anchors Coastal Bend economy

p ort Corpus Christi is a focal point of expansion activity that promises to be a major

catalyst to the Coastal Bend economy.

The port is the fifth-largest in the United States in terms of total cargo tonnage. Three rail carriers serve the port, and several major highways connect it to major U.S. and Mexican destinations. The Gulf Intracoastal Waterway meets the port’s ship channel, providing excellent access to U.S. inland waterways.

More than 40,000 direct and indirect jobs in the region are tied to port activity, with nearly $2.2 billion in total personal income.

pOrt prOjects impAct the cOAstAL Bend

Ambitious projects designed to diversify port activity are expected to impact the region for years to come.

The La Quinta Trade Gateway Terminal is a major component of the port’s long-term development plan. Located on an 1,100-acre greenfield site on the north side of Corpus Christi Bay, this project will provide a state-of-the-art, multipurpose dock and container facility. Project features include extension of the La Quinta ship channel, construction of a 3,800-foot, three-berth ship dock with nine ship-to-shore cranes, 180 acres

of container/cargo storage yards, an intermodal rail yard and more than 400 acres for on-site distribution and warehouse centers.

“Completion of this project will enable the port to diversify its capabilities and spur further trade growth for the region,” says John LaRue, executive director of Port Corpus Christi.

LaRue says this is particularly significant given the planned widening of the Panama Canal, which is expected to have a significant effect on deep-water port facilities on the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean.

Another major project on the port property is development

Opportunity docksStory by John Fuller • Photography by Brian McCord

Transportation

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of the former U.S. Naval Station Ingleside, which was vacated in 2010. The 483-acre site includes 70 buildings, and the port has incorporated an additional 435 acres of adjacent property into the project. Early in 2011, Canyon Supply & Logistics announced it would develop the industrial part of the facility for the oil and gas industry and expects to provide some 2,500 jobs within five years.

In addition, Flint Hills Resources has agreed to purchase a small craft pier and related property at Ingleside to support the shipment of waterborne cargo related to the Eagle Ford Shale, a major oil and gas find that includes

several Coastal Bend counties.

$3.2 BiLLiOn LAs BrisAs energy prOject fueLs expAnsiOn

Las Brisas Energy Center, a 1,320 gross megawatt electric-generating facility to be located on the north side of the port’s inner harbor, also holds great promise. The $3.2 billion energy center will provide low-cost, reliable electric power for users throughout the Coastal Bend region at competitive prices. The plant will be a state-of-the-art facility utilizing highly sophisticated equipment to generate clean energy. The plant is scheduled to be fully

operational by 2014.With Texas leading the country

in development of wind farms, Port Corpus Christi has also beefed up its wind turbine handling capabilities. It is now the largest importation point of wind turbine equipment in Texas. The port is also looking at the potential of harnessing South Texas winds at port-owned sites to generate clean electrical power for the local community.

“We are encouraged by these developments to expand and improve our port; they certainly enhance the competitiveness of our region,” LaRue says.

Port CorPus Christi FaCts• 2010 tonnage: 82.2

million (fifth in the United States)

• Ship and barge traffic: 5,768 vessels

• Channel depth: 45 feet

• Foreign Trade Zone: 24,019 acres (largest in United States)

• Covered dockside storage: 295,000 square feet

• Rail: served by three Class I carriers

• Largest inbound commodities: crude oil, fuel oil, bauxite, feedstock

• Largest outbound commodities: gasoline, fuel oil, diesel fuel, feedstock, wheat

i m A g e s c O A s t A L B e n d . c O m 37

The Hilton Garden Inn Corpus Christi hotel is the newest full-service hotel in Corpus Christi, and is centrally located to accommodate the

corporate and leisure traveler. We offer 119 beautifully appointed guest rooms. All rooms feature free high-speed wireless Internet, hair dryer, coffee maker, microwave and mini fridge, iron and ironing board, and 35” flat-screen LCD TVs. The Hilton Garden Inn features other hotel amenities:

6717 South Padre Island Dr.Corpus Christi, TX 78412

(361) 991-8200

Everything. Right where you need it.

