As defined by the International Economic Development Council, economic development is a program, group of policies, or activity that seeks to improve the economic well-being and quality of life for a community by creating and/or retaining jobs that facilitate growth and provide a stable tax base.

2009

What is Economic Development?

2009

2008 a year of discovery, 2009 the year to unfold new capabilities.

For Laredo Community College Economic Development Center 2009 will be a year of opportunities.

With only a year and half in existence, Laredo Community College Economic Development Center (LCC EDC) has been able to initiate a promising portfolio of projects and establish partnerships and collaborations that promote job creation and a brighter future for region residents.

The work that LCC EDC has undertaken has been mainly focused on specific industries that are critical within the regional context and others that are emerging due to the current economic climate.

Community awareness and fact finding will continue to be at the core of the EDC operation and the development of solutions that allow the community to grow, expand and attract high growth - high demand job opportunities.

Contents:About Us 2

Projects & Milestones 4-7 Light Manufacturing Institute 8

South Texas EnergyTechnology Institute 10

Partnerships and collaboration (left to right): LCC Chief of External Affairs/Econ Dev, Blas Castaneda; County Judge, Danny Valdez, LCC President, Dr. Juan L. Maldonado, City Mayor Raul Salinas on the Advanced Technology Center Project.

QTR I

Did you know?

1

New

slette

r

Region

The South Texas region is positioned to be an increasingly important gateway between the US and the global marketplace, as community and government leaders along the U.S.-Mexico border work together to promote international and retail trade, tourism and innovation in advanced manufacturing. Laredo is one of the fastest growing cities in the country and as an inland port processes over 40 percent of all trade between US and Mexico, accounting for 167 billion dollars in 2007. The South Texas Region is home to the largest producers of Oil and Gas in the State of Texas.

Economic Development Center

Laredo Community College Economic Development Center has been conceptualized under the vision of advancing Laredo and the South Texas Region in economic growth and global competitiveness through high quality education, training and services focusing on continuous workforce improvement, technology deployment, and business development.

Though small in size, LCC EDC has been designed to generate sector-driven partnerships through the creation of institutes. These institutes develop projects and programs that directly influence the conditions, under which organizations and entrepreneurs make business, create and retain jobs.

Port of Laredo No. 1 on US - Mexico Border 167 Billion dlls in trade ‘07

2

About Us Economic Development Center

Blas Castaneda

Chief External Affairs / Econ Dev

Officer

Yolanda Escobedo

Administrative Assistant

Jose Reyes

Director LCC EDC

Maricela Morales

Administrative Assistant

Ricardo Cisneros

Projects & Planning Manager

Saul Gonzalez, Jr. Manufacturing

Training Manager

Sector Strategies

Seeking to improve opportunities. Building stronger regional economies.

>>> International Trade Institute of the AmericasPartnerships with:Association of Laredo Forwarding Agents; Laredo Licensed US Customs Brokers; Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.Member of: North American Supercorridor Coalition (NASCO)

>>> Light Manufacturing InstitutePartnerships with:South Texas College, Texas State Technical College, UT Southmost College, UT Pan American, TAMIU, UISD, LISD, Zapata ISD.

>>> South Texas Energy Technology Institute Oil & Gas * Wind Power * Solar EnergyPartners with:Conoco Phillips, Lewis Petrol, XTO, Devon.Member of: American Wind Energy Association

>>> Laredo Hospitality InstitutePartnerships with:Laredo Hotel and Lodging Association

2008 Highlights

EDC’s involvement in positioning South Texas as a thriving region.

Manufacturing (NAAMREI) February. Mr. Saul Gonzalez, Jr. joins the College as the new manufacturing training manager, totally devoted to the North American Advanced Manufacturing Education Initiative.

LCC South Campus Sports ComplexMarch. Webb County and the City of Laredo join forces with LCC by committing $200,000 and 150,000 respectively to the South Campus Recreational Complex.

LCC Chief of External Affairs / Economic development appointed for State Workforce Council.February. Mr. Blas Castaneda is appointed by Governor Rick Perry to serve at the Texas Workforce Investment Council.

