President's POV
We started off this year staking our claim that this was our San Antonio region’s year of winning. Now mid-way through the year, our greater team and region are celebrating big wins and results.
As a native San Antoinan, I have so much pride in our San Antonio Spurs and this year, we scored the #1 NBA draft pick, Victor Wembanyama. What’s more, that pick has reinvigorated interest in our San Antonio region on the global stage. We are top of mind right now and the impact of San Antonio's winning streak will extend far beyond the sports realm.
San Antonio was recently host to two major conferences, IPW, the Super Bowl of tourism and hospitality, and Site Selectors Guild, the world’s foremost convening of economic development influencers and professionals. These events allowed us to welcome the world to San Antonio and will bear fruit in the coming years. The city was just ranked as a top U.S. city from Travel + Leisure.
We can’t talk about winning without noting the game changing investment the City of San Antonio will make toward our $2.5 billion airport expansion plan. The expansion will add 17 new gates, expanded runways, and increased capacity for domestic and international nonstop flights, undoubtedly bolstering economic growth and attracting more business opportunities to the region with increased air connectivity.
These wins don’t happen by chance. Our greater:SATX team’s concerted efforts have played a pivotal role in securing investments and driving business development. While our region is winning, our greater:SATX team continues to track toward our audacious 5-year strategic goals, reaching $3.7 billion of our 2025 $5 billion five-year capital investment target this year.
Our team leaned in this past State legislative session to advocate and successfully support the passage of House Bill 5 and the Texas Chips Act, reinforcing our economic development toolkit while also providing favorable conditions for businesses across tech, cybersecurity, life science, manufacturing, and semiconductor operations in our region.
Possibly even more important than supporting new business growth, we are focused on scaling our local business engagement efforts to empower the businesses already here in our region. This local engagement provides invaluable insights to influence how position our organization and team to best serve and advance the businesses and business climate in the San Antonio region.
Workforce availability continues to be the resounding priority for existing businesses and businesses we work to attract to the region. We are making the right investments in our workforce development, work-based learning, and talent retention programs to further address the needs of businesses and securing a skilled workforce for the future. greater:SATX specifically focuses on talent engagement and retention through high school internships, Talent Pipeline Management, and talent retention programs to develop a robust talent pipeline in our Greater San Antonio region.
The momentum is real. As we continue to focus our investments in our people and place to grow quality jobs for San Antonians, the region is poised to become an even more vibrant hub of economic growth in the years to come.
Regional Updates
Regional Partner Highlight: Schertz
Small town feel, large corporate footprint: The City of Schertz has deep roots in both the history and the future of the Greater San Antonio region.
With a population of just over 41,000, Schertz is a fast-growing city with strong community spirit, excellent schools, and an ideal quality of life that attracts families to our region and beyond.
Investor Spotlight: METRO
As an industry-leading commercial contracting firm known for its innovative projects, METRO has completed over 4,000 jobs across 22 states, amassing a portfolio of $2 billion in completed construction projects.
Their commitment to San Antonio's growth and their dedication to being more than just a construction service provider sets them apart in the industry.
88th Texas Legislature in Review
In this era of interconnectivity, it is essential for neighboring cities to work together, leveraging their strengths and resources. With a mutual interest in infrastructure, education, workforce development, and policies that foster economic growth, our partnership with Opportunity Austin is poised to bring about transformative change.
Together, with the support of regional partners throughout the Central Texas megaregion, we will shape the future of our state, fostering innovation, driving economic development, and creating boundless opportunities for all.
In light of the 88th Texas Legislative Session coming to a close, here are some of the highlights from the San Antonio-Austin megaregion and beyond.