• Outdoor heated pool• Business center• Executive board room

• Fitness room• Guest laundry

®

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easy to get Aroundthe Coastal Bend eases aCCessiBility By air, roads, rail and Water

With its superior road, water, rail and air assets, Coastal Texas makes it easy for businesses to move their goods and for residents to get around.

Port Corpus Christi was the nation’s fifth-busiest port in 2010. The region’s close proximity to the Mexico border and its strategic location on the Gulf of Mexico give it significant transportation advantages. Interstate 37 starts in Corpus Christi and connects to I-10 and I-35, and several major highways connect the region to U.S. ports of entry at Laredo and Brownsville. Plans for major highway improvements are in the works to accommodate the increased traffic from freight expansion, including an interstate-level highway that would run between Corpus Christi and the Rio Grande valley. Ultimately, that portion of the interstate corridor, known as the nAFTA Highway, will run from the Mexico border through Texas all the way to Canada.

The region is served by three Class 1 rail carriers: Union Pacific, Kansas City Southern and Burlington northern Santa Fe Railway, as well as Corpus Christi Terminal Railroad, a short-line carrier with 30 miles of track that serves the port.

The region’s commercial air needs are served by Corpus Christi International Airport. The airport, which handled more than 355,000 passengers in 2010, is served by Southwest, American Eagle and Continental Express airlines, and continues to expand.

The airport recently completed construction of a new airfield and maintenance facility and is beginning work on a new ground shipping facility, expected to be open in early 2012. – Karen Schwartzman

6039-TR12260M_TGB_Livability.indd 1 3/22/10 11:40:09 AM

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Health

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hospital systems continue to innovate

i t doesn’t hurt a bit that Coastal Bend hospitals continue to be centers of health care innovation.

Facilities such as CHRISTUS Spohn Health System, Corpus Christi Medical Center and Driscoll Children’s Hospital all deliver cutting-edge treatments and top-level expertise throughout the region, allowing patients to receive high-level care close to home. For example, Driscoll Children’s Hospital in Corpus Christi has become a leader in pediatric care, thanks to its skills in 30 medical specialties.

ALL fOr the KidsDriscoll admits more than 6,500 children

annually for inpatient treatment and cares for another 130,000 with outpatient services. The first hospital in South Texas to perform an organ transplant, Driscoll employs 1,800 people, serves a 33-county area and continually invests in new services, technology and treatments.

That includes recently investing $2.7 million to upgrade its Cancer & Blood Disorders Center. The expanded center opened in April 2011.

“We’re lucky to have a children’s hospital here in Corpus Christi to serve all of South Texas, and the generosity of the community to help fund our medical efforts never ceases to amaze me,”

strong and healthy

Story by Kevin LitwinPhotography by Brian McCord

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says Dr. Cris Johnson, medical director for the Cancer & Blood Disorders Center. “Our young patients have had their lives altered by the diagnosis of cancer, and dozens of groups and numerous individuals contribute funds to help Driscoll Hospital do what we can for these kids.”

cOmmunity KindnessJohnson says the old Cancer & Blood

Disorders Center was becoming too small for the growing number of patients that the hospital sees, so various fundraisers helped secure the money needed to upgrade the facility.

“A Fiesta de Los Ninos, plus private donations raised money to completely remodel and expand the center,” she says. “For example, we were able to install sound control measures wherever we administer chemotherapy, because it’s vital to have absolute quiet conditions to be totally accurate with chemotherapy. I can’t thank the Coastal Bend community enough for what they do for us here at Driscoll.”

six hOspitALs fOr christusCHRISTUS Spohn Health System

blankets the region with a three-campus presence in Corpus Christi, and is known for having a nationally ranked cardiovascular program, along with a world-renowned cancer treatment center. CHRISTUS also has hospitals in Alice, Kingsville and Beeville, and the Beeville

campus has a HALO-Flight helicopter based on-site.

“A lot of major highways go through Bee County, including Interstate 37, U.S. Highway 59 and U.S. 181, all of which have busy interchanges,” says Jerry Rodriguez, vice president and chief operating officer at CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Beeville. “From Bee County, HALO-Flight can quickly transport patients to CHRISTUS Spohn, as well as other facilities in Corpus Christi or San Antonio, depending upon the severity of their injuries.”