LCC as a FORI partner in the 2008 Economic Development ConferenceAugust. With the participation of 289 leaders from the 47 county region in South Texas, the Future of the Region, Inc. became a major success and accomplishment for all partners involved.

Advanced Technology Center December. Project concept has been presented before City, County, School Districts and private sector with formal resolutions from the fist two.

Texas Works Comptrollers ReportDecember. The Texas Comptroller releases the Texas Works report on Workforce. Special mention to the work done in Laredo and the voice of our industry reflected in the report.

LCC EDC Structure

About Us Economic Development Center

3

LCC Advanced Technology Center. Building on Strength

With the establishment of an Advanced Technology Center, LCC plans to create an interdisciplinary facility that will house cutting edge technology education and training. Which, from the economic development perspective, will allow the South Texas region to be better prepared to develop and implement continuous competitive advantage strategies.

The ATC will allow efficient and effective regional collaboration of programs, students, employers, ISDs, colleges, universities, local governments and industry associations.

But more important, it will address the shortage of workforce in high growth high wage industry clusters by leveraging identified industry synergies in the petroleum,

international trade, biomedical, and advanced manufacturing while preparing a robust skilled workforce pipeline in emerging occupations relative to the development of renewable energy, transportation, supply chain and

geospatial technologies.

4

Industry cluster leaders mobilize for college funding

Projects Economic Development Center

•Advanced Technology Center project meeting with Independent School Districts (bottom left to right: Romeo Rodriguez, Zapata ISD; Dr. Juan L. Maldonado, LCC; Veronica Guerra and Roy Lanier, LISD; Roberto Santos, UISD; top left to right, Saul Gonzalez Jr., Ricardo Cisneros, Jose Reyes, and Blas Castaneda from the LCC EDC.

Economic Development Services

The City of Laredo is experiencing the effects of globalization. How these global systemic changes

affect the Laredo community? Can they be tracked and analyzed? Data gathering techniques and data analysis methodologies

can yield informative and comprehensive reports that can be used for strategic planning and which can begin to address the regional future of this community from a global perspective. LCC EDC has proposed City leadership to provide information and deliver services that can assist in the economic development planning of the City and enhance the competitiveness of the community.

LCC EDC aims to play a key role in helping the City develop the necessary tools that can assist the attraction and retention of businesses and in helping new businesses start up and grow. Some of the key goals if the City decides to accept are: support decision making process of the City related economic development opportunities and challenges; the alignment of workforce, economic, and community development efforts to stimulate economic activity for new and incumbent business enterprises.

Workplace Literacy

According to a 2008 report from the National Center for Education Statistics 40 to 50 percent of the current population in the Laredo MSA is assessed as requiring adult basic education.

In addition to that data, LCC EDC conducted a survey across industries and a common denominator in each of the different sectors that participated, was the limited workplace literacy the workforce presents.

LCC EDC has been working in the past year to develop different alternatives to address this issue.

1. In collaboration with other regional partners Mr. Blas Castaneda has testified to the House Special Select Committee on Higher and Public Education Finance to express concern on the way Adult Basic Education has been funded in our State vis a vis the rest of the nation. Through this efforts, the legislative efforts that LCC and partner institutions are looking at a bill that would infuse an additional $50 million dollars to ABE with the intent to cover the needs of South Texas while keeping other regions without harm.

2. In addition LCC EDC has been granted authorization to use a license from the Texas Education Agency to utilize in conjunction with the South Texas Workforce Board, a State developed curriculum for ESL that integrates industry components (health, customer service, and manufacturing). The

curriculum has been on beta testing in the past year and it will be launched under contract training in 2009.

Projects Economic Development Center

EDC Economic Development Services:

•Strategic Planning•Asset Mapping•Gap analysis report•Cluster analysis•Workforce analysis•Survey of business climate•Demographic Analysis•Export Assistance •Impact Study Analysis•Develop Regional Benchmarks •Survey of Business Climate •Entrepreneurship Development Program

State representative Scott Hochberg, Blas

Castaneda, LCC EDC; Joanie Rethlake, Texas

Learns; Wanda Garza, South Texas College;

Bonnie Gonzalez, Workforce Solutions Lower

Grande Valley; State representative Ryan

Guillen.

