50 Years of Impact / Greater SATX Regional Economic Partnership

Fifty years ago, a group of business executives led by General Robert McDermott, then CEO of USAA and Chair of the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, created what was then the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation to position San Antonio competitively for growth. The idea was straightforward: recruit new businesses bringing jobs that create real paths to economic mobility. That mission still guides us today, and this anniversary is our chance to recommit.

Our organization is proud of our 50 years of impact and, with the support of our Investors, we'll continue to fuel the region's economic momentum. To learn more about our MOMENTUM:2030 Strategy and becoming an investor, click the buttons below.

MOMENTUM:2030

Fuel the MOMENTUM

Baker Tool plans new S.A. plant newspaper clipping

1975: Founding & First Win

Baker Oil Tools is the first company assisted by SAEDF.

1980: Valero Headquarters

Valero Energy sets up its headquarters in San Antonio.

1987: Sears Expansion

Sears’ catalog/telephone operations expand to San Antonio, an early win that sets the stage for more financial and business-services growth.

1992: Southwestern Bell Headquarters

Southwestern Bell moves its headquarters to San Antonio, significantly raising the city’s national profile.

Newspaper clipping of NAFTA signing in San Antonio, 1992

1992: NAFTA is signed in San Antonio

San Antonio established as an international trade hub.

Late 1990s: Boeing Lands at Port San Antonio

Following Base Realignment and Closure decisions, two local bases Kelly AFB and Brooks AFB, are redeveloped. Boeing and Standard Aero both landed at Port San Antonio in the late 1990s.

2003: Toyota Breaks Ground

A pivotal point for San Antonio's growth, Toyota breaks ground on its Toyota Texas truck manufacturing facility.

Early 2000s: Tech & Cyber Expansion

NSA expansion helps land the 24th Air Force (cyber), Rackspace opens as a major HQ, Microsoft builds a data center.

2008: Whataburger Headquarters

Whataburger relocates its headquarters from Corpus Christi to San Antonio.

2010: Public Private Partnership

SAEDF becomes the City/County’s lead public-private “front door” for economic development, adding business retention/expansion alongside recruitment; average annual wins rise in the years after.

2017: Hulu Expansion

Hulu moves its Viewer Experience Operations HQ, boosting the region’s services base with hundreds of jobs.

2015: Workforce Development Expansion

SA Works (now SA WORX) program is launched and then integrated into SAEDF to align talent pipelines with employer demand through work-based learning.

2021: All-In Strategy & greater:SATX Rebrand

SAEDF rebrands as greater:SATX Regional Economic Partnership, formalizing a multi-county regional focus and launching a five-year “All-In” strategy.

2020s: Industry Diversification

Proactive lead generation and industry diversification lands big wins including Accenture, Aisin, Amazon, AWS, Ernst & Young, Guidehouse, International Motors, JCB, Lefko, Simwon, and Toyota.

2025: 50 Years of Impact & Building Momentum

greater:SATX launches MOMENTUM:2030, our next 5-year strategy, building upon 50 years of focus and success.

50 Years of Impact