AmOng the nAtiOn’s BestCorpus Christi Medical Center’s

four hospitals, including a 72-bed heart hospital, employ more than 1,200 people and the provider’s services range from neonatal intensive care to cancer treatment. CCMC was the first hospital in South Texas to install the CARTO 3 System, the most advanced technology available for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmia, commonly known as irregular heartbeat.

CCMC was also named one of the nation’s 100 Top Hospitals for 2011 by Thomson Reuters.

“This is an exclusive award designation, and it acknowledges the staff and physicians at Corpus Christi Medical Center for making a difference and setting the standards in patient care in South Texas,” says Edward Lamb, CCMC chief executive officer.

drisColl Children’s hosPital• First hospital in South

Texas to provide emergency services exclusively for children

• Provides emergency care to about 40,000 children a year

• Pediatric specialists in more than 30 medical and 13 surgical specialties

• More than 1,800 employees on staff, including 450 nurses

Christus sPohn health system• Founded in 1905

• Faith-based health care network spanning South Texas

• Six hospital campuses in South Texas

• Known for its nationally ranked cardiovascular program

CorPus Christi mediCal Center• Founded in 1962

• Has four hospitals: Bay Area, Doctors Regional, The Heart Hospital and Northwest Regional

• Team of 1,200 medical professionals, plus 600 medical staff members

• Named one of the nation’s best teaching hospital systems in 2010 by Thomson Reuters

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higher education options boost Coastal Bend businesses

t he Coastal Bend has a strong nucleus of higher education institutions that not only

prepare students for careers but also serve the region’s employers.

The area is home to two campuses of the Texas A&M University System: Texas A&M-Kingsville and Texas A&M- Corpus Christi.

Texas A&M-Kingsville, with enrollment of about 6,500, offers degree programs across a range of academic disciplines, from accounting to industrial technology, to wildlife management, as well as a diverse roster of master’s programs and seven doctoral programs.

Texas A&M-Kingsville has the region’s only School of Pharmacy, and is also a research leader. On

the Kingsville campus, there are several opportunities for learning through hands-on research at the undergraduate and graduate levels. For example, in December 2010, it opened a $7.2 million research center to serve the region’s citrus industry.

In addition to sciences and humanities coursework, A&M’s Kingsville campus offers programs that set it apart from the crowd.

“The King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management offers a one-of-a-kind master’s degree that combines business and ranch management coursework,” says Cheryl Cain, executive director of marketing and communications at Texas A&M-Kingsville. “Our National Natural Toxins Research Center is internationally known

for its work with snake venom. The NNTRC is researching ways to use venom to prevent and/or treat cancer, heart attacks and strokes.”

In 2010 alone, the university generated $136 million in economic activity in the Kingsville area.

“Overall, of course, the mission of the university is to provide the greatest benefit to the area through the education and preparation of critical thinkers and leaders for this region and beyond,” says Cain.

The palm tree-lined pathways, nearby wetlands and a beautiful beach make Texas A&M-Corpus Christi’s 240-acre campus hard to beat. But the school itself is the real appeal, with numerous degrees available in five colleges: Business, Education, Liberal Arts, Nursing

By the BooksStory by Karen Schwartzman

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and Health Sciences, and Science and Technology.

Because the campus is located on the Gulf of Mexico and the cultural border of Latin America, the school has gained an impressive reputation as a designated Hispanic-serving institution. Its current enrollment is around 10,000, and the campus also has the distinction of being the only university located on its own island.

The university includes major research facilities and the Coastal Bend Innovation Center, which provides services to help entrepreneurs build their companies.

BuiLding WOrKfOrce muscLeThe University of Texas at

Austin Marine Science Institute, the oldest and most significant marine research facility on the Texas coast, is changing our understanding of the world’s oceans and coasts, and educating a global population dependent on the ocean ecosystem.

What began humbly in 1941 as a small, rough-lumber shack on the Gulf of Mexico in Port Aransas is now home to cutting edge research, education and outreach programs. The institute is also home to the Mission Aransas National

Estuarine Research Reserve – only one of 28 in the entire network of coastal sites that operate as a partnership between the federal government and coastal states and is comprised of 185,708 contiguous acres in the Coastal Bend region.

BuiLding WOrKfOrce muscLeSupporting the workforce

training needs of the region are a network of community colleges.