5

South Campus Recreational CenterCollege officials, members from the Webb

County Commissioners Court and City of Laredo Council joined forces to bring community development to a new level with the South Campus Recreational Center project.

T h r o u g h t h e e f f o r t s o f commissioner Frank Sciaraffa and city Council member Michael Landeck, Webb County has committed to fund the construction of the recreational complex with a $200,000 while the City of Laredo will provide $150,000 to see this project become a reality for South of Laredo.

The county and city funding will support some of the complex’s features, including a baseball field, tennis and basketball courts, a running trail and two soccer fields including one that can serve a dual purpose as a softball field.

The College President Dr. Juan L. Maldonado said that the collaborative project is a win-win endeavor for students and county residents. 

“Not only will this initiative help strengthen the college’s instructional, athletics and intramural sports programs, but it also will help promote economic and community development, which is vital to the region,” Maldonado said.

Judge Valdez said that the county is pleased to support this worthy collaboration.“The Webb County Commissioners Court is excited about working with the Laredo Community College Board of Trustees and chief external affairs/economic development officer Blas Castañeda in bringing about this major quality of life facility for the students and the community at large of South Webb County,” Valdez said.

He added, “We salute the college for collaborating with Webb County in meeting the needs of our constituents.”

The total cost of the project is estimated at more than $2 million.  LCC’s Economic Development Center, which was instrumental in securing the county and city funding for the partnership.

Comptroller’s Office Visit for Workforce Testimonial

Through the EDC’s efforts LCC hosted John Villarreal, representative from the Texas

Comptroller’s Office, who lead an state-wide mission to gather information about the importance of workforce education and to highlight the important role community colleges in the State of Texas play in the

continued training of a skilled workforce and economic development.  A series of two meetings were scheduled.  The first meeting was for Laredo Community College staff.  The second meeting was for the business industry leaders of our area with attendance from the following:  Laredo National Bank, City of Laredo Building Dept., Laredo Medical Center, L.I.S.D., South Texas Workforce Solutions, LDF, U.S. Border Patrol, City of Laredo, Webb County, Laredo Hotel/Lodging Assn., IBC, ALFA, Logistics/Manufacturing Assn. of Laredo.   The College received letters of support from Mr. Randy Black of Conoco Phillips and Mr. Rafael Orduña from

Laredo Licensed U.S. Custom Brokers Assn. 

The report was released on December and will be used to develop policy recommendations for the 81st State Legislature. You can access the report’s website at http://www.window.state.tx.us/specialrpt/workforce/

6

Milestones Economic Development Center

College Legislative Agenda

For the State 81st Legislature, LCC EDC planned a series of meetings and under the leadership of the College President, Dr. Juan L. Maldonado, integrated a comprehensive agenda that covers the needs of the Institution in order to continue to provide the quality instruction and support services that its growing enrollment requires. As part of an enhanced process, Chief of External Affairs / Economic Development officer, Mr. Blas Castaneda, arranged meetings and campus visits from State Legislators and Lt. Governor as a way to emphasize the needs of our students and the importance of their support to the community. Mr. Castaneda himself and the College President have been providing testimony to the Education Committee in different occasions. In addition, the College has been working very close with other local entities including the City of Laredo, Webb County and the Independent Schools Districts to share and strengthen mutual agendas and priorities for the

benefit of the constituents. At the regional level, items such as Adult Basic Education and Career and Technical Education (CTE) funding have been shared with Texas Border Coalition and Future of the Region.

As of January, the agenda has not only been submitted to State Legislators but physical visits have taken place to discuss directly with agencies involved, including CTE and Carl D. Perkins grant relative to Senate Bill 47.

At the Federal level a similar process took place and an LCC Economic Stimulus Package was submitted to our US Congressman Henry Cuellar.

