F O S T E R I N G R E G I O N A L E C O N O M I C R E S I L I E N C E

T H R O U G H T RA N S P O RTAT I O N A C C E S S I B I L I T Y

S O U T H P L A I N S A S S O C I AT I O N O F G O V E R N M E N T SL U B B O C K , T E X A S

TRANSPORTATION ENHANCEMENTS AT REESE TECHNOLOGY CENTER• Background on Reese Technology Center, formerly Reese Air Force Base in

Lubbock, Texas• Critical collaboration with Federal (US Department of Commerce – Economic

Development Administration) and State (Texas Department of Transportation) partners

• Economic resilience and preparedness for regional opportunities• Best practices and lessons learned

REESE A IR FORCE BASE – REESE TECHNOLOGY CENTERF R O M R E C OV E RY T O I N N OVAT I O N

BACKGROUND ON REESE AFB• Reese Air Force Base (originally

Lubbock Army Airfield) was constructed in 1941

• Trained over 7,000 pilots in WWII; Reactivated in 1949

• Training of over 25,000 pilots between 1941 and 1997

• Base Realignment and Closure(BRAC)1995-1997

• Texas Tech University & South Plains College receive initial allocation of property

• State of Texas created Lubbock Reese Redevelopment Authority (LRRA) as a Political Subdivision

• Education & Economic Development are the primary goals of the LRRA

• 7 member Board of Directors – Appointed by City of Lubbock, Lubbock County, SPAG

FOCUS ON INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES• National Wind Institute• Wyle Aerospace• Oxy USA• Vestas • Fibertech

FOCUS ON RESEARCH

• NIRE• CerRx• Texas Tech University – Institute of Environmental and Human Health• Sandia National Labs• Eburon Organics International

FOCUS ON EDUCATION

• Texas Tech University• South Plains College

– SPC has over 3,500 college students on campus daily

FOCUS ON ENGINEERING& MANUFACTURING• Zachry Engineering• Texas Tech University Mechanical Engineering• Alstom

OBSTACLES TO FUNDING

• Political Subdivision with no taxing authority• Only revenue through private leases• Economic Development Administration (EDA) only public funding partner • 380 agreements are a limited option

PREVIOUS EDA FUNDING/PROJECTS2001 EDA AWARD – TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORK

• $1,041,700 in EDA Grant Funding for Fiber Optic System

• Dual Fiber Loop Connectivity (with OC192 capability)

EDA FIBER PROJECT (PREVIOUS FUNDING)• Created the first and only data center in West Texas• Reese Technology Center will likely be a banking data center hub due in

large part to this funding• Reese Technology Center now seeking funding opportunities to connect the

campus to outside fiber sources

TRANSPORTATION PROJECTB A C K G R O U N D / N E E D

ACCESS• Current companies needed improved access onto campus

Only Entrance (before project)

EXPANSION

• Reese Technology Center – Economic Development through Business Development and Job Creation

• Once the purpose for the RTC was defined, expanded access to the campus was critical

EDA FUNDING -

• $1,225,000 for Transportation Access Improvements– State Highway 114 connects Lubbock to Levelland (3rd largest City, college

campus)– Project created widening of SH 114 to allow for ingress and access point to

Reese Campus– An alternative entrance/exit was created on the northeast side of the campus– All entrance points are secured access

ACCESS• Current companies needed improved access onto campus

Highway 114 Ingress/Egress

Only Entrance (before project)

Third Access Point

COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS

• S O U T H P L A I N S A S S O C I A T I O N O F G O V E R N M E N T S• R E E S E T E C H N O L O G Y C E N T E R• U S D E P A R T M E N T O F C O M M E R C E – E C O N O M I C D E V E L O P M E N T

A D M I N I S T R A T I O N• T E X A S D E P A R T M E N T O F T R A N S P O R T A T I O N

REESE TECHNOLOGY CENTER• South Plains Association of Governments (SPAG) – Executive Director has

permanent position on Reese Technology Center Board of Directors– Has allowed for SPAG to facilitate a relationship between EDA and Reese

Technology Center • Private Business

– Reese Technology Center has 20+ partnerships with private businesses and organizations that utilize the campus

– The businesses drive the success of the Reese Technology Center and help to foster a hub for research and technology in West Texas

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION – TRANSPORTATION ENHANCEMENTS • SPAG has a long standing

relationship with EDA• Facilitated funding partnerships

between EDA and Reese Technology Center

• SPAG works closely with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), specifically the Lubbock District Office

• Facilitated partnership with TxDOT which provided the matching funds for this project

• Reese Technology Center & SPAG collaborate frequently with the City of Lubbock which provides utility services to the campus

• EDA Investment of $1.2 million• TxDOT Investment of over $800,000• 60+ jobs created from 1 business alone within the first year of completion• New prospects and access for companies looking to locate at Reese• Continued work towards investing in and retaining intellectual property in

West Texas

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION – TRANSPORTATION ENHANCEMENTS

BEST PRACTICES

BEST PRACTICES• Regional

Collaboration • Innovative

Thinking• Creative

Partnerships

 “ A s w i t h a n y t r a n s p o r t a t i o n p r o j e c t , T x D O T ’ s p r i o r i t y w a s s a f e t y. W o r k i n g i n p a r t n e r s h i p w i t h t h eRT C a n d S PA G e n s u r e d t h e e n t r a n c e w o u l d h a v e t h e f e a t u r e s , i n c l u d i n g a c c e l e r a t i o n , d e c e l e r a t i o n a n d t u r n l a n e s , w h i c h w o u l d a l l o w RT C t r a ffi c t o s a f e l y c o n n e c t t o a n a l r e a d y b u s y r o a d w a y. O u r v a l u e d a n d l o n g - l a s t i n gt r a n s p o r t a t i o n p a r t n e r s h i p sw i t h l o c a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s ,g o v e r n m e n t s a n d t h e i r l e a d e r s h i ph a v e b e e n k e y i n t h e s u c c e s s f u l a n d t i m e l y c o m p l e t i o n s o f n u m e r o u sl o c a l p r o j e c t s . ”

D o u g E i c h o r s t , P. E .T x D O T L u b b o c k D i s t r i c t e n g i n e e r

“ T h e E D A / T x D O T e n h a n c e m e n t s h a v e a d d e d v a l u e t o t h e R e e s e Te c h n o l o g y C e n t e r b y p o s i t i o n i n g u s t o b e t t e r s e r v e o u r e x i s t i n g c a m p u s p a r t n e r s a n d b y h e l p i n g u s t o a t t r a c t n e w p a r t n e r s i n s u p p o r t o f o u r m i s s i o n a n d v i s i o n s t a t e m e n t s .   T h e p r o j e c t h a s n o t o n l y i m p a c t e d o u r p r o p e r t y, b u t h a s m a d e a r e g i o n - w i d e i m p a c t f o r t r a n s p o r t a t i o n i n w e s t Te x a s . ”

M u r v a t M u s a , R e e s e Te c h n o l o g y C e n t e rE x e c u t i v e D i r e c t o r