Fast approaching its 75th anniversary, Del Mar College certainly has something to celebrate. The college, located in Corpus Christi, experienced record student enrollment over the past two years, reaching 12,249 in fall 2010, says Melinda Eddleman, media relations coordinator for Del Mar.

The college offers degree programs in arts, teaching and sciences in more than 50 university transfer majors. But it benefits more than just its students.

“It’s a driving force among higher education in the Coastal Bend and responds quickly to the educational and workforce demands among stakeholders in its service area,” says Eddleman.

With four separate locations in the area, Coastal Bend College has education covered.

Higher education institutions in the Coastal Bend partner to make it easier for students to start and finish their education in the region. One such program in place will help engineering students at Del Mar College to transfer seamlessly into the bachelor’s program in mechanical engineering at Texas A&M Corpus Christi. The agreement was designed to ensure that programs at each institution mesh and offer similar curriculums.

del mar students Can easily transFer to texas a&m

Coastal Texas industries and contractors work together to supply the region with skilled workers for the construction trade. The Craft Training Center of the Coastal Bend operates out of a 22,214-square-foot, $3 million, state-of-the-art training facility that includes classrooms, an electrical lab, an instrumentation lab, a welding lab and a computer-based craft-assessment lab. The center has been cited as a national model for regions that want to provide training opportunities for construction workers.

CraFt training Center – Coastal bend

clockwise from left: Del Mar College Department of Public Safety Education students majoring in fire science receive hands-on training; nursing students at Del Mar College’s Department of nurse Education; Texas A&M-Corpus Christi

The two-year community college prides itself on its ability to teach students on an individual level. Small class sizes, free tutoring and study seminars, and personal attention give the school an edge when it comes to meeting each student’s needs. The main campus in Beeville was established in 1965, and has since expanded to include locations in Alice, Kingsville and Pleasanton.

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diverse lifestyle options are abundant in the Coastal Bend

i t’s easy to feel right at home in the Coastal Bend, where housing and overall living

costs are more affordable than the national average.

Lifestyle choices range from residing in large cities, small towns, rural areas or on the water, such as beachfront communities in Port Aransas or the restored homes and ranches in Refugio County. Communities such as Beeville and Kingsville are Texas Main Street cities with revitalized downtown districts.

The region’s geographic location allows easy access to big-city amenities that are not far away and a healthy dose of home-grown cultural and recreational attractions. Corpus Christi alone includes the Institute de Cultura

Hispánica de Corpus Christi and the Texas State Museum of Asian Cultures, and is also home to the long-standing Corpus Christi Symphony Orchestra, which entered its 66th consecutive season in October 2011.

“That is an impressive accomplishment given that symphonies much larger than us in places like Philadelphia, Louisville, Syracuse and even New Mexico have recently ceased to exist or filed bankruptcy,” says Robert A. Reed, executive director of the Corpus Christi Symphony Orchestra. “With our symphony, along with museums, the Harbor Playhouse and other cultural attractions, there is enough to do culturally in Corpus Christi to satisfy any community.”

cOunciL Of cuLturesThe region also boasts a

chamber music society and an international piano and string competition, plus a ballet, a collection of art galleries and live theater venues.

The Coastal Bend Council of Cultures contributes to the overall quality of life in the region by supporting the continuing international development of the Coastal Bend through cultural and economic projects.

Alison Leithner serves as international relations officer with the Council of Cultures, as well as with Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, and her job is to find ways that international students can get engaged in the community.

“Texas A&M University-Corpus

Where cultures come together

Story by Kevin LitwinPhotography by Brian McCord

Livability

clockwise from top: Texas State Aquarium in Corpus Christi; Corpus Christi Symphony Orchestra; Texas State Museum of Asian Cultures

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Where Business Meets Fun!www.fultontexas.org

Located on Aransas Bay, the Paws & Taws Fulton Convention Center is adjacent to Fulton Park, Fulton Harbor, local restaurants and motels along Fulton Beach Road. The Fulton Convention Center is the perfect facility to host your next meeting, retreat or wedding.(361) 729-2388 www.pawsandtaws.com