Future of the Region Economic ConferenceLCC EDC took a lead role in the organization of the

2008 Economic Development Conference that was held on Aug. 23-24 in Laredo.

The conference brought in regional leaders and noted speakers to examine common issues impacting the lives of South Texas citizens and to make those issues known to state legislators, while finding innovative ways to deliver leadership and economic prosperity for the South Texas region in the 21st century.

“The conference was a success and an excellent opportunity for South Texas communities to learn about common issues impacting their region and to join forces for a stronger voice in the state legislature,” Castañeda said.

Castañeda added that the group’s “47-county geographic focus brings strength and competitiveness to its efforts to enhance economic development in our communities.”

The conference featured many highly noted speakers, including: Lt. Governor, David Dewhurst; Executive Director for the US Census Bureau, Dr. Steve Murdock; UT Pan Am President, Dr. Blandina Cardenas; VP of Federal Bank of Dallas branch San Antonio, Blake Hastings; and renowned economist Ray Perryman.

7

Meeting with Higher Education Commissioner (from left to right):

College President, Juan L. Maldonado; Texas Higher Coordinating

Board Commissioner, Raymund Paredes; Chief External Affairs /

Economic Development Officer, Blas Castaneda; VP of Instruction,

Federico Solis.

Future of the Region, Inc 2008 Economic Development Conference

US Congressman Henry Cuellar addressing a crowded auditorium before the keynote speech by Dr. Steve Murdock, US Census Bureau Executive Director.

Local, State and National leaders during the Future of the Region Conference.

Milestones Economic Development Center

The Rio South Texas AllianceThe Rio South Texas region, composed of seven counties in South Texas, has traditionally experienced unemployment rates significantly higher than state and national averages. Through a collaborative effort including state and local governments, educational institutions and business leaders, the region is working to spur job creation. In particular, the region has identified advanced manufacturing as a means toward future economic prosperity in the region.

As a 2nd Generation WIRED region, the Rio South Texas region seeks to distinguish itself as a major innovation and distribution hub of the Southwestern United States. The region is implementing three strategies to achieve this goal:

1. The region will position itself as the "3rd Coast" and a major distribution hub for North America through tactically situated structures including the North American Research and Education World Premier Park, and the Center for Rapid Response Manufacturing.

2. The region will collaborate with local K-12 school systems and state universities to develop curriculum encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship.

3. The region will develop a globally competitive manufacturing workforce through a system that uses innovative curriculum to enhance the education system encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship.

Outreach and Seminar programsSeminar and workshop sessions addressing specific

areas such as NAAMREI - Skill Development Fund, APICS, Leadership, and the National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS) have brought together manufacturing plants from Laredo and Nuevo Laredo to LCC averaging 26 attendants per session.

Plant tours and LMI /NAAMREI Presentations:

• Branson – Ultrasonic Cleaners and Welders• Hayes-Lemmerz – Engine manifolds• Medline – Emergency/Operating room prep/tool kits• Sanmina-SCI – Reverse logistics; re-manufacturing• Springfield Wire – Wire Harnessing

• Prolamsa – Metal forming• Teleflex Medical – Medical equipment supply• Visko – Auto electronics• Onilog – Auto electronics• Maxtile – Ceramics• Kongsberg – Auto electronics

8

Light Manufacturing Institute

What is WIRED?An acronym that stands for Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development. The wired model allows regions to integrate economic and workforce development activities and demonstrate that talent development can drive economic transformation in regional economies across the United States.

What is NAAMREI?The Nor t h Amer i can Advanced Manufacturing Research and Education Initiative. It comprises Webb, Zapata, Jim Hogg, Hidalgo,

Potential for Training

In visiting with incumbent manufacturers and supply chain

industry these are some of the most immediate training needs the LMI has identified:

•Leadership•Quality

•Safety•Workplace Literacy & ESL•Lean Mfg.•Tool Maintenance

9

Light Manufacturing Institute Grand Opening

Wi t h t he a t t endance o f industry and community leaders LCC celebrated the inauguration of the Light Manufacturing Institute of f ice that will be providing all NAAMREI services in, Jim Hogg and Webb, and Zapata Counties and Mexican partners.

Services available through the LMI include training, workplace literacy, video conferencing, distance learning, research and development, engineering consulting and prototyping.

