Residents encouraged to chime in on economic development, the future of Seguin

Seguin, TX, USA / Seguin Today
Cindy Aguirre

(Seguin) — Here’s your chance to chime in on what you would like Seguin’s economic climate to look like in the future. 

The Seguin Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) is set to embark on the development of its first-ever Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS).

Josh Schneuker, the executive director of the Seguin Economic Development Corporation, says the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy will help develop a unified vision and strategic approach to achieving a robust, resilient economy over the next three years and beyond.

“A vital component of this project will be input from the community at large and other key stakeholders from across the Seguin region to help create a shared economic development vision that will help Seguin continue its positive economic momentum and find new opportunities that will take our local economy to the next level,” said Schneuker.

The CEDS is designed to help Seguin attract and retain businesses that will create primary jobs by focusing efforts that leverage the community’s assets and strengths. The Strategy will also be designed to provide the SEDC, the City of Seguin and other business, education, nonprofit, and public sector leaders with a cohesive action plan that ensures everyone is working in-step toward a shared vision and goals.

Serving as the consultant for the project will be Ernst & Young LLP (EY). EY is a global leader in providing advisory services to public and private sector clients focused on evidence-based results. City officials say its extensive network of dedicated professionals in over 150 countries allows EY to foster trust and establish long-standing relationships with industry, higher education, and government leaders to accomplish goals, outcomes, and reporting requirements.

EY’s Economic Development Advisory Services (EDAS) team will oversee the project.

The team has decades of economic development experience working with local governments and Economic Development Corporations across Texas and the nation. In Texas alone, EY EDAS has assisted dozens of communities in all corners of the state, from Greater Houston to the DFW Metroplex, from West Texas to East Texas, and in the Greater Austin MSA. EY EDAS also have extensive experience helping communities similar to Seguin, such as Pflugerville, that are fast-growing communities with strong manufacturing centers that are poised to take advantage of regional growth.

The framework will include an economic development vision for the City of Seguin, which will answer the question “Where do we want to go?” by describing the ideal state of Seguin’s future economy.

Community input will be an important component in developing a strategy that benefits all residents and businesses. To help gather input from across Seguin, the SEDC has launched an online Community Survey. The findings from this survey will inform Seguin’s comprehensive economic development strategy. Input collected from the survey will help shape the future of the community.

EY EDAS will develop the CEDS in three phases. Phase 1 will focus on gaining a deep understanding of the Seguin economy from multiple perspectives to ensure that the subsequent CEDS truly reflects the needs of Seguin residents and businesses and provides achievable goals to help Seguin take advantage of current opportunities and prepare for the future.

Phase 2 of this project will focus on conducting a Targeted Industry Analysis that will identify and validate targeted industries for the City of Seguin. And finally, for Phase 3 of this project, EY will work with the City of Seguin and the SEDC to develop the economic development strategy, which will include documenting the vision, prioritized goals, and measurable objectives.

This CEDS project will require eight months to complete, with an approximate completion date of October 31, 2023.  The CEDS Community Survey be accessed by visiting seguinedc.com/ceds. A link for the survey can also be found  on the KWED and Seguin Daily News Facebook page or online at SeguinToday.com.

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