The first weekend in March is Oysterfest time! Oysterfest features carnival rides, food, oyster eating contests, live music, unique vendor booths and most of all – FUN!www.fultonoysterfest.org

Alice-Jim Wells County Economic Development CorporationAlice: Hub City of the South Texas Oil Field

Regional home to six major drilling companies, 48 well servicing companies and 35 additional supply companies, numerous machine shops, repair facilities and trucking companies

612 E. Main St. Alice, TX 78333 (361) 664-3454 www.alicetx.org

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Christi actually had 750 international students enrolled on campus from 47 countries during the 2011-12 school year, so diversity certainly exists here,” she says. “The recently formed Coastal Bend Council of Cultures has a board that meets monthly to specifically plan how to increase the visibility of the diversity in this region.”

pArAde Of nAtiOnsThe council board includes the Corpus Christi

mayor, university representatives, port officials, and representatives from the Corpus Christi Regional Economic Development Corp., Corpus Christi Convention & Visitors Bureau, Corpus Christi Caller-Times newspaper and 16 different organizations representing Turkish, Czech, Filipino, Hispanic, German, African-American and other local cultures.

“The council is currently planning a large multicultural event in downtown Corpus Christi for May 2012, plus every April the university students host a Parade of Nations international day,” Leithner says. “We are proud of the diversity in Coastal Texas – it adds to our overall quality of life.”

Home to themed festivals, interesting attractions and a gorgeous outdoor sanctuary, the Coastal Bend region cultivates a fun, friendly atmosphere for residents and visitors alike. Here are a few highlights:

texAs stAte AquAriumOffering a place where the community can connect

with nature, the Texas State Aquarium opened in 1990 in Corpus Christi, and has been recognized as a certified animal rehabilitation facility since 1993. This private, not-for-profit aquarium provides exhibits such as Dolphin Bay, where visitors can observe Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, and Floating Phantoms, an 800-gallon exhibit filled with various creatures.

uss LexingtOn museum On the BAyThe USS Lexington Museum On The Bay in Corpus

Christi provides visitors with a close-up look at a World War II-era aircraft carrier. Guests make their way through a maze of tunnels, enjoy the Flight Simulator and virtual Battle Stations, and can also see a film on the three-story screen in the Joe Jessel MEGA Theater.

sOuth texAs BOtAnicAL gArdens & nAture centerHome to nine floral exhibits and gardens, the 180-

acre South Texas Botanical Gardens & nature Center has been beautifying the area since 1987. The popular tourist destination, located along Oso Creek on Corpus Christi’s south side, features attractions such as the Orchid House and Plumeria Garden and the Bird & Butterfly Trail.

rOcKpOrt/fuLtOn OysterfestSponsored by the Fulton volunteer Fire Department,

the Rockport/Fulton Oysterfest attracts thousands of visitors to the area each March to enjoy a few days of fun, complete with carnival rides, games, live music and an oyster-eating contest. The event, dating back more than 30 years, also serves as the Fulton volunteer Fire Department’s primary fundraiser.

ArAnsAs pAss shrimpOreeHeld each June,the Aransas Pass Shrimporee – the

largest shrimp festival in Texas – offfers attendees a variety of shrimp-related activities, including a parade, live entertainment and the Miss Shrimporee Pageant. Guests also partake in an array of shrimp dishes, including spicy shrimp and grits, Thai shrimp soup and shrimp stock.

– Jessica Walker

stay, play, enjoyfun of all stripes is easy to find in Coastal Bend

Texas State Museum of Asian Cultures

i m A g e s c O A s t A L B e n d . c O m 47

48 c O A s t A L B e n d

Key industry sectOrs (% Of jOBs)

Government, 22.2%Trade, Transportation & Utilities, 17.5%Educational & Health Services, 16.8%Mining, natural Resources & Construction, 12.6%Leisure & Hospitality, 10.8%Professional & Business Services, 7.7%Manufacturing, 4.7%Other Services, 3.7%Financial Activities, 4%

LABOr fOrce stAtistics

regiOn, 287,701Aransas, 12,074 Bee, 11,120Brooks, 3,221Duval, 5,457Jim Wells, 21,644Kenedy, 229Kleberg, 17,210Live Oak, 5,392McMullen, 426nueces, 173,232Refugio, 4,276San Patricio, 31,88

visit ouradvertisersAlice/Jim Wells County Economic Development Corporation www.alicetx.org