NAAMREI is an $8 million initiative funded through the U.S. Department of Labor's Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development program and the Texas Workforce Commission's Skills Development Fund.

Keynote speaker Doug Ridge, director of employer initiatives at TWC in Austin, said we are challenged every day by growth from global competition.

What is Mechatronics?Comb ina t ion o f mec han i ca l engineering, electronic engineering and computer engineering. The purpose of this interdisciplinary engineering field is the study and application of these concepts for automation. A popular example of these applications can be seen in anti-lock braking systems (ABS) in automobiles.

Visit to Modine Heat Transfer plant in Nuevo Laredo, State of Tamaulipas, Mexico.

Ribbon cutting ceremony with College officials and partners and distinguished dignitaries.

Light Manufacturing Institute

Energy in Texas

Driver for Economic DevelopmentThe Energy Cluster Industry incorporates a broad range of sectors, including: Petroleum and Natural Gas extraction, refining, and distribution; Electric Power Generation, distribution and Mining. Alternative/renewable sources of energy and their generation will become increasingly a vital part of the State’s strategy to remain competitive.

However, according to a workforce gap analysis conducted by the State of Texas, the entity is already experiencing a

significant misalignment in the energy cluster, where renewables (wind, solar, hydro, and tidal) are facing a deficit of 65.8% of workforce ready. Knowledge, Skills and abilities (KSAs) for this cluster will concentrate in Mechanical, Engineering and technology, math, english language, etc.

Oil & Gas degree program

With the initial request from Conoco Phillips and its operations manager for South Texas, Mr. Randy Black, Laredo Community College officials have began the development of a new initiative to create degree plans and certificate programs for those who want to pursue a career in the oil and gas industry.

Several meetings have taken place with producers and suppliers in order to roll out a sample curriculum and plan of action for college programs.

With an aging workforce where the median age is about 50, companies often have to recruit from the outside or invest time and money training employees on the job.

Preliminary research data shows starting wages for an untrained employee is between $8 and $12 an hour while those with an specialization degree or certificate are more likely to start out making between $18 an hour and $22 an hour.

There are three main components in the oil and gas industry: drilling, (well) completion and production.

With Texas producing nearly one-fourth of the 23 trillion cubic feet a year consumed in the United States. Both Zapata and Webb consistently rank in the top three and top five respectively natural-gas-producing counties in Texas.

LCC’s new instructional programs would be crucial for retaining oil and gas companies in Zapata and Webb by developing a pipeline of trained homegrown workers.

South Texas Energy Technology Institute

OIL & GASPrograms being proposed based on meetings with industry and subject to direction and guidance from Advisory committee.

Associate in Applied Science:

Specializations:

Petroleum Technology

Lease OperatorSafety CoordinatorProcess Technology

Computer Electronics Technology

Oil and Gas Equipment and instrumentation

Diesel Technology Oil and Gas Systems

Building the framework of a solid curricula. Representatives from Industry, College Administration and

Local organizations work out a plan to enable companies to bring more talent to their operations.

10

Saul Gonzalez Jr.

Manufacturing Training Manager

Light Manufacturing Institute

Email: saul.gonzalez@laredo.edu

Blas Castaneda

Chief of External Affairs / Economic

Development Offiscer

Email: bcastaneda@laredo.edu

Jose Reyes

Director

Economic Development Center

Email: jreyes@laredo.edu

Ricardo Cisneros

Project and Planning Manager

Economic Development Center

Email: bcastaneda@laredo.edu

WestEndWashingtonSt.FortMcInstoshCampusLaredo,Texas78040

!"#$#%&"'()*)+#,%)$-'.)$-)/'

()'01'21/31'45&+6&$7'89:;<'

=>'?:@;AB8;:889'

C>'?:@;AB8;:DAE'

0&7F-'G1$5H1"-5/&$7'I$J-&-5-)'

G##/)'K#"1-&#$1+'B9?'

=>'?:@;A@D;:A?L'

C>'?:@;AB8;:EB?'

'

'

!%1&+M'')6"N+1/)6#>)65'

!