Christus Spohn Health Systemwww.christusspohn.org

Corpus Christi International Airportwww.corpuschristiairport.com

Corpus Christi Regional Economic Development Corporationwww.ccredc.com

Del Mar Collegewww.delmar.edu

Driscoll Children’s Hospitalwww.driscollchildrens.org

Frost Bankwww.frostbank.com

H-E-Bwww.heb.com

Hilton Garden Innwww.stayhgi.com

Kingsville Economic Development Corporationwww.kingsvilleedc.org

Port Aransas Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureauwww.portaransas.org

Port of Corpus Christiwww.portofcorpuschristi.com

Refugio County Community Development Foundationwww.refugio.countytx.org

Robstown Area Development Commissionwww.robstownadc.com

San Patricio Economic Development Corporationwww.sanpatricioedc.com

Texas A&M University Corpus Christiwww.tamucc.edu

Texas A&M University Kingsvillewww.tamuk.edu

Town of Fultonwww.fultontexas.org

Workforce Solutions – Coastal Bend www.workforcesolutionscb.org

Business ClimateThe 12 Coastal Bend counties feature a diversified economy that includes diversified manuacturing, a robust oil-and-gas sector, military presence and major assets including Port Corpus Christi. The region has gained numerous accolades as a top draw for retirees, its low housing costs, job creation, entrepreneurship and technology innovation.

ecOnOmic prOfiLe

What’s Online for more in-depth demographic, statistical and community information on the Coastal Bend, go to imagescoastalbend.com and click on facts & stats.

pOpuLAtiOn (2010)

regiOn, 571,987Aransas, 23,158Bee, 32,801Brooks, 7,223Duval, 11,782Jim Wells, 40,838Kenedy, 416Kleberg, 32,061Live Oak, 11,531McMullen, 707nueces, 340,223Refugio, 7,383San Patricio, 64,804Texas, 25,145,561

mAjOr pOpuLAtiOn centers (2010)

Corpus Christi, 305,215Kingsville, 26,213Alice, 19,104Portland, 15,099

mediAn hOusehOLd incOme (2009)

Aransas, $40,101Bee, $37,165

Brooks, $25,052Duval, $30,199Jim Wells, $35,806Kenedy, $32,336Kleberg, $37,450Live Oak, $40,636McMullen, $40,809nueces, $41,140Refugio, $37,298San Patricio, $40,506

mAjOr empLOyers

Corpus Christi Army Depot, 5,800Corpus Christi ISD, 5,178CHRISTUS Spohn Health System, 5,144HEB, 5,000City of Corpus Christi, 3,171naval Air Station Corpus Christi, 2,822Bay Ltd., 2,100Driscoll Children’s Hospital, 1,800Del Mar College, 1,542Corpus Christi Medical Center, 1,300

Ad Index 46 Alice/JimWells countyeconomic DevelopmentcorporAtion

40 christusspohn heAlthsystem

6 corpuschristi internAtionAlAirport

24 corpuschristi regionAleconomic DevelopmentcorporAtion

c3 DelmArcollege

19 Driscoll chilDren’shospitAl

14 FrostBAnk

5 h-e-B

36 hiltongArDeninn

22 kingsvilleeconomic DevelopmentcorporAtion

33 portArAnsAs

chAmBeroFcommerce

AnDtourismBureAu

c4 reFugiocounty

community

DevelopmentFounDAtion

1 roBstoWnAreA

Developmentcommission

2 sAnpAtricioeconomic

DevelopmentcorporAtion

10 texAsA&m

universitycorpuschristi

c2 texAsA&m

universitykingsville

46 toWnoFFulton

4 WorkForcesolutions–

coAstAlBenD

www.liveunited.org

www.delmar.edu

Excellent schools:Refugio ISD • Austwell-Tivoli ISD • Woodsboro ISD

Superior health care: Refugio Co. Memorial Hospital • Three clinics Two rehabilitation nursing homes State-of-the-art wellness center

Affordable housing: Low to no tax rate

Recreation: Hunting • Fishing • Camping • Birding

www.refugiocountytx.org

RefugioSmal l Town Bi g

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